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diff --git a/old/62184-8.txt b/old/62184-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1054a73..0000000 --- a/old/62184-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12464 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of For God and Gold, by Julian Corbett - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: For God and Gold - -Author: Julian Corbett - -Release Date: May 20, 2020 [EBook #62184] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOR GOD AND GOLD *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines - - - - - - - - - FOR - GOD AND GOLD - - - BY - - JULIAN CORBETT - - AUTHOR OF 'THE FALL OF ASGARD' - - - - London - MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED - NEW YORK : THE MACMILLAN COMPANY - 1900 - - All rights reserved - - - - -_First Edition 1887_ - -_Reprinted 1900_ - - - - - FOR GOD AND GOLD - - CALLING ON THIS AILING AGE TO ESCHEW THE SINS AND IMITATE - THE VIRTUES OF - - MR. JASPER FESTING - - SOMETIME FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE IN CAMBRIDGE, AND LATE AN OFFICER - IN HER MAJESTY'S SEA-SERVICE - - BY THIS SHOWING FORTH OF - - Certain noteworthy passages from his Life in the said University and - elsewhere, and especially his connection with the beginning of - - The Puritan Party - - Together with a particular relation of his Voyage to - - Nombre de Dios - - Under that renowned Navigator - - THE LATE - - SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, KNIGHT - - WRITTEN BY HIMSELF - _AND NOW FIRST SET FORTH_ - - - - -PREFACE - -It is not to be denied that the usual practice in ushering into the -world a long-hidden manuscript has been to give some account of its -existence in its former state, and of the manner in which it came to -light. For sufficient reasons that course will not be followed in -the present case. - -Should any one in consequence be brought to doubt the genuineness of -these memoirs, it is hoped that it will be sufficient to refer him to -a curious little work entitled _Sir Francis Drake Revived_, which -contains a very sprightly account of that renowned navigator's -so-called Third Voyage to the Indies, being that in which he -attempted Nombre de Dios, and which, as the title-leaf recites, is -'faithfully taken out of the report of Master Christopher Ceely, -Ellis Hixom, and others who were in the same voyage with him, by -Philip Nichols, Preacher; Reviewed also by Sir Francis Drake himself -before his death, and much holpen and enlarged by divers notes with -his own hand here and there inserted, and set forth by Sir Francis -Drake (his nephew), now living, 1626.' - -So closely do the present memoirs follow that account that it cannot -reasonably be doubted that Mr. Festing was one of those 'others' who -had a hand in Preacher Nichols's book, although neither he nor Mr. -Waldyve are mentioned as being of the expedition. When we consider -the circumstances under which they sailed, it is only natural to -suppose that they made it a condition of their assistance that their -names should be suppressed in the published narrative; and, in view -of this supposition, it is not unworthy to be noted that Nichols -makes no mention of a 'captain of the land-soldiers' or a 'merchant' -as sailing with Drake, although it is known that these officials -formed part of all well-ordered expeditions to the Spanish Main. - -Of course some small discrepancies will be found between the two -accounts, but they are unimportant, and seem rather to confirm the -general accuracy of Mr. Festing's memoirs than to cast any suspicion -upon them. For instance, Nichols gives the name of the man who -'spoiled all' in the first attempt on the _recuas_ as Pike, but there -can be no doubt that, by an obvious word-play which would commend -itself to an Elizabethan punster, the name of the infantry weapon was -substituted for that of Culverin out of tenderness for the old -Sergeant's memory. - -Such instances might be multiplied indefinitely, but it appears -better to suffer the curious to note and comment upon them for -themselves. Should any such be tempted to pursue the subject -farther, he will find an interesting account of Signor Giampietro -Pugliano in a letter of Sir Philip Sidney's, who describes the -esquire of the Emperor's stables in much the same terms as those -which Sergeant Culverin was in the habit of using. - -In fact, Mr. Festing's memoirs receive confirmation from contemporary -sources too numerous to set out here. He mentions indeed only one -event of any historical or biographical importance which has not been -found either related or referred to by other trustworthy writers, and -that is the piratical attack of Drake upon the Antwerp caravel--an -exploit about which all parties concerned no doubt took good care to -keep their own counsel. - -These considerations, it is felt, will be enough to carry conviction -to what Mr. Festing would have called 'all honest kindly readers.' -To the merciful dealing of such his memoirs are now therefore -committed without further excuse, defence, or apology. - -J. C. - - THAMES DITTON, - _October_ 1887. - - - - -FOR GOD AND GOLD - - - -CHAPTER I - -Erasmus, in his _Praise of Folly_, has uttered a sharp note against -those scribbling fops who think to eternise their memory by setting -up for authors, and especially those who spoil paper in blotting it -with mere trifles and impertinences. Yet have I, that was none -before, resolved to turn author, and set down certain passages in my -life that I have thought not unworthy to be remembered. - -Many who share my respect for him who is rightly called the honour of -learning of all our time, forgetting therein, as it must be said, all -tenderness for me, have marvelled openly that I listen not to his -wisdom, but will still be spending paper, time, and candles upon such -trifles and impertinences as he condemns. It were better, say they, -for a scholar to take in hand some weighty matter of religion, or -philosophy, or civil government. - -But stay, good friends, till I bid you show me how it were better. -Such treatises are ordnance of power; and are we sure that of late -years scholars have not been forging too many weapons for dunces to -arm themselves withal in these wordy wars that now be? A harquebuss -is a dangerous toy in unskilled hands, and so I know may be a -discourse of religion, or philosophy, or civil government to -unlearned controversialists, of whom, God knows, there is a mighty -company in this present time. - -So, I pray you, consider whether Erasmus has not here a little -dishonoured his scholarship and sounded his note false. Should he -not rather have placed amidst all other folly that he praises these -very trifles and impertinences also with which a scholar may seek to -comfort his solitude? - -I am the more moved to the part I have chosen because it is not clear -that all I have to tell shall be found wholly trifling and -impertinent. Indeed I think it may contain something noteworthy, not -in respect of myself, or even of that noble gentleman whose story -this is as much as mine, but rather in respect of that very mirror -and pattern of manhood who was my good friend in those days, though -now with God, and whom of all I ever knew or heard of I honour as in -courage unsurpassed, in counsel unequalled, and in constancy passing -all I ever deserved. - -So much by way of preface or apology; and now, with a good wish on -all honest, kindly readers, let me to my tale. - -As with many others, my life, it may be said, began with my father's -death. Till then I had been kept in so great subjection that, save -in my books, I had hardly lived. For he was an austere, grave man of -the Reformation party, and one whom the fires of Mary's reign had -hardened against all Popery, so that towards the end of his life he -became what is now called a Puritan, ay, and that of a strict sort -too. - -Outwardly to his great friends in the county he was still good -company. For, not to speak more, because of the honour I bear him, -he was a worldly man, and not one to use a shoe-horn to drag -ill-fitting opinions on to men of quality, nor in any way to seek a -martyr's crown. His chiding and severity were kept for me and his -servants and tenants, who were all hard-pressed, though, in truth, -not beyond what justice would warrant were mercy laid aside. - -It was a hard case for me, because of my mother I had not even a -memory. The same hour that I was born she died, leaving my father -alone in the world save for me. It was then that he most changed, -they told me, but in no respect showed his grief so much as in -misliking me. - -Yet I think I loved him, for all his chiding and sharpness. Indeed I -had so little else to love. At least I know that I was sobbing -bitterly when my old nurse came to tell me that his short sickness -had come suddenly to an end: for he had but a little time past been -seized with a quartan ague, which carried off so many that same -glorious year that our great Queen came to her throne. - -It was a cold, gray afternoon in January. I was sitting, hungry and -forgotten, in my favourite nook in the dim old library. It was an -ancient, low room, which my father had left standing when he had -rebuilt the rest of the place in the new style soon after he had -purchased it. It had been a house of Austin Canons which fell to the -lot of some spendthrift courtier in King Henry's time, which -gentleman, getting past his depth in my father's books with over much -borrowing, was at last driven to release the place to him. So it was -that the old monastery became our dwelling, but this, the Canons' -refectory, was all that was left of the former buildings. - -At one end there was a deep recess, where I could sit and see the -dreary darkness settling down on the distant Medway, and the Upchurch -Marshes, and the Saltings. It was but a sad prospect at any time in -winter, and made me sad, though I would never sit elsewhere with my -books. I must have loved it because my father never came to chide me -there, and because on that cold stone sill I could sit and sob -undisturbed over the sorrows of men long dead, as I now sat sobbing -over my own, when Cicely came hurriedly to me. - -'The Lord has taken him, Master Jasper,' she cried, as well as her -sobs would allow. 'The Lord has taken him, before I could call you -to see how sweet an ending he made. God-a-mercy on him, for he was a -just and upright gentleman, and one that dallied not with mercy, and -died a good Reformation man. Ay, that he did, and would see never a -priest of them all, with their hocus-pocus and Jack-in-the-box, and -their square caps and their Latins. When the end was coming he cried -out, "God-a-mercy on me and all usurers," once or twice he did, for -the usurers seemed to trouble him. So I opened the windows, and bade -him not trouble himself with the rogues at such a time, but get on -sweetly with his dying. That was a comfort to him, I know, for he -grew quiet then, and passed away with but one more cry for mercy on -them. May the rogues be better for a good man's prayers, that he -shall pray no more! For 'tis all passed, 'tis all passed; and you -are Squire of Longdene now, Master Jasper; and maybe your worship -would like to see how your father lies.' - -I dried my tears then, for I had been dreading the summons to see him -die, and felt glad that I was spared the sight. I was able to follow -Cicely into the great chamber where he lay, and look bravely for the -last time on the wise, hard face. - -It was when I came out that I felt indeed my life had begun. For -there stood old Miles, our steward, who had married my nurse, bowing -respectfully. - -'A wise man has gone this day, sir,' he said, 'and a godly and a -rich. May the Lord in His mercy give your worship strength to bear -his loss and walk in his footsteps.' - -It lifted me up strangely to hear him speak thus; for I was but -fourteen years old, and had never been called 'your worship' before, -except sometimes on Saturdays by the Medway fisher lads, who knew I -had groats in my wallet then. To hear Miles thus call me was a thing -I could hardly understand. He who had barely a word for me, except -to scold when he caught me bird-nesting in the orchard, or swear -after me in breathless chase when I flew my hawk at his pigeons, as -happened more than once when Harry came to see me and my father was -away. - -It is time I should tell of Harry, my friend and rival, my almost -brother; for his life was, and, I thank God for His mercy, still is, -in spite of all the wrong I did, so bound up in mine, that I cannot -tell my tale without unfolding his. - -He was the only son of Sir Fulke Waldyve, a gentleman of good estate -and ancient family near Rochester, in Kent, and a good neighbour of -ours. Ever since my father had come to live at Longdene, Sir Fulke -and he had been fast friends. Not that they had much to make them -so. For Sir Fulke was an old soldier and courtier of King Henry's -day, and had named his only son after him as the pattern of manhood. -From the like cause he swore roundly rasping Tudor oaths at all that -displeased him, ay, and much that he loved too, from mere habit, but -above all at Puritans and those who thought Reformation should go -further than his idol King Henry had carried it. In all ways the -knight was a man of the old time, while my father was held one of the -new men, whom many thought to be ruining the country. He had been a -wool merchant in London, and had made much money at trading and by -other ways that merchants use. - -Even I used to wonder to see them so friendly, and used to watch them -by the hour together through a hole I knew of in the yew hedge, as -they sat drinking in our orchard after dinner in the summer-time. -Sir Fulke was so round and red, with his curly beard and his sunburnt -face and his merry blue eyes, and my father was so pale and spare and -grave. I wondered how men could be so little alike, and wondered how -it would have been with me if that rough old knight had been my -father instead of the courtly merchant by his side. - -'By this light,' I have heard Sir Fulke burst out in the midst of -their talk, 'I marvel every day what a God's name makes me love you, -Nick. Your sour face should be as much a rebel in my heart as your -damned French claret is in my stomach. Were it not that you are so -good a tippler, I would say that at heart you were no better than a -pestilent, pragmatical rogue of a Calvinist.' - -'Nay, Fulke,' my father would say quickly in his courtly way, being, -as it seemed, in no way offended that the old knight should speak to -him so roughly, for they always said my father, like other merchants -who have thriven, was slow to take offence with men of ancient -lineage and good estate; 'what matter that our outward seeming is -different? That is only because our lots were cast differently. Not -what we are, but what we love, is the talk of friends.' - -'Ay, by God's power,' Sir Fulke would cry, 'you have hit it now most -nicely, Nick. You love a long fleece, and so do I. You love a fair -stretch of meadowland, and so do I. You love a well-grown tree, and -so do I; ay, and, you rogue, you love a full money-bag, and so, by -this light, do I. Mass, but I run myself out of breath with our -likings, and sack must run me back again.' - -'Indeed,' my father would answer, 'were it only our delights that we -share, I think it would be bond enough, without a common sorrow to -help it.' - -'Ay, ay, Nick; that is it,' the old knight would murmur, sad in a -moment, for Harry's mother, too, had died in childbed. 'But speak -not of that. God rest her sweet soul! What is there divided that -she could not bring together?' - -And so they would fall into silence awhile, till Sir Fulke's eye was -dry again, and his thoughts had wandered away from the beautiful -woman whom, late in life, he had loved and married and lost, to some -new plan he had for mending his estate upon which he wanted his -friend's counsel. - -It is little to be wondered at, then, that a great friendship grew up -also between Harry and me. We were little more alike, I think, than -our fathers. For on Harry descended all the sunny beauty of his -mother. Indeed, afterwards, when as a page at Court he personated -the Princess Cleopatra in a masque before the Queen's grace, an old -lord who was in presence swore it must be the gentle Lady Waldyve -alive again. He was lithe and active too, and of quick and nimble -wit, and as long as I can remember could always give the fisher lads -more than he took, either with fist or tongue. But more than all -this, it was his gentle, loving spirit that won and kept my love in -spite of all our boyish quarrels, ay, and of a greater thing than -that. When I think of his noble nature, which never allowed him to -turn a span's breadth from the path of honour, the lofty patience -wherewith he bore my shortcomings, the tender sympathy I won from him -in all my troubles, I can still kneel down and thank God that gave me -such a friend to carry a light before me in the way a gentleman -should walk. - -So what wonder then that I loved him as I loved no one else--save -one, of whom I shall forbear yet to speak, until my tale compels me. -Then I must, seeing it was surely God's will that tried me so sore. - -Had Harry been other than he was, at the time at least of which I now -speak, I must yet have loved him, for it was my father's will that I -should. - -'Jasper,' he would say to me sometimes when I had been reading at -home, 'close your book and ride over to Ashtead to bid young Waldyve -go a-hawking with you to-morrow. You must see more of him. For -know, I would have you no merchant, or parson, or plain scholar, but -a gentleman. You will have money, and he shall teach you how to -spend it like a gentleman. Make him your friend, and be you his, or -you shall smart for it.' - -So away I would go blithely enough; for those days with Harry were -the only happy ones I knew, though it must be said they often ended -sadly with a rebuke and even chastisement from old Miles, till one -day my father, seeing him, told him he would not have gainsaid any -prank I played in company with Sir Fulke's son. - -This I told Harry next day he came, thinking to strangely delight -him; but instead he looked grave, and swore one of his father's oaths -that he would never fly hawk at Miles's pigeons again. - -Such was my friend Harry Waldyve when, in the first year of our most -glorious Queen's reign, whom God bless with fullest measure, my -father died, and I began my life. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -It was not till the morning after my father's death that Sir Fulke -rode over from Ashtead with Harry. The old knight was redder in the -face than ever. There were tears in his eyes, too, as he took my -hand and sat down by the great hearth in the hall without speaking. - -As for Harry, he threw his arms about my neck and shyly pressed into -my hand his set of gilded hawk bells--the most precious thing he had. -I had long envied him the toys, and his kindness set my tears flowing -fast again. - -'Don't grieve, Jasper,' he said. 'You must not grieve. Dad will be -your father now. He said he would as we rode along. He told me to -tell you he was your guardian now, and we are really brothers at -last, Jasper.' - -I looked at Sir Fulke, but he only nodded his head. His face was -very red, and I knew he could not have spoken without sobbing. So -Harry and I talked on in low tones till the old knight found his -voice. He spoke angrily at last, but I did not mind his chiding, for -somehow I knew it was only to hide his grief, lest we boys should see -his weakness. - -'Yes, I am your guardian, lad,' said he; 'and since I am, why, in -God's name, did you not send for me before, instead of letting your -father lie all night like a dog that none cares to bury?' - -'Please you, sir,' said I, 'Miles rode out an hour after he died, as -I thought, to bring the news to you.' - -'An hour after his death!' cried Sir Fulke. 'On what devil's errand -went he then, for he came not to me till six o'clock this morning?' - -'Whither rode Miles last night?' I asked then of Cicely, who was -sobbing hard by. 'Know you, and has he come back?' - -'Nay, I know not, your worships,' she said, 'save that he went to -your worship, as he said, and--and----' - -'And what, woman?' cried Sir Fulke testily. - -'On an errand of his dead master's, please your worships,' whimpered -Cicely; 'an errand, by your worship's leave, into Chatham.' - -'And what, o' God's name,' cried the knight, 'took him there?' - -'Nay, I know not,' replied Cicely, with a look of that sort of -humility, much used by her class, which is very near of kin to -defiance. 'Unless it were to take order for his poor worship's -funeral with the elect that be there.' - -'What say you?' roared Sir Fulke, 'you pestilent, canting scrag-end -of Eve's flesh! What, by the fat of the fiend, has your Calvinistic -knave of a husband to do with a gentleman's funeral? Knows he not, -the dog, that it is I who shall order his master's affairs? Is this -all that comes of Festing's boasted discipline? I told him he was -wrong, he was always wrong; and here's the end of it. The elect, -too,--the elect knaves, the elect devils! Do you think, you canting -jade, that because Mary is dead you shall play what pranks you like -with a gentleman's body? By this light, you misjudge Henry's and -Mistress Anne's daughter if your thick heads think that.' - -By this time Sir Fulke had railed himself clean out of breath, and as -he ceased we could hear the sound of horses' feet in the courtyard. - -'Run, lads,' said Sir Fulke, 'and if that be Miles bring him before -me.' - -To the door we went, and sure enough found Miles had returned, but -not alone. Dismounting from their shabby jades were two men, dressed -all in black. One of them I knew by sight, having seen him about -Chatham and Rochester. He had a round, red face, with a shrewd, -solid look in it, and dancing blue eyes full of merriment, which even -now, though I think he tried to look as grave as he could, he was -unable to get master of. His companion was a grave, dark-eyed man, -of dull complexion, whose look repelled me as much as the other's -attracted. - -'Peace be on this house,' the two men chimed when they had finished -tumbling off their horses, which they did in so clumsy a manner as -even then, almost made me laugh. 'Peace; and be its sorrow -comforted.' - -The red-faced man then came forward up the steps, and took my hand so -kindly that I felt at once that I had found a new friend. - -'Master Festing,' said he, 'I know you, and desire your worship's -better acquaintance. Me you know not, though I was your good -father's friend. He would not have it so known; but let that pass. -Know me for Master Drake, of Chatham, sometime preacher to his -Majesty's fleet, and soon to be again, let us hope, now the evil -times be overpast and joyful days be come again for all true -Reformation men.' - -His black clothes were very shabby, and of old-fashioned cut, and -there came with him up the steps and into the hall a savoury smell of -tar and the sea. - -'Yes, my lad,' went on Mr. Drake, for 'your worship' was quite out of -tune with his kind, fatherly way, 'this is an hour of sorrow for you, -but one of joy for England. A weight is lifted from England's heart, -and yours shall rise with hers. For, saving a decent grief for your -father's loss, no true Englishman should weep when his country claps -her hands and leaps with gladness.' - -I did not well understand him then, though I knew he meant to comfort -me. For in those days we knew little of what was coming, when such -words as Mr. Drake's would be on every one's lips. England was -crushed and broken then, shuddering still under the curse of Rome and -Spain. I was no more a prophet than the rest, and could ill -understand why this little red-faced preacher should draw himself up -in his shabby clothes, with glittering eyes, till he almost looked as -though he had come out of my Plutarch, best loved of books. I was -glad when he stopped and turned to his friend. - -'I had forgot,' said Mr. Drake. 'Be better acquainted with my -right-worshipful and approved good friend, Mr. Death. One of the -faithful flock, Mr. Festing, that through the bloody times, which now -be past, has watched and prayed for England beyond the seas, in -Frankfort; withstanding steadfastly all backsliders there, and -helping Mr. Knox to file away the Popish rust that still clung to -King Edward's service-book.' - -He seemed to think that because my father had been a secret but -active Puritan, I must be one too, and well versed in all those -unhappy controversies with which the English exiles made their -banishment doubly hard, and laid the seeds of many troubles that even -now grow each day ranker. - -'Ay, that I did,' said Mr. Death, unfastening his hard lips, 'and -should have prevailed at last against that bad, factious Erastian, -Dr. Cox, had he not so traitorously procured us to be driven forth by -the Gallios of that city.' - -'If any man has dealt traitorously with you, Mr. Death,' said Harry, -'it were well you should come within and speak with my father, who is -a Justice, and will see you righted, I doubt not.' - -'Ay,' echoed I, 'come within and speak with my guardian, who will -surely welcome all my father's friends.' - -Our words had quite another effect to that which we had expected. -For both the preachers stopped short before the door, looking hard at -each other. Mr. Death seemed to grow more pale than before, and to -be at a loss what to do. But Mr. Drake's face I saw grow to so stern -a look of resolution as only in one other have I seen equalled. - -'Come, brother,' said he, 'we have a blow to strike, so let us strike -quick and hard,' and with that he strode across the hall to where Sir -Fulke was sitting, who sprang up fiercely when he saw the preachers. - -'Drake!' cried he, 'what in the devil's name make you here?' - -'In the devil's name I make nothing, Sir Fulke,' answered Drake -unflinchingly; 'but come to stay you marring, in the devil's name, a -dead man's wishes; and in God's name to charge you to deliver up to -me the body of Nicholas Festing for burial.' - -I verily believe that had it been the sour-faced Mr. Death that had -given their errand he would there and then have been sent forth with -such a dish of blows seasoned with hot railing as would have kept him -satisfied for many a day. But Sir Fulke, like King Henry and our -blessed Queen, knew a man when he saw him, and surprised me by his -quiet answer. - -'You open your mouth wide, Drake,' said he; 'by what authority do you -expect me to fill it?' - -'Here is one,' answered Drake, 'that you will be the last to gainsay, -if men know you for what you are,' and with that he took from his -breast a paper and handed it to Sir Fulke. He carefully examined the -signature and writing, and then gave it back to Drake. - -'Nicholas Festing wrote that, I doubt not,' said he; and then, -looking Drake hard in the face, went on, 'Read it to me, and read it -truly, if you are a man.' - -Without wincing a jot under Sir Fulke's stare, Mr. Drake took the -paper and read as follows:--'Know all men whom it may concern, and -above all Sir Fulke Waldyve of Ashtead, knight, to whom I have given -care of all my earthly affairs, that it is my last will that in all -which concerns the spiritual and heavenly part of me no man shall -meddle, save as my approved friend Mr. Drake, preacher, of Chatham, -shall direct; and him I charge to deliver my soul to God, and my body -to earth, after the manner of the reformed Church, and free from -Popish, idolatrous, and superstitious ceremonies, saving always the -laws of this realm. For I would have all men know that I die, as I -have lived, in the purified and ancient Church of Christ, in -testimony whereof, above all, I desire to be buried without jangling -of bells, or mistrustful prayers, or conjuring with incense, as -though my happy state with God were doubtful, and reverently laid in -the earth, with thanks to God, in certain hope of a glorious -resurrection.' - -For a moment Sir Fulke looked at me, as though he would ask me to -read the paper too, but almost immediately he stared hard again at -Mr. Drake, and was satisfied. - -'Enough,' he said, plainly much pained. 'How will you bury him?' - -'By the rites in use amongst the true English remnant at Geneva,' -croaked Mr. Death, who, seeing all danger was over, now came forward. -'There alone is found the true law of God, there alone has the -threshing-floor been swept clean of----' - -'Peace, fool,' said Sir Fulke sharply. 'If Nicholas Festing wishes -to be put under the sod like a canting Calvinistical knave, by God's -head, he shall be, saving always, as he said, the laws of this realm. -I want no pestilent, heretical sermons from you, but only information -to lay before the Council, whither I ride this very day, according to -my duty as a Justice of the Queen's most excellent Majesty. And, -look you, Drake, promise me to do nothing till I return.' - -'My hand on that, Sir Fulke,' said Drake, heartily holding out a hand -not unstained with pitch, which my guardian, after a moment's -hesitation, took. - -With that the preachers departed, and Sir Fulke soon after followed -them on his way to London, much saddened, as I think, to see what -manner of man his friend had been. - -Whether he was heard by the Council or not I cannot tell. Certain it -is, however, that on his return he took no steps to prevent the -funeral. I expect, if the truth were known, his zeal won little -encouragement from the Council. For in the early days of our wise -Queen's reign, in spite of an ordinance against using new doctrines -or ceremonies without authority, and the proclamation against King -Edward's service-book, which had been given out the month before, -things were left to go on with as little mud-stirring as possible, -until Parliament could be brought together. - -I doubt not the poor old knight lamented bitterly the high-handed -days of his old master, King Henry; but he was helpless, and a day -was fixed for the funeral to take place at our little church. - -Well I remember that sunny January morning, and how I dreaded what -was to come. At an early hour great numbers of people came flocking -out of Rochester, Sittingbourne, and the villages around to Longdene. -For, since this was but the first year of the Queen's reign, no one -knew as yet of a certainty what order would be taken in -ecclesiastical matters, and the news that a gentleman was to be -buried after a new and reformed manner attracted many, since these -things, being the first that had been seen in Kent, were accounted -strange at the time, and somewhat boldly done, when as yet the old -religion was still in force. - -The people came rejoicing, with baskets of food, as though to a -wedding or glutton mass rather than to a funeral. To me alone, in -all that multitude, it was an occasion of sadness. It was the first -time the people had had brought home to them that the days of -England's shame and bondage were over, and when I looked upon the -crowd, before the gate, eating and drinking and laughing, as they -waited for the body to come forth, I began to know what Mr. Drake had -meant, when he said that a weight was lifted from England's heart, -though it only made heavier the load on mine. - -So brightly shone the sun, and so radiant were those happy people, -scarce one of whom had not lost a friend or kinsman in poor Wyatt's -mad attempt to do by force what God had now done so quietly by Mary's -death, that I alone of all the world seemed sad, and in my utter -loneliness I turned away and wept bitterly. - -Mr. Drake was in the room, talking in high spirits to a knot of -preachers who had just arrived. Many, I was told, had come down from -London to do honour to the great occasion, as they called it, but I -forget their names, if I ever knew them. - -Good Mr. Drake must have heard my sobs, for he came forward out of -the gloomy throng and spoke to me very kindly. - -'Come, lad, come,' said he, with his tarry hand on my shoulder; 'have -a stout heart. This is a proud day for you, a day of rejoicing in -the Lord, that it is given you to bear witness of England's new life, -and not, as was vouchsafed to me and others here, to bear witness of -her slow cankering death. All England will praise you for this day's -work. Ay, and beyond the seas too, many a poor Fleming, and -Frenchman, and German who was losing heart will smile happily when he -hears Nicholas Festing's name, and envy his son the part God gave him -to play.' - -Hearing Mr. Drake's words, the preachers gathered round us and vied -with each other in giving me drafts of comfort, rather, as it seemed -to me, for their own glorification in each other's eyes, by showing -their cunning in the brewing of such phrases, than from any desire to -console me. - -'Affliction, Master Festing,' said a fat, pale-faced man, 'is the -mustard of the spirit; for even as that excellent sauce maketh the -stomach lusty to receive meat, so doth sorrow stir up the heart to a -desire for the Word,' and with that he smacked his lips and looked -towards the sideboard, which Cicely was already furnishing with meat -against our return. - -'Rejoice, too, my boy, in your tears,' said Mr. Death, 'for they be -the water to drive the mill which shall grind in pieces the -stumbling-blocks of your soul.' - -'And groaning, sir,' said another, 'is the portion of the elect, who, -being predestined to the eternal company of God, must not defile -their spirit with the joy of the world, which fills the stomachs of -the eternally damned.' - -'Softly, softly, sir,' interposed a heady-looking man; 'comfort the -boy, if you will, but comfort him according to the Word.' - -'And who are you,' retorted the other angrily, 'to teach me what is -according to the Word, and what is not?' - -'Brethren, brethren,' cried a mild, grave-looking man with a refined -and scholarly face, 'I pray you remember on what errand you are. On -a day of triumph like this, is it for the victors to quarrel? -Moreover, it is time we departed. Mr. Drake, I pray you order our -manner of proceeding.' - -With that we started, to my no small joy, for I was longing to be -alone in the old library again, and none of those men, save Mr. -Drake, brought any comfort to my aching heart. - -It must have been a strange sight, when I come to think of it now, as -we crossed the sunlit court and sallied out between the crowds of -eager faces that lined the way. Instead of the throng of clerks in -gay attire who used to precede the coffin at burials of persons of -note, swinging censers, and singing for the soul of the departed, -there were none but the black company of preachers in their gowns and -Geneva caps. - -The people joined in behind me where I walked with Miles and Cicely, -and the long line wound down to the church in the valley between the -frosty hedgerows and the young woods my father had planted. - -I knew the little moss-grown church well, for it was a favourite -resting-place for Miles's pigeons. They, I think, were the only -living things that cared for it, except a few ill-tempered jackdaws -and one or two old bent women, who came to mutter prayers upon their -beads amongst the mouldering stones. - -I do not think there had been a parson there since King Henry's time, -certainly none that I could remember, except on rare occasions when -one came out of Rochester to shiver through a homily or a funeral, as -well as the jackdaws and the chilling damp would allow. - -It was a place all shunned for its ghostliness, unless they had a -special call to go there, which indeed was seldom; for there was not -even a door upon which the parish notices could be fixed. The wood -had long ago gone to make fires, and the wide-spreading hinges, all -bent and rusty, hung down with an air of mourning. - -But the pigeons and the jackdaws quarrelled for the place. It was a -pleasant spot for them. All that savoured of Popery, which was all -the church contained, had been torn down, I think, in Edward's days. -Rood-screen and all were gone--perhaps to cook a Reformation pot with -the door. Thus the birds could fly in and out as they liked, and -rest out of the way of stones and hawks, till Harry hustled them out. - -The little painted windows still remained. They were very Popish -things, with the Virgin and I know not what saints upon them. But it -did not matter, for the spiders and the ivy--good reformers they--had -nearly hidden them from sight, so, as it was thought too costly to -replace them with white glass, they had been allowed to remain. - -A grave had been prepared for my father at the end of the north -aisle, where once was a chapel of St. Thomas, and where were still to -be seen, moss-grown and time-stained, two or three tombs of the -Abbots of Longdene. There was great difficulty, I remember, in -getting the coffin so far, because the pavement was all loose, and in -some part quite thrust out of place by the rats and the fungus. - -As many of the people as there was room for thronged in after us, and -jostled each other for the best places with many a rude jest. Such -irreverence was very hard for me to bear, but I do not wish to -condemn them for it. It was done from no ill-will to me or my -father, but only from that same exuberant spirit of joy which was -beginning to fill all men's hearts when each day they saw more -clearly that England's night was done. - -The preachers alone seemed in earnest; for they, good men, had -suffered much, and this thing that we were now upon must have seemed -too serious and heaven-sent for idle gaiety. - -I was more at ease when the scholarly-looking gentleman began the -service. His soft, full voice quieted the people directly, and the -beautiful words he spoke kept them in rapt attention in spite of -their crowding to see what was to be done. - -No wonder, for now they heard, many for the first time in God's -House, the voice of prayer go up in their own sweet English tongue. -The preacher began with a collect, in which he commended the dead -man's soul to God, and prayed that his sins committed in this world -might be forgiven him, that the gates of heaven might be opened to -him, and his body raised up upon the last day. So lovely did the -well-balanced, earnest words sound in our dear old speech that I saw -tears in many an eye before he had done, and the amen, in which all -joined at its end, was half choked with sobs. - -Incontinently they lowered then the coffin in the grave, and covered -it with earth, while the old preacher read an epistle taken from 1 -Thessalonians iv. - -Deeper and deeper grew the silence, and less and less my pain, as the -heart-stirring words fell upon the listening throng. 'I would not, -brethren, have you ignorant concerning them which are asleep, that ye -sorrow not, even as other which have no hope. For if we believe that -Jesus is dead and is risen, even so them which sleep in Jesus will -God bring with him.' - -So the solemn periods marched on to the end. 'Wherefore comfort -yourselves one another with these words,' and therewith the -white-haired scholar kneeled down, and began with a loud, full voice -to sing in English the Paternoster. - -A sound, as it seemed to me, like the rustle of angels' wings filled -the mouldering church as the whole throng with one accord kneeled -with the preacher and joined him as he sang, women and all. Neither -I nor any there, I think, save the preachers, had heard such a thing -before. And surely it was the sweet women's voices that made our -singing sound so holy in my ears, and lifted up my heart with such a -heaven-born content that at last I could feel indeed that it was not -a day for sorrow, but one in which I too must rejoice with England. - -Our Paternoster was followed by a sermon, in which, after a few words -on death and eternal life, the preacher fell to exhorting the people -to be earnest in carrying out the work, and not to be content with a -pretended evangelical reformation, suffering such things to be -obtruded on the Church as should make easy the returning back to -Popery, superstition, and idolatry. They had seen, he said, in -Germany the evil of suffering, under colour of giving small offence, -many stumbling-blocks, which after the first beginnings were hard to -get removed at least not without great struggling. - -But, indeed, I remember little of what the good man said; for I was -but a boy then, and my mind would ever be fixing itself on the jagged -ends of the rood-screen, which had been left sticking from the wall -when it had been hewn away. - -'Pity it is,' I said to my thoughts, 'they were not clean rooted out. -Even now they might wound a man's limbs who was passing unawares, and -time will come when they will grow corrupt, and as they rot away make -the arch unstable.' - -Little I thought then how true a type those same poor beam-ends would -prove of all that was to come on England ere many years were gone. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -It would be wearisome for me to relate all that passed in the weeks -that followed my father's funeral, even if I could. But indeed I -remember little, except confusedly about men of law who came from -London and had long speech with my guardian. - -In the business of setting my father's affairs in order I too was a -good deal mixed. - -'You cannot know too soon,' Sir Fulke said to me, 'what your estate -will be. I am one who thinks a lad cannot learn too early to be a -good steward, and so thought your father too, Jasper. So from the -first I would see you have a say in your own affairs.' - -Thus it came about that I was always present when the lawyers came, -and though at first I found it irksome, I soon began to take interest -in my estate. - -Yet one event of these days I must relate, seeing that it was the -beginning of things which afterwards played so great a part in my -life. - -I rode into Rochester one day to see a man of law who dwelt there. -As we descended the steep hill that leads from off the downs to the -low-lying ground, the whole district was stretched out like a map -below us. We could see straight before us the compact little city of -Rochester, a mass of red roofs girded with a soft belt of trees, and -crowding round the Cathedral and the great Castle, still grim and -solid in its decay. About it ran the yellow river in one grand sweep -from the bridge to where it turned again between Upnor Castle and the -dock at the growing village of Chatham. Right in front of us, where -the road was swallowed up between the two round towers of the city -gate, was a great crowd. It was no strange thing to see, for hither -were wont to gather the mariners from the fleet which rode between -the bridge and Upnor and the workmen from the dockyard, that they -might gossip and drink at the taverns which lined the way without the -gate. To-day, however, it was a greater crowd than usual; so great -indeed that we could not pass and had to draw rein. - -'What, in the fiend's name,' cried Sir Fulke, 'brings all these -stockfish gaping here to block a gentleman's path?' - -''Tis Drake, 'tis preaching Drake,' said a good-humoured, -weather-beaten sailor who stood by. And sure enough it was; for no -sooner were the words out of our friend's mouth than Mr. Drake's -jolly red face appeared above the heads of the crowd, as he mounted a -stool close to the gate. - -'Come, hearken, mariners,' he cried, 'hearken to the Word of God and -the whistle of the Lord's boatswain. For the Word of God is like -unto a capstan. You can turn it about and about till you tear up the -anchor that binds you to earth. Come, then, my lads, and turn it -about with me till you tear up the crooked anchor of sin, whereby the -devil would moor you to the things of this world.' - -This was as much as Sir Fulke could bear, and he cried out, 'What -kennel preaching is this? Have you nothing better to liken the -blessed Word of God to than a capstan?' - -'And wherefore should I not?' cried Drake, not noticing from whom the -interruption came. 'What ell of tar-yarn is this, that will take -upon him to reprove the similitudes of a preacher to her Majesty's -navy? Wherefore, I pray you, should not the Word of God be likened -to a capstan, when that blessed servant of the Lord, even Hugh -Latimer, did not himself scruple to liken the Mother of God to a -saffron-bag?' - -'Well, I'll grant you the similitude is right enough,' Sir Fulke -called out again. 'For, by God's truth, it seems that a preacher -nowadays can turn the Word about and about till he make it pull up -anything he will.' - -This sally produced a laugh from the rougher part of Drake's -audience, and many began to cry out, 'What say you to that, master -preacher? Has he not got you now?' - -'What have I to say to it?' said Drake, turning fiercely on them. -'Know you not your own trade, you lubberly, roeless sons of herrings? -Know you not that when you man a capstan you go but one way, like -asses, that you are, in a clay-mill? So it is with the Word. There -is one right way, that shall profit you to turn it, and if you twist -it another it shall spin you heels over ears in a heap, like the -ungodly in the bottomless pit. My similitude was right enough, yet -would I have defended it with greater courtesy had I known who -challenged it. Make way, lads, make way for Sir Fulke Waldyve; for -next under God you shall reverence our blessed Queen and all who hold -her commission. Make way, and let me ask pardon for my discourtesy -to our most worthy magistrate.' - -'Enough, Drake, enough,' said Sir Fulke good-humouredly; 'you outrun -me no less in courtesy than wit. Were all preachers such as you -there would be little call from Injunctions against preaching without -authority, but since such there be, I must even, in virtue of my -office, bid you cease, and all this company disperse.' - -That they did contentedly, with three cheers for the old knight, who -was well known, and loved as much as known, at Rochester. - -Mr. Drake was bidden to the 'Crown' by my guardian to take a cup of -wine; for it was always his custom to try and part in friendship with -those whom he had had occasion to chide. - -'But what of the Injunctions about which you are so tender, Sir -Fulke?' laughed Drake. 'You forget I am an ecclesiastical person, -and may not haunt or resort to taverns or alehouses, _vide_ -Injunction No. 7.' - -'"Save for your honest necessities,"' returned Sir Fulke. 'So run -the words; and your peace-making I hold, in my capacity of Justice, -to be a most honest necessity. So come, with no more words, and save -your tenderness for less honest occasions.' - -So we went to the inn, and there they talked of the times quietly -enough till the lawyer came in. Mr. Drake craved leave to carry me -home with him when our business was done, that I might see his boys, -of whom he seemed very proud, and fish with them on the morrow. - -Sir Fulke demurred at first, but when Mr. Drake urged that it would -cheer me a little, and perhaps bring the colour back to me, for I was -but very poorly after my days of sorrow, my guardian at last -consented. - -Towards evening, then, Mr. Drake came back for me, and we sallied out -together, Sir Fulke crying out as we left that Mr. Drake was not to -send me back with any pestilent Calvinistic ideas in my head. - -I was surprised that we went across the road down to the -landing-stage just below the bridge. For I knew not where Mr. -Drake's house could be if we must go to it by water, but I did not -say anything till we had taken his boat and were clear of the turmoil -which the fast-ebbing tide caused as it fought its way angrily -through the narrow arches of the noble bridge. - -'Where is your house, Mr. Drake?' I asked, as we reached the stiller -water. - -'Where is it, my boy?' answered he, chuckling to himself, as if -vastly tickled by my question. 'Where, but on no man's land.' - -'And where may that be?' asked I, not at all understanding his -merriment. - -'Why, in God's free tide-way, my lad,' said Mr. Drake, chuckling more -heartily than ever. 'Where could an Englishman, and above all a -Devonshire man, live better than there, where there are no landlords -and no taxes, and every one is his own king? You will know it some -day, I hope. Frank knows it. My boys know it.' - -I could not quite make out what he meant, and least of all who Frank -was, and what he had to do with it. And no wonder, for then I did -not know his strange habit of speaking of his sons as 'Frank and my -boys.' I did not like to question him more, and was content to -listen to him as he told me the names and services of the Queen's -ships which we passed. There were a good many of them moored between -the bridge and Upnor Castle, whereof some came to great renown -afterwards, but then they were few and ill kept compared with what a -man may see in the reach to-day. - -Clean past Chatham and the one little dock that it then had we went, -till we made the reach that runs toward Hoo. Here Mr. Drake stopped -rowing and pointed down the river. - -'Look, Master Festing,' cried he. 'There she lies, there ride her -jolly old bones over no man's land. That is my house, that is my -castle, that is where I live with Frank, when he is at home, and my -boys.' - -I looked to where he pointed, and saw an old hulk, after the fashion -of King Henry VII.'s time, moored just out of the fair-way. A -handsome vessel she must have been once, but was dismasted and -plainly very old. I noted this to Mr. Drake. - -'Ay,' he said, 'she is old, but trim and staunch yet. They say Cabot -sailed in her to the Indies once; the first man who touched the -mainland, let the Spaniards say what they will. I know it, and Frank -knows it, and so do my boys, and we are proud of it, as we ought to -be, for he sailed from England in an English ship.' - -'But why do you live there?' I asked. - -'Well,' said he, 'I have a reason, and I may as well tell you now as -later. I lived once near Tavistock, in beautiful Devon, on the banks -of our sweet Tavy, and there I might be dwelling now, but that I -began to smell the Word of God and know it from the stinking breath -of the beast of Rome. Then the Lord sent me trials, which, I thank -Him day and night, He gave me strength to bear. The Justices of -Devon were, for the most part, very earnest for the old religion, and -persecution grew hot for those who would not sign the Six Articles. -I thank God I was one to whom He showed the filthy error of that -first most pestilent and damnable doctrine concerning -transubstantiation. For, look you, lad, they would have made us like -unto themselves, who are worse than the cannibal savages of the -Indies. They, in their devilish ignorance, do but eat the flesh of -their enemies; but these, in their most pernicious self-will, would -pretend to fill their lewd bellies with the flesh of their Redeemer. -Even as I speak to you of it, lad, my words seem like poison that -will blister my lips, and I shudder each time I think of it, that -Christian men are found to set such wanton contumely upon their sweet -Lord. Come what might, I was no man to sink my soul in the filth of -such a hell-born superstition as that; so I rose up and fled from the -destroyer hither to Kent, where I knew true men were to be found. -Here God showed me yonder hulk, which I purchased with the store of -money I had saved. There dwelt I in peace till, in the fulness of -time, King Henry died, and the godly men who stood around the throne -of his son made me a preacher to the Royal Navy. So I continued -reaping plenteously in the harvest of the Lord, until Edward's death -thrust England once more down into the black pit of papacy and -superstition.' - -'But the day has broken again, now,' I said, remembering his former -words, and wishing to win him back to the genial mood from which he -had talked himself. He had been getting more and more like a great -boy as we neared the ship and he talked of his sons, and I was sorry -to have made him gloomy by my foolish questions. - -'So it has, lad, so it has,' he cried, looking up quickly with the -twinkle in his eyes again. 'It is growing brighter every hour; you -shall help to brighten it, with God's good will, and so shall Frank, -so shall my boys. But here we are almost alongside. Ahoy! ahoy! -ahoy!' - -No one answered to his shout, but as we came close alongside we could -hear a strange commotion in the waist of the ship, into which, -however, we could not see. - -'They are about it again,' said Mr. Drake, with a chuckle; 'my boys -are.' - -'About what?' asked I. - -'Fighting!' replied Mr. Drake, with increasing pride and delight. 'I -know the sound. My boys fight as much as any man's sons in all -Rochester. Not many days pass without them getting about it.' - -'But what do they fight about?' I asked. - -'Don't bother your head with that,' replied Mr. Drake; 'they don't.' - -With that we went aboard, and I saw the cause of all the hubbub. -Stripped to the waist were two sturdy lads of about twelve and -thirteen years of age. They were fighting furiously with their -fists, to the great delight of nine other boys of all ages, varying -from a little fellow not more than three years old to a lad of scarce -less growth than the smaller of the two fighters. The onlookers were -cheering each telling blow, and hounding on their brothers to further -efforts. Each time the others shouted I noticed that the baby cried -out too, as loudly as his little lungs would allow, and beat on the -deck with an old sword-hilt, which seemed to be his favourite and -only plaything. - -'There, Master Festing,' said Mr. Drake to me, beaming all over his -round face, 'there are boys for a father to be proud of. Well done, -Jack! 'Tis Jack and Joe,' he went on. 'You could not have had -better luck; they are pretty fighters both.' - -My answer was drowned in a fresh shout from the boys as they caught -sight of their father. - -'Come on, dad, come on,' they cried. 'Jack is winning again, but you -shall still see some good sport before 'tis ended.' - -They crowded round Mr. Drake to drag him by his cloak to where the -two boys were still belabouring each other. Thither I think he would -have gone, for he seemed as excited over it as the baby, but just -then a thin, weary-looking woman, with eyes red with weeping, came -running out of the cabin in the poop, and took Mr. Drake wildly by -the arm. - -'Stop them, Ned,' she said, 'stop them, for God's sake; they have -been fighting this hour. For what black sin has Heaven given me such -sons?' - -'Tut, tut,' answered Mr. Drake; 'would you have a nosegay of milksops -to call you mother? Rejoice that God has given us sons with whom, -when the time is come, we shall not fear to speak with our enemies in -the gate.' - -'I know, I know,' she pleaded again; 'but stop them, Ned, this once. -Look at their bloody faces; and I am so a-weary. Frank would stop -them if he were here.' - -'Ay, though he loves to see them fight,' answered her husband; 'I -think sometimes he cares too much for you, and not enough for the -cause. Still, for his sake, I will stop them. Peace, lads, peace!' -he cried then; 'enough for to-day. It has been well fought, but now -I bring you a visitor. Look to him, while I shift my boots within.' - -The boys ceased fighting instantly, and after wiping their faces they -shook hands, and then came up to where Mr. Drake had left me with the -rest. John Drake, being the eldest there, welcomed me, but in a way -that fell a good deal short of good manners. - -'Can you fight?' said he, with a contemptuous look at my black -broadcloth doublet. - -'I can fight with sword and buckler,' I answered, 'a little.' - -'Then you are a gentleman?' asked Joe. - -'Yes.' - -'Frank is going to be a gentleman. He says so. He is going to make -all of us gentlemen, too.' - -'Who is Frank?' asked I. - -'Don't you know Frank?' said Joe, while all the rest laughed at my -ignorance. 'Frank is our brother, our eldest brother. He is a -sailor now. He's 'prentice to a shipmaster, who trades to Zeeland -and France. He will be a master soon, and have a ship of his own. -He says so. And then he will sail with us against Calais, and win it -back, and the Queen will make us gentlemen.' - -'That is much to do, and will take some doing,' said I, smiling, I am -afraid; for I could not but be merry over the way they spoke of what -a poor smack-lad was going to do. - -'What are you grinning at?' cried Jack, firing up in a moment. 'Do -you doubt Frank will do what he says? Take that, then,' and he -struck me a hard blow on the chest that made me reel again. - -I am sorry it made me angry to be struck so, for I returned his blow -so heartily that, being younger than I, he was spun over on the deck -somewhat heavily. Yet I think he did not mind, for when he picked -himself up from where he fell, he came to me quite quietly and felt -my arm. - -'Who would have guessed,' said he, 'that you could strike so shrewd a -blow,--you with a pale face like that; but Frank could thrash you, -and so he shall when he comes home, and then we will ask him to let -you sail with us against Calais.' - -I could not laugh at him any more, for I began to take a great liking -to the sturdy lad, with his broad, flat face and curly hair, since I -had knocked him down, and could quite forgive him for talking so big -about his brother Frank. - -'I am sorry I struck so hard,' said I. - -'Nay, sir,' answered he, 'be not sorry. It is not every one can fell -me like an ox, and besides, dad says England will want strong arms -ere long. Won't she, dad?' - -'Ay, that she will,' said Mr. Drake, who now came out from under the -poop; 'and Mr. Festing will use his for her. But come to supper now.' - -'Art going to be a soldier, lad?' he said to me, as soon as we were -seated. - -'I think I shall be scholar,' answered I. 'Sir Fulke says I am to go -to Cambridge soon. It was my father's wish.' - -'Well, he was a wise man,' said Mr. Drake, 'and doubtless knew best. -But it seems to me that England will need pikes and swords sooner -than books. Still, let that pass.' - -'Don't let him be a scholar, dad,' said Jack. 'He must be a sailor, -and sail with us to the Indies, and find new kingdoms, like the -Spaniards, and bring back a cargo of gold and pearls. Tell him about -the Indies, dad.' - -So Mr. Drake, with a right good will, fell to talking of the wonders -of the West, and we twelve boys sat round him, open-eyed, greedily -devouring his words, while he spoke of the gilded king that was -there, who ruled over mountains of gold; and of the Indians that -hunted fish in the sea, as spaniels did rabbits; and of the great -whelks that were three feet across; and of trees with leaves so big -that one could cover a man, and almonds as large as a demi-culverin -ball. I know not what other wonders he related, just as he heard -them from the mariners who came thence, but we all grew greatly -excited by his tales, and went to bed to dream things yet stranger -than the truth. - -Such was my first meeting with the Drake family, and fast friends we -boys became, and though continually fighting amongst themselves for -the lightest causes, they never offered to attack me again. Francis -I never saw at this time. He was nearly always abroad, and when he -returned it so happened that I could not get to see him. Still, -whenever we got a day away from our grammar, Harry and I always -slipped off with our crossbows, to sail with the Drakes in their boat -and fish and shoot wild-fowl. - -Those were our happiest days. So greatly did the Drake boys take to -Harry, after a fight or two, and so much did we take to the sea, that -all our old pleasures were forsaken, and the pigeons and the jackdaws -were left in quiet possession of the crumbling old church. - -Nor were Mr. Drake's stories of the West the least cause of our love -for the Medway and that aged hulk. Harry was never tired of -questioning the old navy preacher about it, and soon we began to -worry our old tutor to tell us more. - -For I must relate that I was now living almost entirely at Ashtead -with Harry, that I might share with him the tutor whom Sir Fulke had -secured for us. Poor old long-suffering Master Follet! How I wish I -could know thee now! Surely when I look back to those days of -patience, I know thou must have been the sweetest pedant that ever -said his prayers to Aristotle. But then in my folly I knew thee not. -I knew thee not for the gentle scholar thou wast, for the -well-rounded compendium thou hadst made thyself of that old learning -which is fast passing away,--the old, pure learning, which a man -could seek so pleasantly when learning was books and naught but -books, and he who knew them best was accounted wisest. - -If Eve had not tempted nor Adam sinned, God might have given us that -richest gift--to see the hours of our youth, as they pass, with the -eyes that we look back upon them withal when they are gone. Alas! -such wit I lacked and knew thee not, my gentle master, nor the hours -in which I was free to rifle the treasure-house of thy polished -wisdom. Had I but known, I might have tasted, ere they were yet -dead, the sweets of those days when he who sought wisdom and would be -accounted wise might sit out his life in the window-seat of his -library, drinking in the voice of the mighty dead, while the world -without glimmered softly in through the painted lattices upon the -folio before him, and wandered thence to kiss its sister volumes -sleeping in the shelves. - -Now that has changed, with much besides. Now must not a scholar be -content with the light that comes softened and tender-hued through a -library window if he would pass for wise amongst men. Now must he -plunge out into the day and seek for the new wisdom amongst the -haunts of thronging men, where the sunlight beats fierce and bright -upon the world to show to him who fears not all its beauty, and all -its baseness too. - -Such wisdom was not our tutor's portion, and his want of it, instead -of increasing our love for him, as now it would, was our chief ground -of difference. We each day grew more full of the wonders of the -West, not alone from what Mr. Drake told us, but also from what we -heard direct from mariners, with whom groats could win us speech in -Chatham and Rochester. - -Well I remember how he answered when, having drunk dry our other -wells, we made bold to try what we could find in our tutor. - -'I am glad, my boys,' said he, with an anxious look in his delicate, -wizened face and clear, brown eyes, 'that you have come to me in your -trouble; for I perceive you have been speaking with some ignorant -fellows, who have filled your heads with the folly that is now -everywhere afloat. Beware of it as you would beware the fiend. So -strong is this madness that has seized on men, and even scholars (if -indeed they still deserve the name), that in so great a place as -Paris even Aristotle has been called in question.' - -He looked at us as he said this, pausing long with uplifted eyebrows -to watch the effect which this announcement, to him so terrible, -would have on us. I did not know what to say, so prayed him civilly -to proceed. - -'You may well be pained,' he continued, though it must be said that I -don't think we were at all, 'but you will rejoice to hear that these -things will not continue long. I have here a goad which will soon -drive these dull-witted cattle back to the right path.' - -So saying he laid his hand on a bundle of manuscript, which we knew -only too well, and leaning fondly over it read slowly, as though it -were a sweetmeat in his mouth, the title-leaf at the top. Its name -was in Greek, not because the work was written in that tongue, but -merely out of a fashion used commonly amongst such men to increase -their appearance of wisdom. - -'It is a work,' the good old man said,--we had heard it a score of -times before,--'upon which I am labouring, entituled, "'H -Aristotéleia Apología; or, Ramus Ransacked, being a British Blast -against Gaulish Gabies, wherein all the preposterous, fantastical -opinions of late grown current amongst the Dunces of Paris are fully -set forth, withstood, and refuted by Christoph: Follet." It begins -with a sharp note against----' - -'But, please you, sir,' Harry interrupted,--and I was glad he did, -for I saw the old man was running out of his course, as he always did -when he got astride his 'Apology,'--'were it not well first to show -us how the knowledge of this New World, of which we were asking you, -had so set things awry?' - -'Knowledge of the New World, say you?' said our tutor, evidently a -little pained. 'Know, my boys, there is no knowledge of this -pretended New World. No man can know what does not exist: the New -World does not exist, _ergo_, no man hath knowledge of it.' - -'Far be it from me to dispute your syllogism,' said I, for logic was -his chief delight to teach us, 'yet, saving your premises, I have -many times spoken with them that have been there and seen it.' - -'My boy, my boy,' answered Mr. Follet sadly, 'in what a perilous case -do I find you! What hope can I have of your scholarship if you will -set the eyes of moderns against the wits of the ancients? How can -they have seen this New World of which they are so ready to prate? -Had it existed, Aristotle would have written of it. Forget you for -how many years, and for how many and great sages, the whole sum of -human understanding has been contained within the compass of the -writings of that great man, and will you seek to increase it by the -babbling of drunken sailors?' - -'But, please you,' said Harry, 'the honest mariners who told me were -not drunk.' - -'The greater liars they, then,' answered Mr. Follet, a little -testily. 'Or rather, I should say, the more pitiable their -ignorance; for let me not be carried beyond good manners, which are a -sweet seasoning of scholarship too often forgotten nowadays in the -dishes men compound of their wits.' - -'Save you sir, for that most excellent conceited figure,' said Harry -gravely; for the mad knave always knew how to bring his tutor back to -a fair ambling pace when he grew restive. - -'Well, lad, indeed I think it was not amiss,' answered Mr. Follet, -with a complacent smile. 'It is an indifferent pretty trick I have, -and one I could doubtless in some measure rear in you; but not if you -suffer the vulgar to plant weeds in the gardens I am tilling with -such labour, that I may in due course see you both bring forth a -plenteous crop of the fruits of scholarship. If you have a desire to -make yourself learned in cosmography, I myself, who have no small -skill in it, will teach you. But listen no more to idle sailors' -tales, whose only guide is experience, wherewith they foolishly seek -to explain the hidden wonders of the world, seeing they have no skill -to learn the truth from books.' - -'Is it Aristotle, then, alone we must read?' asked Harry, a little -disheartened at the prospect before us. - -'I will not say that,' answered our tutor. 'Though for the wise the -Stagirite is all-sufficient, yet it cannot be denied but that there -be some authors who, having reverently and afar-off walked in the -footsteps of the master, have in a manner amplified, extended, and -explained, and as it were diluted his vast learning, so as to make it -more palatable, medicinable, and digestible to the unlearned, such as -you and Jasper. Therefore, because of your weakness, I would suffer -you to read the works of Strabo, Seneca, and Claudius Ptolemæus, -amongst the ancients; and among the moderns, the _Speculum Naturale_ -of Vicenzius Bellovacensis, the _Liber Cosmographicus de Natura -Locorum_ of Albertus Magnus, together with certain works of our own -Roger Bacon; but these with circumspection, and under my guidance, -seeing he was a speculator who erred not from too little boldness, or -too great respect for Aristotle.' - -With this we had to rest content, though I think Harry found little -comfort in it, seeing that his love for books was never so great as -mine. As for me, I laid aside my _Plutarch_, and devoured greedily -all my tutor advised. Nor did I stop there; for, rummaging in the -library at home, I found other works on cosmography, such as the -_Imago Mundi_ of Honoré d'Autun, and that of Cardinal Alliacus, -together with not a few others which some abbot of the later times -had collected, being, as I imagine, interested in the science. - -In these I read constantly, and carried what I found there to Mr. -Drake and his boys, and my friends amongst the sailors. Hour by hour -I told them of the dread ocean, where was eternal night, with storms -that never ceased; of the magic island of Antilia or Atlantis; of the -marvellous hill in Trapobana, which had the property of drawing the -nails from a ship which sailed near it, and so wrecking it; and, -above all, of the Earthly Paradise, of which I loved best to muse. - -Again and again I poured into their wondering ears the tale of that -blessed land which lay beyond the Indies, the first region of the -East, where the world begins and heaven and earth are hand in hand; -the land where is raised on high a sanctuary which mortals may not -enter, and which everlasting bars of fire have closed since he who -first sinned was driven forth. I told them of the wonders of that -land; how in it there was neither heat nor cold, and four great -rivers went forth to fill the place with all manner of sweetness and -water the Wood of Life, the tree whereof if any man eat the fruit he -shall continue for everlasting and unchanged. - -Some laughed at me, saying I was blinded by too much book-learning, -but most of the mariners, and especially Drake's boys, listened with -great respect, caring little, as I think, after the manner of -seafaring folk, whether the tales they heard were true or not, so -long as they were strange. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -So passed by the full days of my boyhood; I living, as I have said, -chiefly at Ashtead in Harry Waldyve's company. - -It was not alone in devouring grammar, and such dry bones of -cosmography as Mr. Follet allowed us to pick, that our time was -spent. Sir Fulke was not a man to keep boys wholly to such work. -Although he had managed to acquire some show of skill in theology -when King Henry brought it into fashion at Court, yet even that I -soon saw had fallen into sad confusion in his mind, and in no sense -was he a scholar. - -Yet in all such pastimes and pleasant labours as are used in open -places and the daylight, which in respect of peace or war are not -only comely and decent, but also very necessary for a courtly -gentleman to use--in these he still showed the remains of his former -high skill, or at least a happy trick of imparting to us his great -knowledge of their mysteries. - -Almost every day he would have us out and exercise us under his own -eye at riding, running at the ring and tilt, and in playing with -weapons, being especially careful of our fence with the sword and -spiked target. Like his master King Henry, he had a great love and -skill for using the bow. This he taught us to use, and less -willingly also the harquebuss. - -We had little time for the sea--an element, as my guardian was wont -to say, which sorted less with what pertained to a gentleman than the -land. Yet he did not forbid it, and whenever he went up to the -Court, which was not seldom, we laid aside awhile our courtly -exercises, and were continually amongst the marshes and Saltings with -Mr. Drake's boys, 'Isti dracones horrendi,' as Mr. Follet was wont to -ease his mind by calling them. - -After Sir Fulke's returns from Court it was always our scholarship -that had the upper hand. For he was wise enough to see how things -were changing at Court, and came back overflowing with praises of the -young Queen's beauty and learning. - -''Slight, lads,' he would say, 'she puts you both to shame, and goes -beyond all young gentlemen of her time in the excellency of her -learning. I tell you it is a sight to make England weep for joy to -see her stand up, so fair and courteous, and make her speech in -Latin, or French, or Spanish, or Italian, to the jabbering foreigners -that come. And as for the Greek; why, Mr. Roger Ascham tells me she -reads more of it with him in a day at Windsor than any prebendary of -the church doth Latin in a week; he should know, seeing he had the -setting forward of all her most excellent gifts of learning.' - -'Then must we be double courtiers, sir,' said Harry, 'and court -learning and the Queen as well, if we want to keep the Court, or the -Queen shall have but half-courtiers.' - -'Half-courtiers or double courtiers,' said Sir Fulke, 'I know that he -who is out of learning will soon find himself out of Court.' - -'Then is he in an evil case,' laughed Harry, 'for he that is out of -Court is out of his suit, and he that is out of his suit shall be -shamed unless he quickly suit himself with another. Come, Jasper, -let us get Mr. Follet to make us breeches to go to Court with.' - -And away he would run to his work, while Sir Fulke laughed at his -boy's trick of turning words upside down. For he soon got the ways -of that tripping wit which, it must be said, has since come to make -far better passwords to places at Court than ever a hard-witted -scholar could learn, did he read twice as much Greek as Mr. Ascham -himself. - -I say not this in envy, though I was too hard-witted ever to come by -the trick. Harry's gifts were dearer to me than my own, and, God -knows, I loved him for them, and never in my life envied him -anything, except once, but for the present time let that pass. - -Some three years after my father's death thus passed away before the -sad day came when Harry and I were forced to separate, since our -paths led diversely. It was high time that I should go to Cambridge, -according to my father's wish. Sir Fulke's faith in scholarship was -not large enough for him to suffer Harry to do the like. For him a -place was found in the household of that most godly and warlike -nobleman, Sir Francis Russell, Earl of Bedford, who was godfather to -Frank Drake, since his renowned father, the first earl, being very -earnest for the Reformation party, had been a good friend of Mr. -Drake's when he lived at Tavistock. - -Since my father's death I had known no day so sad as that on which I -took my departure for Cambridge in company with Mr. Follet, who at my -charges was to install me safely in Trinity College. - -Harry rode with us as far as Gravesend, where we were to take the -river for London. Mr. Drake, too, joined us at Rochester, and, -riding by my side on his shaggy cob, beguiled the way with much good -advice as to how I should bear myself at the University. - -'I am, in a great measure,' said he, 'out of my former opinion -against your becoming a scholar, not only because of the excellent -parts I can see in you, which it were a sin to swathe in a napkin, -but also because you will find that certain stout hearts amongst the -godly, to whom I have written concerning you, are fast getting the -upper hand at Cambridge. So that, I doubt not, you shall find -yourself set amongst many goodly plants, with whom you shall grow to -bear fruit medicinable for the purging away of all the clogging -papistical humours that still be left to fester in the stomach of -Reformation.' - -'He were but a bitter tree,' laughed Harry, 'did he bear but purges.' - -'A most wrong conclusion, my malapert Hal,' answered Mr. Drake; 'for -your bitter pill is a sovereign sweetening of the inwards; and you -shall find, moreover, that much fruit which grows at Court, though -sweet in the mouth, is, for the most part, most bitter in the belly.' - -'Then,' cried Harry, 'have I learnt a most notable piece of science, -and can henceforth tell why courtiers' tongues are sweet and -scholars' bitter. Still, I will be a courtier with a tongue tuned to -sweet courtesy, and leave bitter railing to scholars.' - -'Go, thou madcap,' chuckled Mr. Drake, whom Harry could never offend; -'go cry "Words, come and play with me," for surely thou wast born -their play-fellow.' - -Mr. Drake then fell to tell me, as he had a score of times before, -that Trinity was the worthiest college in England, since it was that -which his good friend, the renowned Earl of Bedford, had chosen for -Frank's godfather, Lord Russell. - -So largely did he speak of this and of the shining light that the -young Earl had proved himself there, that his talk carried us all the -way to Gravesend, where, most sadly, we bade adieu to him and Harry. -As the strong flowing tide carried us up the beautiful Thames my -spirits grew lighter; for I was not without comfort to soften the -grief of my first parting with my brother. - -As I never attained to his wit and skill in courtly exercises, being -in no way apt thereto either by birth or nature, so I may say, since -all men know it, in things pertaining to scholarship he was but a -child beside me. I know not if I was unduly proud of all I had -attained to under Mr. Follet's guidance, yet of a surety I know he -was unduly proud to bring me to Cambridge. - -'Were it not unworthy of a scholar, Jasper,' said the worthy man, as -we sat in the tilt-boat that was carrying us to London, 'I could -bring my heart to envy you the many and great delights that await you -whither we are going. Most profitably have you attended to my -precepts, and eschewing the light of experience, by which the vulgar -walk, have trusted to books, which are the only true guide. Such -well-fashioned vessels as I have made you it is now again the delight -of _Alma Mater_ to fill with her choicest nectar.' - -'Did she, then, once choose other vessels?' asked I. - -'Alas, dear discipulus, yes,' answered Mr. Pellet, with a little -flush on his wan cheek; 'and then it was that I was cast forth. It -was when those Elysian days, whereof the memory is a sweet savour to -me still, were ended--the days when it was my happy fortune to find a -place amongst that unmatched garland of fellows and scholars with -which Dr. Medcalfe crowned St. John's College when he was Master, and -afterwards when I was chosen out to be a most unworthy member of the -new-founded house of Trinity. It was an honour I had little hoped to -win; for (not to speak too much, because of the love I still bear to -my old and dear college) this royal Trinity which our glorious King -Henry founded, that _colonia_ of St. John's, that _matre pulchra -filia pulchrior_, to which you, I hope most humbly and reverently, -are about to belong, I hold, above all foundations, learned or -unlearned, that the world has ever seen, to be the most noble, -princely, and magnificent.' - -'What made you, then, leave so honourable a state?' asked I as he -paused, as if lost in musing on the glories of our college. - -'That is soon told,' said he sadly. 'The days I speak of ended with -the most precious life of our scholar king. It was there, if I may -make free with the fine figure of my most worthy friend, Mr. Roger -Ascham, that the Hog of Rome passed over the seas into that most fair -garden of Cambridge, and set to to root out the fair plants that were -growing there, and tread them under his cloven feet. Then the -blighting breath of idolatry carried seeds of tares thither, which, -taking root, throve most rankly amidst the pollution that beast had -made, till ignorance choked out scholarship, and I fled.' - -'Surely, sir,' said I, for much talk with Mr. Drake had increased the -hot opinions that were born in me; 'surely the breath of the beast of -Rome is no better than the vapours from the mouth of hell.' - -'Soft and fair, Jasper,' said the old scholar, 'soft and fair. Such -words sit ill on a scholar's lips. Carry not the rancour of these -present times into the holy shrine whither you go. The memory of the -ruin that befell that fair-built fabric did somewhat carry me beyond -the terms of good manners. Do not you follow me. As you love -learning, help to guard the doors of yonder dear place against the -savage turmoil of these shifting times.' - -'Must a scholar, then,' said I, 'forget his religion and what he owes -to his God?' - -'No, not that, lad,' answered Mr. Follet, looking a little pained. -'Your most glorious college was, under the king's grace, as its -charter recites, divinely appointed for the purpose of bringing the -pure truth of Christianity into the realm, and repelling the -nefarious and enormous abuses of the Roman papacy.' - -'Then will I strive,' said I, 'with my college to do what King Henry -said.' - -'That is well, lad,' answered my poor tutor, without losing his -troubled look. 'Still there is no need to forget your scholarship in -doing parson's work. By learning shall you withstand Rome more than -by controversy and railing. Love a scholar when you meet him, though -he hate not Rome. Love him for his learning's sake, and forget Rome. -Such was the way in the old days, when good Dr. Medcalfe was Master -of St. John's.' - -I saw how pained he was to think that the cargo he had laden with -such care might be wrecked on the stormy seas which he could perceive -ahead. So I said no more then, but contented myself with watching -the multitudes of swans that came about us and the shipping which we -passed, and with asking a hundred questions about the towns and -villages on the banks, as well as of the great city which lay before, -till by dark our sturdy rowers ceased their work at Paul's Chain, and -we landed. - -We lay but one night in London, and came to Cambridge on the fourth -day. There Mr. Follet at once carried me to Dr. Beaumont, that I -might be entered at Trinity. - -The Doctor, as I must call him, though at that time he was only -admitted B.D., was a man of about forty years of age, of good -breeding and presence. In my eyes he seemed a very great person -indeed, and my respect for good Mr. Follet was never so great as when -I saw with what honour and affection the Master of Trinity received -him. - -'I have brought you a scholar, Beaumont,' said Mr. Follet, after very -hearty commendations had passed between them, 'after my own heart; -one who has imbibed the true principles of Aristotle, and is -untainted with any new empiric heresy. I have taught him well in our -own faith--to love learning, and despise experience as the common -school-house of fools.' - -'Ah, Follet,' said Dr. Beaumont, laying his hand on my tutor's -shoulder fondly, and speaking to him smilingly, as though he had been -a child, 'happy are you to have kept your scholarship so pure. Let -us hope your scholar will do no worse, though, God knows, these are -tainting times, and Cambridge grows so full of railing that ere long, -I think, there will be no room left for the gentle disputations of -scholars.' - -With that he dismissed us to his brother, Mr. John Beaumont, the -Vice-Master; who showed me where my lodging was to be in King's Hall, -not far from the great gateway of King Edward. - -How proud I felt as I sat that afternoon looking out upon the little -court, for that was before Dr. Neville had pulled down the old -buildings to make the present great court, which is now the envy of -every college in Europe! - -Cambridge seemed to me a hall of Paradise, and Trinity its daïs. In -spite of what Dr. Beaumont had said, I looked forward to dwelling in -it as in a realm where the pure quintessence of learning should reign -over a quiet band of brothers, who in the impassive contemplation of -wisdom should have lost all hate, and fear, and sorrow. - -Suddenly my meditation was disturbed by a loud shout, and I saw a -number of students surge tumultuously out of an archway into the -court. In their midst was an effigy with an ox's skull for a head, -clearly made to counterfeit the devil. This they had clothed in a -surplice, and crowned with a square cap. - -It seemed to delight them beyond measure; for while one held the -thing the rest danced round it, laughing and shouting, and singing -ribald verselets against it. Gradually they drew near the window of -one of the fellows, named Saunderson, who was University Reader in -Logic, and fell to crying, 'Fasting Johnnie, Fasting Johnnie, come -and welcome your master, who is here to speak with you.' - -Therewith Mr. Saunderson ran at them with a cudgel, but they drove -him back, so that he could not come at the devil in the surplice. - -By this time the uproar had brought a number of students to the gate, -and Mr. Saunderson, seeing amongst them a number of King's College -men, cried out, 'To me, to me, all lovers of the old faith, and stay -this sacrilege.' - -There was a rush from the gate at the effigy in answer to his call, -and in a few moments I could see my college was being worsted. That -was enough for me in the first blush of my pride, and, without -thinking, I rushed down and out into the court, just in time to seize -the effigy as it was being carried out of the gate. - -What followed beyond a wild turmoil, in which I was fighting like the -Drake boys themselves, I cannot say, but soon I knew I was standing -in the midst of the court with the tattered effigy in my hands and my -fellow-students shouting round me as if their lungs must burst. - -At every pause in their shouting I could hear the voices of the -Vice-Master and Mr. Saunderson railing at each other in a corner of -the court with such good will, that every moment I thought it would -come to blows. - -I was feeling very proud of what I had done, though scarcely knew in -the din what to do next, when all at once I saw a grave-looking young -man standing in the gateway, which was now shut, and by his side my -poor tutor looking at me as though his heart would break. - -Then at last it burst upon me what I had done. At one blow the fair -fabric I had raised in my day-dreams, the oft-repeated resolution to -lead the life of pure scholarship, to soar impassive on the wings of -science above the little turmoils of the world--at one blow it was -all gone. Ere one sun had set upon my new life I was the hero of a -vulgar broil. - -In an agony of shame I cast down the detested cause of my grief, and, -breaking passionately through the excited throng, fled to my rooms -from the reproachful, heart-rending gaze of poor Mr. Follet. - -With my head buried in my arms I sat for some minutes sobbing in -black despair at my table, when, as I thought, I heard him open my -door and come towards me; but the step was young, firm, and resolute, -as unlike as it could be to my dear old tutor's shuffle. A strong -hand was laid gently on my shoulder, and I heard a deep, full-toned -voice speaking to me. - -'Be of good heart, Mr. Festing,' it said; 'I know why you weep, and -had I not long ago hardened my heart to the battle, I could weep with -you.' - -I looked up, and saw the same gentleman who had been standing with my -tutor in the gateway. He was a somewhat ungainly, ill-favoured young -man of some eight and twenty summers, but yet I felt drawn to him, as -much by reason of his kindly words as of a look there was in his face -of fearless resolution, and pure-strained intellect, which a certain -aspect of weary melancholy softened into what was to me a most sweet -and lovable expression. - -'I am Mr. Thomas Cartwright,' he went on, still looking sorrowfully -upon me, 'new-made major-fellow of Trinity, with whom you are to -share this lodging. I have brought this about by the kindness of the -Master, because Mr. Drake had written to me concerning you, with very -hearty commendations.' - -'Are you a friend of Mr. Drake's, then?' asked I, feeling greatly -comforted. - -'Yes, Mr. Festing,' answered he; 'and also of that most high-wrought -scholar, Mr. Follet. I know more of you than you know of me, and I -know why you grieve. It is not hidden from me that you were minded -to make sacrifice to the Lord of the good parts He has given you, and -by long hours of patient study to make them worthy His acceptance. -Yet rejoice that He has shown you at your very going forth what His -will is with you. Rejoice that we can say this day, as surely as -Samuel did to Saul, that He has appointed you to go up with us -against the Amalekites and destroy them utterly. Such is His will; -and while men hearkened to Him the strong tide of Reformation flowed -on in full flood under His mighty breath, till its living waters bid -fair to fill the length and breadth of Christendom with their -cleansing sweetness. But men wearied of the work, and spared the -best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and of the -lambs, and destroyed them not. And now the Lord's ears are vexed -with the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen amongst the -people. He turns His face from them, and the tide is fast running -back. Rise up, then, and do the work of the Lord. Think not of the -treasure you have been laying up for Him; for, behold, to obey is -better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams!' - -'Must I then abandon all scholarship,' I asked, when he had finished, -'to join in the din of these bitter controversies?' - -'What could the son of Nicholas Festing wish for better?' Mr. -Cartwright replied. 'For what you call bitter controversy is battle -under the banner of the Lord of Hosts against the Amalekite. -Moreover, you need not lay aside scholarship, but you must labour -thereat, even as I have done, to make of it a weapon wherewith at -last you shall hew Agag in pieces before the Lord.' - -With such words he encouraged me not only then, but daily, till ere a -term was half over I was as hot a young Puritan as any in Cambridge. -I cannot blame myself that I so quickly made surrender to that -remarkable young man, whom St. John's and my college were bidding -against each other to possess, and who has since made so great a stir -in England, becoming the very head and heart of the Puritan party. - -I had not even good Mr. Follet's influence to help me, for he left -Cambridge a few days after to take up his place as tutor to Harry and -one or two other young gentlemen about the Court, to whom he had been -commended by his good friend Mr. Ascham, a man who at that time was -the very oracle of the nobility on all such matters. - -I was glad enough my tutor was spared any further sight of the -ill-conditioned state of his university, and, above all, the hornets' -nest which I soon found my unhappy exploit had stirred up. - -It was some days after his departure that I was sitting at the window -of my lodging pretending to read, but in truth listening to the -Vice-Master and Mr. Cartwright, who were talking over Mr. -Saunderson's recent expulsion from his fellowship. - -'And how think you the Vice-Chancellor will take it?' said Mr. -Cartwright thoughtfully. - -'Who cares how?' said Mr. Beaumont hotly. 'Who cares what a Romish -mule like Baker thinks? If he cannot stomach it, so much the worse -for his Cretan belly.' - -'And yet I think he is like to take some order in the matter,' said -Mr. Cartwright, 'seeing how sturdy a papist Saunderson was.' - -'Doubt not he will talk big enough,' answered the Vice-Master. 'He -thinks because he is Provost of King's he can lift up his head over -Trinity men. Yet let him beware, or he shall find that Pharaoh will -lift up the head of the King's Baker from off his shoulders, and good -Protestant fowls shall eat the flesh from off him. And besides, what -order can he take? For if we cannot expel a fellow for observing -fasts and particular days, not to speak of using allegory and citing -Plato when publicly discoursing on the Scriptures, we may just as -well write ourselves heathen idolaters and Italian atheists at once.' - -At this moment I heard the tramp of armed men below the window, and, -looking out, I perceived the Proctor with the beadles and his watch -in the court below halting at our staircase. At that time the -Proctor's watch always went at night harnessed with good morions and -corselets, for fear of the Mayor's constable and his men, but it was -not common to see them so by day. - -Mr. Proctor demanded admittance in the Vice-Chancellor's name, and -therewith entered the room with the beadles and two halberdiers, -whose bright armour seemed strangely out of place in our dim and -dusty lodging. - -'I arrest you, John Beaumont,' said the Proctor, 'for brawling and -other offences against the peace and dignity of our Lady the Queen -and this University.' - -'At whose suit?' asked the Vice-Master. - -'At Mr. Saunderson's,' he answered. 'Here is the warrant; I pray you -come peaceably.' - -'Oh, I will come gladly enough!' said Mr. Beaumont, 'if it were only -to enjoy the discomfiture it will bring the King's Baker when Sir -William Cecil hears of it. Thank God, we have a Chancellor who knows -my brother and me for true men, and can make a traitor's ears -tingle--ay, and his back too. Let my brother know all, Mr. -Cartwright, and pray him write without delay to Sir William.' - -The Proctor looked a little troubled at the mention of the great -Secretary of State, but still he performed his task, and our -Vice-Master was conducted to prison. And there indeed he lay till an -answer came down from Sir William, with such a stinging reprimand for -Dr. Baker that he was glad enough to release Mr. Beaumont and eat his -humble pie, thanking God it was no worse. - -Were I to speak at greater length of Cambridge as it was at that -time, I should have little else to tell save ringing the changes on -what happened to me in the first week of residence. Factions and -contentions were our only occupation; and while the seniors -quarrelled the students brawled, and grew daily more inordinate and -contemptuous of rules for their orderly governance, as well in -behaviour as in religion. - -As for learning, it was only part and parcel with our manners. Our -only philosophy was controversy concerning the ordinances of the -English Church; while in grammar we studied nothing so much as how to -rail in Ciceronian Latin,--and cunning professors we had, at least -for the railing. - -Sharing Mr. Cartwright's lodging, I was more fortunate than most. -Though very earnest in the controversies, he would not neglect his -scholarship nor mine. Every morning he rose between three and four, -not allowing himself more than five hours' sleep, whatever happened. -I rose with him, out of my love of him and learning; and pushing my -trundle-bed under his standing bedstead, to make room for my stool -beside him, read with him out of the books we loved so well till nigh -ten o'clock, when dinner was served in the Hall. - -After that the disputations in the schools began, which I always -attended with him, being proud to carry the books of the most -brilliant scholar and popular orator in Cambridge. - -Between that and supper-time I exercised my body, as I had promised -Sir Fulke, chiefly in the fencing-school. For there was newly come -to Cambridge at that time an Italian master of fence, to whom all the -best gentlemen in the University resorted to learn the new foining -rapier play, to the great discomfiture of the teachers of sword and -buckler. Moreover, I rode out continually to the artillery butts or -the Gog-Magog hills, till Mr. Cartwright persuaded me to abandon the -evil company that gathered there daily for pastime. - -So things went with me and the University, till in the summer of the -year of grace 1564 a great and notable thing for us came to pass. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -It was after hall one day, in the middle of July, that Mr. Cartwright -came up to me with the great news. - -'Our time has come at last, Jasper,' said he; 'this day the -Vice-Chancellor has received a letter from Mr. Secretary with very -sharp orders for the burying of our differences, seeing that the -Queen's grace will make progress here early in August.' - -'That is news indeed,' said I; 'will there not be great things done -for her entertainment?' - -'That is the way my content lies,' answered Mr. Cartwright, radiant. -'There will be disputations, great disputations, where we shall pour -into her gracious ear the true wisdom of Reformation, and refute our -backsliding, halting adversaries.' - -'But it is always said,' I replied, 'that the Queen clings to -ceremonies and superstitions.' - -'So she does,' he said, 'and were it not that that godly man, Lord -Robert Dudley, is ever at her side, things might go harder with the -faithful than they do.' - -'Truly,' said I, 'our High Steward is very earnest for the truth, but -how shall we prevail with her better than he?' - -'God will give us strength, and words, and wisdom,' he answered -excitedly. 'I shall stand forth in His might at the great -disputation, and speak words of fire that the Lord shall whisper in -my ears. She shall listen and know it is the word of God that she -hears; and lo! she shall go forth from Cambridge henceforth thrice -blessed, to search out and destroy utterly throughout the length and -breadth of the land all that the people have disobediently saved from -the destruction of Amalek.' - -'But will she surely hearken?' I said, half pitying and half fearing -to see him lifting up his voice like one of the prophets. - -'Ay, lad!' he cried, growing more and more excited, 'I know she will. -She is young and good and wise. She has been surrounded by evil -councillors, but the Lord has bidden me go cry to her, that she may -see the way of England's, ay, and the world's, salvation.' - -It was not until the day after the Queen arrived, when she rode out -of her lodgings at King's to visit the colleges, that my eyes were -gladdened with the sight of that most sublime Princess. - -I took my stand in Trinity, near the door of the hall, to see her -ride into it. I shall never forget that sight as she passed on erect -upon her horse, in a black velvet gown and hat. It was before the -present monstrous fashions had come into use, and her costume so set -off the brilliancy of her complexion and the ruddy glow of her hair -that she looked radiant as a goddess in the joy of her reception, and -the full flush and beauty of youthful womanhood. - -[Illustration: QUEEN ELIZABETH] - -As she rode on into the hall I fell upon my knees to worship what -seemed to me, who had never spoken to and hardly seen a beautiful -woman before, the most lovely sight my eyes had ever beheld. - -With all my lungs I shouted 'Vivat Regina Divina.' She heard my cry -and smiled down upon me, and I, poor soul, like I know not how many -more beside me that day, rose up over ears in love with my Queen. - -And why should I not? Could a gentleman have a more worthy love? -Some speak of her littlenesses, and mumble over her womanly faults. -I, for one, will not listen to them. I did not see them. I -worshipped what I saw. What that was all men know. - -What witnesses could I call in her defence were she arraigned before -a Court of Perfect Womanhood! And those not her own subjects -either--it is only natural that they should praise--but foreigners, -as any may know who have heard, as I have, Signor Giordano Bruno, the -wisest of all who in my time have travelled hither, and my good -friend, exhaust his surpassing eloquence in praising her. - -'I hold her,' so I have heard him say, 'for a princess without peer -or rival, a woman so gifted and favoured of Heaven, that whether for -heroism or learning or sagacity, no soldier, or lawyer, or statesman -in her kingdom is her equal. I tell you that the wisdom, the -dignity, the statesmanship, the wit, the beauty of that most royal -lady has won her a throne upon the steps of which must humbly take -their place, Semiramis, Dido, Cleopatra, and all princesses of whom -the world has boasted hitherto. See where she sits upon her lofty -seat, with the eyes of Christendom fixed upon her in astonishment and -admiration, wondering to see how, in her beauty and dignity, as by -the mere force that shines from her glorious face, she kept back from -her beloved kingdom for well-nigh thirty years the storm that surged -and roared upon the face of Europe; and, when at last it burst in -frantic fury on your shores, hurled it back with one majestic sweep -of her arm, and bound it down once more to receive what it was her -will to send.' - -Happy, happy for the world if thou, my peerless Queen, like the new -sun-goddess Aphrodite that thou art, shouldst open thy girdle till it -embraced not only England and Ireland, but the whole globe. Then -under thy benignant universal rule it should deserve the title thou -hast won for thine own realm amongst the wisest of other lands; then -should it be named, as they have named England, 'the pattern of -perfect monarchy,' '_domicilium quietatis et humanitatis_.' - -Such, at any rate, was Cambridge while the sun stayed with us; and -such indeed was England by the side of other realms. So completely -did the fair flowers of scholarship which blossomed in the sunbeams -of her presence obscure the thorns beneath, that Cambridge indeed -appeared the garden of learning that she thought it. - -It was a sight I am proud to have seen when she sat in great St. -Mary's Church beneath her canopy, with the Doctors and Bachelors in -due order around her upon the great stage that had been erected there -for the disputations. - -'Surely it is a second Sheba,' whispered Mr. Cartwright to me, as I -stood by his side with the books he required for setting forth his -arguments. 'She has come from the South to hear the wisdom of -Heaven. Pray God he may give me this day some shred of the spirit of -Solomon.' - -'Would God, sir,' said I, 'you might turn her heart, though I fear -the ungodly have sorely hardened it.' - -'Why do you say that?' asked he. - -'Did she not last night,' I answered, 'listen to a play of Plautus in -King's Chapel after evening prayer, and did they not use the -rood-loft as a gallery for her women?' - -'Better use it for that,' said Mr. Cartwright, 'than for the lewd -mockery of God they hold there daily. What wonder the poor Queen is -led astray in that pestilent slough of Papacy where she lodges. But -peace now, for the Proctor calls on the Respondent to begin the act.' - -Mr. Thomas Byng of Peterhouse set forth the questions of the -philosophy act. They were two, namely, 'Monarchy is the best form of -government;' and secondly, 'The constant changing of the laws is -dangerous.' - -When his oration was finished the masters who were called to the -disputation came forward. Mr. Cartwright's opponent in this was Mr. -Thomas Preston of King's, a man of very goodly presence and -sufficient wit, though more fit for a courtier than a scholar, and at -heart little better Reformation man than the rest of the King's -fellows. - -He made a speech well wrought enough, and delivered with courtly -gesture, and very trippingly, to the great pleasure of the Queen. -Yet for fire, learning, persuasion, and all that pertains to true -rhetoric and philosophy, it was, to my mind, but the chatter of a jay -beside my Mr. Cartwright's speaking. - -I could see the Queen was well pleased with what he said. It was -like being in paradise with the angels for me to watch her beautiful -face, wherein was delicately mirrored all the subtle perceiving -qualities of her most polished mind, as each was stirred by the magic -of my master's tongue. - -As I look back to it now it seems to me like the shining surface of -some tropic lake, wherein the great soul of God, that dwells in the -trees and flowers and vines, is mirrored each moment more gloriously -as the soft breath of heaven from time to time breaks up the -reflected image. - -I dwell on this because some have said, most wantonly, that Mr. -Cartwright was so vexed at the favour the Queen afterwards showed to -Mr. Preston that he thenceforward became a bitter enemy of the church -she loved. I say it is a wanton lie to speak so. My master was too -great a soul to harbour such littleness. His hatred of prelacy and -superstitious forms was of older and firmer standing than that. If -at that time he changed at all in opinion, it was that he saw too -well there was no hope of winning the Queen, and that it was to -Parliament and the people he must henceforth look. - -He was very silent as we left the church, and in spite of all I could -say concerning the Queen's plain pleasure in his speech, I could see -the melancholy of his face grow deeper and its resolution sterner. I -know that he saw at once that he had failed, and perceived clearly -before him the long life of toil and pain and bitterness through -which he was thenceforth to fight his way. - -I was very glad that evening as we sat together gloomily in our -lodging to hear a knocking at the door. I went to open it, and found -there a gentleman of the Court, tall of stature, but so wrapped in -his cloak and shaded by a large Spanish hat that I could not tell who -it was. - -'Is Mr. Cartwright within?' said the gentleman. - -'Would you have speech with him?' asked I. - -'Yes, and alone,' answered the gentleman. I knew not what to do, but -Mr. Cartwright, who had started up at the sound of the stranger's -voice, cried out at once to me that I should go. - -I went out straightway to King's College to see the seniors and Court -ladies go in to the play of Dido, which was being presented there -that night, wherein Mr. Thomas Preston was playing a chief part. - -In an hour's time I returned, but hearing voices still within my -lodging, waited outside, where a lamp swung over the door. Very soon -the voices ceased, and the gentleman came out. He seemed so occupied -with his recent talk with Mr. Cartwright that he took no pains to -conceal his face, and as he passed out by the lamp I could see it was -none other than Lord Robert Dudley. - -'What said Lord Robert about it?' I asked when I went in, thinking he -had certainly come from the Queen to speak with my master about his -oration. - -'How knew you it was Lord Robert?' said he quickly. - -'I saw his face by the lamp-light,' said I, surprised at his -sharpness. - -'Then tell no man what you saw,' he answered. He was silent a -moment, and then, as though he thought best to tell me more, since I -knew so much, or perhaps for very longing to speak with some one, he -went on. - -'He came not to speak of the oration,' said he, 'but of deeper -matters, of things which nearly concern our Reformation. God grant -he be a true man!' - -'But is he not surely a true friend of ours?' I asked. - -'I know not, lad, I know not,' he said. 'He speaks fair enough, but -I doubt there is too much wind under his cap for us to count too much -on his steadfastness. Still, better a popinjay at Court than no -friend at all. Things look black indeed if all he says be true. God -knows what counsel is being breathed in the Queen's ears, but 'tis -certain her right hand is held out to Spain. Since peace was made -with France, I thought there would be leisure for England to complete -the good work within herself; but now this dallying with Spain and -the woman of Scotland of which I hear may mar all, and we perhaps -shall have to fight the fight again. Heaven send these piracies--of -which Mr. Drake writes to us, and of which Lord Robert speaks--may by -God's help prosper, till they make a breach between His people and -the spawn of antichrist, such as no Queen or King or embassy can -heal.' - -It surprised me to hear so godly a man as Mr. Cartwright speak of -Heaven prospering piracy, but I was wont to believe all he said was -right, and held my peace. He went on then to tell me how earnest her -Majesty was that Lord Robert should marry the Queen of Scots, and how -well she had received the new Spanish ambassador at Richmond, and -many other evil signs. - -'But surely, sir,' said I, 'in this she deserves the praise of our -party, seeing that if the Queen of Scots had so godly a husband as -our High Steward, all practices against the cause in Scotland would -end, and a true succession be assured.' - -'Speak not of it, lad,' Mr. Cartwright replied. 'It is but cozening -of the Lord to dally thus with antichrist. England must have no part -with the accursed thing. Rome and Reformation, there are these two, -and no other; and we must choose between them. Pray, lad, and watch -and toil by night and day, by thought and deed, that the choice may -be the right. Above all, pray, as I have ever bid you, that we may -see the Queen speedily matched to some godly Protestant lord, so -that, being blessed with issue, she may keep the succession clear -from all fear of Romish taint. Wrestle, lad, with the Lord for that. -It is the only hope and safeguard of Reformation in England.' - -He uttered no more than we all thought then from the wisest and most -wide-seeing to the most ignorant and bigoted. He, I think, saw it -more plainly than many, and during the rest of the Queen's visit we -spoke of little but these things, till I fully shared his thought -that the tide of Rome, which, had begun to flow again, and had -already covered so many fair Protestant provinces, was setting hard -towards England; and each morn and night my prayers went up with -those of all our party, and many a one beside, that the Queen might -soon be wed. - -So moved was I by all this talk that I could take but little note of -the disputations, plays, and pageants with which my university -entertained the Queen, the more so as Mr. Cartwright took no more -part in them. Still, I saw her every day, and dreamed of her every -night, feeling I loved her more and more for the dangers that -surrounded her, and that I would spare not even my life to ward her -from her enemies. - -On the 10th of August, after a morning shower of degrees upon all the -Court, the Queen left Cambridge, and I not long afterwards, being -troubled with an ague, went home to Longdene. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -'Hail! man of learning,' cried Harry to me, as the day after my -coming home I rode up to Ashtead. He was standing at the gate about -to mount his horse as though for a journey. He had grown a man since -I saw him, and looked handsomer and happier than I had ever seen him. - -'Hail! man of courts and camps,' I cried him back, 'whither away so -fast?' - -'No whither, lad,' said he, 'since you are come, and whither I was -going I will not tell you, till I hear first where your life-blood -has gone. 'Slight, man, you look as pale and dry as a love-lorn -stock-fish. What ails you?' - -'Nought but a piece of an ague,' said I, feeling the sight of him -like medicine to me, 'and perhaps a surfeit of weary wits.' - -'Well, save us from universities, then,' answered he. 'Courts and -camps have their dangers, they say, but, 'fore heaven, I think your -college is a very Castle Perilous beside them!' - -'How will you make that good, most sapient brother?' - -'Nay, the maxim is good already, without my making. For, look you, -in camp a man shall lose at most his life, and at Court his heart; -but your college puts his spirits in danger, and to be spiritless is -worse a thousand times than to be dead or even in love.' - -'Well, I think you may be right, and in any case have enough spirits -to share with me.' - -'Nay, if you want spirits, come with me whither I was going, and I -will show you a man who has enough to set a whole graveyard singing.' - -'Why, 'tis a very resurrection of spirits. Come, tell me who is your -miracle man?' - -'Who is he? Why, who should he be but that man of men, that prince -of good companions, Frank Drake?' - -'Nay, then I am for you; if it were only to keep peace amongst my -members. For my ears have had so much of him that I think my eyes -are like to fall out with them from pure jealousy.' - -'Well, 'tis a bargain, then; and we both go a-fishing with him in his -bark.' - -'In his bark? Is he then master already?' - -'Ay, that he is. Old Master Death mastered his old master, and now -he is his own master and his bark's too. For he got that by the old -dog's will.' - -'Well, I am right glad to hear it. But tell me, is he all his -brothers say?' - -'And more, and more, and more again! Why, man, he is my own Lord of -Bedford with a Will Somers rolled into him, and who could be more of -a man than that? But we can talk of this as we go along. First come -within and see my father, while Lashmer gives your horse a bite, that -we may ride forward.' - -Lashmer, I had better say here, was son to Miles, my steward. He -rode with me on this day, and henceforth became my body-servant and -most trusty and trusted follower. He was a broad-faced, red-haired -lad, but not very hard-featured, though his face was just of that -honest Kentish sort that made one feel compelled to laugh by the mere -looking at it. - -Sir Fulke greeted me boisterously, as usual, with a hearty welcome -well peppered with oaths, which, I must say, burnt my palate more -them they used to. - -'Art going fishing with Harry?' said my guardian, when our greeting -was done. - -'Yes, sir,' cried Harry; 'we are going to catch Spanish mackerel.' - -They both laughed heartily at this, I knew not why; but not having -heard of such a fish as he named, I thought it was a jest of Harry's -which my scholar's wits were too hard to see. - -'Have you brought your snappers with you?' asked Harry. - -'Yes,' said I; 'a pretty case of short ones that were my father's, -since Miles said the roads were far from safe. But will you shoot -these fish?' - -'No, lad,' said Harry, and he and Sir Fulke both seemed to be -strangling another laugh; 'but, as you say, one meets -fellow-travellers now whom it is well to treat at a distance, so -every gentleman rides with a brace of dags or so in his saddle.' -'Blame yourselves for it,' said Sir Fulke. 'For since your new -Reformation men have sent fish out of fashion, in spite of all Mr. -Secretary can do with his acts and ordinances, fishermen have to fish -ashore. The hundred of Hoo swarms with such folk, so that a man may -hardly come to Gravesend in safety. There is never a lane in Kent -which some of the valiant lubbers will not drag once in a week for -any fin that's stirring. God knows what will become of the -sea-service if gentlemen do not set the fashion for fishing again,' -and therewith the old knight chuckled again till his face was redder -than a doughty turkey-cock's. - -'Come, let us away,' said Harry, 'or Frank Drake will have a rod for -me. He is testy as the devil if a man be late.' - -'What!' said I, 'will he not bide a gentleman's time?' - -'Wait till you see him,' answered Harry. 'The sea, in Frank's -company, is a mighty leveller of gentility. Here, take this; we -shall be out all night.' - -So saying, he tossed me a cloak, and we set out. - -The way proved all too short, so much had we to tell each other. -Harry was overflowing with the delights of the Court. He seemed able -to talk for ever on the pageants and masques, in which, to my sorrow, -he had taken a great share; for at Cambridge the men of our party -began to look askance at such vanities. - -It pleased me better to hear him speak of the grace and beauty of the -Court ladies, who seemed to have been very kind to him. He spoke of -them in a tone of chivalrous rapture, which made me sometimes long to -have his gifts, that I too might please women, and know how to speak -with them, and be thought worthy to be their squire. But I tried -hard, when he spoke of such things with kindling eyes, to crush my -chivalry, having well learnt my lesson that this, too, was a carnal -vanity. - -Above all, he praised the Queen as one that shone like a ruby amongst -pearls, and there I suffered myself to join his song. I think he was -as much in love with her as I. - -Next to the Queen he spoke most of a little girl, called Anne St. -John, who, from what he said, seemed rather his tyrant than his -playfellow. She was ever with the Earl, either at Russell House or -at Woburn, being a niece of the good Countess Margaret, his beloved -wife, who died soon after Harry joined the Earl's household. My lord -found great comfort, Harry said, in the child's pretty ways as much -as in her beauty, for she had ruddy hair and deep brown eyes, like -the Queen. - -She was moreover much beloved by her cousins, the Earl's daughters, -so that it came about that Harry saw her every day, and became her -playfellow and willing servant. He made me laugh to hear him speak -of her tyrannous ways and her jealousy. - -'I know not what kind of woman she will grow,' he said; 'but now she -is the sweetest toy a man could want, and wayward as a haggard. Yet -my lord will often curb her in his dry, merry way, and she will be as -thoughtful after it as a little Solomon. Were her pretty spirit in a -colt I would not care to have his breaking; yet I think that any life -which my lord will take in hand will never grow awry.' - -So he fell to speaking of his lord, Sir Francis Russell, Earl of -Bedford, to whom he seemed as devoted as ever I was to Mr. -Cartwright; above all, when he followed him to the north, on his -being named Governor of Berwick and Warden of the East Marches, and -saw how great a statesman and soldier he was. - -'Truly,' said he, 'may I count myself fortunate in thus being able to -go in the train of so famous a captain to the best school of arms in -the country, as Berwick is held to be, not only because of the -passages of arms that continually take place on the Border, but also -by reason of the number of skilled and veteran soldiers that are -gathered there.' - -'Then you had a plenitude of professors,' said I. - -'Ay, and a plenitude of practice too,' he answered; 'and that in all -military sciences. For my lord's first care was to increase the -strength of the defences of the place. So I saw all that craft, -besides gunnery and weapon exercise, both in play and earnest. -Furthermore, my lord took me for secretary when he rode during the -summer with Sir John Foster to settle the limits of the marches, and -there I learned much of the conduct of military councils and affairs, -together with many other things that a prudent soldier should know -and be silent about. Certes, I think I have as much valiant -scholarship in six months as many come by in six years.' - -'And no wonder,' said I, 'with such a godly and warlike tutor.' - -'Ay,' cried Harry, with enthusiasm, 'he is a very pattern of all -valour, piety, and gentleness, and rightly called "the mirror of true -honour and Christian nobility."' - -Indeed, I think he was right. For surely never was royal gift more -wisely disposed than the wealth with which King Henry endowed Lord -Russell and his father. Would God the whole of what he stripped from -the monasteries had fallen into no worse vessels than those two! -What a pattern of reformation, then, might England indeed have been -to all the world, lifted far above the reach of even Papist sneer and -cavil,--in very deed _domicilium quietatis et humanitatis_! - -I could fully share Harry's regret when he told me that he had left -Berwick for good and all. But it was needful that he should be a -short time with his father before setting forth on his travels into -France and Italy--a course which the Earl had himself strongly urged, -as being most necessary for the perfect shaping of a gentleman and -the building up of a full-grown manhood, wherein, he held, there was -no such hindrance either in court or camp or council as in youth to -have known no travel. - -Talking thus together of the two years in which we had both passed -into the dawn of manhood amidst such different scenes, we came to -Rochester, where we left our horses in Lashmer's charge and took the -boat, which two of Mr. Drake's boys had brought for Harry. - -It made a man of me again to be once more on the river, though I did -not like to see Harry whisper to the two Drakes and see them nod and -grin in reply. But I soon forgot this in chatting, as we did, -chiefly of Frank and his boat. - -'Look there!' cried the boys at last. 'Was ever such a dainty?' - -I looked and saw a smart-looking craft, such as is used in the -Zeeland trade, but in better trim than most, lying at moorings close -to Mr. Drake's hulk. - -The boys gave us a lusty cheer as we ran alongside their home and I -sprang on deck. Mr. Drake embraced me with such fervour and smell of -tar that I was well-nigh undone, but John and Joseph tore me from -him, crying, 'Come and see Frank, come and see Frank!' - -Seizing each an arm, they dragged me to the cabin under the poop, -where for the first time I saw that prince of captains, Francis Drake. - -Ah! how my heart is lifted up when I think of that September -afternoon; when I contemplate the condition of two men that day about -to enter into a life-long struggle which was to glitter with the most -glorious deeds the world has seen: the one a plain rough mariner, in -his coarse sailor's slops, sitting in a dingy cabin, intent on a rude -map of the Indies, the meanest ship-master of an island queen; the -other an emperor in purple and gold, seated on the loftiest throne in -Europe, the most powerful monarch in the world, with the crowns of -six kingdoms clustered on his brow, and the gold of two worlds -pouring into his lap;--the one surrounded by rude fisher lads; the -other surfeited with the homage of the most skilful captains, the -proudest nobles, the most cunning councillors these modern times have -bred. - -Surely no more notable example of God's power to humble pride and -reward wickedness has ever been seen. Little could I guess then what -his lot was to be, though when I looked on the man I might have known -there was no task too great for Francis Drake to achieve. - -God never made a man, I think, more fitted for the work he was set to -do. His stature was low, but though he was then not past twenty -years old, his deep broad chest and massive limbs showed the strength -that was to be his. His head well matched his body, being -hard-looking and round and most pleasant to look on, because of the -bright brown locks that curled thick and close all over it, and the -round blue eyes that shone full and clear and steadfast from under -his thick arched brows. His mouth, which was already slightly -fringed with a light-coloured beard, was of a piece with the rest, -wide and good-humoured, with full, well-formed, mobile lips, such as -we look for in an orator, and withal firm and self-reliant. His -colour, moreover, was fresh and fair, as of a man whom no sickness -could take hold of; and his whole aspect so well-favoured and full of -cheerful resolution as I could not wonder made his family set him up -to be their idol. - -'I am very glad to see you, Mr. Festing,' said he, rising up as I -entered and holding out his hand very frankly. 'I am glad you are -come. We want strong hands for our fishing. Jack has told me what -kind of blow you can strike.' - -'But I have only a scholar's arm now,' I said. 'Once I could pull an -oar and tally on a drag-net indifferently well, but I doubt study has -softened me.' - -Arching his eyebrows still more, he looked at me with that expression -which I grew to know so well, and which as much as anything, I think, -made him the master of men he was. It was a look half inquisitive, -half astonished, yet wholly good-humoured. It seemed to wonder if a -man could be so foolish as to try to deceive or thwart him, and to be -ready to laugh at the folly of such an attempt rather than to resent -it. Though there was plainly something in my speech he did not -understand, yet he was soon satisfied, and burst out into a -boisterous laugh. - -''Fore God,' said he, 'you are a merry wag,' and then laughed on so -heartily that no man could help taking the fever, and I laughed too, -though I knew no better than the stern-post where the jest was. - -'Yes, you may laugh,' said Mr. Drake, who had joined us. 'Frank -knows how to fish, so do my boys. They will catch you now bigger -fish than any man's sons in all Kent.' - -'Where is James?' asked I, not seeing Mr. Drake's fourth son. 'Will -he not go with us?' - -'Peace,' said Harry, as the preacher turned away, and the laughter -was hushed. 'Don't you know?' - -'Let me tell him,' said Frank Drake, looking so stern as almost to -seem another man. 'You must know, Mr. Festing, nigh a year ago he -was 'prenticed in a ship that traded to Spain. We have no certain -news of her, but very ugly tidings of what befell a crew that sailed -in her company.' - -'What tidings were those?' asked I. - -'Come away,' said Frank; 'dad forbids us to speak of it. "Avenge it, -if you will," says he, "but speak not of it."' - -We went apart, and he told me one of those stories of which my ears -were soon but too well filled: of a ship's crew seized in a remote -port of Spain, and on pretext of some unruly conduct of one or two -half-drunken men ashore, first thrown into prison, and then handed -over to the officers of the Inquisition. - -'Such, we fear, is Jim's fate,' said Drake, as he ended his story. -'It is most like he lies rotting now with his shipmates in some -filthy dungeon, if worse has not befallen him at the hands of those -hell-hounds. But come, let us not think of it. The tide has turned, -and it is time we were away.' - -We were soon aboard Frank Drake's boat, which was called the -_Gazehound_. I could not help seeing how trim she was from stem to -stern compared with other such craft engaged in the French and -Zeeland trade. Nor could I but wonder at the ready despatch with -which Frank's crew obeyed his orders. Indeed, we were hardly aboard -a minute before we were running fast towards the sea, with a gentle -breeze behind us, and the wicked river rushing recklessly along with -us. - -I know not whether it was some inward warning that made the Medway -look so dark and cruel as it curled about our sides, or whether it -was the effect on my worn brain of Frank Drake's fearful tale, which -he told with fierce earnestness. Yet as the misty darkness deepened -and the low waste of marsh on either hand began to be lost in the -night, a sort of horror came over me, perhaps a part of my ague. It -seemed that we, the river and ourselves, were rushing wildly on to -some deed that we must hide from heaven. The curdling river seemed -some huge snake, for whose help we had sold our souls. Rejoicing at -its work and the folly of its dupe, it seemed to hiss in low laughter -like a fiend's about us. - -I turned from where I looked over the side to break the spell. Harry -and all the boys, with one or two of the crew, were gathered aft -around Frank as he sat tiller in hand. I could see them all by the -light of the lantern we carried. Frank was telling them another -hideous story of Spanish treachery and cruelty to English mariners -who had come to trade in the Canaries. - -His wide blue eyes were flashing in the excitement of his tale, and -Harry and the Drake boys were no less excited than he. Even then I -could see he had that wonderful gift of words by which afterwards at -his will he could always raise or calm a storm amongst his followers. - -Still the night deepened and the river grew darker and more devilish, -as hand in hand with it we sped on through the darkness to our work. -The flickering lantern cast strange lights and shadows upon the -little group at the stern, till they seemed to be rather like some -foul spirits than my good friends. - -They cried to me to join them, but I said I was weary with a headache -because of my sickness, and would sleep. I crept in then below the -foredeck, and lay down upon a sail. There was something beneath it -which made it an uneasy bed. I raised the canvas to see what it -might be, and beheld some half-dozen longbows, quite new, and several -sheaves of arrows. I think my sleep would have been easier had I not -sought to remove the cause of my uneasiness. - -For now I began to guess the meaning of all the jests I had heard, -and questioned Harry when soon after he came to lie beside me. - -'What fish, Harry,' I asked, 'is this that you bring me to catch with -pistols and long-bows?' - -'A fish that swims from Antwerp,' answered Harry, laughing. 'Wait -and you shall see, if we have luck or judgment.' - -There was little laughter in me as I lay there in the dim lantern -light, with the sound of the wicked river whispering temptation in my -ear. Was it that which seemed to take from me the power to rebuke in -him what seemed to me no less than sin; or was it shame lest he -should think that Cambridge had so softened and unmanned me that I no -longer would follow wherever he led? - -Harry must be right, thought I, and Frank Drake too! It must be -right, yet would God I were in my trundle bed at Mr. Cartwright's -side again! Surely Cambridge was sorely changing me. The great -struggle of my life had begun, though I knew it not; the strife for -the mastery of me between the inward man-made life of scholarship and -vain hurry after God, and the strong, pure, out-o'-door life of -England that God Himself had given me for my birthday gift. - -Who shall say which is best? Not I, now I am old; but then, as I lay -there beside Harry, in my vanity and blindness I said to myself: -'Surely his life is not of God; it is mine that is from heaven, the -search after wisdom, the merciless war for truth, the exalting of the -spirit and abasement of the body.' - -My lips were trembling with a prayer that he might be turned and grow -like me, but then I opened my eyes to look at him through the dim -lantern light, and my prayer died unborn. Surely that -gently-breathing figure, lying so calm and careless there in all its -manly beauty, surely that must be all God's work, and what came of it -His work as well. - -So let me cease to resist, and let the hissing river hurry me on -wheresoever it will with him. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -It was John Drake's rough voice that aroused me, as the soft morning -light glimmered into the cabin where I had been sleeping. - -'Rise quickly,' said he; 'the fish is in sight, and Frank says you -must bear a hand, as it is a big one.' - -So great was that extraordinary man's hold already on me that it -never once seemed strange that I should receive orders from him thus. -I rose quickly, and buckled on my sword and pistols, well knowing -what was coming. - -I was not at all surprised to see Harry standing, bow in hand, by -Frank, and all the rest armed with bows and pikes. - -'Good-morrow, Mr. Festing,' cried Drake. 'Heaven has sent the -Antwerpers fortune to-day. Ere another hour or so they will be -spared all further trouble for their cargo. See where she lies.' - -It was a lovely misty morning, such as one can only see in the -Channel on a sunny autumn day. Nothing was in sight but the shadowy -form of a good-sized caravel on our larboard bow, heavily laden, and -toiling at a snail's pace across our course. - -As we drew nearer I could make out that she was at least twice, -perhaps three times, our size, though I could see but few men on -board her. Still my heart began to beat heavily. - -'Steady now, lads,' cried Drake, as some of his brothers began to -show signs of excitement; 'steady, or we shall get never a bite. Get -up on the forecastle, Jack, and mend a bit of net; and do you, Mr. -Waldyve, carol us out a French ditty for a bait. And, look you, not -a glint and glimmer of weapon.' - -Thus, with nothing to show we were not an ordinary French -fishing-boat, we bore towards the caravel so as to pass close under -her stern to windward. They, seeing our purpose, and fearing some -ill-dealing, no doubt, since those waters were even then winning an -evil name, hailed us. - -Still we held on without answer, till they hailed again, asking what -countrymen we were. - -'Now for an English greeting!' cried Drake. 'It would be less than -courtesy not to let them know our country since they ask so fairly.' - -The words were hardly out of his mouth when our bows twanged and a -little cloud of arrows swept over the caravel. With loud derisive -cries our crew fitted fresh shafts. Thick and fast they flew, till -the crew of the caravel dared not show themselves on deck. Every man -hurried below to shelter himself, except him who was at the helm. -Bravely he held on in spite of our shafts, till, with a shudder, I -saw an arrow strike him under the arm. With a low cry he fell on his -face across the tiller. - -The caravel hove up into the wind, and I saw the steersman turned -helplessly head over ears as the helm swung round--a sickening sight -to see. - -'Save you for a pretty tumbler!' cried Joe Drake, and all the rest -but Frank and Harry laughed loud. - -'Steady, lads, steady,' said he; 'look to your pikes, and gentlemen -to their swords, or we shall some of us laugh the wrong side.' - -As we fell aboard of her I drew my rapier. I can say without pride I -was by this time no mean fencer, though a bungler beside Harry; yet -so strange did my blade seem, now that for the first time I drew it -in earnest, that I felt as though I had never handled one before. - -Still, there was no time to think. Frank Drake sprang aboard, Harry -after him, I after Harry. No sooner did our feet touch the deck than -out of the after-cabin burst a half-dressed cavalier, rapier in hand. -Some nine or ten men were at his back, armed with swords and daggers. - -With a loud cry they ran upon us, the gentleman straight at me. He -seemed mad with fury, for he made no shift to fence, more than to -rush on with uplifted blade as though straightway to _arrebatar_ with -a wiping sweep, after the method of Carranza. I did but offer him my -point _di intrare_, and he spitted himself or ever he came within his -proportion. It was but murder. God forgive me for it when His will -is! It made me sick to see my rapier half-hidden in his breast, as -his sword-arm dropped, and for a moment he stood gnashing his teeth -before he fell backward. - -I shut my eyes as the blade drew hard from the wound, and reeled -against the bulwarks, feeling dizzy with horror and my sickness. -When I opened my eyes again it was well-nigh all over. For, save for -two of his servants, no one resisted after the gentleman fell. The -rest were poor Dutch mariners who cared little who had the cargo they -carried, so long as they kept their skins whole. - -The serving-men were quickly overpowered, and the rest of the crew -driven within the forecastle. Then Harry came up and slapped me on -the back. - -'Well done, Jasper,' he said. ''Slight, it was a pretty thrust, a -most scholarly _imbroccata_. Would that Sir Fulke had been here to -see what his errant disciple can do! Perhaps he would rail less at -your Italian bodkin-play, and would say, I doubt not, that they can -teach something beside Latins at Trinity. But what is it, man? You -look as if the blade were through you instead of him.' - -'Hush, Harry!' I said. 'For God's sake, look to him, for I dare not.' - -'Poor lad!' answered my dear brother, who could always feel for me -far more than for himself, 'you are too sick for this bloody work. I -will do as you bid, though there is little hope for him.' - -But there was no need, for as I turned to look upon my work again, I -saw Frank Drake leaning over the bleeding Spaniard, and, as tenderly -as a woman, trying to staunch the wound. - -It filled me with new wonder and love for this man to see how his -fierce courage melted to gentleness as soon as the danger was over. -I marvelled, too, to see how apt he was at surgery even then, though -he had not yet attained to that great skill which afterwards he made -it his duty to acquire. - -It seemed to make war wondrous gentle to see him, and I was better -able to give my help. We soon disposed the wounded man more easily, -and went to minister to the helmsman, but, alas! he was stone dead. - -Meanwhile the others had bound the crew, and Frank Drake set about -questioning them. I don't know whether it made any difference to -him, but he was most instant to find out if the cargo were Spanish -owned. - -While we were thus engaged there was a sudden cry of a sail in sight. -Looking up, I could see a tall ship looming through the silver mist, -and bearing down straight for us. - -'Stand by to cast off, lads,' cried Frank, cool and decided, 'till we -see what she is.' - -We were all on board the _Gazehound_ in a minute, and sat -breathlessly waiting to see what our unwelcome neighbour might be. - -Slowly she came down upon, us before the gentle breeze, looking so -beautiful in the morning sun that I could hardly believe that she -might contain a pirate's death for us all. The strain would have -been more than I could have borne had it not been that my senses -seemed dulled with horror of my deed. - -Afterwards I thought it strange that no one had urged Drake to let go -the prize and run for it; but then all seemed to think that the -course he had made up his mind to was the only one possible. - -Nearer and nearer she drew, till the mist, which was very thick close -down on the water and had till now hidden her hull, cleared a little, -and we could see, I at least with sinking heart, the sunlight sparkle -on the ordnance which protruded from her lofty forecastle, like the -teeth of some savage hound. - -'Culverins!' whispered Harry to me. 'They have point-blank range of -five hundred paces, and we are within that of her already. There is -no running now, whatever befalls. Heaven send she is a Queen's ship, -and no Spaniard.' - -'What matters which,' said I, 'if we are pirates? You know well what -grievous complaints they say the Spanish ambassador has made, and -what orders the Queen has given the navy.' - -'Well, wait a little. See the trumpets on the poop; they are going -to hail us.' - -On she came, a glorious sight, with the sun glowing on her bulging -sails and the perfect lines of her hull, that swept so gracefully -from towering poop to lofty forecastle. - -Suddenly, as she drew level with us, her trumpets blared forth a loud -flourish that rolled merrily away over the misty sea. The -boatswain's pipe chirped out, and we could see the sailors stand by -to go about. - -Again the trumpets brayed a fuller call, and then a mass of red and -gold aloft unfolded itself with royal languor, till there flashed in -the sunlight, plain to see, the beautiful banner of our island Queen. - -A lusty cheer from all our crew greeted the welcome flag. As it died -away we could hear the captain of the Queen's ship hailing us to know -who we were, and what we did. - -'The _Gazehound_ of Chatham--Master Drake,' shouted Frank, springing -on the poop,--and then, after a pause, 'aiding a Spanish caravel in -distress.' - -We could hear a roar of laughter on board the ship at his words, and -the captain's voice came rolling back: - -'Well met, Master Drake, and a fair voyage.' - -We gave her another cheer as we saw her keep on her course. She -answered us with her hautboys and other music, which we listened to -till it grew faint in the offing, and we were left alone to do our -will upon our prize and prisoners. - -As we watched her sail away so gallantly, with her gay streamers and -gilded poop glittering like some tropic bird in the sun, I asked -Drake what she was. - -'I know her well enough,' said he, 'but we ask not the names of -Queen's ships that find us at this work. Yet I will tell you. It is -the _Minion_, and Captain David Carlet is in command of her. He is -bound for Guinea with the _John Baptist_ and _Merline_, both of -London, so I know. They are going to try if they cannot draw a -little for the Queen out of the Portugal's wells, like Mr. John -Hawkins. Good luck go with them; but now we must to work.' - -After what I had seen of Drake's dealing with the cavalier I had so -grievously hurt, I had no fear that the crew of the caravel would -suffer at his hands any great cruelty, such as I had heard less noble -spirits had inflicted in the fury of their revenge against the -Inquisition. - -I went aboard the prize with the rest when Drake gave the order to -rummage the cargo. We found that it consisted chiefly of silks and -woollen goods. A few more inquiries soon showed us that they were -Spanish owned, and, further, that the cavalier was a gentleman -returning from secret service in the Netherlands to Spain. - -We quickly then completed our work. It was only to set some of the -cargo on board the _Gazehound_ in order to lighten the caravel enough -to allow of her being run into Otterham Channel, one of those lonely -tortuous inlets amongst the Saltings in the mouth of the Medway which -we had all known so well since boyhood. - -As soon as it was done Drake bade his brother and me carry the -_Gazehound_ back to Rochester, while he and Harry, with half our -crew, and some of the Netherlanders who were freed for the work, made -sail in the caravel to the spot whither he intended to take her. - -So we parted company, and I with my charge came safely on the next -morning's tide to our moorings. - -The Spanish bales we stowed on board Mr. Drake's hulk. He was not at -home, purposely, as I could not help thinking, to ease his -conscience, if indeed our piracy went in any way against it. - -Only poor Mrs. Drake was there, trying vainly to get her youngest boy -away from the taffrail, outside of which he was recklessly climbing -at the risk of a sudden grave in the rushing tide. She looked more -wan and weary than ever when she saw what our cargo was, and soon -seized an occasion to draw me into the cabin for a little comfort. - -'Mr. Festing,' she said piteously, 'for God's sake, sir, stop them -from this bloody work. They will die in a halter, every one of them. -God pardon me for not bearing His punishment without complaint, but -what sinful woman was ever chastised with twelve such rods? See, -there is blood on your own doublet! Shun this sin, Mr. Festing, for -sin it is. How will God ever give us back our dear James if we break -His law daily thus? Surely he has been taken in judgment for his and -his brothers' wickedness. Frank is as bad as the rest, and leads -them on to it. But vengeance is the Lord's, Master Jasper, and not -for preachers' sons, for all that men cry out about spoiling the -Egyptians.' - -I tried hard to comfort the poor woman, feeling deeply for her. I -could pity her the more heartily in her misery at the little care or -kindness her sons showed for her, seeing I knew what it was to crave -unsatisfied for a mother's love. - -She had often come to me thus for comfort; yet I never found it a -harder task than now, not only because of my own sense of sin, but -also from my difficulty in understanding what she felt. At one -moment she spoke of her boys as an infliction of Heaven; at another -she seemed in terror that she should lose them; nor could I be sure -whether her hatred of piracy came from a tenderness for them or the -laws. - -I could only tell her how I had been drawn into it unawares, and -would do all I could to turn them from further crime. - -'God bless you for your words, Master Jasper,' she said. 'What -should I do if I lost my boys? I see them o' nights dangling in -halters, and sometimes again lying in blood with Spanish blades at -their hearts. Then I wake and pray God for comfort, till I sleep -again; yet I only rise on the morrow to hear more talk of fights, and -Spaniards, and wild work.' - -'Surely,' said I, 'God has set them apart for some notable work in -His service, seeing how they prosper in what they do.' - -'Maybe, maybe,' the poor woman answered. 'Yet more times I think it -is the devil and not God who is their master; think of it, Master -Jasper, twelve of them, and not one a godly preacher like their -father. What will God say to me for that? It was my hope and -comfort when little Willie came, bless his sweet heart, that he would -be my own boy, and God's, till he fell in with the old sword-hilt, -and loved it just like all the rest of them; and played all day with -it like the others, and grew as heady and masterful as the worst of -them.' - -'Well, Mrs. Drake,' said I, 'I am as earnest as you to turn them to a -better path. You and I must try, under God; yet, in truth, I know -not which way to start.' - -'Will you not go to the Earl of Bedford?' she said eagerly. 'Did he -hear what his godson did, I know he would stretch out his hand, and -the Lord would prosper him. Truly, I thought when godly young Master -Russell, as he was then, held my pretty curly-pated Frank at his -baptism, that he would prove the firstfruits of a vineyard that -should be savoury in the nostrils of the Lord. But He punished my -pride, and lo! my vine bore nothing but thistles. Still, go to him, -Master Jasper, and he will save them.' - -'But my lord is far away in Berwick,' said I, 'where I cannot reach -him.' - -'Then write to him letters,' she answered, 'or go inform Sir Fulke -how they deal with his boy. He is a Justice, and will tell the -Queen, and stop this ungodly breaking of the laws.' - -I think this plan had come into my mind before; yet I had driven it -away as one that sorted ill with my honour, and fearing to get the -Drakes and Harry into some trouble. Now it looked less evil to me; -for I think this poor weary mother had somewhat unmanned me. Without -promising I said I would do all in my power, which seemed greatly to -comfort her. - -So I took my leave, and coming by boat to Rochester, where I found -Lashmer, rode gloomily towards Longdene, much pondering what way my -duty lay. - -By the time I reached the place where the roads to Longdene and -Ashtead parted, I had made up my mind, as I knew from the first I -should. The Puritan party at Cambridge was already growing -marvellously grim-minded. There had been many who muttered secretly -against the masques and comedies with which the university had -entertained the Queen, and in many other things Mr. Cartwright and -his friends, of whom I was one of the most loyal and devoted, began -to show a growing faith in all that made life hard and mournful, no -less than an ever-waxing mistrust of whatever was easy and pleasant. - -Tried by this terrible test, my true duty, as I thought, was easy to -see. I had an inborn English horror of tale-bearing. Here, then, -was an occasion to wound the carnal scruple. I had a love for Harry -that was the one bright light in my life, I had an admiration and -belief in him that fed my hunger for guidance to a noble life. Here, -then, was a time in which I might humble my earthly idol in the dust. - -Poor lad, poor lad! I can look back now from the quiet spot whither -God has led me, and see my youth as something apart from me. I can -pity it now, ay, and grieve for it too, seeing that I know how many -at this very hour are torturing themselves, even as did that youth, -that was I, long ago. - -When will one arise with tongue and pen of flame to show them what -they do, that men may cease to mar what God in His wisdom and -goodness has made so fair? Why will ye be so doting, good people? -What blindness has seized you, so that you cannot understand the gift -of life that He has given you? It is hard, I know, to fathom all its -depths, and fully understand the voice with which it speaks to you; -yet treat it not, therefore, like some poor, mad thing that must be -laid by the heels and scourged and starved, till it grow so foul and -ill-favoured that even the angels, who weep for the folly of mankind, -shall turn from it with loathing. - -But I may not rail at you, for I was no wiser as I rode that night up -to Ashtead. I had started late from Rochester, and it had been dark -an hour or more before I saw the crowded turrets and gables of my -guardian's house faintly outlined against the starlit sky. - -When I drew rein at the foot of the gentle slope upon which the -manor-house stood, I could hear the sound of many horses entering the -gate above. It seemed strange to me that so large a company should -be coming there at so late an hour, but I soon saw the cause. - -As I entered the gate some serving-men were setting torches in the -sconces round the court, and my bewildered eyes saw their lurid light -fall on a whole train of packhorses which almost filled the place. - -Frank Drake together with some of his brothers and Harry were moving -busily and silently amongst them. They had plainly just come in, and -were setting about unloading the packs as though they had no spare -time on their hands. Sir Fulke was standing on the steps of the hall -looking at the busy scene below him. - -'Who's there?' cried he, suddenly catching sight of Lashmer and me -dimly in the gateway. 'Where the devil is John Porter? Harry, quick -to the gate; there are strangers!' - -Frank Drake and Harry whipped out their swords in a trice and sprang -towards me. - -'Stand!' they cried together. 'Who are you?' - -'A friend!' cried I, riding out into the light and springing from my -horse. - -'Mass!' said Drake, 'but I thought you were some of those rake-hells -from Hoo that had got wind of our luck and wanted to cut a slice for -themselves. Is my _Gazehound_ safe?' - -'Yes,' said I, 'safe at her moorings, and the cargo in the hold of -the hulk. And how fares it with the Don?' - -'As well as man may,' answered Drake, 'with a hole such as you -whipped through him. He lives; but no more.' - -'Thank God for your care of him, Mr. Drake,' said I. 'But tell me -now, what means all this hubbub?' - -'Why,' answered Harry, 'only that our work took longer than yours, -and had to be set about more secretly. Come and help unload the -silk.' - -'What!' cried I, aghast; 'the stolen cargo here?' - -'_Blanda verba, blanda verba_, my scholar,' said Harry. 'Our prize -of war, you would say. Of course it is; and where could it be safer -than in the cellars of the gentleman adventurer who fitted out the -craft that captured it?' - -'Surely you jest,' said I. - -'Nay, I jest not,' answered Harry; 'it is plain open-air truth, and -yet withal so good a jest as to want no bettering at my hands.' - -'I can see no jest in it at all,' said I. - -'I know it well enough, lad,' cried Harry, putting his arm through -mine in his old loving way. 'Many do not see it at first, but they -come to it soon. You learn the lesson quick enough on the Scotch -marches; but I could see you were so be-Cambridged that, if I told -you all, you would never join the sport. You shall pardon me; for, -in truth, I could not rest till I had uncolleged you a little.' - -'You know well, dear lad,' said I, for I could never resist him, for -all my stern resolves, 'there is nothing I cannot forgive you. Yet, -I pray you, bear with me a little now, for I think my sickness comes -over me again, and I would go within and rest.' - -'Right willingly,' said he. 'Sir Fulke will see you lodged; for I -must make another journey to Otterham Quay ere the sun is up, to -bring on what is left of the caravel's cargo.' - -So I left him and went within to sleep a fevered, troubled sleep, in -which I saw the wounded cavalier grinning upon my sword again, till -he sprang at last from off it, and, seizing Harry and the Drakes, -swung them up on gibbets in a long ghastly row, while Mrs. Drake -cried to me, who could not move, to save them. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -On the morrow, as I walked in the orchard after dinner with Frank -Drake and Harry, for the rest were gone, I took occasion to inquire -what they thought of piracy; for our adventure, and especially my own -part in it, weighed no less heavily on my mind for my night's rest. - -'That was a shrewd thrust of yours, Mr. Festing,' said Drake, as our -talk turned, naturally enough, on our adventure. 'But for you we -might have had ugly work. I give you good thanks for it, and all the -honour; ay, and if I had my way you should have the lion's share of -the booty too.' - -'Have my thanks, Mr. Drake,' said I, 'for your good words. Yet think -me not churlish if I say they might be better bestowed. As for the -thrust, it was none, for the Don spitted himself; as for the honour, -let us talk of that when there is any in such work; and as for the -booty, I will have none of it.' - -'Your reasons, Mr. Festing, your reasons?' said Drake good-humouredly. - -'For the honour,' answered I, 'it is a thing which I hold pirates -have little part in; for the booty, I care not to share with -water-thieves.' - -He turned sharp on me then and stopped in his walk with a flush in -his face, looking hard at me with that strange, honest, searching -look of his. I was ready to bite my tongue out; for I saw in a -moment that my hot words had seared the unsullied spirit of a man -whom nothing would bend to an act which he thought base, a man in all -ways nobler than myself. God knows, I thought him wrong, and thought -he led Harry wrong, but now I would have given half I had to have -chosen kindlier words to say my say. - -'You use hard words, and wrong ones too, Mr. Festing, saving your -scholarship,' said Drake at last, proud as a Spaniard. 'I am no -water-thief or pirate either. I shall tell you what a pirate is, not -to speak more of water-thieves, which is a hard word that breaks no -more bones than another. By the most ancient customs of the sea, -sir, whereof be it your excuse that you are ignorant, a pirate is one -who, without license from his prince or his prince's officers, in -time of peace or truce doth spoil or rob those which have peace or -truce with him.' - -'Then how shall you justify yourself,' I asked, too cowardly to yield -to him, 'seeing we have peace with Spain?' - -'Nay, but I say,' he answered, 'we have no peace with Spain, or truce -either. Is it peace when they lay embargos on our ships, throw our -mariners into prison, and burn and torture them in their streets? Is -it peace when they shut our trade from their ports, and succour and -defend our deadliest enemies?' - -'That was well, perhaps, months ago,' said I, though it wanted all my -courage to answer him, such force was in his eyes and voice, 'but now -truce is made, and prisoners are released, the embargo lifted, and -King Philip's ambassador received at Court.' - -'And how call you that truce?' he asked. 'They brand us heretics and -Lutheran dogs, with whom they say openly no faith is to be kept; no -mariner is safe from their rake-hell Inquisition in any port of -Spain; they send a spy, whom they call ambassador, to search out the -weakness and plot with the traitors of the land and practise on our -poor young Queen, that they may bring on us again the curse of Rome, -as they did in Mary's time. Call you that truce? Call it rather -war, and worse than war, for it is dastards' warfare? Philip may cry -truce to Bess, and Bess to Philip, but between the people of Spain -and England there is, nor shall be, neither peace nor truce till one -of us is crushed.' - -'Yet if all were as you say,' I persisted, more faintly now, for -there was that in the man which no one could withstand when he was -moved thus, 'if there be neither peace nor truce, you have no license -from the Queen. Nor even her goodwill, since you must know what -urgent orders she has issued against adventurers like yourself.' - -'I know well enough,' he answered. 'For some reasons of state she -has done this. Yet wait till you see the orders carried out, wait -till you see such an adventurer punished, before you say I have not -her license. Did you not see how the _Minion_, sailing under her own -royal flag, passed us by when we were at the work; and was it not one -of her Justices in constant communication with the Council who fitted -me out? Is not that license enough?' - -'Nay, then you accuse the Queen's grace of bad faith to the Spaniard, -and you are willing to abet her in her deceit.' - -'Faith to those that keep faith, say I. To every Spaniard, and not -the least the Spanish ambassador, Don Guzman de Silva, she is a -heretic with whom to break faith is the path to heaven. To such must -a man give fair words, as the poor Queen does, till she grow great -enough to strike them straight on the mouth, as, under God, by our -help she shall. And were all I have said too little excuse for what -we do, I have even a higher and greater license than all; for, as dad -says, and all pious men beside, I have God's own commission to prey -on Antichrist and him who stands his champion, till the filthy breath -of the beast shall cease to poison the earth. The Spaniard goes -about to lead away the people after false gods and idolatry and -superstition. Such men by the Word of God are worthy of death. Here -in my Bible I hold license from the Great King to seek out and spoil -and destroy His enemies. Shall I hold my hand so long as He shall -prosper His servant? How are we to call that piracy and thieving -which God has so clearly commanded?' - -Then all at once came back to me Mr. Cartwright's words, and how he -spoke of these rovers as doing the Lord's work and being prospered by -Him. I do not think it was that which overcame me, but rather Frank -Drake's presence. The recalling of my master's words was but an -excuse to myself for yielding. - -'Mr. Drake, you have prevailed,' said I. 'I crave your pardon; you -are a better man than I, and a truer servant both to God and the -Queen. Give me your pardon for my words; they were uncourteous and -unjust. Forget that they were spoken, and let my memory of them be -my punishment.' - -'Nay, it is you, sir,' said he, holding out his hand, 'it is you that -have prevailed. I took you for a distempered, fastidious scholar, -and now I know you for a true man. I desire your better -acquaintance, Mr. Festing, and nothing better than that we may one -day adventure together. At any rate, I trust that if you have a mind -to it at any time, you will know where to look for a captain.' - -'Ah,' said Harry, 'Jasper is more for stay-at-home book voyages than -for a dainty feast of dry haberdine and "poor John" at sea; for I -think,' the foolish lad added, 'he knows every cosmography book that -was ever wrote.' - -'Say you so?' cried Drake. 'Then I pray you lay in a victualling of -apples, and we three will aboard the arbour and make a dry voyage -together.' - -So we did, and talked over Drake's map till sunset, of half-known -worlds and unfurrowed seas, and all the wonders with which the -learning of the ancients and the fancies of the moderns had peopled -them. - -I cannot say that from that moment I became Frank Drake's friend, for -he was ever as slow in making a friendship as he was in parting with -one. Yet before he sailed again I may boast we began to be to one -another what we continued till his death. - -For in those days which followed we were always together, seeing that -Harry had almost every day to ride forth with his father to bid -farewell to some neighbour. - -I had been much astonished at the learning Drake displayed in his -first talk with me, and marvelled where a mariner could have gathered -so great a store of knowledge. He had gladly assented when I bade -him to Longdene, that we might study together the cosmography books -that were in my library. - -Day by day we pored together over their crabbed latinity, which I -expounded for his better understanding, while he, as I could see by -his shrewd questions and ruthless commentation, sucked the old -pedants dry as herrings. - -Ah! sweet bulky tomes, how dear is the sight of you to my declining -years, since that renowned navigator deigned to ask wisdom of you! -Well may you stand so proudly in your ranks, mounting guard, as it -were, over yonder table whereon he read in you. Best beloved to me -you are of all my books, yea, though I have around me the choicest -flowers of wit and scholarship, which in these latter years have -blossomed so bounteously under the glorious rays of our most royal -sun. - -Yes, you I love best; as much for the memory of my dear friend, which -you enshrine, as for some mighty power that seems to lie still behind -your great leather covers. Who knows how much you told him that -listened to your voice with such a wise discernment? Who knows how -much of fame he owed to what you whispered in his ear, unheard by me? -Ay, and who can even tell how many of these new dainty fruits our sun -would have had power to ripen, if he, untaught by you, had not first -so deeply stirred and tilled our fallow English wit with his heroic -and inspiring deeds? - -How large and fair a place those weeks hold in my memory! Had their -sands run out less quickly, how great a sorrow I might have been -spared! For I cannot doubt that had I spent a very little longer -time with Frank Drake, he would have made of me, there and then, a -sailor like himself, and I should never have gone back to Cambridge. - -But the hours of our studies were numbered, and the day came at last -when Harry must pass over to France in Drake's bark. - -It was a parting of double sadness; for not only was I to lose my two -friends, but one of them, he that I accounted my brother, was going -to a far country, where I feared I should lose him, both body and -soul. - -For Harry, like most other young gentlemen in his case, had -determined to pass into Italy--a country of which all our party had a -most wholesome horror, not only as the very home and fount of -papistry, but also because we held it no better than a foul Circean -garden, full of all manner of enticements to pleasure and wantonness. - -The proverb, by which the Italians themselves would make of every -Italianate Englishman a fiend incarnate, was ever on our lips. I -knew how hardly a man of Harry's kidney could escape unsullied, -seeing how little love he had for learning, in pursuit of which it -was pretended he should travel to Padua and elsewhere, and which -alone could save a man from the Italian taint. - -I perceived with great pain that since his return from Berwick Harry -read nothing but the Morte d'Arthur, and such like wanton books of -chivalry, wherein, as it seemed to me, those were accounted the -noblest knights who slew most men for mere valour's sake, without any -quarrel, and lived the most wanton lives. - -I spoke long and earnestly to him on this, praying him rather to -travel in Germany, and countries given up to God's true religion. He -listened patiently, as he always did to my preaching, though I think -he must have laughed in his sleeve, knowing how true and pure his -heart was beside mine. Yet I could not turn him from his purpose, -and had to bid him farewell with a sinking heart, which he tried to -comfort by promising that for my sake, if for none other, he would -come back unchanged. - -After Harry's departure Sir Fulke was so lonely that he prayed me -stay with him, for a little space. And this I was glad enough to do, -till letters came to me from Mr. Cartwright, wherein he told me of -the growing heats of the controversies at Cambridge concerning -conformity, and urged me to return to the standard, which thing I did -in the beginning of the year of grace 1565. - -It is in no way my desire to overstrain patience by speaking of these -matters, whereof so many have written at so great length, and better -than I; nor do I wish to speak much of my life, save in so far as it -was wrapped in those of my two dear friends who were now beyond the -seas, Frank Drake, on his return from France, having sailed under -Captain Lovell on his disastrous voyage to the Indies. - -Suffice it to say that I remained at Trinity, working diligently, -under Mr. Cartwright's guidance, to perfect myself in all manner of -scholarship, that I might render myself well practised in the use of -the most lethal weapons which he could forge for me in regard to the -then present controversies. - -Every day they and I grew more heated. Conformity was openly -condemned in Trinity, till at last Mr. Cartwright persuaded the whole -college, save three, to cast off the garb of Antichrist, and appear -in chapel without surplices. - -It was a day of great rejoicing in my college, for we, setting far -too high our importance, as is the wont of scholars in places where -they are gathered together, deemed we had accomplished little less -than a second Reformation. Yet all it brought about was so sound a -rating from the Chancellor, in which he was pleased to call us -'bragging, brainless heads,' with other pretty conceits, that many -were glad to disclaim their part in the matter and blame Mr. -Cartwright; so that, fearing the further displeasure of Mr. -Secretary, and urged thereto by his friends, my master left Cambridge -and went abroad, whither I would gladly have followed him, but he -would not have it so. - -'It were better,' he said, 'that you should abide here and take your -degrees; and, moreover, I desire to leave behind me in the University -some true and understanding friend, who will keep me informed of all -that passes here.' - -Being very glad to take upon myself so honourable an office I did as -he wished, and Mr. Cartwright's encouragement to scholarship being -thus withdrawn, my studies became almost entirely turned to theology, -or rather to that unseemly scramble for scraps of divinity which -passed for it in those days. - -I was even appointed for a time to read the divinity lecture, as a -gentleman reader without stipendium, and thus becoming always more -fanatical, and being well known as being in Mr. Cartwright's -confidence, I grew to be a marked man in Trinity, and in due course -was elected fellow, to my great content, though I had no intention of -taking orders, being a violent opponent of conformity. - -Those were great days for us in Trinity, for we had, what men love -best, a perfect content in the sense of our own bigness, at least -whenever our ears were not tingling with a rating from my Lord -Burleigh, our chancellor. We went on our ways like prophets, blindly -swelling out our littleness with the vain wind of our own babbling, -till we seemed to ourselves to tower like a giant at the head of -Reformation. - -If any had told us then that Frank Drake, or even my Lord of Bedford, -was doing more for the cause with his little finger than all our -heads together, we should have laughed him to scorn. Yet now it is -not clear to me that such a speech would not have had some show of -reason. - -In the year 1567 Dr. Beaumont died, to my great sorrow, and we had -set over us in his place Dr. Whitgift, Master of Pembroke Hall and -Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity. He was a man from whom we hoped -much, seeing that to a good disposition towards the Puritan party, a -hatred of vestments, and very sound Calvinistic doctrine, he added a -greater force of scholarship and eloquence than Dr. Beaumont ever -had, and moreover was a better courtier. - -Indeed, I think Trinity could have had no better Master in those -days. For although he seemed then to my hot head but lukewarm in the -cause, yet now I can see how high he raised my college during the ten -years of his mastership, which thing he achieved by a nice handling -of his authority between the parties, whereby the turbulent spirits -were pruned to a less rank growth, and the timid digged about and -fostered to the plentiful production of sweet and peaceful fruit. - -Such is the man as I see him now. Then it was different, for my hard -zeal was always distasteful to him, and we were but sorry friends. -So little indeed to my taste was the new spirit in the college, that -on his constantly urging me to conform and take orders, I resigned my -fellowship in fear of being deprived of it, as Mr. Cartwright was -afterwards, and retired to Longdene. - -I had the full consent of my master for this. He had recently -returned to Cambridge, and found himself the man of greatest weight -in the University, and like to be elected Vice-Chancellor had he been -in priest's orders. - -'It will be better in many ways,' said he, when I asked him his -advice, 'that you should return to your estate; your influence will -be more useful there. In Cambridge we have an abundance of -labourers. It is men like yourself that we now require throughout -the country. The cause needs urgently the support of the gentry, who -for the most part are papist or half-reformed. Since Mr. Drake has -got the vicarage of Upchurch you will have a stalwart fellow-worker. -Go then, and do your best till the time is ripe for our great blow. -I do not mean in any way to attack our present detestable and -superstitious manner of church government until I am made Professor -of Divinity, and can speak with all the authority of our great -University. Meanwhile in your private study you can help me in my -labour of grinding the weapons, that they may be sharp and ready in -my hands when the hour is come.' - -Though feeling not a little sad at leaving my dear college, perhaps -never to return, I could not but rejoice when I reached home that I -had taken Mr. Cartwright's advice; for I found my good old guardian -most grievously sick. - -He seemed very glad to see me, but yet I could fancy his manner was -not so frank as of yore. It pained me not a little, for I could see -by his pinched face that he was near to death's door. Nor could I -understand why he should be so different, till after I had talked -with him for some time, particularly of his spiritual state, we were -interrupted by some one entering the room unbidden. - -I started to my feet when I saw at the door a young gentleman whom I -had known at Cambridge. He had been a scholar of King's, and was one -of those who took little trouble to disguise their love of papistry. -He was dressed now in a cassock, and wore a small skull-cap to hide -his tonsure. - -We saluted each other very stiffly, while Sir Fulke looked from one -to the other in a frightened way, as though he expected us to fly at -each other's throats. - -'Which of us shall remain, Sir Fulke,' said I, 'since there is no -room for both?' - -'Both, lad, both,' cried Sir Fulke. - -'Nay,' said the Catholic gentleman, 'you must choose between us. If -you would have me do my office let this gentleman depart. I cannot -defile the mass by celebrating it in the presence of a heretic.' - -He said this in so soft and polished a manner that, though I felt my -face flush, I would not let him have the advantage, but replied with -my utmost politeness, speaking as though I had not heard him. - -'It were better I should go, Sir Fulke,' I said; 'I cannot stay and -stand by while a servant of Antichrist sullies your soul with -superstition and idolatry even as it is knocking for entry at God's -door.' - -It was the priest's turn to look angry then, but he only bowed to me -again and was silent. - -'Tush, lads,' broke in Sir Fulke, 'there is no need for squabbling -over me. What matter, Jasper, if I have a bit of a mass in memory of -the old days? I have been an arrant sinner too, and would ease -myself of a load of sin with just a piece of confession. I have -robbed the Church grievously, curse that mad knave Drake that led me -to it, and been a great swearer, Heaven help me; ay, and you help me -too, Jasper, since you know better prayers against swearing than the -priests. You shall come and pray with me after he has done, lad, and -then God will know it was my wish to make peace with Him and all men -before I died. Come, lad, will you not? I have no son but you to -smooth my pillow, since Harry is beyond the sea. Go now, and come -again. You would not grudge me a bit of a mass like my fathers to -die upon. May be they would be ashamed of me when I went to do -homage with them up there, if I came amongst them unshriven and -unhouselled.' - -'Surely, sir,' I said, much melted at the old knight's words, 'you -would depart in surer hope of Paradise if you please God in your -death rather than your ancestors.' - -'That is right, lad,' said the dying man, 'and so I will. You shall -come and help me. But there would be no joy in Paradise if my -ancestors and the old gentry turned their backs upon me, and I had to -go with the new men. Save your father, there never was one of them I -could abide; and Mr. Carter says Nick will not be there.' - -I looked at Mr. Carter, as Sir Fulke called him, though I knew it was -not his name. He bowed again to me politely, and I repressed the -angry burst that I had ready for him, being unwilling to cause Sir -Fulke any further pain. - -'Sir Fulke,' said I, 'it was your good will to let my father be -buried as he would. I have not forgotten that, and for your sake -will this day forget my plain duty both to God and myself.' - -With that I left the room, and waited below in the hall till I was -called up again. I found Sir Fulke at the mercy of God, and -senseless. The Catholic gentleman was gone. So I knelt by the old -knight's bed, and prayed long and earnestly to God that his opinions -might be forgiven him, seeing they sprang of ignorance rather than -perversity, though I had then, it must be said, little hope my -prayers would be heard; and even as I prayed my guardian passed -peacefully away. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -After Sir Fulke's death, and the stir which naturally followed, -things grew very quiet with me. Almost my whole day was devoted to -what Mr. Cartwright had called 'grinding the weapons' for his coming -attack on prelatical government. - -In spite of my books I was very lonely. Mr. Drake was at this time -almost always away on duty. Upnor Castle was full of Spanish -prisoners, who had been seized in the neighbouring ports in pursuance -of the Queen's recent order, whereby she sought to make reprisal for -a like order issued by her loving brother-in-law the King of Spain. -And that some recognition might be made for the labours of the -Inquisition so generously bestowed on the English prisoners in Spain, -Mr. Drake was ordered to preach at Upnor every day. - -It seemed a great delight to the old navy preacher to go and rail -before them at the Romish church, and it was no doubt most -medicinable in his case, for never saw I a man more furious against -Spain than he was at that time, and not without cause. - -Frank Drake had sold his bark, and sailed with his cousin, Mr. John -Hawkins, in the great trading expedition which Sir William Garrard -and Company had fitted out for the Guinea coast and the Indies. His -kind old kinsman suffered him to venture his small savings with him, -and had given him a petty officer's place in the fleet, out of pity -for the wrongs he had suffered at Rio de la Hacha, under Captain -Lovell, of which I have already spoken. - -We were all rejoiced at his good fortune, for it was as pretty a sail -of ships as ever left the coast. There was the great _Jesus of -Lubeck_, Mr. Hawkins's admiral; the _Minion_, his vice-admiral; a -smart bark of fifty tons, called the _Judith_; besides three others, -the _Swallow_, the _William and John_, and the _Angel_. It was, -moreover, no fast secret that the Queen's grace and many of the -Council were sharers in the venture, so that it lacked not any kind -of furniture, either of men or arms, and great things were expected -from it for all concerned, even to the lowest mariner. Indeed I -myself had adventured a moderate sum, being persuaded by Drake how -profitable the negro trade had been and would be again. - -Of this expedition nothing had now been heard for more than a year, -and we began to grow anxious. At last a Spaniard who had put into -Plymouth gave Mr. William Hawkins intelligence that his brother was -on his way home, laden with the untold spoils of a town which he had -sacked, and of prizes which he had taken on the seas. We hardly knew -what to think of this, for such dealings were not at all to John -Hawkins's liking. He was a wary, far-casting man, and I always -thought looked on trading, especially in negroes, as more profitable -than piracy, as indeed it was. Thus he had always laboured while in -the Indies, by just dealing, that the planters and merchants should -stand well with him and secretly support him, when, as happened -sometimes, he was forced to carry a high hand over governors who -refused to trade quietly. - -Mr. Drake was sure the report was all another Spanish lie, and was -not surprised when, some time after, he heard that some Spanish -mariners had been bragging over their cups that Hawkins and all his -men had been entrapped and put to the sword far inland, and the whole -undertaking brought to nought. I need not say with what alarm and -anxiety these reports filled us, for they sounded far more like truth -than the last. It in no way decreased our fear for Frank's safety -when shortly afterward the Queen seized the treasure-ships of the -Duke of Alva, which had been chased by privateers and pirates into -Southampton, Plymouth, and Foy, and were still lying there, since the -ship-masters knew not how to get through to the Netherlands. We -could not doubt then that the Council had certain news that all we -feared was true. Every one now gave up all hope, and thought only of -revenge and reprisal, when tidings joyfully reached us that the -_Judith_, one of the ships of the expedition, had put into Mount's -Bay, crowded with twice her proper crew, and in command of 'Captain' -Drake! - -All kinds of rumours now arose of what had happened, mingled with -news of how the Spaniards had laid an embargo on British ships in the -Netherlands and in Spain, and imprisoned every Englishman they could -clutch. The Queen replied undaunted with like boldness, and every -prison along the coast was packed with Spanish sailors, and every -town-hall with treasure and rich cargoes. - -Such doings very soon caused it to be reported with greater certainty -that the Council had certain news of Mr. Hawkins's death and the -destruction of all his men, when to our great relief it was said that -the _Minion_, with the general aboard and a half-starved crew, had -come home. We were more hopeful now, but hungrier than ever for -news. Mr. Drake brought us every kind of horrible tale from the -Spanish prisoners at Upnor. I think they devised them in pure -revenge for his preaching at them, and the more they lied the more he -rated their idolatry and superstition. - -It was some time before we heard the truth. Frank sent us letters -(in which I noted that he wrote himself 'Captain' Drake) saying that -Mr. William Hawkins, Governor of Plymouth, had sent him up to inform -the Council fully of what had occurred, and that he was detained in -London upon that business. So things stood with us when one morning, -a month or more after Sir Fulke's death, I was awakened by the sound -of a gruff, loud voice, such as soldiers affect, in conversation with -Lashmer's somewhat strident tenor. - -'Good master soldier,' cried Lashmer, 'I tell you he is still abed, -and you cannot see him this two hours.' - -'Nay, by this bright honour, but I will see him,' said the other. - -'And yet I think you will not,' said Lashmer; 'and yet again, by this -bright honour is a good oath, and a gentleman's oath, and one that -may not be sworn to a lie or a thing that is not true, unless, -indeed, there be provocation; for provocation, look you, master -soldier, excuses many things. It is your great peacemaker.' - -'Why, this is monstrous logic,' returned the bass, 'and such as I -never heard all the time I was sergeant-groom under the Signor John -Peter Pugliano, esquire of the Emperor's stables, a man of most -fertile Italian wit. What need of the philosopher's stone, if by -mere logic you can make of provocation a peacemaker?' - -'Well, softly now, and I will show you,' answered Lashmer, whose talk -served often to wile a dull hour, since he had been to Cambridge and -gleaned I know not what stray scraps of learning that careless -students had dropped in his way,--'I will show you how a man will -come to swear the peace of another for some assault, or battery, or -mayhem, or anything, and that other shall show provocation. Then -shall no peace be sworn, and they shall be at one again. For it -shall appear that he who battered the other did him no wrong, seeing -there was provocation in it. So they that thought they had quarrel -shall find by this same sweet provocation that they have none.' - -'Then must I provoke all men,' said the sergeant-groom, 'if I would -live at peace with them.' - -'Ay, by this bright honour,' said Lashmer; 'then no matter how often -you get a bloody coxcomb, yet shall you never have quarrel with any -man.' - -'Then will I now most lovingly break your pate,' said the other, -'that you may stand my friend and bring me to your master. For my -master, the most excellent esquire, Henry Waldyve, bade me spare no -pains to see your master as soon as possible.' - -Whether my servant's logic would have been put to this severe test I -cannot say, for at Harry's name I sprang out of bed and cried from -the window that I would see the messenger forthwith. - -I hurried from my chamber to find Harry's servant discussing his -morning ale with Lashmer. He rose to a stiff military position as I -entered, and made me a most lofty salute with his Spanish hat. He -was a tall, soldierly-looking man of about forty years of age, with a -peaked beard and very fierce moustaches that had been nicely -disciplined in the Spanish fashion to curl nearly up to his eyes. By -his side hung a very terrible 'schiavona,' which he wore instead of a -rapier, after the fashion of the German _reiters_, considering, as he -afterwards told me, that the broadsword was the only fit weapon for -horsemen. It had a great steel closed hilt, presenting such a -defiant tangle of rings, hilt-points, and twisted bars after the -latest pedantic fancy as to make the beholder tremble to think what -the blade must be. - -Indeed his whole appearance was foreign. He wore a large ruff, a -thing as new to me as his sword; and his doublet, which showed -clearly the marks of a corselet often worn over it, was pinked and -slashed in the furthest fantastic fashion. - -'If you come on the part of Mr. Waldyve,' said I, receiving his -salute, 'you are thrice welcome.' - -'In truth I bring you, sir, that most excellent and soldierly young -gentleman's most full and lovingly complete commendation. Know me, -at your worship's service, as Alexander Culverin, sometime -sergeant-groom under the Signor John Peter Pugliano, esquire of the -Emperor's stables, and now body-servant and master of the horse to -that most proper gentleman Mr. Henry Waldyve.' - -All this he said drawn up as stiff and soldierly as though he were -mounting guard over the Emperor's own bedchamber. His presence much -impressed my peaceful follower, though to me he was a thing to smile -at lovingly; for somewhere in his face was a simple, kindly, almost -childish look, that was strangely in contrast with his fiercely -curling moustache, his loud, gruff voice, and his very warlike -bearing. - -'When came your master home?' I asked, for in truth I was greatly -surprised to hear of his return so suddenly. - -'But a week ago,' said the Sergeant; 'since which time we have been -lying at my Lord of Bedford's house in London; for Mr. Waldyve had -matters to report to the Council ere he could come down here.' - -'And have you brought me any message from him beside his -commendations?' I asked. - -'Saving your worship's worship,' said the man, 'he would have you -ride over at your worship's most early haste to Ashtead, since he -would have some speech with you together with some poor soul, who, to -judge by his most unhorsemanlike carriage, is a mariner or sailor.' - -'Gave he the name of this same sailor?' I asked. - -'That he did. A name he had that sorts well with one who splashes -about all his life in that most base element called water. To be -short with you, it is one Captain Drake, though I hold it most false -heraldry to apply so dignified and soldierly a title to a seafaring -man.' - -'Well, we can talk of this as we go,' said I, in a mighty hurry now -to be off. 'I will ride back with you now, if you will wait till -Lashmer has saddled our horses.' - -I tarried but to eat my manchet and drink my bowl of ale, since I -hold a morsel in the morning with a good draught, sweetened and -defecated by all night standing, to be very good and wholesome for -the eyesight. - -As I mounted my horse I saw Culverin watching me with a most judicial -air. I must own I felt no little comfort and gratitude to my -guardian for his good training to see him nod a distinct though -qualified approval to himself when he saw me in the saddle. - -'Know you what business your master has with Captain Drake?' I asked -as we rode out of my gates, my mouth watering for news. - -'Nay, not I,' answered Culverin; 'yet I hope it will be none, since I -hold it unseemly for a gentleman and a soldier to have near -communication with sailors.' - -'Yet Captain Drake,' I said, 'has great love and respect for -land-soldiers.' - -'Has he indeed?' replied the Sergeant, looking very pleased; 'a most -notable sign of his good sense, and had he said horse-soldiers, it -would have been a notable sign of his better sense.' - -'How make you that good, Master Culverin?' asked Lashmer, whose -hunger for an argument was by this time getting the better of his awe -of the stranger. - -'It is good of itself, Master Lashmer,' said Sergeant Culverin. 'For -when I was sergeant-groom under Signor John Peter Pugliano, esquire -of the Emperor's stables, he was wont to say (and, mark you, he was a -man of most fertile Italian wit) that soldiers were the noblest -estate of mankind, and horsemen the noblest of soldiers. They were -masters of war, he said, and ornaments of peace, speedy goers and -strong abiders, triumphers both in courts and camps. In truth, your -only salvation is to be a horse-soldier. Take that of me.' - -Seeing Lashmer was on the point of a desperate charge upon this -monstrous position, I changed our subject quickly by asking news of -Harry. - -'It was but three weeks ago, sir,' said Culverin, 'that we got your -letters telling of Sir Fulke Waldyve's death. We were in winter -quarters, whither we had gone when the campaign ended so ill for us -with the fall of St. Jean d'Angely. Then we tarried not for drum or -trumpet, but came straight homewards in the first ship that sailed. -It was a pity it fell so. There was pretty warfare there, and most -profitable for a gentleman to see. For, look you, sir, a soldier can -learn more from defeats than victories. Take that of me. We were -present all through last year's campaign, and rode in M. Ardelot's -regiment when they drubbed us so soundly at Jarnac. After his death -we were attached to the admiral himself, and so continued till our -second rout at Moncontour. It was an evil time for the Huguenots, -but a pretty schoolhouse for a scholar of arms, and my master was -growing to be a most sweet soldier. I tell you, sir, his name was on -every tongue in the army, so high a courage and discretion had he -shown in all passages of arms we had made together.' - -'Ah,' said I, 'there is little need to tell me that. I knew well -what men would say of him when the time came to show what stuff was -in him.' - -'And so did I too, sir,' said he. 'As soon as ever he came to the -Emperor's Court, and rode down to the tilting ground, I said to -Signor John Peter Pugliano, esquire of the stables, "There is a -soldier," said I; for his seat was as well as a man could sit. It -won my heart, sir, to see him. From that hour I was his servant. I -craved leave to direct his exercises under the esquire, and grew to -love him as my own horse.' - -'Was it, then, pure love that made you follow him to England?' I -asked. - -'Indeed, sir, I think it was. After he had been with us a year or -so, he took it in his mind to see some service in the French wars. I -begged to go in his train; for I loved him, and could not see him go -to the wars without a proper following or some old dog to watch over -him when dangers were thick.' - -'And you gave up your honourable post of sergeant-groom for his sake?' - -'Ay, sir, and willingly; for he promised to carry me to England with -him after he had had his fill of fighting. My bowels yearned for the -land I had not seen for twenty years. Indeed, sir, there's no man -loves the smoke of his own country that hath not been singed in the -flame of another soil. Take that from me, sir, saving your wisdom.' - -'Then you are of English parentage, Sergeant Culverin?' - -'Yes, sir, though many think not, because of my name and a certain -carriage that comes to men of travel; yet I am English born, sir, and -never knew father or mother, save an English great piece on the -Calais barbican.' - -'Then save you, Sergeant, from your kinsmen,' said I, thinking he was -jesting, 'since the Moors call great pieces the "mothers of death." -You and it are the only children I ever heard that they had.' - -'You are merry, sir, but I jest not,' said the Sergeant, drawing -himself up very stiff on his horse. 'What I say is sober truth. The -first human eyes that ever saw me, as I could ever hear, were just -those of an old gunner, who found me one night in the mouth of his -culverin. He, good soul, took care of me. "She is the only lass I -ever loved," he was wont to say, "but I never thought she would be -mother of a son to me." So he took me home, and his mates and he -would have the priest kursten me "Culverin" after my mother, and -"Alexander," because they said I must be born to be a mighty soldier.' - -'Truly, Sergeant,' said I, seeing how serious he was, though I had -much ado to stop laughing, 'a most honourable and soldierly descent.' - -'Ay, sir, you may say that,' he answered, looking round at Lashmer, -from whom came a sound of choking laughter. 'A most soldierly and -royal parentage. She was as good a piece as ever was cast, and -stamped, look you, with King Harry's own arms, rest his soul! To say -no more, for modesty's sake, it is not one or two who have rued their -ribald merriment at what I am telling you.' - -And with that he laid his hand upon the great steel hilt of his -broadsword, and glared so terribly at Lashmer that I thought the poor -lad would have fallen from his saddle from pure fear of the bristling -of the Sergeant's fierce moustache. - -I do not think Lashmer ever laughed at Sergeant Culverin again, at -least not in his face. Indeed it was not many who did; most men -feared his sword too much, and those who knew him best, and were not -afraid, loved him too well. - -I think three men never greeted each other more warmly than Frank, -Harry, and I when I reached Ashtead. It was like summer to see them -again, yet I found them much altered. - -Harry seemed shocked by his father's death, and looked very sad in -his black clothes. His face was bronzed, his short beard neatly -trimmed to a point, and a scar scarce healed stretched across one -temple. Yet I thought I never saw him look more manly, handsome, or -lovable, in spite of the foreign look his travels had given him. - -Captain Drake, too, was changed. His eye was as bright and his ways -as cheery as ever; yet when he was not speaking I could see in his -face a harder and sterner look than there used to be. His dress, -too, was very different to what he had worn in the old days; though -plain, it was of good stuff, and cut according to the fashion. He -wore, moreover, a smart rapier, and had the air of a gentleman, -though without having lost his sailor-like looks. - -'You will want to know why I sent for you, Jasper,' said Harry, as -soon as our greetings were over. - -'Nay, that do I not,' said I; 'so long as you sent for me, that is -enough.' - -'Well, but I had a good reason,' answered Harry. 'I met Captain -Drake in London, whither he had come on business, as he will tell -you. As he was coming hither to see his father at Upchurch we -journeyed together, and he told me--tell him, Frank, what you told -me, and then he will know why we sent for him.' - -'Well, lad,' said Captain Drake, setting himself down for a long -tale, as sailors will, 'you remember how I wrote to you of the voyage -which I made to Cape de la Vela in the Indies with Captain Lovell, -the year after our brush with the caravel, and how it all ended in -the wrong I suffered from the Spaniards at Rio de la Hacha for no -cause but their accursed treachery?' - -'Yes, that I do,' said I; for he had written to me about it at -Cambridge, and Mr. Drake, too, had told me fully of that most wicked -dealing with his son. - -'Well, that was well enough,' Drake went on; 'a plague on the false -papist hearts; but what came after was worse.' - -'And at one time we feared it was worse again,' said I; 'for we -thought we had lost you as well as our venture. But how came it -about? We looked for nothing but success under Mr. Hawkins.' - -'And nothing but that should you have had,' said Drake. 'Merrily -should we have singed the King of Spain's beard, and filled some most -noble pockets beside our own, but that Jack Hawkins was over -scrupulous with the traitors. Things went well enough at first, in -spite of bad weather, especially for me; for off Cape de Verde we -fell in with a Frenchman from Rochelle, who had taken a Portugal -caravel. This Jack Hawkins chased and took, and made me master and -captain of her. We called her the _Grace of God_, and a good name -too, seeing how God graced our venture. For we drubbed the Portugals -wherever we met them, and before we left the Guinea coast we had -gathered as fine a cargo of black flesh as a merchant need wish to -see. - -'Being well filled up with what we sought, we sailed for the Indies. -My luck stood by me still; for when Captain Dudley of the _Judith_ -died, Cousin Jack gave me his place, and made me full captain. We -found traffic on the Main a bit hard, because the King of Spain had -most uncourteously charged that no man should trade so much as a -_peso_-worth with us. Yet negroes are dear to a Don's heart, and -there are ways, lad, there are ways that none know better than old -Jack. So we had reasonable trade at mighty good prices, both in -black flesh and our other merchandise, till we came to Rio de la -Hacha. We were but two ships when we anchored before the town--the -_Angel_ and my lady _Judith_. The rest had been sent to Curaįoa to -make provision for the fleet. So they thought to try their scurvy -tricks there again, and refused us water, thinking thereby to starve -us into selling our negroes for half nothing. The Treasurer, who was -in charge, had fortified the town and got some hundred or so of -harquebusiers behind his bulwarks; so we could not land, but took a -caravel in spite of all their shot, right under their noses, and rode -there till our general came round in the _Jesus_. They soon found -that an English cock could crow as loud and louder than a Spaniard. -For old Jack set ashore two hundred small shot and pikemen, and took -the town. It was no less than their discourtesy deserved, and they -suffered no harm; for every man of them ran clean out of the place at -the first bark of our snappers. I think it was only a little comedy -to please the King of Spain; for Master Treasurer and all of them -came in at night to trade, and before we left we had two hundred less -black mouths to fill and a pretty store of gold and pearls in our -hold. - -'We had done such a brisk trade and no bones made all along the -coast, after our persuasions at Rio de la Hacha, that when we came to -Carthagena, our traffic being nearly done, we tried nothing against -it, save that the _Minion_ saluted the castle with a few shot from -her great pieces, while we landed and took certain _botijos_ of wine -from an island, just to drink their health, leaving woollen and linen -cloth there in payment. So we bore up for Florida; but being taken -in a _furicano_, which I believe the Lord sent to guide us, we were -driven into San Juan de Ulloa, the port of the city of Mexico, as you -know. Now listen, lad; listen what God sent us. There in the port -at our mercy--entirely in our power--were twelve galleons, laden with -two hundred thousand pounds' worth of gold and silver. Two hundred -thousand pounds! Think of it, if you can, without going mad, for I -can't. Yet, in spite of God's plain guidance, as I told him again -and again, Jack Hawkins set them all at liberty without touching a -_peso_, fearing, as he said, the Queen's displeasure, the simple -fool, if he touched the goods of her most loving brother-in-law! Ah! -had we known how the brave Queen was going to deal with her loving -brother-in-law's money in her own fair ports of Southampton and the -West, Jack would have listened to me when I told how best to please -her Grace! - -'Well, it was no good. Not a _peso_ would he touch, but only asked -leave to refit and victual; and now, lad, comes the worst of all. -Next morning we saw open of the haven thirteen great ships, being the -Plate fleet and its wafters--a sight to make an honest Protestant -man's mouth water. Lord, Lord, Jasper! I cannot think of it with -loving-kindness to Jack. Just see now, lad! We had complete command -of the haven. Not a fly-boat, not a pinnace could enter or leave -without our yea. To keep the Spaniards outside in the north wind was -only the other way of saying present wreck to every rag and stick of -them; and that meant wellnigh two millions loss to the Spaniards, and -Heaven knows what gain to us in wreckage, and flotsam, and trifles we -should have had for our trouble in saving crews. - -'Did God ever show a greater mercy to His faithful people than that? -I ask you, sir. You know better than I, because you are a scholar. -Yet Jack Hawkins let his scruples stand before the plain will of God, -and would make conditions with them. Would I could have told him -what our lion-hearted Queen was doing in the narrow seas with her -dear brother-in-law's belongings; but we did not know. Then he would -have heard the voice of the Lord aright. But, as it was, he was -stubborn, and let them all in on conditions of peace, and safe -fitting and victualling for ourselves; to the which was passed the -word of Don Martin Henriquez, Viceroy of Mexico, himself, who was -with the fleet; a pox on him till this hand has squeezed him dry, and -then the knave may go hang! - -'I need not tell the rest. You guess what came--what must have come. -It was like night after day. Relying on all their solemn words and -papistical oaths, no less than on the hostages they had given us, we -laboured together two days peaceably to bestow the ships properly in -the port and prepare ours for refitting. A good part of our ordnance -we set ashore upon an island in the mouth of the port, which, by the -conditions, was to be in our possession. - -'On the third day after we had let them in, when we were about to set -the carpenters to work, and were all dismantled, I could see things -were going treacherously, in spite of their fine words. Soldiers -were marching to and fro, and ordnance being bent upon us. Jack sent -to inquire what it might mean, and Don Martin Henriquez passed his -word of honour to protect us from treason. - -'Still the preparation went on, and Jack protested again--this time -with much effect; for his messenger was seized, a trumpet blown, and -in a moment all was in a roar and blaze. Out of the smoke that hid -the quay and ships we could see the glitter of harness and pikes and -halberds, and the glow of matches, as hundreds of soldiers rushed -upon us and thrust out to the island in crowded long-boats. In a -trice our men ashore were overcome and cut down, and our ships -swarming with Spaniards. - -'Lord, what a fight it was then! Tooth and nail, claw and heel, we -went at them. Such a roar and din there was as my ears at least had -never heard, till it lulled again, and not a Spaniard was left alive -upon our ships. It was glorious work, but we had no time to think of -it. - -'No sooner were we clear than we cut our headfasts and warped out on -our sternfasts; but though that saved us from boarding again, it did -little good; for the treacherous dogs were masters of the island and -our great pieces, as well as of their own on the ships and the -platform. Still, for a whole hour we made a great fight of it, in -which we sunk two of their great ships and burnt another. - -'By this time the _Jesus_ was dismasted and an utter wreck. She, -being the admiral, had aboard of her all our treasure--twelve -thousand pounds in gold, lad, besides negroes and merchandise. - -'It was impossible to bring her off, so Jack resolved to abandon her, -after taking out all she had. To this end we drew her off and set -her in front of the _Minion_, to keep off the shot of the Spanish -batteries, and so save our whole ship from destruction while we were -at our work. For the _Minion_ was the only ship we had now that -would sail, except my _Judith_, which I had got safe off after the -fight. But the Spaniards saw our game, and fired two other great -ships of theirs, and loosed them down wind at us. They may call us -cowards, Jasper, but it is a fearful thing to see two fireships a -mass of roaring, crackling flames, and each twice and thrice as big -as yourself, bearing down on you. Who can blame them if the crew of -the _Minion_ grew afraid and cast her off from the _Jesus_, in spite -of all their captain or the general could say? So suddenly was it -done that the general himself almost perished in trying to come -aboard the _Minion_, and many were drowned in the attempt, and many -left aboard the grand old _Jesus_ with the treasure, to fall a prey -to those rake-hell traitors. - -'I quickly lay aboard the _Minion_ with the _Judith_, and took out of -her all I had room for; and so, at the mercy of God and looking for -nothing but death, seeing how overladen we were and without proper -provisions, I made my way home as speedily as I might. Jack takes it -unkindly that I left him; yet, God knows, I did it for the best, -trusting, by His help, to save my ship and all those aboard, if such -a thing were possible to any man. Who knows, if I had tarried with -the general, I should not have fared like him, and had to set half my -crew ashore to suffer Heaven knows what miseries at the hand of -Indians and wild beasts and Spaniards, which is worse. Ay, and to -lose half the rest from famine and sickness. God be praised for His -mercy to me, and judge between me and Cousin Jack.' - -So Frank Drake ended his relation of that famous adventure in the -port of San Juan de Ulloa, and fell to walking fiercely up and down -the room where we sat. I knew not what to answer him; for I was -almost as much moved as he, and firmly believed it was the will of -God that they should have destroyed the two Spanish fleets. It is -strange to look back upon now, yet I cannot wonder that I thought as -I did, seeing what my masters had been at Cambridge, and, above all, -in what a perilous case England then was. - -Never, I think, was reformation in greater danger than at that time. -There were already constant rumours of the disquiet in the north. -The rumblings of the Papist storm that was soon to burst from thence -were making themselves heard. The Scots Queen sat fouling the nest -to which she had flown for refuge, in our eyes like some unclean bird -that bred new traitors every day, and Spain cried louder and France -blustered more fiercely against the one stout heart which would not -bend to Rome. - -The Queen still stoutly held the Duke of Alva's treasure, which she -had seized; our ports were closed to Spain, and those of Spain to us. -Sir William Winter was fitting out his expedition to relieve -Rochelle, with victuals, men, and furniture for the Huguenots. -Papist prizes, Spanish, French, no matter what, were daily pouring -into our ports upon the narrow seas, and Don Gueran de Espes, the -Spanish Ambassador, was a prisoner in his own house in London. It -was said at all hands that the times could not long endure the -strain, and we looked for war to burst out every day. - -What wonder then, if, when the whole host of Anti-christ seemed to be -gathering about us, I, like Francis Drake, saw the finger of God in -the hurricane which had put it in our power to make so big a blow at -His enemies, and read in the disaster that followed a judgment on -those who spared to spoil the Egyptians? That was what the scholar -Said to the sailor; ay, and honestly believed it too. - -'Have no doubt, Frank,' said I, 'it was the Lord's will that you had -smitten and spared not. It was His plain and manifest mercy to you -to put it in your power to bruise the serpent's head. Would God -Captain Hawkins had listened with your ears!' - -'That is what I tell Harry, but he scorns it,' said Drake eagerly; -and Harry, to my inquiring look, only laughed a little low laugh, so -full of complete amusement that it made me shudder, and there rushed -to my mind the horrid Italian proverb that we heard so -often--_Inglese Italianato č Diavolo incarnato_. - -'Do you not think, then,' I asked of Harry, 'that it is God's will -that we should smite Antichrist and all his host?' - -'Well, let that pass, lad,' said Harry, laying his hand gently upon -my knee. 'I know not too well what God thinks of us; but it is my -will, and England's will, that we should smite, as you say, the King -of Spain, and that is why I sent for you. Ever since he came home -Frank has been striving to get redress from Spain through the -Council, but things have come to such a pass with embargoes and -imprisoned ambassadors that all hope of that is at an end. So Frank -is going to fry his own fish. Tell him what you are going to do, -Frank.' - -Drake looked at Culverin and Lashmer, who had remained in the room, -with that same strange stare of his, as though to see whether he -might safely speak before them. - -'Shall they go?' said Harry. - -'No,' said Frank, after a pause, and the Sergeant saluted him, and -Lashmer looked like a happy sheep. 'They are neither men to blab, -yet we must be close; for it would seem there is a Spanish ear grows -on every village cross.' - -Therewith Frank Drake unfolded to us his mighty project, of which I -think none but his heroic soul had yet dreamed--that glorious -enterprise which, before a few more years were gone, was to make -England's heart to leap with pride like a young stag, and set her -fair body throbbing with the wild untamable life that was to make her -what she is. - -'The time is past for child's play,' he cried, with glowing face, -'the time is past for nibbling at our enemy in the narrow seas, it is -past for peaceable trade with them. If we are to live and dare -worthily of our manhood, we must bite hard and deep in their vitals. -Where is that, lad? Whence comes their life? Where but from the -Indies? There lies the heart of Spain, the heart of Antichrist, open -and unprotected, for a man who dares to try. I have seen and I know. -They are no match for us. See what we did at San Juan de Ulloa. In -spite of their numbers, in spite of their treachery, we saved two of -our ships and they lost five of theirs, and all three times the -_Minion's_ size at least. I suffered there, but still I learnt a -lesson which, by God's help, they shall rue the teaching of. But he -who attempts this must not flinch or quail. Jack Hawkins is no man -for it; but I can do it, lads, under God, I can; and if I do it, it -shall be under no man's flag but my own.' - -'Frank,' said I, 'I believe if there is a man in England can attempt -this thing it is you. But be not hasty to throw away your life, -which England needs. Think of those unknown seas for which you can -get no pilot in England; think of the power of him you attack.' - -'I know, lad, I know,' answered Drake, as calm and confident as ever. -'I have thought of it. I will have a pilot, and that pilot shall be -myself. It may take a year or two, but at last I will know those -seas as well as any Spaniard of them all. Then I will strike, and -let them see how I can revenge myself. Revenge is the Lord's, and by -His chosen people He does His work. To you, and such as you, He -looks to help me in this, and I have come to ask if you will join me -in working the revenge of God.' - - - - -CHAPTER X - -Before we parted I had promised to help Frank, as far as my purse -would go, to fit out a ship for the Indies, that he might make survey -of the whole region, and find out when and how best to strike his -blow, and haply pick up a prize or two to pay his fellow-adventurers -a fair profit on their risk. - -Harry helped him too, but to a very small extent, for his travels had -made a large hole in his purse, and he never had the heart to squeeze -his tenants so hard as others would have done in like case. Frank's -kinsmen, the Hawkins, still took what they called his desertion at -San Juan de Ulloa so unkindly that he could get nothing from them, -and while the disaster was fresh in men's minds a good many pockets -were shut to him that a year ago would have run like a river at the -very name of a venture to the Indies. - -Still, by the next year--it was, I remember, soon after the bull for -the Queen's deposition had been found affixed to Lambeth Palace--he -sailed. It was, I think, in a great measure the fury with which that -wanton insult to the Queen filled the country that helped Frank more -than anything to get the money he wanted for his enterprise. - -During the whole of this time Harry was in London or elsewhere with -the Court, and not more than once or twice for a few days at Ashtead. -I do not know whether I felt more lonely when he was away and I was -poring over my books at Mr. Cartwright's work, or when he came down -on his hurried visits. - -Each time I saw him his heart seemed farther away from me. Not that -he was less kind than of old, but now his whole soul seemed wrapped -up in the pageantries, the passages of arms, and, above all, the -ladies of the Court. Of these he seemed never to tire of talking, -though I wearied of listening. - -I was longing, as I used, to speak to him of all that was next my -heart--of the great strife in which I laboured for the purifying of -religion; of the solemnity of this present life, of which he seemed -to take no heed; of the awful doom for all eternity, which I -shuddered to see yawning before him. Yet I knew not how to win his -ear. Whenever I tried to start such talk he was quick enough to see -my intention and thwart it with a rattling jest or some whimsical -conceit. Nor had I much heart for it, if the truth must be told; for -I dreaded in speaking to him on such things to find he was more -Italianate than I believed him. - -So in his company I was lonely, and in his absence lonely. I strove -to find comfort in my books, hunting daily in their inmost coverts. -All was game that my net enclosed. No allusion was too fantastic, no -phrase too ambiguous, no simile too conceited, no argument too -fanciful for me. I swept them all up to feed Mr. Cartwright's great -idea, no matter where I found them. Daily and all day I worked on, -searching like some warrener for every unsuspected bolt-hole through -which our adversaries might seek to escape. No sooner was one found -than I was weaving cunning nets with terms and figures, premiss and -consequence, to set across it, and entangle them in its wordy meshes -as soon as ever they should try to give us the slip. - -Yet I got little comfort from it all. For though my studies assured -me of my own salvation, they also confirmed my dread and certainty of -Harry's perdition. Never was my life more joyless than then. There -was no one I cared to see except my servant Lashmer, and sometimes -Mr. Drake, though I won a most godly name by entertaining all the -preachers and such like that came my way. I was fast growing to be a -morose misanthropic scholar, and an iron-bound Puritan to boot. - -Yet I knew it not, but rejoiced to think how utterly I denied myself -the joys of this world, and how dear in the sight of God my life must -be. I shudder, too, to think that as the breach continued to widen -between Harry and me, I began at last to find some sort of solace in -what I saw in store for him hereafter, and though I prayed for him -unceasingly my prayers were the prayers of the Pharisee. - -Perhaps it was a sort of jealousy, that he was so wicked and so -happy, while I, God help me for my blindness, was so good and so -miserable. I confessed it not to myself, yet indeed I think it was -no different. For those were the days when I and half England beside -were gathering up what we took in our ignorance for the manna of -heaven, when in truth it was little better than a foul poison to our -souls. - -But now I must cry forgiveness for my tedious babbling of myself, if -indeed my credit be not already cracked with over much borrowing of -patience with no return of profit or pleasure. Yet, at the risk of -earning ill-will, I have thought so much necessary for the proper -understanding of what next befell. - -Such, then, was I when one morning some time after Frank Drake had -sailed I again heard Mr. Alexander Culverin crying out for me at the -gate. This time he was at once shown to my presence by Lashmer, -where, with a grave salute, he presented me with a letter from Harry. -I opened it and read as follows:-- - - -DEAR LAD--After my most loving and hearty commendations, this is to -crave you give me joy. A little pretty bird piped to me and witched -my heart away or ever I felt it go. In despair I sang back the song -I learned of her, and, the gods be praised, saw my way to steal her -heart in payment for mine. Then, lest we should quarrel over the -felonies, we agreed to love. - -Ere Diana sleeps and wakes again the compact will be sealed by Holy -Church. Then look for your sister at Ashtead, which I pray you see -well bestowed for her coming, for I am too busy and happy to leave -her side. - -Yours from the seventh heaven of ecstacy, and higher than that again, -HARRY WALDYVE. - -See a mad lover! I had near forgot to tell you your sister's name. -It is the name of names, even the name of the little ruddy-haired -child that I knew, and yet knew not, while I was of my Lord of -Bedford's household. - - -'Why, this is news indeed, Sergeant,' said I. - -'Yes, it is new, sir,' said Culverin; 'that is all that is to be said -in its favour. I knew he would do it, I knew he would, if we stayed -at Court so long. Not that I blame Mistress St. John. It was not -her fault. How any lady amongst them all could sit and see him ride -a tilt without doing the like is more than I can say; but I claim no -cunning in the management of women, sir, saving your worship.' - -'So you think it was his riding that won her?' - -'Never doubt it, sir. That and how men spoke of his conduct in the -wars. It was enough to turn any woman's head. I blame him, not her.' - -'But why blame him, Culverin?' - -'Why, sir, for good enough reason, because he has spoilt one of the -prettiest soldiers and horsemen in Europe. For how can a man love -his horse or even his weapon with a woman like that always about his -elbow? It is not natural, sir.' - -'But cannot a man love his horse and weapon all the better that he -has something he loves to protect with them?' - -'Well, I think not, sir, saving your scholarship. I never knew one -that could; and if there is one, certes, it is not Mr. Waldyve. He -never loved a horse well enough before, that was where he always -failed. He had no contemplation of horsemanship. In the exercise of -it he was without match that ever I saw, save only Signor John Peter -Pugliano himself. But his contemplation of it was naught. The -Signor Esquire of the Emperor's stables always said so. He proved to -him many times how it was a science to be preferred next to divinity. -He gave him _La Gloria del Gavallo_ to read, and _Orison Claudia_ -too, but it availed nothing. In pace, in trot, in gallop, in career, -in stop, in manage he was a Centaur, but he could never see how -peerless a beast a horse was; how it was the only serviceable -courtier without flattery, the beast of most beauty, faithfulness, -courage, and all the virtues. Why, sir, I have seen Signor John -Peter Pugliano, when a man spoke slightingly of a horse, so belabour -him with the richness and strength of his contemplation, that before -he ended the wretch was like to weep that God had made him a man and -not a horse. But it was never born or bred in Mr. Waldyve, and this -is what has come of it.' - -'Still, men must marry now and then, Sergeant, though the Queen seems -to think otherwise.' - -'I know, sir, I know; yet I hold marriage a poor distempered state -that soldiers should leave to men of peace, saving your worship's -presence. Still, it is not of that that I complain most. There is -worse than that.' - -'What do you mean? You told me of no ill fortune.' - -'Did I not, sir? Why, then, it is this. He has given her his bay -horse, and sent me down for the roan--by this light, he has, sir, -given that peerless quadruped to a woman! What man with -contemplation enough to fill half a pepper-corn could have done the -like?' - -I knew not how to console the poor soldier, so fell to asking him -about Mistress St. John. He could tell me little, never having seen -her except in the tilt-yard at Whitehall and Hampton Court, when, as -he said, it was easy to know the little red-haired lady by her most -free nodding at his master. - -So I had to rest content till she should come, meanwhile taking what -pains I could to see that the work-people from Rochester carried out -Harry's instructions. I found more comfort in the task than I could -have believed, hoping that now my brother was coming to settle down -at home things would go between us more as they used. - -Indeed, so light did my heart grow as the time of their coming drew -near, that I began to doubt whether it were not a sin for me take -pleasure in the company of so carnally-minded a man as Harry, and to -begin to think I ought wholly to eschew, as far as good manners would -allow, the conversation of the wanton Court lady that I pictured his -wife to be. - -The day came at last, and, not a little doubting whether it were -right, I rode out to Rochester to meet them. - -They were already at the 'Crown' resting awhile when I alighted -there. Harry rushed out and seized me by both hands, and then, -throwing his arm about me in his old way, dragged me to see his wife. - -'Wife! wife!' he cried, 'set a good face for our brother, whom you -wanted so much to see. Here he is come to meet us.' - -With that I saw rise to greet me a little lady not much over twenty, -with ruddy hair and brown eyes like the Queen's. In a moment the -memory of my old boy's love at Cambridge came to my mind, but when I -looked once more at the dainty little head and smiling face, set so -prettily in her snow-white ruff, the memory was lost in the greater -beauty of the present vision. - -Beautiful as I had thought the Queen, yet she, I confessed, was more -beautiful still, although so like. It was a more laughing face than -the Queen's, and yet in her eyes, unlike the Queen's, there was that -wistful look that all men love till they learn to fear it as own -sister to discontent. Yet this I knew not then, having, as I say, -known no woman all my life; and so my heart, that I had tried so sore -to harden, was melted like wax at the soft music of her voice. - -'Well met, brother,' she said, holding out her hand with a gay smile. - -'Your desires upon you, lady,' I answered, taking her greeting with -as little awkwardness as I could. - -'A most gentle prayer, brother. And yourself shall begin its -granting.' - -'I, lady?' - -'Yes, you. Yourself is my desire. Bestow on me yourself and call me -"sister." All my life I have desired a brother, and Hal says, by -your sweet leave, I am to be no more brotherless; so call me -henceforth sister, brother Jasper.' - -'Then, sister, shall I gain more than I bestow.' - -'Nay, brother, it is I that gain. I have full report of all your -scholarship and most excellent parts.' - -'Believe it not, sister, or you will wrong yourself. Harry will ever -be making too long an inventory of my commendations. But he is a -most false reckoner, and you must not take me by his tale.' - -'Out upon you, lad,' said Harry. 'What a dry feast of modest phrases -is that to set before your sister! Come, now, palm to palm is no -greeting for brother and sister. A man would think you had never -been to Court.' - -But I drew back, feeling very country-bred, and blushed, and then a -flush of sunset hue made her beauty radiant, and Harry laughed at us -his rattling laugh, which his wife could only stop with kisses. - -That made her my sister indeed. At first I had thought her manner -tainted with too much Court freedom, but now she seemed a most wise -and modest lady, who might in deed as well as word be a true sister -to me. So we talked together pleasantly enough till it was time to -go, nor did we stop our tongues as we rode out towards Ashtead. And -yet again, now I bethink me, it was I that talked and she that -listened, while Harry smiled to see us such good friends. - -I thinked he wondered, too, to hear me, and I am sure I marvelled at -myself no less than that she should want to listen to my homily. Yet -whenever my tongue ceased wagging, she had some little magic phrase -or witch's glance to set it a-gallop again, and I felt I could talk -to her till the sun grew cold. - -'It is a scholar,' she said, as we came to the place where our ways -parted, 'that I have always desired to call "brother." Some one -whose mouth would be all my books in little, just as was my Lord -Bedford's when I was a little girl. And now methinks you have -bestowed on me all my desire.' - -'Indeed you wrong yourself and me. I am not such a one, though I -think my master, Mr. Cartwright, is.' - -'Ah, I have heard of him that he is a ripe scholar for all his wild -doctrine; and now I know it, for I hear his pupil talk. I think Hal -must speak no more than truth when he says you have read more books -than Mr. Ascham himself.' - -'I tell you, sister, you must not mark his commendations, that are -bred in love and not in reason.' - -'Now, I cry you mercy. You must not tell a new-wed wife that love -and reason are not one. That were a philosophy fit for none but -monkish scholars. There I must school you, and you me in all else -but that. So I will prove a most gentle scholar; and now farewell, -my brother, since it is here our ways are parting.' - -Mark what a change had come over my life since I travelled the road -but a few hours ago. I had ridden into Rochester from pure good -manners, thinking to carry a cold greeting to Harry's wife, and so -return to my books and loneliness. How differently had it fallen -out! Since I left Longdene I had found a sister--a courtly and -beautiful woman to whom I could talk, and who would talk kindly to -me. I knew not what to think as I rode slowly along, with the shouts -of the crowds which had gathered to welcome Harry and his wife coming -faintly to my ears across the fields on the still evening air. - -It had been the first hot day of summer, and as the night fell I sat -in my old corner in the library at the open lattice, watching the -golden labyrinth that broke up the dark stretch of the marshes into a -hundred fantastic shapes of gloomy hue wherever the intricate -channels caught the glow of the dying sunset. - -No less mazy and shapeless, no less gilded and gloomy, were my -wandering thoughts. My man-born sense of stern duty cried to me that -the carnal conversation of Harry and his wife was sin to be shunned, -a temptation of the devil to drag me from the godly work on which I -was set. But then, again, my God-born sense of beauty both in body -and soul said, 'Go to them, and there your hunger shall be filled.' - -The labyrinth in the marshes had faded to a faint starlit glimmer -here and there ere I had resolved my doubts. The whole host of -heaven glittered down upon the sleeping world, and amidst them from -either hand the _Lactea Via_ seemed to show a fair path brightened -with the light of God to the highest regions of His kingdom. - -I knelt upon the deep window-seat and thanked God that He had given -me a lantern for my path, and prayed for strength not to swerve from -the way He had shown. For I had resolved to face the danger at -Ashtead, that I might save the two souls I loved so well from the -certain perdition to which I saw them drifting. - -Ah me! what cunning casuists are our desires! How subtly will the -wantons weave a cloak of reasons round about their nakedness till we -know them not, and follow whither they entice, taking them in their -decent array for duty! So we march on after them to death and sin, -with proudly lifted heads, as who should say, 'See a man who forsakes -all to follow Christ.' - -It was not difficult with such a guide to find occasions for going to -Ashtead. As the days of their married life wore on, and Harry tired -of love-making, my visits grew frequent. He every day came to love -his estate more and more, and was ever riding up and down it, with -Sergeant Culverin at his heels, planning and altering and improving, -just like his father. Nor could he do without a share in the country -life around, and was always away whenever he could hear of a -cock-fight or a bear-baiting within a reasonable distance. - -'Come over and bear Nan company,' he would say at such times. 'Her -bright wit misses the companionship of the Court, and will, I fear, -grow dull and humorous unless you keep it clear. It is no little -comfort to me that you can be by her with your learning. Her -scholarship trod on the heels of mine when she was little more than a -baby, and now it has slipped ahead where I can never catch it. So -you must be a good brother, Jasper, and be to her what I cannot.' - -So he would ride off, gallantly waving kisses to his pretty bride, -and we were left alone to study cosmography together. She had begged -me to teach it her, and so my great tomes got a second hallowing. I -wondered daily more and more at her keen wit; her quickness at -grasping what I had to tell was past all believing unless seen; yet -would she never stay long at it, but would soon want waywardly to -wander out into the garden and down amongst the woodlands to talk -with me of whatever fancies had taken her playful thoughts. - -It was a pretty sight then to see how everything loved her. The cows -came trotting at her call, the colts in the meadows raced for her -caress and jostled each other jealously, while her dogs squatted -round with drooping ears, miserable that her favours were for others, -but too mannerly to protest. Then all together would follow her -along the fence to the end of the field, where, as she went from -them, they would break into rough play, and disperse cheerily to -their rhythmical cropping of the grass again, while the spaniels, -more fortunate, leaped round her with mended spirits. - -Each husbandman we came to would pause at his work and grin in silly -happiness as she nodded him a merry 'god-den,' and the woodman's eyes -almost brimmed with tears when she would not stop to hear the -oft-told secrets of his art; and then when we came near the village -the children started out of the brakes to peep at her, while the -younger and braver ran crying after her with a present of -gillifiowers or long purples, which their hot little hands had -withered by long cuddling to a sickly faintness. - -The strangest and most difficult conquest which she made was -Alexander. I remember well the day I saw it first. I was riding, as -I often did, to Ashtead by way of the park, when as I topped a knoll -I saw her wandering across the close-cropped turf with the old -soldier at her heels, and a motley following of colts and cows and -one short-winded hog. Now and again her dainty figure bent down to -pick a flower, and as she stopped the colts stopped, and the cows and -the hog, and the Sergeant stooped for a handful of all the flowers in -reach. - -My wonder was increased when I saw Harry not far off overlooking the -work of the woodmen, seemingly forgotten by his devoted follower. I -cantered over to her, and, giving my horse to Lashmer, joined her in -her walk. Soon we came to a woodman's cottage, whither she was -carrying some simple drug, which her own learned little hands had -compounded, for a sick child. Culverin and I remained without. - -'A most sweet and excellent lady,' sighed the Sergeant, as soon as -she was out of hearing. - -'What! is your mind so changed?' said I. 'But a few months ago you -had not a good word to throw at her.' - -'Well, that is getting on for a year now, sir,' he answered, 'and I -did not know her as I do now. I did not dream what virtue was in -her. Why, sir, there is not a colt here, take the wildest you will, -that would not follow her up the turret stair. I never saw such -management, except in Signor John Peter Pugliano. And then for -contemplation, sir, I could not have believed it. It was but -yesterday she told me horses were the only men for her heart, since -there was nothing they would not do with coaxing.' - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -During all this time of which I write I had said nothing to Mrs. -Waldyve about religion. I had persuaded myself, and that easily -enough, that I must first make her my warm friend, and gain some -influence with her by my teaching, and such other ways as I could -think of. She, I think, avoided all mention of it too, since she -really loved learning, and feared by speaking of things deeper to -ruffle the happy calm in which we sailed together. - -It was not till after my little godson Fulke had been born, and Frank -Drake had returned from the Indies, and was gone again to complete -his discovery of those regions, that we came to talk of what was next -my heart. Frank had been to see us, and Mrs. Waldyve was so taken -with his manly, jolly ways, that when he was gone we often talked of -him. I told her of his father and brothers, and their old strange -life on the hulk, till one day she said she would like to go to Mr. -Drake's church and hear him preach, for he made a discourse nearly -every Sunday. - -Harry, who of late had been made a Justice, laughingly gave us -dispensation from attending our parish churches, and the next Sunday -we rode over to Upchurch. Harry stayed at home, and Mrs. Waldyve -rode pillion behind Culverin, thereby for the space of our ride -making him the happiest man in Christendom. - -As we neared Upchurch we overtook a man, who seemed a preacher, -riding the sorriest nag I ever beheld. In passing him I saw it was -none other than Mr. Death, the same who had come with Mr. Drake for -the ordering of my father's funeral. He looked less sour than -formerly, and wore an aspect of smug and well-fed content; but as he -knew me not I passed on without speaking. - -Mr. Drake greeted us very warmly, and Mrs. Waldyve with great -respect. He was in the churchyard talking with the godly farmers of -the parish until it was time for the service. To-day the well-worn -subject of the Queen's marriage, and all the danger that came of her -delays, was set aside, and they had been discussing Mr. Strickland's -Bill, which he had lately moved before Parliament for the abrogation -of various religious ceremonies, and how the Queen's Grace had taken -it so ill that she had put him in prison. They continued their talk -after our greetings were done, while Mr. Drake drew me aside to ask -what I thought of the new order of the Commission against reading, -praying, preaching, or administering the sacraments in any place, -public or private, without license. I condemned it so warmly, as -will be easily guessed, for a piece of most wanton and sinful -Erastianism, that the people in the churchyard gathered round to -listen. I was in the midst of proclaiming it, on the authority of -Mr. Cartwright, as a thing that should not and would not be borne, -when little Willie Drake cried out from the skirts of the throng: - -'Father, father, there's a wolf in the fold!' - -A movement was made towards the church, and I could now see the -Sergeant pointing out to his mistress the score of bad points of a -beast tied up to the gate, which I at once recognised as Mr. Death's -nag. Hoping to avert a storm, I begged them both to come with me -into the church, which was now crowded; but the tempest had already -burst. - -Mr. Death had got possession of the pulpit. It was a strong -position, being only approached by the old rood-loft steps, which -were cut through the solid pier of the chancel arch. The enemy was -defending the narrow passage with the door, which he held tightly -shut, and a smart fire of reasons, which he shot down at Mr. Drake -from behind his barricada. - -'You have no license, you have no license,' he was crying as we -entered. - -'What, no license!' said Mr. Drake. 'I who was licensed preacher to -the King's navy when you were still crying for the mass!' - -'Ay, but the Archbishop has revoked all licenses, and you have not -renewed,' answered Mr. Death. 'The flock must be fed with the Word; -you may not feed them, and I claim your pulpit.' - -'O Death, Death!' cried Mr. Drake, 'is that your sting? There was a -time when you would brag that no Erastian prelate of them all should -be your authority, but only the voice of God, that called you to the -ministry. Is this all that has come of your loud shouting for the -battle? O Death, Death! where is now your victory?' - -'I care not for your roaring, Fire-Drake,' cried Death. 'You are no -preacher, being unlicensed; and I, being licensed, have authority in -every pulpit in the diocese.' - -The people now began to cry out, some that they would hear him, and -some that he should be plucked down and cast out of the church. Yet -they all stood by, waiting to see how the two preachers would settle -it; and they had not to wait long. - -'Nay, if you fear not my roaring, Death,' said Mr. Drake, 'let us see -what my claws will do.' - -With that he made a rapid _escalada_, and, seizing the garrison by -the throat, plucked him forth by main force. Still no one -interfered; so, wishing to end the scene, I whispered to Culverin to -help Mr. Drake, which he did with great good-will, being, as he -afterwards confessed, much taken by the valorous delivery of Mr. -Drake's assault. - -Mr. Death cried lustily for a rescue, but all to no purpose. Between -the two strong men he was helpless. In spite of his feeble -struggles, they ran him right out of the church to where his horse -was tied. There they set him in the saddle, face to the tail, and, -giving his jade a smart cut, sent him in an ungainly canter on the -road to Rochester. - -It pained me to think that Mrs. Waldyve should have witnessed such a -scene the first time I had taken her to a Puritan church. She was -looking shocked at what had occurred, and seemed in no way to share -the merriment of the younger part of the congregation. - -'Let us go,' she said; 'I have seen enough. It is terrible.' - -But I prayed her to remain, pointing out that Mr. Drake was in no way -to blame, and begging her to stay and see how reverent the people -would be when he began to preach. Unwillingly, I think, she -consented, more for fear of hurting me than from any desire she had -to stay. - -Meanwhile Mr. Drake, a little flushed and breathless from his -victory, had taken his place in the pulpit, and was giving out a -psalm to quiet the people. They sang it all together in pricksong -very orderly, so that when it was done they were in a decent mood for -the sermon. - -He preached from the words, 'The hireling fleeth,' in John x. 13, for -the profit and confusion of that part of his flock which had given -countenance to Mr. Death. After the manner of his kind, he rated -them soundly for their treason, with text and parable and a score of -quaint conceits. - -'Is this your gratitude?' he cried. 'Know you not your shepherd? I -will tell you, then, what he is. He is one of those who, unlike the -holders of other benefices, has stood by his flock and fed them, nor -given their care to a poor, dumb, hireling curate, while he himself -has gone riding round to other flocks to preach vain and new -doctrines to them, that he may have in return plate and hangings and -napery and money. I know you, what you are. Your stomachs have -grown proud and dainty against the Word. You must have choice; you -must have spicery; you must have a new cook every day. You will run -to every hireling who will throw you new meat, and turn from the -sound old hay of your shepherd, who folds and feeds you every night. -Out upon you! Is this the way to appease the wrath of God, whereby -the heart, the tongue, the hand of every Englishman is bent against -another? No! But you care not what divisions be made, so long as -your stomachs be tickled with new and dainty sauces. Are you mad, -good people? Has a devil possessed you? Look, look towards the -east! See you not the great roaring bull that the vile Italian out -of Rome hath loosed against you? See you not the glitter of his -brazen horns; smell you not the stench of his filthy breath; hear you -not the clang of his iron hoofs? Ah! but wait and you will. Wait -till the bringing forth of the bull-calves that he hath gotten; wait -till you see them compass you in on every side; and wait till you see -them grow fat as those of Bashan, on your faith and your consciences -and your purity. Then you will see; then you will smell; then you -will hear. In that hour you will cry to him who folded and fed you; -but the foul waters of idolatry will have passed over his head and -choked him.' - -In such wise Mr. Drake continued very earnest for a good space, the -people listening with bated breath, and from time to time a mutter of -approval, ay, and here and there tears of repentance. - -Many have marvelled to me at Captain Drake's eloquence, but I know -whence it came, and if I knew not before I should have known that -day. I have tried to write down some of what his father said, but -even if it were rightly done, as I doubt it is not, yet could no one -tell the force of his preaching, unless he had seen him hold -spell-bound that throng which so short a while ago had been laughing -at a rude jest and an unseemly brawl, in which he played the chief -part. - -I watched Mrs. Waldyve's face as he spoke on, and was, as it were, -carried back to that day long ago when the Queen's grace was -listening to the divinity act in Mary's Church at Cambridge. And no -wonder, for never save then had I looked on a face so sweet and ever -changing to new sweetness. - -Her brown eyes were fixed wistfully upon the preacher, and she -listened so intently that I could see the fire and humour and pathos -of his words reflected as in a mirror upon her upturned face. Once -or twice I could see her wince, as one in pain, when some too rude -conceit or figure jarred upon her delicately-nurtured sense. Then -she would look round to me as though to find what I thought of it, -and, seeing my eyes fixed upon her, turn quickly to the preacher -again with heightened colour, more beautiful than ever. I too tried -to look away, at the painting of the murder of St. Thomas, half -defaced and mouldering on the wall of the Becket Chapel; at the -strange chamber under the tower, where it was said a hermit nun lived -in solitude so long; at Mr. Drake's red face and ardent figure, but -all was beyond my power. I had no eyes save to read with beating -heart the living book at my side, nor ears save to hearken to the -still voice which whispered in them, 'Lo, how the true spirit of the -gospel is reawaking in her!' - -It was the Sunday set apart for the quarterly taking of the -communion. When the sermon was done, and while the people sang -another psalm, the wardens fetched into the nave the trestles and -communion board from where it stood at the east end of the church. -Then they spread upon it a fair white cloth, and Mr. Drake brought -forth a loaf of bread and a skin of wine, with cups and platters. - -Mrs. Waldyve watched them as though bewildered or afraid, not knowing -what to do. - -'Jasper,' she whispered, 'we had better depart now. How can I -receive the holy sacrament after this sort?' - -But again I exhorted her to stay, promising that all would be done -most reverently, and according to the plain word of the gospel, with -nothing added or taken away, so that whether or not it fell short of -what her conscience would wish, yet there could be no offence in -staying, as there clearly would be in going. - -She answered me nothing, but gave way and obeyed like a little child, -leaning on me, as though for support to body and soul, as we drew -near to the table. It was then I knew that I had prevailed. I knew -that my will had overcome hers, and that the hour was at hand for me -to set about my crowning work. - -The people made way for us close to where Mr. Drake was seated at the -table. Mrs. Waldyve knelt down, as she had been accustomed at Court. -One or two old women, when they saw that, knelt too, in the old -fashion of their courting days. I stood by her side, and the people -thronged round, sitting or standing, as each thought best or could -get accommodated. For to most this was a thing indifferent or -adiaphoristic. - -Mr. Drake now broke the bread and poured out the wine, and then -passed the cups and platters to the people. Mrs. Waldyve looked up -to me for guidance, and I bent over her to whisper what she should -do. So we took and ate the supper of the Lord together, while Mr. -Drake, from where he sat, read comfortable texts from the Scriptures, -and now and again offered an earnest prayer of his own making. - -With another prayer _ex tempore_ and a psalm the service ended, and -we all went forth, leaving the wardens to set the table back again in -the chancel. Mrs. Waldyve said nothing as we waited in the -churchyard for Culverin to fetch the horses. So we stood in silence, -side by side, under the spreading branches of the ancient yew tree, -returning the greetings of the villagers as they filed out under the -lych-gate, and watching the couples that broke off from the mass, the -gossips in close talk over the sermon, the lovers sheepishly far -apart. At last they were all dispersed amongst the trees and the -black and white cottages that nestled amongst them; and we were left -alone, looking out over the melancholy Medway, which seemed lost -amidst the dreary Saltings and the inlets that ran up into the -marshes. The Sergeant brought the horses at last, and Mr. Drake came -to say 'Good-bye,' and so we went on our way. - -For shame I must forbear to speak of the pride that filled my heart -as we rode home in silence. She was in deep thought, with eyes -looking far away. Now and again she looked towards me as though to -speak, but her lips only let pass a sigh. I knew well of what she -thought, and did not disturb her meditation. I knew well how that -strange change had come over her, which now I know not how to name. -It was a thing that came, and still comes, to many, whether of high -or low degree. Men such as I was then, when they see its signs so -suddenly, and, as it were, miraculously appearing, say, 'Behold, -another whom the Lord has called!' - -I say it is for very shame that I forbear, for now I know the coward -that I was to play so upon a woman's passions. I see her now as some -bright painted bird for which I lay in wait, spreading my nets in the -way I had learnt by long and secret watching she would go, and -setting gins for her, which I furnished with cunning baits, while -she, trusting me, thought I did but feed her lovingly. - -It was not till the afternoon that we spoke of it. We had been -supping in the orchard, and Harry, finding us but dull companions, -had fallen asleep in his chair. - -'Jasper,' said Mrs. Waldyve, 'come, let us walk together. I must -have private speech with you.' We rose and wandered down our -favourite walk by the park, but to-day the colts had no caresses. -'It cannot be right, Jasper, it cannot be,' she burst out, as we -entered the wood. - -'What cannot be right?' asked I. - -'It cannot be right,' she said, 'to cast away, as you have done, all -the old holy rites of the Church.' - -'It is hard to part with them, I know,' I answered, 'since from your -childhood you have learned to love and hold them sacred. Yet for -that very cause must you cast them away. Ere we can hope to see -religion purified, we must first stifle all that deafening ritual -that drowns the voice of God.' - -'Yet,' she pleaded, 'why must we approach Him, as we did this day, -without order, without ceremony, without any token of homage? If we -offer it to the Queen, surely the more should we do so to the King of -Heaven.' - -'I do not deny,' said I, 'that what we saw to-day might have been -done more decently. Yet remember how long popes and prelates and -priests have stood between God and His people, and marvel not if, now -that He has called us to the steps of His throne, we know not at -first how to approach Him reverently. But He will teach us, when at -last we can draw near and hear what He will whisper in our ear. But -still there are many left between us and the throne, in spite of all -that has been done. But the hour is coming when one I know will -raise his voice like a clarion and bid them stand aside, in words -they shall not dare to disobey. Then at last we shall be face to -face with God, and know indeed what His will is.' - -This and much more of like effect I told her out of my well-learnt -lesson. She struggled ever more faintly against me, but I was -strongly armed against all she could say. I told her of -predestination, and what she should think of works done in the days -of her unbelief. All the things she loved so well--ceremonies, -vestments, and every relic of the ancient mass to which she clung--I -condemned mercilessly with practised argument. I showed how Rome had -abused the Christian faith, and how it could not be purified till -every meretricious adornment by which worship had been turned to -idolatry was cleansed away. - -She fell at last to imploring me to leave her something, but I told -her, without pity, that no good could come of any unholy union of the -gospel and papacy, such alluring schemes being only thought on by -their inventors as an unstable place whence it was hard not to slip -back to Antichrist. - -It was an easy task I had. In the wilderness of doctrine, where she -suddenly found herself, she seemed but to want a guide who would take -her by the hand and lead her to rest. So it was but a short work to -set her again on the path she once had trodden under the good Earl of -Bedford's lead, and which she had deserted for the flowery mazes of -the Court. - -It were tedious to tell step by step how we trode the sweet and -dangerous way together. All will understand if they remember what we -two were. I, from long sojourn at Cambridge, a monk, for with all -its faults my university was then a most well-ordered monastery,--a -monk who, as it were, was on a sudden released from his vows; she, a -woman who, after a strictly ordered childhood, was set loose in a -pleasure-loving Court, where her life was an ever-changing scene of -exciting pleasure and gallantry. - -The change was too great for both of us. For myself I find no -excuse, but for her much. Ere the first fires of her youth had burnt -out she was overcome by the passionate love-making of the handsome -soldier, who came covered with glory from the wars abroad to lay -siege to her heart at home. What wonder if she loved before all that -pattern of manhood and gentleness who so loved her, and thought she -could feed on his love alone! What wonder that, when passion grew -dull and she found how full of many things besides love a man's life -is, and how full of things which, in spite of all her trying, proved -but dull to what her life had been at Court, insensibly she was ready -to open her heart to any excitement, even to me and my teaching! - -If I had not been blinded by my own accursed pride and -self-righteousness, I should have known by many marks which we passed -whither our road led. I should have known when, after that first -talk, we began to be silent in Harry's presence, though we could -chatter well enough when he was not by. I should have known when we -ceased to speak, and moved farther from each other whenever he came -where we talked. I should have known when she spoke to me of her -misery in being wed to so ungodly a husband, and begged me to speak -earnestly to him that he might amend his ways. - -It is my one comfort of all that time that I still had manliness left -to defend him with all my heart to her, and that I was spared that -last depth of knavery, much used by craven gallants, who, that they -may win a cheap and easy favour with a woman, will make her believe -with a score of cunning lies that her husband is unworthy of her. - -Though out of the deeps of my love for him I found a hundred excuses -to offer her, yet I laboured when alone with him to turn his light -heart to weightier things, well knowing it was useless, or who can -tell whether I should have tried? - -It was as we rode home over the downs from hawking wild-fowl on the -marsh-lands in the valley of the Medway that I first attacked him, -and I well remember that my surprise was rather at how much he had -thought than at what his thought was. - -It was such a glorious afternoon as now, since I have known Signor -Bruno, lifts my heart to God more truly than ever did psalms and -prayers, much as I loved them and do still. The wide and marshy -river stretched out below us far away to the low haze-clad lands of -Hoo and the misty Thames. Water and woodland and field were bathed -in sunshine which seemed, as it were, to melt all Nature into such -full and tender harmony with its Creator, as I think, after all my -many wanderings, can nowhere be seen in truer perfection than in our -own dear England. Moved by the beauty which wrapped the land, Harry -fell to praising it with a score of rich conceits, and I seized the -occasion to broach the cask of divinity which I had brewed for him. - -'Surely,' I broke in, 'surely should our lives be one long song of -gratitude, set to a holy and solemn tune, to Him who made all this so -fair for us.' - -'Why, lad, why?' asked Harry. 'You can only conceive this of -God--that He is a perfected quintessence of all that is best and -fairest in us, and therefore must our love of these things, and our -joy in them, be but a grain of sand beside the mountain of His. His -delight in the great banquet He has spread is for all eternity, while -we can but gaze upon it for a little hour. No, lad, I cannot thank -Him for these things, which are but the crumbs that fall from His -table; but I worship it all, and Him in it, as I was taught in Italy. -When will you leave looking for Him in holes which are only full of -musty quibbles and the mouldering shreds of men's quarrels? Stand -up, man, and see Him in yonder sky, in yonder woods, in yonder broad -flowing river.' - -'But, Harry, Harry!' I cried, feeling my worst fears confirmed, 'have -a care, or this Italian dreaming will run you into flat atheism.' - -'Ah, Jasper,' he answered, 'I fear you are only like the rest, and -will brand me atheist and epicure because my voice is not raised in -any controversy. Must I rail with Baius and howl with Brentius -before you grant me faith? With whom shall I be saved, and with whom -damned? Show me that first, lad, for I cannot tell. When I first -set out upon my travels I strove awhile to study these things for -love of you and Mr. Follet, yet in every land and every city where I -came I found the same angry unrest where Antinomian roared against -Pelagian, and Synergists bellowed between; where Lutheran and -Calvinist and Papist, and who knows what other legion of sects -beside, did battle one with another, and each against all, till -Europe seemed to throb and ring again with their unchristly din, and -the sweet voice of God could I nowhere hear.' - -'Nay, then, I fear you closed your ears in your impatience, or the -true voice of our purified faith would have sounded clear enough -above all the rest.' - -'No, I tell you, Jasper, I opened my ears wide enough, but they were -deafened with the clash of syllogism on syllogism, and lie on lie. -My eyes were blinded with the glint of steel and the flash of fires. -My nostrils were filled with the stench of railing breath. Then I -cried, "Where, O God, shall thy spirit be found? Surely not on this -earth, that men's tongues and pens have so befouled." But there was -one under the sweet blue sky of Italy who whispered in my ears, "Turn -thee to Nature and thou shalt find thy quest." I heard him and -sought earnestly where he showed, and soon the whole world was bright -with the spirit of God, and I was in the midst of it. Yes, lad, I -turned from men and saw it shining in the limpid rays of the stars; I -heard it in the waving grass and the laughter of the brooks; I -perceived it in the sweet-smelling flowers. Will you then cry -"Atheist" at me for whom God is everywhere, when for you and the like -of you He lies but in a little dogma, nay, in the mangled shred of a -dogma? Take it not unkindly that I speak so hot, but it makes me mad -to think that men will so befoul the nest which God has given them, -and think they do Him service.' - -'Indeed,' I answered, wishing to follow his mood, for I knew if I -broke in as I would to another with my theology that he would only -call me a Puritan and crack some kindly jest, 'I do not complain of -your heat. There is doubtless much truth in what you say, for Luther -himself wrote, "There is nought in Nature but a certain craving for -God," yet he did not hold that mere contemplation of Nature will -satisfy that craving. The beauty and fulness of Nature does but -create the hunger which right doctrine alone will fill.' - -'Nay, if Luther is to guide us, remember who it was who taught that -this very passion for God of which you speak, and which is far from -what I mean, becomes the lust of the spirit. It is that which sets -your wits awry. Beware of it, Jasper, as you avoid the devil. For I -tell you, from the lust of the spirit to the lust of the flesh is but -a little step. You shall see it shortest in a woman.' - -'Jest not, Harry, on things so solemn,' said I, not thinking even -then that he could mean what he said. - -'I jest not,' he answered; 'it is sober truth, and if I did jest, -wherefore not? Sometimes I think that jesting is your only earnest, -and that there is nothing but that which is worth living for.' - -'At least you jest in earnest now,' I said, thinking to weather him -on another tack. 'Even you must grant that there are other things -but that worth the life-search--exempli gratia, Fame.' - -'How do I know that?' he answered; 'for how shall Fame satisfy a man -when he has got it? Why, look you, Fame is a thing begets hunger for -itself faster than a dead dog breeds maggots. There was never a -fame-glutton yet but went to his grave fasting.' - -''Tis because they hunger after earthly fame,' said I. 'Seek -something higher. If you cannot pursue God, yet at least you may -search out wisdom. That is earnest enough.' - -'Wisdom! wisdom!' cried Harry. 'Why, what is that? In truth, I -think that Folly is the only Wisdom, and there's no such profitable -travelling as a voyage in the Ship of Fools. In a thousand times to -one he who pursues Wisdom shall find he has no quarry but Folly, -while he that runs merrily after Folly shall find on a sudden that he -is carrying Wisdom in his hand. Who shall say, amidst the ruins of -these broken times, where Folly shall be sought and where Wisdom -shall be found?' - -'I know there is great confusion in the times,' said I, 'but still -there is at least sure ground left for a scholar who will pursue -diligently the arts and sciences.' - -'Who can tell even that?' answered Harry. 'Read Cornelius Agrippa, -if you know him not. Read his _Vanity and Uncertainty of Arts and -Sciences_, and you shall find wisdom there that will prove you, by -most nice argument and sharp reasons, that knowledge is the very -pestilence that puts all mankind to ruin, that chases away all -innocence, condemns all truth, and places errors on the highest -thrones.' - -'Oh, Harry, Harry!' I cried in despair, 'you are Italianate past all -praying for.' - -'Well, then, if you cannot pray with me, laugh with me, jest with -me,' he answered. 'Are we not all the puppets and playthings that -God has made for His laughter, while He sits at His feast. Let him -who would be wise make haste to laugh at himself with God, and at all -men with their little humours. Hola! Quester! Monk! hola, hola!' -he shouted then to his hounds that stayed behind, and bringing his -hand with a ringing clap upon his gelding's shoulder, broke gaily -into a canter across the stretch of sheep-cropped turf that lay -before us. - -What could I do with such a man? To me he was all and more than I -had dreaded he would become when he travelled into Italy. In my eyes -he was but one more added to the long list of atheists and epicures -which that wicked and beautiful land has filled. - -Still, I would not desist from my efforts to win him back to what I -deemed the only true path. Amidst the ruins of his faith I searched -for some unbroken stones, wherewith I might lay the foundations of a -new sanctuary for his soul. I tried to make him see the horrors and -dangers of the Popish religion, and so teach him to love and cling to -our Christian faith as its most stalwart opponent. The last time -that ever I attacked him was when I thought by dwelling on the -idolatry of Rome to gain my end, seeing how wholly opposed it was to -his own wide and spiritual conceptions. But it was all to little -purpose. - -'In so far,' he answered me, 'as Rome is the enemy of the Queen and -of England, she is also my enemy. Since the bull of deposition was -nailed on the gate of Lambeth Palace I have been her foe, ready to do -all in my power to strike and thwart and humble her as I may find -occasion, or the Queen's Grace bids me. Yet for Rome's faith I hate -her not, though I may smile at it sometimes, as I do at others.' - -'But surely, Harry,' I said, 'you must detest their damnable, -idolatrous doctrines of the mass and saints and images. Even for -your love of mankind you must loathe these chains, by which they drag -men down into the dark pits of superstition.' - -'Rail not at idolatry, lad,' he answered. 'We are all idolaters. -All men worship the idol which each sets up for himself in such -manner as his mind, clogged with an imperfect shape, and, as it were, -fettered and imprisoned in his visible body, can fashion it. Each -has his own graven image, to which he bows. He thinks it is God, ay, -and sometimes will almost persuade others so; yet it is nought but a -little unshapely bit, that he laboriously has hewn from the great -soul that dwells in his mind. There is but one escape from idolatry. -We must worship the one universal God, who is formless and yet of -every form, who is everywhere and in everything, who, as I say, is a -spirit that breathes in the sweet scents of the flowers, in the -sighing of the summer wind, in the twittering songs of the birds, in -the kisses of lovers' lips.' - -Such was the mangled philosophy he brought home from Padua, that -lodestone of wit, to which then gathered all that was bold and -learned and polished in thought throughout the length and breadth of -Europe. What wonder that I, being untravelled, had no skill to win -him from his opinions, and drew each day closer to the gentle spirit -of her who so trustingly took me for her guide! - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -It was early in the year of grace 1572, that Frank Drake came back -from the second voyage which he made to discover the Spanish Indies. -He came to see us soon after he landed, in most excellent heart. For -not only was he the bearer of a modest return for our venture with -him, but he also brought news that his discovery of those seas was -now complete, and as happy in its omens as it was complete. - -'Heark ye, my lads,' said he, setting a hand on our knees as he sat -between us, and speaking in a low excited voice. 'I have found the -treasure-house of the world! I have found the well whence the -Spaniards draw the life-blood that gives them all their strength to -trouble Europe and champion Antichrist! Closer, my lads, while I -whisper its name. Nombre de Dios it is called, "the Name of God," -and in the name of God I will so rifle it and breed such terror in -the place that thenceforth they shall rather call it Nombre de -Diablo.' - -'But how, Frank, bow?' we cried. - -'Why, easily enough,' he answered. 'They sleep there in fatness and -security, they grow soft and womanish with riches; and who can -wonder? Since thither flow all the wealth of Peru, the gold of El -Dorado, and the pearls of the Southern sea. Yet they protect it not, -but lie secure in ease and wantonness, because they deem the land is -theirs, since the vile Italian has given it to them; they deem it is -theirs, because they think no man can sail thither save with their -pilots: but we can and will by God's help. I know a safe place for -rendezvous hard by, whence we may strike, as we will, swift and -sudden before they are 'ware of us. Then we will show them whether -the world is the Pope's to part and grant. They shall see the New -World is for those that can occupy with a strong arm. Hey! 'twill be -merry to think how the fat lazy hens will cluck and flutter when the -hawk has struck and we are rolling home again, with golden wedges for -ballast, and pearls to fill the cracks.' - -'But, Frank,' said I, almost breathless at his gigantic project, 'how -will you get money to furnish ships for so great a venture?' - -'And how many ships do you think I want?' exclaimed Drake. 'Do you -think I am going to sail away with a whole fleet, like Jack Hawkins, -with the Spanish Ambassador looking on and sending word before me? -No, my lads, I know better than that now. I know the thing can be -done, and I know how to do it. Just two ships is all I take.' - -'What!' cried Harry, 'attack the Indies, attack the choicest -possession of the greatest empire in the world with two ships? You -must be mad.' - -'Maybe, maybe, my lad,' laughed Drake. 'We shall see who is mad and -who is sane before long; but now I mean to sail with just two ships -and a pinnace or two for shore work. I have already bespoke in -Plymouth the _Pasha_, of seventy tons, for my admiral, and then I -will take again my little _Swan_, of twenty-five, for my -vice-admiral. She is still staunch, and now knows her way to the -Indies better than any ship that floats in English waters. Brother -Jack is to be captain in her.' - -'But, for God's sake, Frank,' said I, 'be not so hastily resolved. -Think again what you do. It is not hens you fly at. It is a mighty -eagle with claws of iron, whose wings stretch over the four quarters -of the world.' - -'You may say that too,' answered he. 'Yet remember that though the -eagle lays her eggs in Jupiter's lap, still she escapes not requital -for her wrong done to the emmet. The Spaniard has foully wronged me, -and foully wronged one beside whom I am indeed but an emmet. It is -the Lord's work to do what I say. It can be done, and I am going to -do it.' - -This he said quietly, without boasting, and with so determined an air -of cheerful resolution that I knew no words of ours would turn him -from his audacious purpose. So we listened, wondering more and more -at the fire of his dauntless spirit, while he unfolded to us every -detail of his plan. - -'Would God I could sail with you!' burst out Harry at last, with -kindling eyes. - -'Why not, lad, why not?' cried Frank, smiting him on the back in his -cheery sea fashion. 'Such lads as you I want. Not a man over thirty -years old will I have. It is youth and fire we need. The oldest are -too wary, and will not believe I know best. Say now, will you sail -and take command of the land-soldiers?' - -'Would God I could!' answered Harry mournfully. 'It will be a tale -to be told beside the story of Æneas, and sung with the song of the -Argonauts. But tempt me not, Frank; I am married now, and must stay -to watch over my sweet Nan. My fighting days are over, save at -England's need.' - -'Well, as you will,' said Drake, very disappointed. 'But you miss a -glorious venture; and you will not go either, Jasper?' - -'Gladly I would,' said I, 'but each must to the work his hand finds -to do, and mine, as you know, is here. My money, as far as my -capacity goes, shall be with you, though for profit I would rather -have seen it risked in a plain voyage to Guinea after negroes. Yet, -since this is the Lord's work which you are on, you shall have what -help my purse can yield. But for my body, the Lord has need of that -here.' - -This was indeed so, as I thought, though had it been otherwise I -doubt if then I should have had stomach for Frank's wild enterprise. -Mr. Cartwright had already sounded his note against prelatical Church -government and all its brood of evils, and had been deprived both of -his professorship and his fellowship. Since that time he had been -busy with his _Admonition to Parliament_. That clarion-blast, which -was to wake a war in England which seems each day to grow in -fierceness, was about to be blown, and seeing how much he looked to -me to help him in his great work, and how stormy a controversy he -foresaw it would raise, I felt I should not leave his side. - -Such was the reason I gave to myself, yet I think my resolve was -dictated rather by distaste for the danger of so rash an expedition, -and by the closer ties which bound me to England. - -Would God I had had strength to give Frank another answer! What sin -and misery I might then have been spared, and of how much sorrow -brought on those I loved best should I have been guiltless! Yet it -was fated that I should have another tale to tell, so let me hasten -in shame to the end, which now came quickly. - -When Frank left us our lives rolled on in the old ruts again, but -deeper than before. Out of his great love for his wife, and his -knightly devotion to her, Harry had made a sacrifice greater than we -and he guessed in refusing Drake's offer; and seeking to forget it in -an unceasing round of work and pleasure, he devoted his time more and -more to his sheep and tenants and estate, and sought more, eagerly -the assemblies of gentlemen where sport was to be had. - -As for his wife, she seemed to think now of nothing but good works -amongst the poor and reading theology with me. Hour after hour she -would pore over Genevan Latin, still her Puritanism grew sterner and -sterner. Harry's hunting and bull-baiting and card-playing became -more and more distasteful in her eyes, till at last I think it was -all they could see of him; so that when he came home at nights it was -little return he got for the love he was ready to lavish upon her. - -Perhaps he was to blame, though I can never see in his most noble -life anything that is not praiseworthy. Perhaps if he could have -given her a little more and his work a little less, she would have -been readier to forgive the manly pleasures he loved in common with -every other gentleman of spirit. Yet I think not. I doubt the -poison which I, in my self-willed ignorance, administered for a -wholesome physic was too strong and deadly for her high-wrought -nature. - -Soon she would bid none but the poor and preachers to Ashtead, where -once she had loved so well to entertain very gallant parties of -gentry from the country round, ay, and from London too. Nor would -she go abroad to other houses, as she used, with Harry, since she had -grown to hate the sports and ungodly conversation and gallantry that -went forward at such times. - -Above all, there was one house which she hated. It belonged to a -Popish gentleman, and was well known to me as a place where there was -a great coming and going of strangers, who rode on North Country -cobbles, and often spoke with a strong North Country burr. We had -not yet forgotten the Catholic risings in the North. The Duke of -Norfolk's treasonable practices with Rome for her Majesty's -destruction had been but recently brought to light, and he was yet -lying a convicted traitor in the Tower, but still unexecuted. -Rumours were leaking out or being invented of other great Popish -plots for the subversion of the realm and the making away with the -Queen and her ministers. It was no wonder, then, that Harry's -constant visits to the house of which I speak caused us no little -anxiety, although now I know he went there bent only on pleasure. - -It was one of these visits that brought about the end. I had ridden -over to Ashtead one afternoon towards the end of April. The morning -had been showery--a mirror of England's state at that time, as I -thought to myself, a mixture of sunshine and tears. - -To my great surprise, instead of finding Mrs. Waldyve bent over some -Latin book as usual, she was sitting miserably crouched upon the -window seat, wild-eyed and weary, as one that grieved sorely and -could not weep. As soon as she heard my step she sprang up with a -strange little laugh, and pressed my hand very hard as she spoke. - -'Oh, Jasper,' she said, 'I am so glad you are come. I had need of -you. Let us come to the orchard, where we can talk alone.' - -We went out together and seated ourselves side by side, as we had -done many times before, on the bowed limb of an ancient apple-tree -which, as though overcome with years, rested, all gnarled and -twisted, upon the flowery turf. It was one of the first warm days of -spring. The grass was spangled over with primroses, the trees were -laden with flowery frost, the choir of the birds was warbling its -fullest love-notes, and all was bathed in the soft sunshine of the -waning afternoon. - -Yet there was nothing for me so beautiful as the woman who sat by my -side, gazing far away over the mellow prospect of field and woodland -and river, or so tuneful as the soft murmur that came in rhythmical -whisper from her heaving breast. - -For a time we sat in silence, and while she gathered strength and -calmness to speak, I watched the sunlight playing in her hair and, -wondering, tried to read the thoughts that chased each other across -her wistful face. - -'Jasper!' she said at last, turning suddenly on me, 'whatever comes -of it you will not think ill of me? Say you will not.' - -I tried to calm and comfort her, and begged her to tell me what her -trouble was; but I was afraid to speak much, for a strange fear of -her seemed to come over me, and I could not think quietly. - -'When he was going over there, you know where, Jasper,' she said, -'the voice of the Lord whispered to me that I must stay him. So I -arose and begged him not to go. He patted my cheek, as though I were -a child, and laughing, asked me of what I was afraid. Then I told -him how we feared for his body, lest he should be drawn into some -Popish plot, and, more than that, for his soul, lest he should be -tempted to backsliding and so to utter perdition. And what think you -he said, Jasper? I shudder to speak it. He patted my cheek, smiling -again, and said, "Ah, Nan,' 'tis a pity you are grown such a prim -little Puritan. But fear not; a Waldyve heart is loyal enough, and -as for my soul, why, lass, God--if there is a God that marks these -little coils--must be made of better stuff than to damn my soul for a -frolic with a jolly papist or two." Then I knew what he was. I was -stricken dumb, and he rode away. Jasper!' she went on, seizing my -arm and leaning eagerly towards me, 'he is an atheist! I am married -to an atheist! My son is an atheist's son! Oh, my God, what shall I -do? He will grow up to mock God, like his father. He will learn to -mock at my faith, like Hal. I know it. He will not care for me. -Hal wins all to him. What shall I do? Counsel me, brother, for -God's sake, or my heart will break. I have no friend but you. Thank -God He sent you to me!' - -I know not what I said. I could not think of my words, only of her, -as she leaned her lithe young figure on my arm and sobbed and sobbed -again. A devil came into me with the sunshine, and the warbling of -the birds, and the faint scent of the flowers, and at last I dared -not speak for dread of what words the fiend had put on my tongue. - -So we continued for a space, till suddenly her sobs ceased and she -sprang up to her feet before me. I rose too, stepping a little back -from her. I dared not go near, for her eyes were glittering, her -cheeks flushed, and all in the reddening sun she was a vision too -fair for my strength. - -'Jasper,' she said quietly, but much excited and trembling, and -looking at me very fixedly, 'there is but one way, and the Lord has -shown it me. I must go away from here, from him, and take little -Fulke away, or he and I and all will be lost for ever. Jasper, you -must take us away.' - -I started, horror-stricken, to hear from her sweet mouth the very -words which the devil had set on my own lips and which I had striven -so hard to keep back. I knew then I could not resist much longer. -It seemed to me that I must be speaking to a fiend who had taken her -angel shape, and my courage for so hopeless a battle began to fail me. - -'Brother,' it said, coming towards me, 'you will not fail me. Save -me and my boy, your own godson, from perdition. Take me to where he -is fostering, and thence whither you will. I care not, so long as I -am away from this great trial.' - -Her form was close to me; what seemed her little white hands were -upon me; two wistful brown eyes like hers were looking up in my face -in an agony of pleading. What could I do, what could I do? I had -taken the soft form in my arms before I knew and passionately kissed -the sweet upturned face. God forgive me for it, when His will is! I -was tempted more than I could bear. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -The ways were very foundrous, and night closed in upon us while we -were still on our flight. Ere Harry had returned we had departed and -were making for the farm to which little Fulke had been sent with his -foster-mother. It was a good distance from Ashtead, being the -farthest part of Harry's estate inland, and detached from the rest by -a large space. For that reason it had been chosen by him for his -boy, that he might be as far as possible away from the marshes, which -were held to be pestilent in the spring. - -Mrs. Waldyve was riding pillion behind me. A sort of calm had -settled upon us with the night, and I picked my way as well as I -could through the mud, content to feel her soft arm about me, and -know that it was her sweet form that leaned upon me. - -Darker and darker gathered the night, and deeper grew the mire. I -could no longer see where my horse trod, and had to leave him with -loosened rein to find his way as best he could. I think the unwonted -weight upon his back must have wearied him, for all at once he -stumbled, and we found him stuck up to the girths in a slough. - -There was nothing to be done but dismount and lift Mrs. Waldyve off. -I sank almost over my boots as I took her in my arms, but managed -nevertheless to set her safely on a firm bank by the side of the -road. My next care was to get my horse clear, which at last, with -great toil, I did. - -Still, we were in a sorry plight. My horse had so laboured in the -slough that by the time I had got him free he was strained and weary -past all going. Moreover, the clouds had gathered above us in great -masses, so that not only was the darkness almost impenetrable, but I -had great fear of a heavy downpour of rain. - -I know not what would have befallen us had it not been that I was -aware of a little inn not far distant, which was used by travellers -passing from Rochester towards Maidstone and Tunbridge. - -That I could reach it with my horse I did not doubt, but was fearful -for Mrs. Waldyve. When, however, I told her how things stood with us -I found her so resolved and courageous that I determined to set out -forthwith, and in a shorter time than I had hoped we saw the lights -of the inn in front of us. - -No sooner had we reached shelter than the rain came down in torrents. -During the happy dream in which I had ridden, and afterwards in the -labour with my horse, I had hardly realised what we were doing. I -was reckless, not caring what came so long as I was with her on our -journey, away from my old mournful life, as it now seemed to me. - -It was clear we must pass the night in the inn. To go on was not to -be thought of. I know not what Mrs. Waldyve thought, but to me it -seemed quite natural and easy, though, I confess, it was with no -little comfort that I found there were no travellers there besides -ourselves. - -Perhaps it is well I cannot write down each thing we said and all -that passed that night; yet I would do it if I could. It seems to me -now like a faint dream of some other man's life; and, try how I will, -I can remember little but the bustling hostess setting our supper to -a tune of chattering gossip, and after it was cleared leaving us with -a cheery 'Good-night to your gentilities.' - -I know we sat side by side in the great chimney corner, my arm about -her, her hand in mine, talking low, with such soft speech as none but -a villain would suffer to pass between him and another man's wife. I -know the rain had ceased and the new-risen moon was shining -gloriously in between the mullions of the broad low lattice window, -almost darkening the dancing firelight, and making a large chequer -pattern on the rush-strewn floor. - -How long we sat so I cannot tell, no more than how long we should -have sat had we not heard the plash of horses' feet in the mud -outside. The shadow of a cloaked horseman passed across the bright -chequer pattern on the floor, and then another. - -We heard them stop, and then a voice that made our hearts stand still -hailed the house. - -'Hola, house! Hola, within!' it cried. - -'What would ye, gentles?' cried the voice of the hostess. - -''Slight, to come in, woman. Open quickly,' said the traveller. - -'Despatch, despatch, Jem,' cried the landlady. 'See you not it is a -gentleman and his gentleman servant? In good time, your worship. My -goodman is in bed. Be patient till he make shift, that we be not -shamed, and he shall let you in. Will Ostler, Will Ostler, wake up, -you loon, and take the horses! Was ever such luck? Mass! but I knew -we should have travellers ever since last Tuesday, when I could not -sleep for dreaming of green rushes, and that's for strangers.' - -I could not speak, or stir, or think, but only stand by the hearth -and stupidly mark what the shrill voice of the hostess said. Yet I -had strength to resolve, come what might, I would not draw my blade. - -It seemed an age of silence, broken only by muttered words for a -moment without, and then the door burst open, and Harry, covered with -mud, strode in with his rapier drawn in his hand and his cloak about -his left arm. Culverin followed at his heels, and, slamming the door -after him, stood solidly in front of it, while Harry advanced towards -us. - -There seemed no anger in his face, but rather sorrow and set purpose, -as he came quickly forward. I stood where I was, hoping in a moment -to feel his point and have an end to all; but Mrs. Waldyve made a -sudden movement, half of horror, half as though to protect me. - -Harry stopped in a moment with lowered point, and looked at her with -a face in which was such a constant love and unspeakable pain as -tears my heart to this hour to think on. Then, setting hard his -teeth, he lifted his rapier on high and flung it with all his might -crashing through the window into the yard outside. - -I heard the clang of the broken glass. I heard the Sergeant's great -broadsword come screaming from its sheath. I saw Harry stand -trembling with set face, trying in vain to speak with steady voice; -and the Sergeant, rigid as a column, at the door with his drawn -sword, his naked dagger, and his bristling moustache. - -A choking sound came at last from Harry's lips, in which there seemed -no trace of his own clear, ringing voice. - -'For God's sake, Jasper, bring her back. You know not what you do. -You love her not as I do.' - -That was all. I think he would have said more, but could not. For a -moment he seemed to struggle for words, and then turned and was gone. -The Sergeant sheathed his sword with an angry clang, turned on his -heel rudely, without a word or salute, and we were alone again in the -moonlight. - -Then there burst upon me in dazzling light, that seemed to scorch my -very soul, the horror of my sin. I saw in a moment how blind I had -been. A mad rage at Heaven and all that had made my life seized me. -Was it for this I had striven, and denied myself, and lived the life -of a monk, when others were dancing, and dicing, and drinking in full -content? Was this, after all my toil and wasted youth, the place -where my religion had brought me? - -So, in wild reaction, my long-pent thoughts, their bonds burst in -sunder, ran riot through my brain, till I heard a horseman dash away -through the mud. In hate of Heaven, in hate of myself, I went forth, -not knowing what I did. - -The cool night air and the pure, soft moonlight seemed to soothe my -fever as I stepped into the yard. There lay Harry's rapier, where it -had fallen, the hilt buried in the mire, the blade glittering like -hope in the silver light. - -I know not how the fancy seized me, unless, unknown to myself, I was -infected with a foretaste of that sweet sense which since has flowed -in such full and tuneful flood from the honeyed lips of Mr. Spenser. - -Yet I know, as that rapier lay there so keen and shining, I saw in it -a mirror of perfect courage and gentleness, wherein I could look for -every rule of life. I saw in it, as it were, the embodied -presentment of that noble spirit I had so foully wronged, and I -clutched at it in forlorn hope to save me amidst the dark waste of -waters that had flowed over every landmark I had known before, and -every path I had painfully learned to tread. - -Yes, many may think it folly, yet to me it was the devoutest act of -my life. I drew my own stained blade, and, setting my foot upon it, -snapped it across, and then flung it into the mire as the weapon of a -felon knight. - -So I kneeled down, and picking up Harry's rapier, like a holy thing, -I put it to my lips. For I had an oath to swear, and I swore it -aloud on that unsullied blade, that, come what might, in joy and -sorrow, by land and sea, in life and death, I would never, by the -help of Harry's memory, do an act that would disgrace the weapon -which he had hallowed by true faith, and love, and courtesy, and -every knightly virtue. - -I kissed the blade again, and, rising up, I put it in my own -scabbard. It fitted easily, as though it shunned not its new -resting-place. As I looked up I was suddenly aware of Sergeant -Culverin standing by my side. His posture was as different as could -be from that in which I had last seen him. Soldierly he was as ever, -yet the childlike look was on his face behind the fierce moustache, -and he was saluting me. - -'Has your worship any use for me ere I go?' he said, very -respectfully, and drawn up stiffly to his full height. - -I could have easily embraced the grim soldier for that salute and -those words. In the depth of my degradation, when I so loathed -myself that I felt I should never dare to look an honest man in the -face again, I found this steadfast soul did not wholly despise me. -It seemed to me he was a sign sent, I cannot say from God, for God -was no more to me now, but sent by some mysterious power of good that -by hazard I had conjured, to bid me hope my vow would be fulfilled. - -'Is your horse strong enough to go back to Ashtead?' said I. - -'Yes, your worship,' he answered; 'and as far again in a good cause.' - -'Then set the pillion saddle on him,' said I. The Sergeant's -childlike look grew very apparent and smiling as I spoke. I thought -at first he was about to seize my hand, but he restrained himself and -only rigidly saluted as he went to do my bidding. So, hopefully and -with hardened heart, I went back to the guest chamber of the inn. - -She had left the place where I had seen her last, and was sitting in -the window, as though she had gone there to look after Harry or me, I -knew not which. How beautiful she shone in the moonlight! I can -think of it quietly now. The silver flood fell full upon her, and -illumined her lovely face and form with so heavenly a radiance in the -dark chamber that she seemed to me like some poor angel, weary of -worship, who had strayed from heaven. It was as though the eye of -some great spirit far away was turned upon her to draw her back to -the realms she had left; as though she saw the golden gate whence she -came, and, weighed down by the thick and cloying vapours of earth, -knew not how to take wing back to the life she had loved and lost. - -'Will you go back to-night,' said I, 'or wait for the morning?' - -She started then from her reverie, and turned on me her sweet brown -eyes, so wistfully and full of reproach as almost to undo me. - -'Must we go back, Jasper?' she said at last, so submissively and in -such beseeching tones that my head swam and my breath came thick. -Many a struggle I have had in my changeful life, but never one like -that. It was only my new guardian that won the strife for me. I -clapped my hand to Harry's rapier, and, pressing it mighty hard, -found strength to say firmly, 'Yes!' - -I think she saw what I did, for she stood up with that stony calm -which to me is far more terrible than the wildest passion. Once she -pressed her little white hands to her eyes, and then drew them slowly -away, while I stood watching and waiting for my answer. - -'We will go now, Jasper,' she said at last. 'You are right; we must -go; but I can never have been to you what you have been to me.' - -Her words cut me like the hangman's lash on the back of prisoner -unjustly condemned. It was more than I could bear to see her. It -was past my strength after these scourging words to choose the path -that was so hard and bitter before the one that was so easy and -sweet. I felt driven towards her. I sprang forwards to take her -tender form in my arms, and cover her reproachful face with -passionate kisses; to show her what she had done; to show her what -she was to me--more than honour, more than duty, more than all the -world; to show her that I loved her. - -I was at her side with arms wide open to enfold her; in one last -strife with myself I paused, and like a thunderclap to my strained -wits the Sergeant's knock rattled out on the door, and I was saved. -Clutching the rapier by my side once more, I turned to see the -soldier's tall form appear in the doorway. - -'Your bidding is done, sir,' said he. - -'Then help Mrs. Waldyve to the saddle,' said I; 'we will walk by her -side.' - -With hanging head, and never a glance to me, she went with tottering -steps to the Sergeant, who lifted her with loving gentleness into the -saddle. Then we set forward through the moonlight. Not a word was -spoken as we toiled along; not a sound broke the stillness of the -night, save the suck of our boots and the horse's feet in the mire. -So in silence, each communing with his own thoughts, we came in the -first gray glimmer of the dawn to Ashtead, and in silence parted. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -How the next day passed with me I cannot say. I spent it, I know, in -my library, pacing up and down and thinking over and over again of -all that had happened since last the sun rose. - -I remember angrily putting away the divinity books which lay on my -table, and taking down others at random. But they would not speak to -me as they used, or perhaps I could not hear them for the din of -self-reproach in my head. - -Many times I tried to think what lucky chance it was that brought -Harry to the inn; but I could not guess, nor did I ever know, till -the Sergeant told me he came there by hazard, on his way from the -Popish gentleman's house, for a cup of spiced wine, because they were -wet, and seeing in the stable my horse and his wife's pillion-saddle, -had guessed the bitter truth, which the hostess speedily confirmed. - -After a heavy night's rest had soothed me I arose at a late hour, and -saw things more clearly. I took down my _Phædo Platonis_, and read -in it till I began to see right from wrong again. Gradually it -seemed to me that there was but one thing to do. I would ride over -to Ashtead once more, see Harry, and tell him I was going away, I -knew not for how long or where, but to some land in which I could -learn the lesson his travels had taught him. So I would crave his -pardon in years to come, and take my leave of all I loved. - -It was towards evening that I slowly crossed the park and came to the -little wicket that opened into the pretty Italian garden which Harry -had made for his wife. There I tied my horse, as I had often done -before, and entered. - -The terraces on either hand, where in grotesque solemnity the -cognisance of his house frowned from many a half-hidden pedestal, -were ablaze with the first flowers of spring. Celandine, fritillary, -flower-de-luce, and all were there, like pretty laughing maids who -knew their beauty and waywardly transgressed the trim stone -mouldings, within which their luxuriance could not be content. From -a wide-mouthed dragon's head the water spouted with a pleasant tinkle -into the glassy basin that occupied the midst; the little trout that -played there were springing merrily for the evening flies; whilst -from the ivy and honeysuckle that was fast covering the enclosing -walls, and from the blossom-laden pear trees in the orchard hard by, -the birds were singing the requiem of the dying day. - -At the end towards the house, between two vases that overflowed with -woodruff, a flight of steps led upwards to the grassy terrace before -Mrs. Waldyve's parlour. One lattice of her bow window was open, and -as I mounted the steps I could hear the low sound of singing within. -Very sad it came to me amidst the gay carolling of the birds; so sad, -that I could not choose but go softly across the little velvet lawn -and peep between the mullions. - -All, what a sight was there! Rocking herself to and fro in her chair -miserably sat Mrs. Waldyve, with hair and dress disordered. Her face -was pale, her eyes hollow with weeping, and on her knees slumbered -her little son. As though there was no world but in that small -peaceful face, she leant over it and now and again touched the tiny -brow with her lips. Singing ever the same mournful song, she rocked -herself and leaned over the baby. - -I could hear the words she sang--some which her grief had made for -her--and as I listened I cursed all in heaven and earth, and above -all myself. For thus she sang a lullaby to her son:-- - - 'Sleep, baby, sleep, for so thou canst, - Thou hast no sins to shrive; - Lully, lully, my babe, hope is not dead, - Love keepeth hope alive. - - 'Sleep, baby, sleep, he will come back, - Back, honey-sweet, to the hive; - Lully, lully, my babe, love is not dead, - Thou keepest love alive.' - - -Those words told me true what had befallen. I should have known well -enough, even had it not been for the letter she held crushed in her -hand, and kissed, as I watched her. It was easy to guess what it -said, though I could not read the words. Years after I saw it again. -She herself showed it me, long afterwards, when all was healed. It -still bore witness then how she had crushed it in her grief; it was -still blistered with her tears. And this is what was written there:-- - - -To Mrs. WALDYVE, my own sweet Wife. - -You shall receive, dear wife, my parting words in these my parting -lines. If I ever held your love, as indeed I think I did, it was by -the poor things my sword had done. Now I go, I know not whither, to -see if haply I may win it again to me beyond the seas, or at least -forget a little of what I have lost. - -My love I leave you, though I know it is a little thing to you, yet -hoping, when I am gone, you will find some place for it, if only it -be when you kneel to pray for our boy. - -I would not that my last gift should be reproaches, dear Nan. Such -are not for me, seeing it was by my own shortcoming that I could not -keep your love. But first I send you all the thanks my heart can -conceive or my pen express for your many cares and troubles taken for -me, whom unworthy you strove to love. - -And secondly, I would commend to you my poor child, for his father's -sake, whom in his happiest times I trow you loved and would have -loved still had he been worthy. - -I cannot write much,--God knows how hardly I wrote even thus far. -The everlasting, infinite, universal God, that is goodness itself, -keep you and yours, have mercy on me, and teach me to forgive those -who have wronged me; amongst whom, believe me, Nan, from my heart, I -hold you not one. My wife, farewell. Bless my poor boy, pray your -all-conquering prayers for him. My true God hold you both in His -arms.--Your most loving, unworthy husband, HARRY WALDYVE. - -From Rochester, _this_ 30_th day of April_ 1572. - - -I cannot but rejoice that I then knew no more of that letter than -that by her kissing of it it was from him, and by the words of her -song that it told how he was gone. My heart was already so seared -and torn with shame at my work that, had I known how pathetic was his -farewell, how deep and noble his sorrow, how touching his -self-reproaches, and his straining in the anguish of his misery after -the lost faith of his childhood, I know not how I should have borne -the pain. - -What to do now I could not think. To go in to her was impossible. -As she sat there grieving with her baby upon her knees and the letter -in her hand, she seemed to me a holy thing, more purely sanctified in -her motherhood and grief to him she had lost than ever was vestal to -her goddess. All faith and reverence I thought had left me, yet I -could have worshipped that mother and child as devoutly as ever a -poor Papist bowed before the Virgin's shrine. Still there was a -holiness about them I dared not profane, even with my worship. I -felt a thing too unclean even to stand on the steps of the altar -where she was now enshrined, and I crept away like the guilty thief I -was. - -Hardly less difficult was it to go and leave her alone in the desert -I had made of the fair garden, where but for me she might have dwelt -so happily. To go was cowardly; it was sacrilege to stay. I had no -guide to show me my way, no friend whom I could consult. Wearily, -rather drifting than with any set purpose, I descended the steps, -passed by the tinkling water, through the perfume-laden air, closed -the wicket behind me, and so rode home, my errand undone. - -He was gone! I knew not whither; and there was no one of whom I -could seek counsel. I would have gone to Mr. Drake to tell him all -and seek comfort, but the thought of the good man's hard Calvinism -repelled me now. He would not understand. As for Mr. Cartwright, he -was still less to be thought of. For very shame, I dared not confess -to his holy ears the depth to which I had fallen, even could I have -hoped for sympathy from him. No, there was none to ease me of my -burden. - -He was gone; and I must follow,--follow and bring him back to her, -and then rid them for ever of my accursed presence. That was all I -could think of. And on the morrow, after committing my affairs to -old Miles's hands, I rode to Gravesend, and so came next day by river -to London, whither I heard from the boatmen he had gone. - -As I have said, I came to London drifting, rather than with any set -purpose. As soon as I had sought for Harry at my Lord of Bedford's, -and at the lodging where he was wont to lie when in London, and found -no news of him, I was at a loss what to do. I had no friends in -London that I knew of, nor was I so much as acquainted with any there -except my merchant and old Mr. Follet, who had a lodging in Warwick -Court, where he was of easy access to his scholars, both those about -the Court and those who were sons to wealthy citizens. - -To him I was resolved to go, not so much in hope to hear of Harry, as -trusting in my forlorn state to receive comfort from him, when I -remembered how peaceful and content was his life, and yet without any -comfort of religion that I was ever able to discover. - -I found him polished and kindly and gentle as ever, and bound still -in willing servitude to his 'Apology.' He welcomed me very warmly, -refusing any denial that I would sup with him. Our first -commendation over, he fell to asking me of my life and work, so that -we easily came to talk of those deep matters wherein my trouble lay. - -'I cannot but rejoice, my dear Jasper,' said the old scholar, bending -on me his intelligent, clear eyes, 'that you have come to your -present state. It was always my desire that you should see that as a -rule or touchstone of right living, nay, if you will, as a _virgula -divina_, or divining rod, whereby to discover the pure water of life, -religion is in no comparison with scholarship. So long as men shall -pursue religion as a chief end, so long shall they be ever athirst -and rage in these present fevers that now be. I hold there are three -special points in education, or the leading forth of life, the same -being, truth in religion, honesty in living, and right order in -learning. I name them in the order in which the three are now -commonly held, yet you know, as I do, that in order of excellence -these points should be reversed.' - -'Then you would not have a scholar,' said I, 'lay aside religion -altogether?' - -'I see no need for that,' he answered. 'It was not so in the past -golden days of scholarship, before Reformation violently killed the -old kindly tolerance of the Romish Church. Side by side they could -not exist, so Rome grew hard perforce, and Geneva as hard to -withstand her. And so the good old days were ended, even the days -when a man would first take heed that his order of learning was -rightly governed according to the precepts of the immortal Stagirite, -from which, secondly, would flow, by the bestowing of such leisure as -remained, a sufficient honesty in living, the whole being sweetened -and tempered with such truth of religion as came of itself, without -straining, out of the other two. It is this straining after God that -so troubles the world and burns up scholarship. They draw the Ardour -of Heaven too near, whereby the inflammable principles, whereof He is -in a great measure composed, so heat men's blood and set their -stomachs on fire, that cool scholarship itself is set in a blaze, and -serves but to feed the fires of controversy, whereby learning, -honesty, and religion itself are fast being consumed.' - -'Surely, then, it were better,' said I, 'to shut out this disturbing -element that makes life so turbid; better to deafen our ears to this -note which sets all our harmony awry.' - -'No, Jasper,' answered Mr. Follet, 'that is impossible. That far-off -note is your octavo, as Pythagoras taught. You, with your spiritual -nature, will always hear it sounding in unison with that which you -yourself are making as you live your Life. If there is discord in -your ears, it is that you are sounding some other note awry between -your fundamental earthly note and His in the empyrean. By your -scholarship I judge your first harmony must be _dia-trion_ to the -orbit of Mercury, which is science; and thus, if you would have -concord, your next must be _dia-pente_ to the orbit of Mars, which is -manhood and knightly adventure. So can you reach through your full -_dia-pason_ to God, and sound your third and just fifth in complete -and peaceful harmony with the universe. So I would advise you, if -the music of your life has seemed meagre. But, above all, beware of -the fourth, which is the orbit of Venus, that shall bring you nothing -but most jarring discord, wherein you shall find no rest.' - -The old man looked out at me from his clear eyes so shrewdly that, -although I could only guess at his meaning, I felt he had divined the -true cause of my discomfort. How far he had learned it I cannot say, -yet I could not help calling to mind the many times I had written to -him concerning my most pleasant studies with Mrs. Waldyve. I found -in my old tutor a strange mingling of shrewd worldly knowledge and -unreal speculation which drew me nearer to him than I had ever had -wit to be in my boyhood. It is true I hoped to get little help from -his medley of philosophies, yet his conversation fascinated me in -spite of the half-mystic vagueness that seemed to be growing on him -with his old age, and I stayed with him till a late hour. - -Whether right or wrong for others, his own way of thought had brought -him to an old age of profound peace, most enviable to me in the -tempestuous flood of doubt that had overwhelmed my life since the -dams of my faith, which I had deemed so secure, had burst. Moreover, -his whole discourse was so seasoned with spicery from the writings of -the ancients, and above all his beloved Aristotle, that it was very -pleasant to hear, though beyond what my memory will bear to write. - -Moreover I wished to speak with him about his 'Apology,' which he had -not once mentioned. No one but myself can truly know how great must -have been his sympathy with my troubled state, or how much he must -have denied himself to minister to it, when for two hours he never -once spoke of his manuscript. At last, moved to pity because of his -exceeding kindness, I asked him how it fared. - -'Bravely, bravely, my dear discipulus,' said he with beaming face. -'It has been long in getting set forth because of the great growth -which it has attained by reason of the weighty arguments I -continually found. Still the day for the great purging of -scholarship is very near. I am near to finishing the Latin text, in -which form I have been weightily advised the work should appear, -although I had purposed otherwise for the glory of the English -tongue. The Right Honourable the Earl of Bedford has promised to -receive the dedicatory epistle, so that I doubt not, with so noble -and learned a sponsor, my child shall find an honourable reception in -the courts of science.' - -This and much more to like purpose he spoke till I took my leave, -much comforted by his kindliness, yet little relieved of my inward -sickness. - -Lashmer, who had been passing the time of my visit with Mr. Follet's -servant, came to my chamber as usual to untruss me when we reached -our lodging. He seemed full of something, which after a little -painful repressing he poured forth. - -'Did your worship hear whither he had gone?' asked he. - -'Whither who had gone?' said I. - -'Was not your worship seeking news of Mr. Waldyve?' he asked again. - -'Certes, I was,' said I; 'but that is no concern of yours.' - -'No, sir, none,' he answered, 'save that I hold all that concerns you -concerns your faithful servant; but since it is not so, let it pass.' - -So he fell into a sullen silence, till I, feeling he held news, could -refrain no longer from asking what he meant. - -'Nay, I meant nothing, sir,' said he. 'A gentleman's movements are -nothing to me; but since I thought Mr. Follet would have told you -whither he had gone, I made bold to inquire; for he was ever a most -kind gentleman to me; but since there is offence in it, let it pass.' - -'But what made you think Mr. Follet should know this?' I asked -sharply. - -'Nay, sir, I pray you let it pass. I have no longer desire to know -what concerns me not.' - -'But I have desire to know what you meant, sirrah.' - -'Then, saving your displeasure, it was a foolish idle whim of mine, -that am but a dunce and unlearned, to think that since Mr. Waldyve -was with Mr. Follet yesterday he would have given your worship news -of him. It was a stupid, foolish fancy, so I pray you let it pass.' - -'Mr. Waldyve with Mr. Follet yesterday, say you?' I cried, as soon as -I recovered breath. 'Why, how know you this, Lashmer?' - -'Nay, I know it not,' said he, making occasion of my anxiety to have -revenge for my sharpness. - -'What a plague makes you say it then?' - -'Why, sir, because Mr. Follet's man knows it, and Mr. Follet's man -told me how Mr. Waldyve was with his master for the space of two -hours save a thimbleful of sand yesterday about supper-time, during -all which time he had to wait, for good manners' sake, though like to -die of a watery mouth for thinking of a roasted rabbit and a dish of -prunes that were bespoke for him and two other blades at the -"Portcullis" tavern hard by.' - -'Pace! pace! draw rein on your galloping tongue, good Lashmer, and -tell me whither he has gone.' - -'If I could, sir, but I cannot; nor Mr. Follet, nor Mr. Follet's man -neither, for in truth he told none of them anything, save that they -were not like to see him for a good space to come.' - -'Then leave me, Lashmer, and good-night. Go to your bed now, and -find a kind thought for a heart-sick master.' - -'Heaven save your worship, and pardon a malapert servitor,' said -Lashmer, and left me to my thoughts. - -First, I think, I pondered over Mr. Follet's great tenderness with -me, when as I felt he must have known all. Then I tried to come to -conclusions with myself what I was to do. The more I pondered the -more it seemed useless to search farther for Harry, and the more I -dwelt on what Mr. Follet had said to me of sounding the note of -Mars's orbit as a cure for my discords. - -I felt shamed, moreover, to think that my old tutor knew all. I felt -I could no more go back and face him; nay, I felt as though every one -knew my shame, and a desire grew in me to fly far away from it all. -I began to reason with myself as to what good end it would serve to -find Harry, and now it seemed that even if I could find him I dared -not face him. My bold resolves were melting to cowardice in the heat -of my remorse, and utterly purposeless and alone I crept with a -broken spirit to my bed. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -Next day I stayed within all the morning. Harry was in London, and -though I had come thither to seek him, I dared not stir abroad for -fear of meeting him. I dined in my lodging, sending Lashmer to the -tavern for a quart of claret. - -The food and the wine must have put new heart in me; for after they -were done I sallied forth alone, resolved to prosecute my search. -Still dreading success, I wandered eastward along the Strand. Many -gallants, most splendid with new-fashioned hats and hose, were -loitering along the way I went. I followed the stream, and so, -passing Temple Bar and over the Fleet Bridge, I came through Ludgate -before St. Paul's Church. - -I stood a while admiring the grandeur of the front and the lofty -tower. For then, being untravelled, I was unlearned in architecture, -and saw not how rude were its proportions and barbarous its ornament -beside the new style. - -Many gallants went by me as I watched, laughing, and passed on into -the church. Harry had often told me how it was a place of great -resort, so I followed, thinking perhaps to find what I looked for and -dreaded to see. The floor of the long and lofty nave was thronged -with gallants and would-be gallants, strolling up and down, and -laughing and talking with one another; while between the piers of -clustered columns which supported the soaring roof-groins and dim -triforium knots of men were gathered, who seemed for the most part to -be merchants. From time to time I could see a bond or account-book -fluttering white amidst their sober robes, but all was done with as -little noise and bustle as could well be. - -For it must be known that Paul's was not then the den of thieves it -is now. It was not so long since the Queen's proclamation had been -issued against such as should transact business, or make any fray, or -shoot any hand-gun or dag within the precincts. It was still had in -memory, though little regarded, and the place was not wholly -disorderly. - -Yet was it sufficiently out of order to see so gay a company glowing -in their bright clothes of 'popinjay blue,' 'devil-in-the-head,' -'lusty gallant,' and I know not what other outlandish new-fashioned -hues, and to hear their laughter rolling round the gray old walls, -and the clink of their spurs and rapiers on the pavement, and the -rustle of their silks and taffeta as they walked. - -Wrapped as I was in myself, and shut off by my shame from all men, -that thoughtless throng only made my sense of loneliness keener. Far -more in sympathy with me than any creature there was the tall temple -itself, which, stripped long since of all its altars and Popish -adornments, seemed to look down in lofty contempt upon the irreverent -crowd which insulted its ancient dignity. Solemn and sad and alone -it seemed to wait in patient confidence for the day when their little -paltry lives would have passed away to oblivion, and its days of -worship would come again. - -That there were many there more loyal with their tongues than in -ought else I could see as I went forward and came near Duke -Humphrey's tomb. Here the proclamation seemed wellnigh forgotten. -Round the battered effigy the throng was thicker and full of ruffling -loud-voiced swaggerers, who, from their ruffianly carriage and most -vile Smithfield oaths, made me think their gentility much belied the -bravery of their clothes. It was a thing I then first noted, and -have since much grieved over, that men of low station nowadays take -to wearing garments of gentleman's cut, no matter how common or -ill-made, so long as they be as good as their scrapings, or -stealings, or borrowings will buy. - -Not wishing to mingle with this lewd throng I turned aside between -the columns, that I might so pass into the aisle and avoid them. But -before I could carry out my purpose I felt myself hustled roughly -into the aisle by some one who thrust violently by me. - -'Body of Bacchus!' said a loud, gruff voice, 'know you not better, -base countryman, than to hustle a gentleman so?' - -I turned and saw glaring at me a tall ruffian whom I had noted in the -throng. He was dressed in garish and faded garments very vilely -pinked and guarded, and wore on his head a most desperate hat. As -though to give him a warlike note, his clothes were thrown on in a -slovenly way, and his moustache frounced out so shock and bristling -that it seemed from each hair-end a crackling oath must start with -every word he said. I felt little inclined for a brawl, least of all -in that place, though to quarrel with any man would perhaps have been -a comfort in my present state; so I civilly told him I was sorry to -have stood in his way. - -'What, base minion!' said he very fierce, with a whole fusilada of -oaths, 'think you to pass so lightly from a gentleman's wrath?' - -'I pray you, sir, be content,' I replied as quietly as I could, for -it seemed very silly to quarrel with such a mountebank. 'If I -wronged your gentility it was unwittingly, and I crave your pardon.' - -'Stay, rude rustic,' said he, stepping before me as I turned away, -and clapping his hand to a rapier of extravagant length. 'This shall -not serve you. Craving of pardons shall not serve you, nor your -_pardonnez-mois_ neither. A gentleman must have satisfaction by rule -and circumstance, after the teaching of the inestimable Signor Rocco.' - -I found myself by this time hemmed in by a throng of his fellows, as -ruffianly and hectoring as himself, none of whom I dare have sworn -could ever have afforded so much as their noses inside Signor Rocco's -'College,' so I thought best to make an end. - -'Come then, sir,' said I, 'to a fitting place, and I will presently -give you your desire.' - -'Nay, but first name your friends,' my opponent replied. 'For know, -base scullion, that town-bred gentlemen fight by rule and -circumstance, and not like two rams in field, without supporters.' - -'Yes, pretty shepherd,' cried the throng jeeringly, 'name first your -friend, if you want a gentleman to walk with you.' - -I now saw my evil case and what a trick was put on me, and knew not -what to do. To draw my rapier, Harry's rapier, on this vermin was -farthest from my thoughts. Yet the throng hustled me closer, and my -bully swaggered and threatened loudly. - -'I have no friend here,' said I, 'unless any gentleman among you will -stand by me.' - -'Hark to the scurvy rustic,' they cried, in answer to my look around -to them. 'A pox on your familiarity. You will get no friend here.' - -'Nay, my dry-livered lubbers, that he will,' cried a clear jolly -voice, and I turned to see Frank Drake and another gentleman break -through the throng to my side. 'What is it, Jasper? Stand back, ye -lubberly porpoises, and give a seaman sea-room.' - -'Stand back, I pray you, gentlemen,' cried my bully very -condescending; 'I knew not that I spoke with a friend of Captain -Drake's.' - -'Or maybe you would not have spoken so loud, my pot-valiant -Hercules,' said Frank's friend. - -'What is all the coil about, Jasper?' said Frank again, while my -bully tried to outstare the gentleman. - -''Tis nothing,' said I. 'He wanted two friends for me, to help give -him satisfaction for having been at the pain of jostling me.' - -'Give him a tester, sir,' said Frank's friend, 'to buy sack withal. -That is the best satisfaction for his most barrel-bellied worship.' - -'No, gentlemen,' said my bully with great pomp, finding he could not -outstare his new adversary, 'it is satisfaction enough to know the -gentleman is a friend of the most valiant Captain Drake. I know of -no quarrel here that a skin of muscadine will not assuage. I pray -you, let me conduct you to a very honest tavern hard by where I am -known, and where I will see you served with the best.' - -'Most courtly offered!' said the gentleman. 'And peradventure your -most sweet honesty will see us served also with very honest dice and -very honest cards. 'Tis a pity we are promised elsewhere, but so it -is, and we must perforce pray your valourship to bestow on us instead -a full measure of your most delectable absence.' - -'By the soul of Bacchus,' said the bully, swelling with contempt, -'were it not for the proclamation, blood should flow for this;' but -we all laughed at him, and he strode away with his nose in the air, -as proud as Alexander after Granicus. So we were rid of him and his -fellows, who followed on his heels all growling, 'Were it not for the -proclamation,' and swearing like drovers between their teeth. - -'A happy meeting, Jasper,' said Frank. 'Yonder go as arrant a lot of -thieves as any in all London. Be better acquainted with my friend, -Mr. John Oxenham. A fellow-adventurer, Oxenham, Mr. Festing, but -not, to my grief, a shipmate.' - -'Pity you will not sail with us, Mr. Festing,' said Mr. Oxenham with -a winning courtesy of manner. 'A man who can stand up to a throng of -swaggerers like that should try his hand on Spaniards.' - -'Why, so he has,' cried Frank,' and to their cost; but now he will be -doing nothing but ram home most portentous charges of words into -paper ordnance with a quill rammer. Heaven knows what giants they -will bring down when they go off!' - -We all laughed together, for I cannot say what it was to me to meet -these two in the midst of my loneliness. I gladly accepted their -invitation to a tavern, where we could talk in peace. For not only -was I overjoyed to be with Frank again, but I was much taken with Mr. -Oxenham. - -He was a tall, well-dressed man with a very handsome face, and such -courageous eyes that I did not wonder they had daunted the Paul's -man. 'Tis true I should have liked him better had it not been for an -amorous look he wore over all his manliness. Yet who was I to judge -him for that? His talk was very pleasant, for he had been a rover -from his youth, and spoke of what he had seen freely, without -boasting. We sat drinking a long time, and talked of the glories of -the West and a sailor's life, for which he had conceived a romantic -enthusiasm. - -'Ah, Mr. Festing,' burst out Mr. Oxenham at last, 'it is a pity you -will not sail with us to the West, since you are bent on travel. I -envy you your learning in these things, but none who have not seen -can picture their glory. Compared with them, to potter about Europe -from one pestered town to another, from one crowded country to -another, is like the paddling of a duckling in a puddle beside the -everlasting flight of the god-like albatross, that never lights, not -even for love. This old world is gray, and worn, and stifling. Over -there it is all colour and sunlight and freedom; where the golden -land brings forth without labour, and he who will may pass through -and enjoy. Why, when once you come to that Paradise where all is so -wide and fresh and lovely, you lift your hands in wonder, as you look -back to this dull corner far away, that your life can ever have been -so little as to come within the bounds of such a prison; you shall -hardly believe there was ever room here for aught large enough to -cause a moment's grief or joy for your expanded soul. There you can -see Nature and know at last what beauty is. There at last you shall -drink her fragrant breath, feel the richness of her warm embrace, -revel in the azure and rose colour and golden sheen that make up her -divine beauty, and lie in her arms to know at last what it means to -say, "This is delight."' - -'And think, lad,' cried Frank, who hardly, I think, can have seen -with Mr. Oxenham's eyes, 'think that it is Spaniards who have -ravished this rich beauty. It is these idolatrous hell-hounds of -Antichrist who have possessed this Shulamite woman whom the Lord had -reserved as a bride for his saints. It will be a glorious smiting of -them. Their lust has made them sleepy and womanish. They are puffed -up into silly security with their Spanish pride. Why, man, they will -leave whole estates in charge of one slave, and send out trains of a -hundred Indians or more laden with gold with but a single negro over -them. I know it all now. I know every way in and out, and every -course and time their ships will sail, and I know harbours, lad, -where none could ever find us, where we can lie in wait and pounce -out like cats on the good things that come by. And then they have -not a walled town on the coast, that I know of. We can swoop down on -the Dons and be away again, made men, or ever they have time to wake -up out of their beds. Why will not men see what there is to be done, -if they will only do? One such stroke as I have in mind will do more -to undo Antichrist than all your thinking. Yet you scholars will not -see it, but will not cease your idle disputing and dreaming till the -angels shall come down and cry to you in voice of thunder, "Ye men of -Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?"' - -His words struck me very deep, and I began to see how idle was our -scholars' contempt for men of action. So, with ever-growing -interest, I listened as we talked together till long after supper, -and Frank unfolded every detail of his plan in his honest practical -way. Mr. Oxenham, moreover, ceased not to paint his glowing pictures -not only of what was known of those regions, but also of the -fairyland beyond, where no Christian had yet trod,--the unknown lands -where he set my fancy playing with his till my imagination, on which -I had already heaped so much that was inflammable from my books, was -all on fire. - -As for my reason, Frank's sound sense was enough to satisfy that, and -his taunt at my standing still and gazing up into heaven while others -were doing touched my pride nearly. What wonder, then, that when the -time came to bid them good-night, when I saw before me my lonely -lodging, when I pictured the blank morrow and all my life beyond, -empty of hope or joy or fellowship, when they urged me once more most -earnestly to sail with them, that I could not resist! - -They were pressing on me the very course in which I could follow Mr. -Follet's strangely-worded advice more fully and nobly than I had ever -dreamed. In place of my faith a sense of destiny seemed to have come -to me, and to be speaking clearly in this chance meeting. If there -was anything in man's harmony with the music of the spheres, sure it -was the wild adventurous war-note of the universal gamut that I heard -far off in the height of heaven sounding low and clear for my soul's -response. - -My quest for Harry was forgotten, and with it whatever else tied me -to the old life, which now began to seem but a body of death. For -that strange voice had come over the wide ocean and whispered its -witching summons in my ear also. I could not choose but obey. - -So we three joined hands and drank a cup on my resolve, and one more -was added to the throng who day by day were leaving all to taste the -ripe lips of this New Helen in the West. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -It was arranged that I should go out as gentleman adventurer; and -since I did not wish to be without place, and had some little -knowledge of business, gained by always managing my own estate so as -to make it yield the fullest return, I begged and got the office of -merchant to the expedition. - -I was soon tried in my new post, for Frank was earnest to get back to -Plymouth to speed the fitting out of the ships and the building of -the pinnaces, which we were to carry with us in pieces. So I was -left to purchase the arms and other furniture which was still -lacking. This had been the only occasion of his staying in London, -which being left in my hands he was free to depart, and this he -accordingly did, taking Mr. Oxenham with him. - -From my constant fear of meeting Harry, which was greater than ever -since I had resolved to fly, I stirred abroad no more than my -business demanded. - -Yet I was obliged often to go into the city, for there was still a -great deal to be done. Money was in no way lacking, both by reason -of the success of Frank's two former voyages, which had lined his -pockets well, and of the support he got elsewhere. Nothing was to be -wanting from the complete furniture of a man-of-war in either ship; -and our captain, who, both on his person and his ship, would always -have the best, had furnished me with a long schedule of muskets, -calivers, targets, pikes, partisans, bows, and artificers' tools, as -well as cloth and other provision for a whole year, all of which -things I was bidden to purchase of different merchants as far as -possible, that no wind of our preparations should be blown into the -Spanish ambassador's ears. - -Such time as I was not thus engaged I spent very profitably in Signor -Rocco's new College of Fence in Warwick Lane. I had learned that -Harry did not resort thither, so, since it was near my lodging, I was -able to enjoy my best-loved pastime and see much excellent -rapier-play that was new to me, whereby the pain of my delay in -London was a little eased. - -Thus by avoiding other public places, and above all Paul's, at the -end of a fortnight I found my work complete without the meeting I -dreaded; and with a lighter heart than I had borne for many a day I -took ship at Radcliffe with all my lading, and so came to Plymouth -after a slow passage on the afternoon of Friday, the 23d of May. - -The three brothers, for Joseph Drake was of the expedition as well as -John, received me with open arms, and much commended my pains when -the arms and furniture came to be stowed on board. They informed me -that as merchant I was to sail in the admiral with Frank, of which I -was very glad. - -[Illustration: PLYMOUTH] - -It seemed that everything was prepared, and that, as they had only -stayed for my coming, we were to weigh on the morrow. Nothing could -have been more to my mind. So eager was I to leave my old life -behind that I hardly accepted their invitation to go ashore to gather -the men who were yet to come aboard. Yet I did at last for -good-fellowship, and started with them to the sound of a -demi-culverin and a flourish of our trumpets, for a signal to the -mariners to embark. - -As we rowed I saw another boat making for the _Swan_, which lay a -good way from the _Pasha_. They hailed us as we passed, so that I -knew they were some of our company; but I could not notice them much, -for Frank just then took occasion to point out Mount Edgcombe to me -and I looked the other way. - -Our passage from tavern to tavern to beat up the stragglers was like -a triumph. Indeed I think Plymouth was then, and maybe still is, -flat drunk with the western wine. A crowd followed on our heels, -cheering us as we went; the citizens came out from their suppers to -pledge us lustily with brimming tankards; and as for smiles of -hostesses and wenches in the taverns I had enough showered on myself -alone, being a gentleman adventurer in the expedition, as would -wellnigh satisfy a regiment of horse a whole campaign, as such things -go now. - -What with these oglings and smirkings of the pretty Plymouth lasses -and our constant pledgings, I could have been as jolly as any piece -of tar-yarn there had it not been for the grievous sights I saw, and -our pain therefrom in getting our men aboard, though I think a very -willing crew. - -Most had pledged once or twice too often, and were for ever taking -leave and never departing; some could not have gone if they had been -willing, at least not on their own legs; others were in pledge, for -commodities they had never seen, to cogging hosts, who held their -boots or sword or breeches as security. Some even we could by no -means come at, save by help of a magistrate's warrant to search some -dishonest alehouse. - -Frank told me what I saw was of no account by the side of what -sometimes happened. - -'Why, lad,' said he, 'I have known it take two days and all the -magistrates in the borough to gather a company, and then not see it -done. Nay, it is not an unheard-of thing for this scandal to be the -utter overthrow of a voyage, and general undoing of owners, -victuallers, and company. Mine are all picked lads, or you should -not have seen us come off so easily.' - -'I marvel,' said I, and I still do, 'that some among our great -lord-admirals have not taken order to end these things, which seem a -great scandal to the reputation of our sea-service no less than an -injury to the commonwealth, and ought to be reformed.' - -'That is well enough,' answered Frank, 'and much to be wished; but to -keep a mariner at such times from his ale is a thing more lightly -attempted than easily accomplished.' - -Mr. Oxenham was little help to us. Indeed he had so many pouting -lips to kiss in this his own fair town of Plymouth, and so many -dainty waists to encircle, that I began to think nothing but a -warrant or a file of pikes would ever get him aboard. - -Still it was done at last, and the sun rose gloriously next morning -upon us with our company complete. It was Whitsunday Eve, and the -whole town seemed to have made holiday to bid us God-speed that sunny -May morning. - -It was a fair sight to see the hills around in their fresh spring -garb crowding down to the harbour, which seemed to spread out its -shining arms to embrace them. The Hoe was thronged with a great mass -of people in their gayest clothes; every point beside was bright with -colour, and a score of small fry were cleaving the clear waters about -us. - -We stood off and on awhile to give them a good sight of us, and bid -the fair town 'Farewell' with our great pieces and our music. I -think Frank was very proud of his ships, and well he might be, for -never can have been a smarter sight in Plymouth harbour than we were -that day as we beat to and fro with our great flags of St. George at -the main-tops, and our silk streamers down to the blue water, and now -and again a white puff from our castles as we answered the ordnance -from the platform saluting us. - -Cheer after cheer went up from the shore folk between each discharge -till we could no longer hear them, and stood out to sea, fairly -started at last on that most memorable adventure. I say memorable, -for surely never was so great a service undertaken with so small a -power. We were, men and boys, all told, but seventy-three souls, -being forty-seven in the admiral and twenty-six in the vice-admiral, -under John Drake, and only one of us all that was not under thirty. - -The wind was very favourable at north-east, and we stood on all that -day and next night. In the morning when I came on deck I found we -were going under easy sail, only a cable's length from our -vice-admiral. A boat was towing alongside of us, and I saw that some -one must have come aboard from the _Swan_. - -I went aft to our captain's cabin to see what it might mean. I -knocked at the door. Frank's cheery voice bade me enter. I opened -and went in. Heaven save me from such a moment again! My heart -stood still, my brain swam, for there beside Frank sat Harry, with -Sergeant Culverin at his back! - -He sprang to his feet as I shut the door behind me, and stood glaring -at me with his hand on his rapier. - -'Sit down, Harry!' cried Frank; 'I will have no brawling here.' - -Harry took no notice, but stood with his breath coming very fast and -hard just as before. - -'Sit down, sir,' thundered our captain; 'wilt mutiny in my own cabin? -Hark ye, sir, on my ship there is no difference between a gentleman -and a cook's boy when it comes to giving orders. Sit down now, and -take your hand from that weapon, or I shall presently take order to -have you in irons.' - -'You are right, Frank, quite right,' said Harry with an effort as he -slowly sat himself down. 'But how can you have done us this -unkindness?' - -'Frank, Frank,' said I, finding voice at last, 'you know not what you -have done.' With that I tottered to the seat on the opposite side of -the table to Harry. I felt undone and crushed. My long grieving and -much brooding on my shame had told on me more than I guessed. And -now to find after my cowardly flight I had fallen into a trap a -hundredfold more dreadful than that I had sought to escape, to find -my new hopes shattered at a blow and this awful trial before me, was -more than I could bear, and in utter broken despair I buried my face -in my arms upon the table to hide my tears. - -'I know well enough what I have done,' said Frank, after he had left -us thus in silence for some moments. 'Do you think that when two -good lads, fast friends, come to me each separately from the side of -one fair lady, haggard and woe-begone, and tell me that they want to -journey they care not whither, so long as it be far from England, do -you think then I know not what it means? Why, man, I have a score -such aboard now. For though many think that the greater the thief -and blasphemer the better the soldier, yet say I for my work give me, -next to him who sails for love of God, the honest lad that sails for -love of a lass. As I judge they are half and half aboard our ships -now. So think you I could not read the old tale, when I saw it writ -so plain? And had it not been so, I should yet have known; for there -comes to me an honest worthy soldier who knew better than I. - -'"Captain Drake," says he, "here is a mighty storm blowing between -two valiant gentlemen, who after long and loving consort have parted -company, so that they cannot come together again without most nice -navigation. I pray you take command," says he. - -'"How do they bear, Sergeant?" says I. - -'"Cry you mercy there, captain," says he; "I am no pilot of -gentlemen's quarrels, yet I can give you certain just observations, -whence peradventure you may take their bearings yourself."' - -Therewith Frank repeated the whole story as he had it from the -Sergeant, till he came to Harry's flight from the inn. Then in a low -earnest voice he told clearly, as though it were passing before his -eyes, what the Sergeant had seen me do outside with Harry's rapier. -I felt so shamed to hear it now that I would have stayed him, but -felt I could not speak. - -'So, gentlemen,' said our captain, when he ended the tale,' I knew it -was a quarrel that might be healed, and knew nothing more sovereign -in such a case than the lusty sea. I have known many so healed, when -they get far away and see what a little thing it is they wrestled -for, beside the prizes a brave lad can win over sea. That is what I -have done, and I know I am right; and if you be true men, I would -have you shake hands before you leave this cabin.' - -The sound of Harry's hard breathing had ceased as Frank got on with -his tale, and since he described the scene in the inn-yard I felt my -brother's eyes had been fixed upon me. Now I heard him rise, and -felt his hand laid upon my shoulder. - -'Poor lad,' said he very gently, 'poor lad! what fearful suffering, -what a terrible war must have been in your good heart! Why did I not -know it and help you to victory? You have won alone. I know it now, -but God forgive me, with what carnage of your soul, which but for my -folly I could have stayed. We have both sinned, and grievously we -have both been punished; let us now lay down the scourge.' - -I looked up, hardly daring to face him. Yet when I saw his look was -filled with pity I took courage. Rising to my feet I took his hands -and pressed them hard, but I could not speak. So putting his arm -through mine, he led me to the door. - -'Come,' said he, 'we will go talk together. While our captain -finishes writing his instructions we will try to instruct each other -how best to show ourselves worthy of her.' - -I think we both went out very humbled. Not only because Frank had so -imperiously bent us to his will and shown us what children we were -beside him, but also because he had compared us to the love-sick boys -of the crew, and our story to their love squabbles. Yet how could we -deny it was different? It was indeed hard to confess how little -different it was, and, as I say, we both went out with our pride, the -mainstay of quarrels, much humbled. - -We had both, I know, tried honestly that our quarrel should end here, -yet was the rent too wide and deep to be mended so easily. His arm -seemed to sit uneasily in mine, and ere we had gone a few paces he -took some excuse of a point coming untied to draw it away. - -Like strangers at last we sat down and tried to talk, but it was very -difficult. I would have given my tongue to have gone on with the -tale where Frank ended, and to have told Harry how I had seen his -dear wife mourning over her child for his loss. Yet half from shame -to confess I had gone back to Ashtead, and half in fear of adding to -his grief by telling him what abiding love he had left, I held my -peace, and we fell to talking in false notes about the voyage, till, -to our great relief, Harry was summoned to Frank's cabin to receive -his orders for Captain John Drake. As soon as I was alone Sergeant -Culverin came up to me with his elaborate salute. - -'I trust you will forgive my freedom, your worship,' said he. - -'Forgive, Sergeant!' I answered. 'I have nothing to forgive; I have -only thanks for the good work you have done.' - -'Nay,' said he, 'I did nothing; no more than that astrolabe with -which Mr. Oxenham yonder is taking our position. I was but a poor -instrument for Captain Drake to shape your courses withal.' - -'Still I must thank you, Sergeant, from my heart.' - -'I pray you, sir, if you love me, say no more. Let us pass to other -things. How does this most uncivil motion sort with your worship's -stomach?' - -'Well enough, Sergeant; does it quarrel with yours?' I asked, for he -looked a little pale. - -'To be plain with you, sir, the sea and I are not so good friends as -we hope to become. Last night was most evil to me in yonder -fly-boat--_Swan_, they call it; yet for liveliness Sparrow would sort -better with its nature. There was, moreover, a mariner of the watch -who would increase my load by singing continually a most woeful, -ancient ballad of pilgrims at sea. Thus it ran, sir:-- - - '"Thus meanwhile the pilgrims lie, - And have their bowlies fast them by, - And cry after hot Malvoisie, - Their health for to restore. - And some would have a salted toast, - For they might eat nor sodden nor roast; - A man might soon pay for their cost - As for one day or twain." - -And more very sickly stuff to like intent, sir, to a very doleful -tune.' - -'I fear, Sergeant,' said I, 'your voyage to the Indies will not be as -pleasant as you could desire.' - -'Indeed, sir,' said he, 'I wish we could fetch thither a-horseback, -being, as I think, the only honourable manner of going for gentlemen. -Still, since it has pleased God to put this shifty, rude, uncourtly -sea betwixt us and the Indies, we must e'en make shift with a ship.' - -'I am sorry for you, Sergeant,' I answered. 'A horse indeed would -have been a conveyance you better understood.' - -'Well, it is not so much that,' said the Sergeant. 'For when I was -sergeant-groom under the Signor John Peter Pugliano, esquire of the -Emperor's stables, the word always went that a man who could manage a -horse could manage anything, save it were a woman, by your worship's -leave. So I think a ship will not come amiss to me, being in -relation to a horse but a wet lifeless thing.' - -'But yet, Sergeant,' said I, 'of a wholly different nature.' - -'I know not that, sir,' said he. 'The ancients were wiser than we in -these matters, saving your worship's learning, and, as I have been -told, placed amongst their ensigns military the horse, as being -sacred to the god Neptune as well as to Mars, and the symbol of -immoderate fury of attack on sea as well as on land. Moreover in -your tilting of one ship against another you have an image or -imitation of the crowning glory of horsemanship.' - -'But we English do not use this method,' I answered, 'and hold it -only fit for Turks and Spaniards, and such like, who, having no skill -in sailing and seamanship, are compelled to use galleys propelled -with oars.' - -'Mass!' said Culverin, 'had I known that I should have sailed even -less willingly than I did. What you say may be right, yet I hold -that to sail with a lance at your bows is the more honourable and -soldierly method. But let that pass. Doubtless by further -contemplation I shall discover further similitudes between the horse -and the ship. Since I hear what you say, sir, I see nothing in which -they are alike save in respect of their prancing--a quality I would -gladly forego in the present case, seeing that I am like to find -little comfort in it.' - -As we spoke Harry came out of the captain's cabin, and Sergeant -Culverin had to leave to accompany his master back to the _Swan_. My -brother, good heart, did his best to bid me farewell as of old, but -what between my shamefacedness to see his careworn look and damped -spirit, and his own too recent sense of the great wrong I had done -him, our leave-taking was cold and formal, for all he tried so hard -to forgive. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -Our wind held so fair and steady at north-east that on the ninth day -we sighted Porto Santo in the Madeiras, and two days later the -Canaries. So persuaded was our captain of a very good passage, and -so earnest to give the Spaniards no inkling of our purpose, that he -would not touch for water, but held on without once dropping anchor -or striking sail till the thirty-fifth day. - -In spite of the terrible shock my sudden meeting with Harry had given -to my spirits, and in spite of my despair at being condemned to face -my shame and sorrow for I knew not how many months, I could not but -feel a calm grow over me as we proceeded. None can tell, save he who -has tried it, what it is to a perturbed spirit to sail on day after -day over those sunny seas with all the magic of the West before. -Less and less I brooded over the old life, and more and more on the -glory of the new, till, as Frank had said, the past seemed to grow -small, and a faint hope arose in me that my crime was not too great -for pardon, seeing that I knew how hard my brother would try to -forgive. - -I employed myself in studying navigation and the Spanish tongue with -Frank, nor were ship duties wanting, for it was ever our captain's -way to have the gentlemen tally on a rope as well as the meanest -mariner when need was. - -He hated nothing so much as idleness, and those who had no work had -always to find play, which he himself was not slow in furnishing. - -'I know nothing,' he used to say, 'that breeds discontent and faint -hearts like the union of these two, dullness and idleness.' - -So with games, and music, and rummaging and cleaning arms, our -spirits were kept up when they were like to sink for want of work. -Frank was very earnest about this on our present voyage, for as we -neared the Indies the hands, being young, began to frighten -themselves with tales of the great strength and richness of the -Indian cities, until, had it not been for Frank's care in stopping -and preventing such idle talk with other inducements, they would have -come to think Nombre de Dios as big as London and as strong as -Berwick. - -Nor were we allowed to lose sight of the godly purpose of our -enterprise. Prayers were ordered every day night and morning, which -our captain read very earnestly, never forgetting a prayer to God for -the Queen's Majesty, her most honourable council, and the speedy -'making' of our voyage, the same having a very good effect, for the -half at least of the crew were as good Puritans as himself. - -Thus it was in a very hopeful and godly state that, on the evening of -the thirty-fifth day we saw the Isle of Guadeloupe towering on the -horizon like a priceless jewel in the setting sun. With all our -music and many a gay flourish of our trumpets we saluted it, and that -night as we lay a-hull our musicians gave us a double portion of -melody. - -With the first morning light we ran in and anchored off a little -rocky island three leagues off Dominica, where we lay three days to -refresh our men. And here we landed and wandered at will, to taste -for the first time the surpassing loveliness of the tropics. - -How shall I tell of those first days in the Indies? My pen seems a -dumb dead thing when I think of it. Much as I had thought, and -dreamed, and read of them, this waking, this seeing was far beyond -all. On either hand the heights of Guadeloupe and Dominica towered -serenely out of their soft beds of lustrous green. The glittering -waters between were studded with island gems ablaze with every bright -hue which God has made, that we may taste the glory which is to come. -All about us was the hum of bright flies, the sparkle of feather and -gorgeous flowers, and the rustle of the scented air through the -crowded canes as it passed on to wave with dreamy motion the heavy -crowns of the slender palms. And over all, with faint and soothing -voice, there came in through the dense growth of vine and brake the -deep-toned booming of the surf. - -Such is the pale shadow that I have power to paint of the banquet on -which our souls feasted as we lay in the deserted huts which the -Indians, who came there to fish, had built. So rich and heavenly was -that world that I could not wonder how men were led on to think that -a little farther, only a little farther, must be a land where gold -and gems would be as the sand and pebbles here, nay, where beyond -some glittering hill they would see the open gates of Paradise. - -Not only by the memory of all that beauty does the time live in my -mind, but also because it was here I first had real speech with my -wronged brother. As we lay in those Dryad's bowers our sorrow seemed -so far away and little in this New World, so dim beside its dazzling -glory, that it was for a time half forgotten amidst the thousand new -things that crowded our thoughts. Like two Sileni we lay, as Mr. -Oxenham had said, in the arms of lady Nature, and all that was sad -melted in the glow of her luxuriant life. - -We had no spirit for the revels of our comrades, for chasing the -bright-hued birds, or plucking the gleaming flowers. We were both -happier to lie looking over the sea where our dainty ships rocked, -and dreamily talk over Harry's Italianate notions that rose unbidden -here. Being to me now of undreamed-of interest, since my old faith -was gone, they were a subject we could talk on more as we used to do. - -'Surely,' I remember him saying, 'surely that Italian friar was right -who told me that the soul was not in the body. Can you not feel -here, Jasper, how great a thing it is? Can you not feel how there is -something that binds you like a brother to all this music of bird and -leaf and air and sea? What can it be but the great soul of the -universe. That is it, and the friar was right. It is that great -soul which is not in our bodies, rather are our bodies in the -soul--the soul that is yours and mine and hers and God's.' - -So would our speech always come back to our sorrow and part us again. -Yet were we too drunken with the western wine to feel the past too -deeply. Thus, then, once or twice during our stay there we had -speech of these things, and I began to hope still more that some day -we might be the same again together, and, moreover, to feel that I -was beginning to understand what it was he thought of the great -universal secret. - -On the third day after our coming to the island we sailed again, -greatly refreshed, and in two days more we had sight of Tierra-Firme, -being the high land above Santa Marta, but came not near the shore, -that we might not be seen. So without sight of Carthagena we passed -on, till on the 12th of July we dropped anchor off the haven whither -we were bound. - -It was a spot our captain had noted on his voyage the last year, not -only as being sheltered by two high points from the winds and a very -commodious harbour, but also because no Spaniard had any dwelling -between this place and Santiago de Tolu on the one hand and Nombre de -Dios on the other, the nearest being at least thirty-five leagues -distant. Moreover, there was an abundance of food there, both fish -in the sea and fowls in the woods around, the most plentiful being -certain birds like to our pheasants, which the Spaniards in those -regions call guans and curassows. It was by reason of the great -store of these delicate fowls that our captain named the place Port -Pheasant. - -[Illustration: Overhung with a dense growth of trees.--p. 239] - -It must be remembered we had our three pinnaces to set up, for in -them we were to make our attack. It was most necessary then to have -a hidden place for this work, and it was not a little his knowledge -of this secret haven that gave our captain his great hopes of -success. He judged no one knew it but himself and those who had been -with him in his previous voyage. Being thus perfectly secure, Frank -rowed in to see how best to bring the ships to moorings there, and I -went in the boat. - -No place could have been better fitted to our purpose. The headlands -were but half a cable's length apart, and so overhung with a dense -growth of brakes and trees, all strange to me, that little could be -seen beyond save the climbing hills on the mainland. But as soon as -we rowed in I could see what a paradise it was. - -Before us opened a rounded haven, from eight to ten cables' length -every way. The waves died languidly away towards the shore in -ever-lessening ripples, as though hushed by the surpassing beauty of -the place. Where, with loving whispers, they lapped the golden -beach, they reflected a picture more dazzling than my eyes had ever -seen. Heaped up in wild profusion was a tangled mass of every hue of -green that clothed to the water's edge the gently swelling hills. -Wherever the rocks could find a place to peep, their own rich colour -was almost hidden by hanging bunches of scarlet flowers. Huge rough -tree-trunks I could get a glimpse of here and there, with great -sinews of rugged bark that stood boldly out from them, and were lost -in the glowing brakes which covered the ground. In the branches -fluttered birds that mocked the radiance of the flowers, while on -every point the crested and bronze-hued pheasants plumed themselves, -and screamed defiance one against the other. Lost to all else but -this fairyland I was hardly plunged, as it were, into some delicious -dream, when I was rudely awakened. - -''Vast rowing, lads,' said Frank suddenly, in quick, hushed tones. -'Look! What's yonder?' - -His keen eye was the first to see it. I looked where he pointed, and -in a moment my paradise was tumbled to earth. Away in the trees rose -a thin blue cloud of smoke. There was no mistaking it; the hand of -man must be there. 'Whose was it?' was what we each asked ourselves -with melancholy foreboding. - -Our captain, though as disappointed as any of us to see a cuckoo in -his nest, seemed nothing daunted. Rowing back quickly to the ships, -he ordered out our other boat, and manning both to their full -holding, not forgetting muskets, bows, and pikes, returned speedily -to land. - -No sooner were we ashore than we could see many traces of men having -been there very lately. There were black spots where fires had been, -and marks of fresh clearing in the brakes. Setting ourselves in -order, we cautiously went forward along a track that seemed to lead -to the fire, Frank leading the way in spite of all our efforts to -dissuade him. - -We had not gone far before we came to a tree in the midst of the -track, so great that four men at full stretch could not have girdled -it about. I saw Frank stop suddenly and look up on the trunk. - -'Ah, Jack Garrett, Jack Garrett,' said he, 'what game is this you -have been coursing with my hounds?' - -I followed his eyes and saw a leaden plate nailed to the tree, on -which were graven these words: - - -CAPTAIN DRAKE. - -If you fortune to come to this port, make hast away! For the -Spaniards which you had with you here the last year have bewrayed -this place, and taken away all that you left here. - -I depart from hence, this present 7th of July 1572. - - Your very loving friend, - JOHN GARRETT. - - -'My thanks, Jack Garrett, for your kindly warning,' cried Frank. 'A -true Plymouth man are you, though you did whistle away some of my -best hounds. See what comes,' he continued, turning to me, 'of -sparing these false Spaniards' lives. It is enough to make a man cut -the throat of every prisoner he takes--a thing, by God's help, I will -never do, whatever it cost me. May they have their reward for their -treachery, though, by God's mercy, we are too well furnished to be -hurt by the loss of any gear they stole.' - -'Where will you go now, then?' I asked. - -'No whither, my lad,' said he. 'Here I purposed to set up my -pinnaces, and here I will do it. The Spaniards are not here now, and -if they keep away but two days, I shall order things so that, by -God's help, they shall rue their coming, if that is their mind.' - -He was very cheerful and resolute with it all, and made us so too, -yet I know he was sorely tried, by his frequent speaking of God's -name, which was always his way at times when he felt need of all his -courage, as indeed he did now; for though we found the place -deserted, the fire we had seen being but the remains of Garrett's -work, left perhaps as a signal to us to be on our guard, yet there -was no telling when the Spaniards would be down on us. - -No time, therefore, was lost in carrying out our captain's resolve. -Harry having, as I have said, a good knowledge of such matters, -speedily marked out a piece of land about three-quarters of an acre -in extent, of pentagonal form, with one side touching the shore. The -whole crew then started cheerily to clear this, hauling the trees as -they were felled with pulleys and hawsers, in such wise as to make a -rampart all round, a look-out boat being despatched meanwhile to one -of the points to watch for any disturbance. - -All that day we laboured at our fort, and most of the night too; yet -next morning much still remained to be done when we saw our look-out -boat rowing hard towards us. - -'Sail ho!' shouted the steersman, as soon as he was in hail. 'Three -sail bearing hard down on us.' - -'Blister the fool's tongue!' said Frank beneath his breath, as he -stood at my side and saw something like alarm in the younger -mariners' faces, but he sang out cheerily, 'Good news, good news, my -lads. Now we will trap them here, and never a breath of our coming -shall reach Nombre de Dios.' - -The man reported the three sail, as well as he could tell; a bark -about the _Swan's_ size, a caravel, and a smaller craft. All set to -work cheerily to carry out Frank's order; for we were in excellent -heart again, to see that our captain thought only of offence. - -Some pieces of ordnance were removed from the ships, to be set by -Harry and Mr. Oxenham in the best positions they could find for the -defence of our fort. The ships were then warped over to the entrance -of the haven, where they were moored on either hand close under the -rocks, so that they could not be seen by a ship till she was well -within. Each had a holdfast to the opposite point, that they might -be warped across the mouth as soon as the enemy had passed in. All -fires were extinguished, and the small-shot, gunners, and bowmen who -were ashore at the fort were well concealed. - -So we lay waiting in great anxiety for what was to come. Mr. Oxenham -and Harry, by pouring out a fire of jests and comfortable speeches, -kept up the youngsters' spirits as well as might be, though I think -by their looks there was many a heart thumping hard, when we saw -through the bushes a large Spanish shallop rowing in towards our -haven. - -As the shallop came on a bark of some fifty tons and a caravel of -Seville build, as Mr. Oxenham told us, hove to right opposite our -entrance. The shallop came as far as between the points, and then, -after stopping as though to discover the place thoroughly, rowed back -to the ships. - -It was impossible to tell whether they had seen us or not; so, seeing -what our aim was, we could but rejoice when we saw them all make sail -and stand in. On they came, a pretty sight to see, swaggering in -most gallantly. - -At last they were well inside, in full view of our ships, which yet -did not move an inch. - -'Something must be wrong,' whispered Mr. Oxenham to me. 'Why the -devil does he not warp across, or at least give them a shot?' - -Suddenly there was a loud flourish of trumpets on board the admiral -and the flag of St. George was run up, but still she did not stir. - -'Her holdfasts must have dragged,' said Mr. Oxenham; 'I fear we are -undone.' - -A puff of smoke leaped forth from the strange bark, and we looked to -see the admiral struck. The boom of the shot rolled across the still -waters, waking strange echoes in that land-locked bay, and setting -the guans a-screaming their ear-piercing cry. Ere the sounds died -away a trumpet brayed answer to our admiral, and we saw the red cross -flutter out from the stranger's top. - -At first we thought it must be some treacherous Spanish stratagem, -but all our fears were at rest when, as our ships answered the -stranger's salute, we saw a boat put out from the bark and go abroad -the admiral. - -Our fears and pains were all wasted; for she proved to be a bark from -the Isle of Wight, belonging to Sir Edward Horsey, the Governor, -'Wild Ned Horsey,' so well known to us, not only for the mad stories -of his ruffling youth and his piracies in the narrow seas during the -old days, but also for the excellent disposition he made for the -defence of the island, and above all for his notable services when he -rode at the head of Clinton's horse during the late rising in the -North. - -He was a great gentleman now and high in the Queen's service, yet he -could not wholly give up his old ways, and had fitted out this -present ship, under Captain Ranse, to try what Popish prizes he could -pick up on the high seas or amongst the Indies. He had 'made' his -voyage so far as to take a shallop off Cape Blanco, and, what was -better, a caravel carrying _Advisos_ to Nombre de Dios. - -He was thus able, when he heard our purpose, to confirm us from the -papers he had seized that as yet the Spaniards had no knowledge of -our coming. So very welcome and favourable for our purpose did this -seem that Captain Ranse was desirous to consort with us in our -venture. - -Nothing could have been more to the minds of most of us than this, -seeing he had thirty good and well-armed men with him, but Frank was -little pleased with it, and would gladly have gone forward alone, -save that he thought it better to put a good face on a bad matter and -consent, seeing how Captain Ranse, if he were evilly disposed, might -bring all our voyage to naught. - -So they were received upon conditions which I, being a scholar, was -appointed to draw, whereof having a copy I will set it forth, that -men in like case hereafter may see how the Prince of Navigators -ordered these things, since unhappy quarrels have many times arisen -between captains who have sailed in consort, by reason of their not -doing things orderly at the outset, after the ancient usages of the -sea. - -As I sat in our council chamber, which had for its walls the rugged -buttresses of one of those huge trees of which I have spoken, and for -roof the vast spread of its branches, alive with screaming parrots, I -could not but muse on dull-eyed lawyers far away in their dingy -Temple; nor, as I wrote the dry note which contrasted so strangely -with the splendour of our audacious project, could I but marvel over -the might of our great Queen's peace, which in such humble shape -could reach even here to aid her loving subjects in ordering the -chivalrous brotherhood by which we hoped to add such glory to her -name. And thus I wrote the words as Frank spoke them, plain and -clear, that none might have to hunt for sense in a forest of sounds. - -'I, Francis Drake, general of the fleet appointed for these seas, to -wit, the _Pasha_, of seventy tons and forty-seven men, and the -_Swan_, of twenty-five tons and twenty-six men, together with three -pinnaces unmanned, have consorted, covenanted, and agreed, and by -these presents do consort, covenant, and agree, with James Ranse, of -the _Lion_, fifty tons and thirty men, belonging to and being under -the flag of the Honourable Sir Edward Horsey, Knight, together with a -certain caravel to be hereafter measured, and a shallop, her prizes -and consorts, to have, possess, enjoy, and be partaker with me and my -fleet, and I with them, of all such lawful prize or prizes as shall -be taken by me or them, or any of us jointly or severally, in sight -or out of sight, ton for ton, and man for man, from this present 13th -day of July 1572, till such time as we mutually determine the -conditions contained herein.' - -So it was signed, sealed, and delivered, and all being settled we -laboured together harmoniously--the carpenters at setting up the -pinnaces, and the rest by spells at completing the fort, exercising -in our weapons, the gathering of victuals, and many pastimes which -our captain devised. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -Just sixteen days after my ink was dry the great bell in the church -of Nombre de Dios was calling men to complines as the sun went down. -So it might have boomed over the waving forest and darkening sea any -time the last fifty years or more. Yet I doubt if the people would -have doffed their broad hats, or crossed themselves so peacefully -to-night, had they known in what other ears it sounded besides their -own. - -I doubt their prayers would have been more fervent that night had -they been aware how the stars, that just began to glimmer, were -looking down on four boats crowded with men, that were striking -a-hull and dropping their grapples hard by the mouth of the Rio -Francisco, scarce two leagues from the point of their bay. - -Yet there we lay in our three pinnaces and the shallop, seventy-three -desperate souls, on the eve of our great attempt. - -The ships and the rest of the men had been left behind, under Captain -Ranse, at the Isle of Pinos, twenty-five leagues away, and we had -come on, each man with the comrades he chose, as far as could be. I -was with Frank, Harry with Mr. Oxenham, the other pinnace being in -charge of John Drake, and the shallop under John Overy, the master of -the _Lion_. Everything had been done to encourage the more -faint-hearted, and we were most excellently furnished with muskets, -calivers, pikes, fire-pikes, targets, bows, and everything such an -enterprise could need, apportioned to each man according to his skill -and disposition. - -Yet many a heart must have beat anxiously as we lay waiting for the -dark night, and would have done so still more had the mariners been -aware of all that their commanders knew. For at the Isles of Pinos -we had captured two small frigates from Nombre de Dios, wherein -certain negroes were lading planks. From these men, being very -kindly used, we heard that their countrymen, the Cimaroons, had -fallen upon the town and nearly surprised it but six weeks ago. - -These Cimaroons were African negroes who, having risen against their -masters some eighty years ago, had fled into the woods, and now were -become two nations, that lived in the country on either side of the -way from Panama to Nombre de Dios, each under its separate king. For -defence against these people our prisoners told us soldiers were -expected from Panama and elsewhere, if they were not already come. - -Nothing could have been worse for us; for now we knew that the town -would be on the alert, and perhaps full of soldiers. Yet, wishing to -make the best of a bad case, our captain freed these slaves and set -them ashore, that they might seek their countrymen and bear them a -good report of us, in case it might fall out that at a future time -the help of the Spaniards' enemies might be welcome to us. - -We who knew these things kept them to ourselves, very thankful for -our increased force. Frank, I know, saw how ill this fortune was for -us, yet he was more cheerful and resolute than I had ever seen him -when he called the boats about him, that he might say his last words -to the crews. - -'Come close,' said he, 'that I have not to speak too loud, and so be -heard by any negroes in the woods, whereby those in the town might -have notice of our coming, which I should much grieve at. For I am -loath to put them to all the charge which I know they would willingly -bestow for our entertainment, seeing that we come uninvited.' - -Putting them thus in cheerful heart, he went on to tell them of the -vast wealth of the place, which was all open to them, seeing it was -unwalled and little defended. Then he spoke again of all his wrongs, -both at Rio de la Hacha and San Juan de Ulloa, and of the bitter -cruelties of the Spaniards to English mariners whom they caught in -Spain; and told them how he was now in certain hope of God's favour -to win a recompense for all these things, since it had been -vouchsafed to him to get so near his end utterly undiscovered and -with so excellent a crew of men like-minded to himself. - -This cheerful speech much comforted us all, and I saw Harry and the -Sergeant lie back and go to sleep, being old hands at the work. But -I could not close my eyes any more than the greater part of the men, -who soon fell to talking of how strong such a place must be, till -Frank, seeing how things were going, called on Mr. Oxenham, who was -in the next boat to us, to tell the story of the founding of Nombre -de Dios, to keep the men from thinking too much. - -'Well, my lads,' said he, sitting up on a barrel, 'it was the early -days of the Indies then, when Don Nicuese was named at Carthagena -governor, grand-admiral, captain-general, and I know not what -_braggadocio_ titles beside, of his new province of Veragua. With -750 men and a fine fleet he set sail, bragging, I doubt not, to his -Maestro del Campo, or whatever he was, Lope de Olano, of all that was -to come of it; yet ere he was half-way they say his whole force were -like to mutiny, because of his cruelty and harshness. To punish his -wickedness and tyranny, a _furicano_ burst on him in the midst of his -journey. The proud fleet was scattered past recall, and the haughty -governor cast away. What miseries of hunger and cold and weariness -he suffered none know, but at last he was found by Lope de Olano -half-starved, having no food but palm-tree buds and such like -wretched stuff, instead of all the dainties he had brought to fill -his belly. The only thing that was hot changed in him was his -cruelty and harshness, for never in all their sufferings would he -bend a jot to his men. - -'All that was thus left of his navy came at last to a port which -Columbus had once discovered. A mariner who had sailed with the "Old -Admiral" said it was a fair place for a settlement, and conducted him -thither, getting curt thanks for his pains, you may be sure. The old -mariner was right; but he had forgotten the Indians, who so overdid -their welcome that Nicuese made haste to depart thence, leaving -twenty of his men behind. - -'Baffled and sullen, he sailed on to the next port, where he -profanely cried, "In the name of God, let us stay here!" and hence -yonder town, that is to be ours to-morrow, was called "Nombre de -Dios." Then, having but a hundred men left out of his seven hundred -and fifty, he laid the foundation of his city; and here, for a while, -living miserably, without fit food or clothing, in wooden huts, he -resisted the constant assaults of the Indians, till thirty more of -his men were lost. - -'They dared not stir beyond their camp for food, fever was slowly -eating out their hearts, and they were at the mercy of God, when one -Calmenaras, putting in to the bay, found them. They were then of all -men, it is said, the most miserable, being, as it were, dried up with -extreme hunger, filthy beyond all speaking, and horrible to behold. - -'Yet through all Nicuese clung to his cruelty and harshness and the -King of Spain's commission. Calmenaras took pity on him, and carried -him to the new settlement at Darien, which as yet had no governor, -that he might be set over the people there. But when they came -thither the settlers remembered his tyranny and wickedness, and saw -by his demeanour that, though all else was dried up in him, yet the -devil was not. So they, being resolved to be rid of him, took an old -rotten brigantine, which they caulked with iron, and set their -would-be governor therein, with his seventy men, starved and -fever-bitten. - -'In this, as their only hope of life, and being too sore sick to -resist, they sailed; and the sea alone, that tells no tales, knows -what their end was. Never more was a man of them heard or seen, and -Nicuese was called ever after _Desdichado_.' - -'_Desdichado!_' cried Frank, as Mr. Oxenham ended his tale; 'and a -right name, too; for surely the Lord made him luckless and suffered -no angel to prosper him in his ways, because of his wickedness and -cruelty, and turned away His face from yonder town which he founded, -because He knew the wickedness that would be done there, and the -sinews of wickedness that would come thence. Yes, lads, the Lord has -deserted Nombre de Dios, and to-morrow, of His justice and mercy, -will deliver it into the hands of His people.' - -Then one struck up that new Protestant ballad they loved so well: - - 'We will not change our credo - For Pope, nor book, nor bell; - And if the devil come himself, - We'll hound him back to hell.' - - -By this time it was dark night, and we gladly took to our oars again, -rowing hard under the shore, that we might not be seen of the -watch-house. So we continued till we recovered the point of the -harbour, and there we lay to again, to wait for the first gray of -dawn, when our captain purposed to deliver his assault. - -It was still full two hours to wait, and I could see how anxious -Frank was as to how his men would get through them. For if it had -been hard to keep them from their talk before, it was doubly so now, -when no one might speak above his breath. Wearily an hour dragged -away, and the men were growing more and more uneasy, shifting about -and whispering a great deal as they watched nervously for the first -glimmer in the east. - -'Would God it were day!' whispered Frank to me. 'How shall we ever -pass another hour of this? The poor lads' courage is oozing out at -their finger-ends with all this lingering.' - -'See, see!' said I; for even as he spoke a faint gray streak appeared -on the horizon. 'There it is at last!' - -'Never a bit, lad,' answered Frank; 'it is only the moon rising. -Still, it shall serve for dawn to-day. No one has seen the -sand-glass but I.' - -There was a merry twinkle in his eye as he passed the word. 'Dawn, -dawn,' he said, in low tones. 'Out oars, lads; yarely now, and still -as mice, and God help our service.' - -How pleasant was the dull rattle of oars after our painful silence as -we rowed round the point! All was gloom as we bore towards the town, -save for a few lights that twinkled here and there, and one that -moved slowly across the bay. As we came abreast of this we could see -in the growing moonlight that it was on board of a ship of some sixty -tons, which had just arrived. Her crew seemed soon to catch sight of -us and to take alarm at our numbers; for we saw them cast off their -gondola, which shot away immediately hard for the shore, like the -ghost of some evil monster. - -'Not so fast, not so fast, my gallants!' cried Frank. 'Be not at -such pains on our behalf. Come, my lads, we must save them this -trouble, and carry the news ourselves. Now, smite for all that is in -you!' - -The pinnace leaped under their sturdy strokes, and we headed to cut -off the gliding shadow from the shore. It was a sharp struggle, for -the Dons rowed well and their boat was light. Still, our sinews soon -told. Seeing they were beaten, they stopped irresolute, and then, -with some blaspheming cry, made over to the opposite side of the bay. - -'What, so rude?' laughed Frank. 'Will you not stay to fling us one -little word of thanks for the labour we save you? Well, better -manners to you, and a fair good-morrow. And now, lads, hard for the -town!' - -We could soon see it in the gloomy light, sunk snug amongst the soft, -forest-clad hills. I had hardly looked to see it so big; for, by the -few scattered lights that twinkled far apart, I judged it was at -least as large as Plymouth. As we drew near, a sandy beach showed -dimly before us, sloping down from the nearest houses, which were -scarce twenty yards from the water. There was no quay, nor any thing -but a half-ruined platform, on which stood six great pieces gaping at -us. Not a sign of life was to be seen, so without more ado we ran -our pinnaces aground and leaped out into the water undiscovered. - -'Down with the culverins, my lads,' cried Frank, as quietly as might -be. With that a rush was made at the platform, but even as we -reached it up jumped a gunner, who must have been sleeping against -one of the pieces, and ran off screaming into the town before we -could stay him. - -We could hear his cries die away amongst the houses, and then for a -few minutes all was again as silent as death. Still, we knew all -secrecy was over now, and we went to our work with a will. Culverin -and demi-culverin were tumbled off their carriages and rolled into -the sand, and then to our captain's sharp orders we set about our -other dispositions. - -There was a good deal to be done, getting the arms from the pinnaces, -lighting our fire-pikes and matches, and getting into our companies. -All had been well ordered beforehand, yet, quick as we were, before -we had done we heard the troubled waking of the town. - -First came a low confused sound, rather felt than heard, and then -scattered cries, with the brave blare of a trumpet. As the cries -spread in the murmur, now on this side, now on that, a light flashed -in the church tower, and the great bell began booming out a hurried -alarm. Now it seemed that drums furiously beaten were running up and -down. Farther and wider spread the cries, and louder rose the -murmur. A scream of some terrified woman went shrilly up, then -another, and another, and the murmur began to increase to the dull, -mingled roar of a multitude suddenly alarmed. Far and near the -clamour waxed. Shriek on shriek, and cry on cry followed incessant, -till at last the whole town was filled with that strange and terrible -sound which is like nothing else on earth; and above all boomed the -bell. - -We were ready at last; so, leaving twelve to keep the pinnaces, we -hastened, as had been arranged, to the mount on the east side of the -town, which our captain had learned the year before it was their -intention to strengthen with sundry pieces of ordnance. This it was -necessary to our purpose that we should first hold with a party of -our men, so, leaving half our company, of whom I was one, to guard -the foot, Frank hastened up the hill with the rest. - -He seemed a long time gone, as we stood inactive, listening to that -terrible tumult, of which we could see nothing, growing ever louder -and ever wider amidst the crowded houses, and the great bell booming -continually over all. Not a sound came from the mount above us, and -we could tell nothing of what was happening to our comrades. - -At last we heard the clink of weapons coming down, and our captain -ran to us with all his men bearing the joyful news that no ordnance -had yet been mounted there, though all was prepared for it. - -'This is a most merciful dealing of God,' said Frank, 'for now, look -you, we shall have all our men for the Plaza. Plague on them, how -they squall! We will give them somewhat to squall over anon. Jack, -take you Mr. Oxenham and fifteen of his company round by the King's -Treasure-House, by the way you know, and enter the Plaza by the -eastern end. I will go up with the main battle by the broad street. -Give them plenty of music of drum and trumpet, and I will do the -like, that they may see they are attacked from two sides, and -increase our numbers for us with their fears.' - -Away went John Drake and Mr. Oxenham with their fifteen men, a drum, -trumpet, and five of the blazing fire-pikes. We saw them disappear, -yelling horribly, with much grizzly noise of their instruments, to -the no little discomfort, I doubt, of those who still slept. - -In like manner we took our course by the lurid glare of our -fire-pikes, with an equal or greater din of trumpet, drum, and arms, -being forty-four men in all. The Plaza lay towards the upper part of -the town, so that on coming to the top of the street, which, being -very sandy, made us short of breath with our running, our captain -called a halt. - -Creeping on under shelter of the houses, I got a sight within the -square. In the midst was a goodly tree, and near to it a -market-cross. Farther again to the right was the church, from which -the great bell boomed continually. From the cross to the church I -could see the glimmer of a long row of matches, by whose movement I -judged there was a company of harquebusiers gathered there waiting -for us, but I could see nothing of them because of the gloom that -filled the place. - -In the farther corner to the left, where, they told me, the road to -Panama left the square, rose a house much larger than the rest. Here -by the light of sundry lanterns I could see a great throng collected, -with several companies of soldiers. I should think there were a -hundred matches or more burning there; wherefore, having made a -complete discovery of the Plaza, I crept back to inform our captain. - -'Hark ye, my lads,' cried Frank, when he had heard my report. 'At -the word we will advance into the square. Mr. Overy's crew with the -gentlemen to the right, the rest with me to the left. Stand but for -one volley, and then close! Forward now, in God's name!' - -A roar of small shot greeted us as we sallied into the square, and -the bullets tore up the sand amidst our feet. I saw our trumpeter -fall forward in the midst of a merry blast, and heard Frank utter a -sharp cry. But there was no time to see what was happening. Already -our arrows and bullets were making the Spaniards sing in the -left-hand corner of the square. I discharged my pistol with the rest -and then sprang forward by Harry's side, rapier and dagger in hand. - -Straight at the line of matches we dashed. Every moment I looked to -see them belch their fire and hear a storm of hail about my ears. -Ten more strides and we should be amongst them. - -'Plague on the fools!' cried Harry, who was leading. - -'What mountebank dispositions are these?' cried the Sergeant at his -side. - -Not a man was there. It was but a string of matches hung from the -church to the cross to terrify us, as if we had been Cimaroons. - -'Back, back,' cried Harry, 'back to aid the general.' - -With an angry roar at being so befooled we ran back under the broad -branches of the tree in the middle of the Plaza, and so leaped out to -help our comrades. Even as we did so I heard a volley at the end of -the square before me and saw John Drake and Mr. Oxenham, with all -their party, rush out into the Plaza and with a loud cry hurl -themselves at the throng. - -Now we were all at hard push of pike crowding the amazed throng into -the corner of the square. Yet we had work to do, for the Spanish -soldiers held their ground well, in spite of the press. For a time -the thing seemed to hang in a balance. I remember little but a wild -turmoil, wherein I was at point and cut half mad with excitement, and -all around were the butt ends of muskets whirling, and pikes and -bills clattering, as they were thrust and parried. - -My ears were full of the din of the fight, the shouts and clang of -weapons, and the screams of women flying out on the Panama road; and -still, above all, the great bell boomed unceasing. - -Now they were giving way. Our twelve fire-pikes, being well armed -with long steel heads, were doing their work above all the rest. -None dared stand before the flaming weapons. Step by step they gave -us ground, till suddenly the press broke up, and, flinging down their -arms, they fell to running out of the Panama gate as hard as they -could skelter. - -Away we went after them, driving them before us like a flock of -sheep. Continually they cast away their weapons, which at last lay -so thick that many of our men were hurt by them, not being able to -avoid them in the darkness. So we left them to scamper out by their -grand new gate, which they had set up to prevent the Cimaroons -entering, little thinking the first use they should find for it would -be to run out of to save their skins. - -Being thus in possession of the Plaza our captain made haste to set -guards at the entrance of it, and sent a party to stay the bell, -which still boomed on through it all; for we knew not how many -soldiers might still be in the remoter parts of the town, to muster -at its noisy summons. Then he called on a prisoner whom we had taken -to lead a party of us to the governor's house. - -'What do you think of our venture now?' said Frank to me, his face -beaming with triumph. 'Now you shall see where all the mules from -Panama are unladen, and what they bring.' - -'That is well enough,' answered I; 'but will you not first look to -your hurt?' - -'Hush, lad,' said he; 'it is nothing--a fly-bite.' - -'Nay, but your boot is bloody where the shot tore it,' I said. - -'I tell you it is nothing,' answered he testily. 'Hold your peace or -we are undone.' - -I said no more, marvelling at the constancy of this man, who seemed -to think nothing of a hurt, which, as far as I could see, was enough -to have laid any other man on his back long ago. - -By this time we were conducted to a great archway in the tall house -of which I have spoken, beneath which was tied a splendid jennet, -ready saddled, as though for the governor's use. On one side were -steps leading upwards, where candles burned and shed a bright light -into a large cellar on the opposite side. I could see it was a -chamber of great length, partly by aid of the candles and partly by -the moonlight that glimmered in. Along the whole length of one side -from floor to ceiling was a pale cold glimmer, which looked very -strange to me. Several of our men were staring at it with wide eyes -and mouths. - -'What is it?' said I. - -'What is it,' replied Frank; 'why, silver!' - -I could hardly believe it, yet so it was, a pile of silver bars, as I -should judge, ten feet in breadth, twelve in height, and seventy in -length. I was altogether amazed to see my dreams of the Indies more -than realised, and hardly knew if I were waking or not, till I heard -Frank, who had been questioning our prisoner at length, cry out to us: - -'Not a bar will I have touched,' said he. 'I brought you not here -for that rubbish. In the King's Treasure-House there is better -stuff--gold, lads, gold and pearls enough to fill all our pinnaces -and more. So thither must we go, and not a bar of this shall be -touched.' - -I think there were many who would have been well satisfied with the -silver, and hardly came to obey Frank's orders, but he was so -resolute in them that there was nothing for it but to do as he said -and return to our strength, which was posted about the great tree -under command of John Drake. - -As we neared them one came running out to say they could not break -into the church or stop the ringing unless they fired the building, -which they craved leave to do. - -'Nay, that you shall not,' said Frank; 'by yea and nay have I sworn -never to injure church or woman, whatever come. Let him ring till he -bring a thousand devils about us, I care not; but fire the house of -God I will not, howsoever it be defiled with idolatry and -superstition.' - -So the bell boomed on as loud as ever, being very distressful to hear -so long, and giving me at least a strange feeling of evil at hand, -which I would gladly have shaken off. - -When we came to our strength many of the men, who seemed to have been -scattered about the Plaza, came running up to the tree. Amongst -these I marked Sergeant Culverin, and saw he had a gay silken sash -about him, though I took little note of it then, being more concerned -with another matter. - -For we found most of the men in some alarm, for which I could not -blame them, having that ominous sound of the bell in their ears -continually. Moreover large masses of inky clouds were rolling up -over the town, as though that booming were a witchcraft which was -summoning some hellish means to overwhelm us. No wonder then, I say, -that some of us had a sense of coming danger. - -It seems the first fear that beset them was for the pinnaces, since -they had heard shots down by the shore; and next for themselves, lest -they should be overwhelmed with soldiers and unable to escape, since -they had heard news from a negro that 150 small-shot and pike-men -were already come to the town from Panama. Therefore, to allay these -fears, our captain sent down his brother and Mr. Oxenham to the -pinnaces with their party to search into the matter, and then join us -at the King's Treasure-House. - -'Thither we go now, lads,' cried Frank. 'They say it is strong, but -I think there be those here who shall find a way in, since we know -what its lining is.' - -By this time all the stragglers, not a few of whom came from the -governor's house, were gathered in, and, much encouraged by our -captain's cheerfulness, we all went off to the King's Treasure-House. -But just as we neared the place the pall of louring turgid cloud that -overhung us was rent asunder. A dazzling flash of lightning lit up -the deserted town, and instantly an awful crash of thunder drowned -the noise of the bell. A few great drops fell heavily on the thirsty -sand, and then in a moment there fell on us such a deluge of rain as -none can picture who have not been in the tropical regions. - -There was nothing but to run helter-skelter to cover, for the saving -of our powder and bow-strings. The nearest shelter was a certain -piazza or pent-house at the west end of the Treasure-House; and to -this we hurried, to find, for our no small comfort, that Captain John -Drake was already there with his party, whereby we knew the pinnaces -were safe. - -The flare and crash of the storm was now almost unceasing, so that we -could only hear now and again the hissing roar of the rain. Seeing -that we had already suffered injury from the wet, and would have been -undone entirely had we left our cover, we were forced to wait where -we were till the storm abated. It was a great mishap that it fell -so, for at our present post it was by no means possible to get into -the Treasure-House, since on that side there was a wall of stone and -lime, very strong and without openings, over which we might have -broken our hearts entirely or ever we could have broken half-way in. - -Thus we were forced to be idle, and stand listening to the awful -voices of the storm which the devilish spells of the Spaniards had -brought upon us. Many there who had never seen so sudden or terrible -a tempest could hardly be comforted by our captain's promise that it -would soon be past. Once more they began to talk together, harping -still on the strength of the place, on old stories of the mighty -witches there used to be amongst the Indians, and, above all, on the -report of the soldiers' arrival, which Jack and Mr. Oxenham had found -to be true. - -'It was this way,' said Jack, as we gathered round in the pent-house. -'When we came down to the platform we found the pinnace men alarmed -for our safety, since they had heard so many shots, and parties of -harquebusiers had been continually running down to them, crying, -"_Que gente? que gente?_" "Then," said they, "we cried out we were -English, whereat the soldiers discharged their pieces blindly and ran -away." At last came a negro, who would not go away, though they -fired at him three or four times, but ever he cried out for Captain -Drake, and craved to be taken aboard. This at last they did, when he -told them of the 150 soldiers who had come to guard the town against -the Cimaroons.' - -Not knowing how many might still be in the town, and being broken in -spirit, some with wounds and others with the terror of the storm, -they began to talk openly of the danger of staying longer. - -'Look you,' cried Frank at last, 'what silly child's talk is this? -Did I not ever say I would bring you to the Treasure-House of the -world? Why, so I have. And do I not say I will bring you off safe? -Why, so, by God's help, I will. Is it not for this you have toiled -and endured so far? And now you are here at the door, will you run -away for fear of a few score of _braggadocio_ Spaniards, who are -shaking wellnigh out of their shoes for fear of you? Shame on you, -lads! whom I thought were like-minded with me, and resolved to grow -rich on these treacherous, false idolaters, come what may. Go all of -you who will, and when you get back to England, tell them Frank Drake -brought you to the mouth of the Treasure-House of the world, and you -were afraid to fill your pockets! Tell them that, and blame not me -if they cry you, "Out upon the fools!"' - -Not a man stirred, though I think there were many had a mind to. It -was growing near dawn, and we knew that as soon as the Spaniards had -gathered their wits together, and found out how small a number we -were, they would return and make an end of us, if they could. It -fell very fortunately that the storm now began to abate, so our -captain, willing to save more murmuring and not desiring to allow the -Spaniards too much time to pluck up heart, gave the word to move. - -'Stay you here, Jack,' said he to his brother, 'with Mr. Oxenham, to -break open the Treasure-House, and carry down all the gold and pearls -our pinnaces will hold. I with our strength will get back to the -Plaza, and hold it till we have despatched all our business, and -relieved these gallants of their great anxiety in keeping so much -treasure.' - -As he spoke these cheerful words he stepped forward, and to our -horror rolled over in the sand. His two brothers had hold of him in -a trice, and Jack took his head on his knee. As I saw him lie -helpless there, so pale and death-like, and his blood flowing so fast -as to fill the very footprints we had made, it seemed that the great -bell, which boomed still its unceasing tocsin, was no longer sounding -an alarm or spell, but rather ringing out the knell of my friend's -heroic spirit. - -'Frank,' said Jack firmly, though I could note a strange tremor in -his voice, 'you are sore hurt; you must come to the boats.' - -'Not without the treasure,' answered our captain; 'not without -something for the lads. It is nothing; only a scratch, that made me -a little faint.' - -'No, Frank,' said Joseph Drake, 'you are sore hurt. Your boot is -full of blood. You have lost enough to kill two men already. We -will have no more of it.' - -Sergeant Culverin was now at our captain's feet. He had taken off -his gay silk scarf and was very skilfully tying up Frank's leg, to -stay the bleeding. - -'My hearty thanks, Sergeant,' said Frank, very feebly. 'That is it! -Now I can walk and despatch our business.' - -'That you never can,' said Jack, 'nor shall try neither. You must -come back to the boats, Frank.' - -'No, Jack, I will not,' answered our captain, so low we could hardly -hear; 'not without gold for the lads.' - -'Ay, but you must,' urged his brother. 'We will not stay another -moment for twice the gold in all the Indies. Your life, lad, is -worth more than that. What say you, mariners?' - -The sailors all cried out that it was well said, that they had enough -already, and not another finger would they stir till they knew their -captain was past danger. So, in spite of all Frank's protests, his -two brothers raised him in their arms as gently as women, while the -Sergeant put a skilfully-contrived sling under his legs, that his -hurt might pain him less. So, recovering him a little with some -drink, we started to carry him down to the pinnaces. - -Still he would not be content, though we said we would only take him -aboard to have his wound dressed and return. First to me, and then -to another he pleaded; but all gave one answer, that they would not -stoop to pick up gold if the street were strewn with it, so it -endangered his life a jot--not only out of their love for him, but -also in regard to the great riches he could bring them to if he lived. - -This last reason eased his mind a little; but he was more grieved -than ever when our surgeon had searched his wound in the pinnace, and -told him it stood with his life not to go ashore again. Nor would he -be in anywise content till we had promised to take that bark which we -had seen before we left the harbour. - -So as we rowed out whence we came the sun rose gloriously and the -bell ceased its clamour; and that most high and noteworthy attempt -against the Treasure-House of the world was ended. - -For such, indeed, it was in my judgment; and, not to speak more, lest -modesty be strained, I hold that every partaker in it should deem -himself fortunate. Not only did we seventy men, under our unmatched -commander, take the town and hold it for nigh on two hours, but of a -surety we should have plundered a hundredfold more than we did had it -not been for our captain's most unhappy hurt, or even for that storm, -whereby we lost half an hour of time, as many think not without -reason, through the hellish spells of those who rang the bell. - -The Spaniards made shift to set one of the culverins on its carriage -again before we were free of the haven, and barked at our heels a -bit, yet could they not prevent us taking the ship, which we did -without great resistance, and found it full of excellent wine, to our -great content. This we accepted with much thanks for their loving -care of us, and carried away to a certain island about a league to -the westward, which is called the Isle of _Bastimentos_, or Victuals, -and there we went a-land. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -'A very notable piece of service, sir,' said Sergeant Culverin to me -the same afternoon, as we sat resting our weary limbs after a very -excellent meal, which we made from hens, fruit, and the other good -things on the island. - -'So it seems to me, Sergeant,' said I, 'though you know I have no -experience of such matters; but how goes the general now?' - -'As well as we could wish,' answered the Sergeant. ''Tis a hurt -wants no Galen or Paracelsus to its mending. Take that of me, sir; I -have seen these things, and know. It is but a clean, pretty -flesh-wound, and no harm done save the letting of so much blood, -which I never saw lost in so large a measure and death kept off. A -very tall man our general, sir, a very tall man.' - -'I am heartily glad to hear you say so, Sergeant,' I said, being ever -willing to humour him for the great service he had done me. 'You -have been acquainted with great captains in the Emperor's service, -and know one when you see him.' - -'Indeed, sir, I do,' returned Culverin, very pleased: 'and I may tell -you, at a word, he is one,--a very Gonsalvo, sir. Yet I marvel how -he came by such skill in dispositions, being wholly unlearned in the -very rudiments of war. Why, sir, I spake to him at Port Pheasant -concerning our fort of timber, and, believe me, he knew not the -difference betwixt counterfort and cavaliero, or counterscarp and -argine. And as for horsemanship, he has no more practice or -contemplation of it than his cook's boy; and yet a notable soldier!' - -'It is as you say, Sergeant,' I answered; 'and we must the more -honour him that, being his own master, he is able by such excellent -practice to show how soldierly have been his precepts; and I grieve -sorely that his skill and valour has met with no reward to-day.' - -'No reward?' said Culverin. 'Has your worship seen the sail that -lies before the general's bower, where is the common-stick?' - -'No, Sergeant; what do you mean?' - -''Tis naught; and yet there are some indifferent foolish toys -gathered there that will repay some of the blood that was spilt.' - -'Why, how is this, Sergeant? Did not the general charge that no man -should load himself save with what came from the Treasure-House.' - -'True, sir, so he did; but, as I was saying, saving his most -excellent dispositions, he is unlearned in things warlike. If a man -make war, look you, he must make it according to the honoured, -ancient, universal customs and discipline of war, whereof the honest -pillaging of a captured town is one; wherefore I made bold of my -bitter experience to supply our general's sweet ignorance, and lead -some of the lads, when occasion was, to certain indifferent -well-furnished houses. If some thereafter made free with certain -trifling bars of silver from the governor's house it was by no -furthering of mine. All I did was out of niceness for our general's -honour. What think you those Spanish _cabaleros_ would have thought -of him if, when they had returned, they had found their houses -unplundered? I warrant you, sir, they would have been sore grieved -in their soldiership to think that a man who could deliver an assault -so boldly against all their force and discipline was ignorant of the -most common and ancient usage of the wars.' - -Here one came to summon me to the general's presence, so I heard no -more, though I found afterwards it was even as the Sergeant said, and -that, far from coming out of the town empty handed as I thought, -almost every man had carried off something, which all being gathered -in the common store according to custom, made a show which was no -little content to us. - -Indeed, I think we were all very merry that afternoon, not only as -seeing how easily we had captured the town, which bred in us no less -courage for further attempts than hope of their success, but also -because we had brought off our general safely, in comparison with -which gain we held our loss of the gold is nothing, the more so as -his hurt proved of no great account; nor was any other of our company -more than slightly wounded, save our trumpeter, who had been slain on -the spot. - -Thus we were in a gentle mood to receive the envoy from Nombre de -Dios, which was the occasion of the general's summons to me. I found -Frank with a cheerful countenance, seated in a kind of hammock, which -the mariners had made for him from a piece of sail-cloth. His -officers and gentlemen stood about him, to receive the envoy with as -much state as we might, whereby, having brushed the dust from our -clothes and made what shift we could, we displayed a tolerable front. - -Mr. Oxenham and Harry were sent to conduct the Spaniard to the -presence, and we saw them return with the most point-device little -gentleman I ever beheld. He was by his dress a captain of foot, and -by his delicate and well-guarded complexion but late come out of -Spain. His little black moustache was disciplined to the nicety of a -hair, and his whole dress no less brilliant than his countenance, nor -more fantastic than his bearing. - -He approached, making legs very sweetly to us all, and a profound -congee to our general, which we returned as decently as we might. -After an offering of commendations, so stuffed with unheard-of -conceits as I can never remember again, he told us the occasion of -his coming. - -'Of my mere goodwill, and as it were for my own unworthy honour, most -admirable _cabaleros_,' said he, with an infinity of conceited -gestures, 'I have conveyed myself festinately hither to your most -honourable presence, moved thereto by the wholesome desire, with -which my eyes were an hungered, to behold, view, regard, and -contemplate the most redoubtable captain and his heroical gentlemen -who have attempted so great and incredible a matter with so few, -paltry, and inconsiderable valiant numbers; being more especially -moved thereto when it was discovered by the most excellent shooting -of your honourable arrows that you were Englishmen, and no Frenchmen -as we apprehended, seeing that now we knew our foe would hold -themselves after the ancient gentle discipline of the wars, and be -content with an honourable courteous pillage of our treasure, instead -of seeking vulgar and bloody cruelty upon our persons; and being most -especially moved thereto because his excellency, our honourable -governor, being assured that you were gentlemen Englishmen and no -pirate French, gladly consented to my coming; and lastly, being most -singularly especially moved thereto, because his excellency, having -been informed by certain townsmen that they knew your honourable -captain, having at divers times been most courteously pillaged and -kindly used by him these two years past, charged me to inquire as -follows: - -'_Imprimis_. Whether your honourable captain be the valiant Captain -Drake or not? - -'_Item_. Whether your arrows, which have wounded many of our men, be -poisoned or not? - -'_Item_. How the said wounds may be cured? - -'_Item_. What victuals or other necessaries you desire for the -speeding of your voyage hence, which his excellency desires to -furnish you withal, as far as he dare, having regard to his -commission.' - -This and a very flood more of such-like desperate intemperance of -phrasing he graciously voided upon us, the writing whereof, were I -able to set it down, would devour more paper than I could ever find -digestion for. When he was at a halt at last Frank sat up in his -chair and, after a little pause, answered him thus courteously but -very curt, because of his weakness, no less than his distaste for -Spaniards. - -'I thank you for your courtesy,' said he, 'and I pray you, after you -have partaken of a poor supper at our hands, to return to his -excellency with my most honourable commendations, and inform him -thus: I am the same Drake he means. It is never my manner to poison -my arrows. The said wounds may be cured with ordinary surgery. And -as for victuals, we have already more than enough out of the -abundance which he has already so hospitably provided us withal in -this Island of _Bastimentos_; while for necessaries, I want for none, -save the special commodity which his country yields. Whereof not yet -having enough to content myself and my company, I must unwillingly -beseech his excellency to be at the pain of holding open his eyes for -a space; since before I depart, if God lend me life and leave, I mean -to reap some of your harvest, which you get out of the ground and -send into Spain to trouble all the earth!' - -The little gallant seemed a good deal taken aback at this -unlooked-for answer, but, recovering himself, promised to convey it -to the governor treasured in the inmost sanctuary of his bosom. - -'And, if I may without offence move such a question,' he ended by -saying, 'what should be the honourable cause of your worthy departing -(seeing what are your sweet desires) from a town where is above 360 -tons of silver ready for the Plate Fleet, and much more gold in value -in iron chests in the King's Treasure-House?' - -'Because,' said Harry, whom Frank motioned to speak, 'our captain was -wounded, and we value his life beyond all the gold in the Indies.' - -'Then, most valiant _cabaleros_,' answered our pouncet-box, 'give me -leave to say that, as I am a gentleman, the pre-eminent excellence of -your reason in departing is hardly overbalanced by your unmeasured -courage in attempting.' - -With that we fell to supper, during which we did all honour to our -guest; all of us, but Frank, being much taken with his fantastic -courtesy and pretty humours. Harry and Mr. Oxenham were particularly -moved to him, and he to them, so that all supper-time they vied with -each other in the extravagance of their compliments, till I thought -the little gallant could swallow no more. - -When he took his leave at last our captain entreated him very -courteously, and bestowed certain gifts as most likely to content -him. So we conducted him to his boat to make our farewells. - -'I protest, _cabaleros_,' said he, a little flushed with a good share -of the contents of our prize, 'I protest I have never been so -honoured of any in my life.' - -'And give me leave to say,' answered Harry, 'I have never seen an -embassy so admirably discharged.' - -'I kiss your hands,' said the Don, 'and, as I am a gentleman, shall -joy no more, till I have the felicity of crossing rapiers with you -upon your next attempt.' - -'Till then, by my soul's honour,' returned Harry, 'I, too, die; nor -could I conceive greater honour than to colour my blade with such -courtly blood as your excellency's.' - -'Nay, sir, I protest, as I am a gentleman, the honour would be mine. -I could desire no higher distinction than to feel your point between -these unworthy ribs.' - -'I pray heaven,' said Mr. Oxenham, 'your joy come not so soon as to -prevent my poor flesh first kissing your very bright particular -blade.' - -'I kiss both your hands, sir,' said the Don, 'and trust we may be all -sweetly sorted to our most gentlemanly desires.' - -With such like compliment, and an infinite making of legs, we at -length took leave of him, greatly entertained with his humours, and -delighted with the renown which our captain had won by this and his -former exploits. - -That evening our captain held a council to determine what further we -should attempt, and thereto was called Diego, the negro whom we had -brought from Nombre de Dios, that he might be questioned as to the -present condition of the town. - -'Soldiers and gold all the same what little Don tells,' he said, -grinning all over his good-humoured face. 'Nombre very full of -soldiers, and Treasure-House very strong, all because of my people, -the Cimaroons. I know better way to get gold from Dons than to burn -fingers after it in Nombre.' - -'Say you so, Diego?' said Frank, in his kindly way, which always won -the heart of these people. 'A very worthy tall fellow you seem. Let -us hear about it, and I doubt not you shall hear of something good -too.' - -'Yes, I know,' answered the black fellow, showing his white teeth -from ear to ear. 'I know Captain Drake; so do Cimaroons. Spaniards -beat Cimaroons; Captain Drake beats Spaniards. Mighty tall man -Captain Drake amongst Cimaroons.' - -'Well, well, good Diego,' says Frank, very pleased, 'but what of the -gold?' - -'Why, this way,' says the negro, looking very cunning; -'Treasure-House very strong, best get gold before it done got to -treasure-house.' - -'Yes, but how?' says Frank, - -'Why, easy as a fall,' says Diego, grinning with all his might. 'I -go to Cimaroons, and say to chief, "Captain Drake wants -gold."--"Mass! then bring his nobleness here," says the chief; so you -go up through the woods with the Cimaroons, and they show you--and -they show you,' he went on, hardly able to speak for glee, 'where to -stop the great mule trains that come from Panama to meet the Plate -Fleet.' - -With that he opened his wide mouth, laid his head back, and roared -with laughter, rubbing his hands between his knees, and dancing an -ungainly measure to the sound of his own merriment. - -This and other intelligences which we had from the negro, on further -questioning him, bred in us great hope of making our voyage, though -our other plans failed. For in all they agreed and confirmed what -Captain Drake had learned on his two former voyages; which was that -on the arrival of the Plate Fleet from Spain great quantities of -gold, silver, and pearls came across the isthmus from Panama to -Nombre de Dios, partly by _recuas_ or mule trains, and partly in -frigates by way of the Rio de Chagres, which ran into the sea nigh to -where we were from a place called Venta Crux, within six leagues of -Panama. - -When therefore we had refreshed ourselves at the island two days, our -captain sent a party under his brother John to search this river, -with orders, after he had made full discovery of it, to join Captain -Ranse and the ships at the Isles of Pinos, whither we presently set -sail. - -It was our captain's intent now to attempt Carthagena before the -garrison got wind of our being on the coast, but Captain Ranse was -not willing to join us, thinking we stood in too great danger after -we had discovered ourselves at Nombre de Dios. Frank was not sorry -to dismiss him, I know, for at all times he very hardly endured to -have another joined in command with him. Therefore, as soon as John -Drake returned from his discovery, we parted company with Sir Edward -Horsey's crew, and remained to make our voyage, if we could, without -them, notwithstanding all the dangers they feared. - -Yet our captain would not altogether give up his desire to visit -Carthagena, whither we sailed with all speed, though much delayed -with light airs, calms, and want of hands; for, now that our company -was divided between the ships and the pinnaces, each craft was -under-manned. So it fell out that a Spanish pinnace preceded us a -few hours, bringing news of our coming, and we found they had made so -large a provision of horse, foot, and ordnance for our entertainment -that, being unwilling to trouble them further, we craved them to -bestow on us a great ship of Seville, of some two hundred and forty -tons burthen, which we found well laden in the harbour, and this they -did, though not so graciously as our moderation warranted. - -Having in this way, and more certainly by letters found in two other -prizes which we took, learned that our presence was known all along -the coast, it remained for us to take some course with our -difficulties, which at last we did, and in such wise as gave me fresh -proof, if any were wanting, of that extraordinary resolution in our -captain which seemed to grow every day more constant and heroical. - -'There is no shift for it but the Cimaroons,' said Frank to me, as we -lay off the islands of St. Bernardo, some three leagues from -Carthagena. 'We must take to our pinnaces till we find them, and -hide along the coast, so that the Spaniards may think we have -departed, which I am resolved not to do till our voyage be made.' - -'But how can we continue longer on the coast?' said I. 'It may take -us weeks to find the Cimaroons, and we have but little store of -victuals.' - -'We can make provision with our pinnaces could we find some place to -hide. There are plenty of victuallers to be taken all along the -coast.' - -'That would be possible,' I answered, 'if we could properly man our -pinnaces; but this we cannot do, not having hands enough in the ships -as it is.' - -'And yet there is no other way,' said Frank, musing; and then, -looking very hard at me, he went on after a pause: 'What a mercy it -would be if one of our ships were taken from us!' - -'What do you mean?' asked I, aghast. - -'Why,' says he, 'then we should have enough men to man the pinnaces.' - -'True,' I answered; 'but how should we get back to England?' - -'God would send us means,' says he. 'A smart frigate or so would -fall into our hands when we wanted it. Indeed, it would be a mercy -if one ship were taken! Then we could make a store-house of the -other, and make our voyage with the full-manned pinnaces.' - -'Perhaps it would be well,' I answered; 'but such a thing is not to -be looked for.' - -'Cortez burnt his ships,' said Frank, as though he were thinking, and -had not heard me. 'Why should not I destroy mine? Yet I think he -cannot have loved his as I love mine, the smartest sailers that ever -left Plymouth harbour.' - -'Frank,' cried I, 'this is madness; besides, your company would never -permit it.' - -'Not permit it!' says he, with a sort of dull fire under his frown. -'None of my company must talk so, Jasper. And yet I love the lads -for their love of the ships; nor must a captain, who would be -cheerfully followed, strain obedience further than is necessary. A -great captain, as I trust by God's help to be ere I die, differs only -from his fellows in that he is readily obeyed. Any man of ordinary -wit can see what should be done, yet must he often abstain from -commanding it because he knows how hardly he will be obeyed, and as -often, if he do command it, find the labour of procuring obedience -too great for his constancy. But your great captain fears not to -command anything, seeing he is always cheerfully obeyed, and why, -lad? Because by policy he shall cheat those under him into a -cheerful willingness towards all he intends.' - -'Well,' said I, 'I will call you before all men a great captain, if -to-morrow you can make your men cheerfully fire either of these -ships.' - -'Then, lad,' says he, 'I pray you go fetch hither Tom Moone, the -carpenter of the _Swan_. That is my own ship, and that is the one I -must burn. To-morrow arise betimes and come with me fishing in the -pinnace and you shall see how, by my policy, my brother and his crew -shall willingly fire her.' - -I did all he said, and in the early morning we were off to the -fishing, for about the island where we lay was a great store of -fishes. As we passed the _Swan_ we fell aboard of her, and Frank -cried out to his brother to come fishing with him. John Drake jumped -up at once, willingly agreeing to follow us presently. We cast off, -but before we had gone but a few strokes Frank asked us if the _Swan_ -did not sit very low in the water, which we saw at once that she did. - -'Ahoy, Jack!' sung out our captain then, 'what makes your bark so -deep?' - -'Nay, I knew not that she was over deep,' says Jack, and called to -the steward to see what water was in her. - -Presently there was a mighty splashing, and up comes the steward, wet -to the waist, crying out that the ship was full of water. All was -bustle in a moment, some of the crew rushing to the pumps and some -splashing about the hold to search for the leak, Tom Moone being the -most forward there. - -We fell aboard her again at once to offer our help. John Drake would -have none of it, but only begged to be excused his attendance on his -brother. - -'We have hands enough,' said he, 'and will have her free in a trice. -We have not pumped these six weeks, so what strange chance has -befallen to give us six foot of water in the night is more than I can -tell. But I pray you go on with your fishing; we shall want some -good stuffing come dinner-time, after our pumping.' - -Besides our captain and myself, there were none with us, I think, who -had any suspicion of what this strange chance was, so that our men -were not a little surprised to find on our return that, though out of -their great love for their dainty bark the _Swan's_ company had -wellnigh worked their lives out at the pumps, yet had they freed but -a few inches of water. - -'What, so bad!' cried Frank to his brother, who looked over the side -very weary. 'Nay, then, you shall have our help now, while you eat -your dinner.' - -With that, acting his part better than I could have looked for in so -plain and blunt a nature, he sprang on board, and with his own hands -fell to work at one of the pumps with such good will that I thought -to see it burst. All our company, set on by his example, worked no -less hard; yet, though we continued in shifts till three in the -afternoon, we had freed the water little more than a foot, nor could -any man find where the leak was. - -Wearied out at last, John Drake, with his master and crew, gathered -round Frank to consult him as to what order was to be taken, for up -till now our general had not said a word, save to encourage men at -the pumps, seeing that his brother was captain of the ship. - -'What shall we do, Frank?' said poor John Drake. 'We shall have to -pump the whole North Ocean out of her before she is dry.' - -'Indeed, Jack,' says our captain, 'I cannot tell what order to take -to save her.' - -'Well, I care not what comes of her,' says Jack desperately. 'I -think the devil has got her for good and all. It is some hellish -Indian witchcraft of these Spaniards. I am at my wits' end with her, -so do what you will.' - -The whole company were plainly weary of their ship, no less than was -their captain, and crowded round to hear what Frank would say, very -hopefully; for they had all come to think there was no hole so deep -or miry that he could not draw them out of it. - -'If you leave it so to me,' says Frank, 'I tell you there is only one -way. The ship is dead, that is plain. It is my ship, and it is lost -by no fault of master or mariner. If any is to blame it is I. You, -Jack, I would have go aboard the admiral with your master and take -command of her, and I will be content with a pinnace till I can -capture you a smart frigate in place of this rotten tub, and -incontinently we will fire her that the Spaniards may find their -witchcraft has availed them nothing.' - -I think this advice astonished the company a good deal, but presently -they were very content with it, saying it was most worthy of their -general, who was always as ready to take blame on himself as to find -resolute remedies for mishaps of others. There were a few who had -sailed in her the two former voyages, and would gladly have made an -effort to save her, being ashamed to lose her; but when her owner so -boldly gave her up and took all blame on himself, they were very glad -to be rid of her. - -In a few minutes the pinnaces were all laid aboard of her, so that -every man might take from her whatever he wished, and thereupon poor -John Drake, his eyes full of tears, fired her with his own hand. -Poor Jack! my heart bled for him, but I knew it was the only saving -of our venture. - -So it came about as Frank had said. Not only had the whole company -been glad enough to destroy the ship of which they were so proud, not -only had he got his way, hard as it seemed, but by his generosity to -his brother, his hearty sharing of their labour, and his cheerful -resolution through it all, he stood higher with the whole company -than ever he did before. - -'Well, Frank,' said I, as we sailed away next day towards the Sound -of Darien with the _Pasha_ and our fully-manned pinnaces, 'you have -your will, but it was a sorry trick to play them.' - -'Nought but a bit of policy,' laughed he, 'such as all commanders -must use at times.' - -'Save you, lad, from Machiavelli and all his works,' said I, 'for I -think you are fast growing Italianate. But, tell me, how was it -done?' - -'Why, with a spike-gimlet,' says he. 'Tom Moone pleaded hard for his -beloved bark, so that my heart almost melted. Then he said he would -get his throat cut; but I told him to be secret, to do it close to -the keel at night, and lay something over the holes that the flow of -the water should make no noise to betray him, and so it was done. It -was a desperate piece of service, I know, but Tom Moone shall have -cause to remember what he did for me at this pass.' - -And so indeed he had; for when Frank equipped his fleet for that -renowned voyage in which he encompassed the world, he made this -trusty carpenter captain of the _Canter_ or _Christopher_, as it was -afterwards named. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -By the light of the flaming ship we had set sail. It was a moving -sight to see this precious link with home a mass of shooting flame -below a pall of lurid fire-flecked smoke. A sea of molten gold was -her death-bed, and, as we sailed slowly onward before the gentle -night wind, the fiery reflection stretched out after us till it faded -to fitful gleams on the crests of the waves, as though they bore us -farewell kisses from our lost ship. - -'A true swan is she to the end,' said Harry softly, as though moved -by the scene. 'Beautiful she was in life, yet nothing in it was so -beautiful as her departing from it.' - -We watched her burn down lower and lower, till she was nothing but a -glowing ember on the dark plain of the sea, and then in a moment she -was gone for ever. It was like losing an old friend, and there was -not one for the next few days who did not feel oppressed with evil -foreboding at the loss of that staunch craft that had brought such -luck to our captain. - -We could not even lighten our hearts with the music, for Frank was -very earnest to depart as secretly as we could, that the Spaniards -might suppose us entirely gone from that coast by reason of the loss -of our ship. - -Thus, attempting nothing that might betray us, we found on the fifth -day a most fair haven in the Sound of Darien, where we could anchor -the _Pasha_ out of all ken of the Spaniards, and refresh ourselves -till such time as the storm we had raised all along the coast should -be blown over. - -It was a place as fair as Port Pheasant, where a man might have been -content to dwell all his days. A pretty town we built there, as -Diego showed us how, of boughs and brakes and flowers, in a space -which we cleared in the dense forest. Here our smith set up his -forge, our fletcher his shop for the ordering of our bows and arrows, -our butcher his block, and our shoemakers their lasts. Butts were -erected for bow practice, a lawn made for our bowls, and ground -prepared for quoits, leaping, wrestling, and all other sports that -our captain could devise for making us forget our losses and breed a -hopeful spirit for future attempts. - -Half of us worked while the others played, day and day about; but for -me it was all play. For my work, having skill for it, was to hunt -the livelong day up in the forest-clad hills for the hogs, conies, -deer, and birds that lived half tame in their solitudes; or, rocked -on those azure seas, to lure the strange fish that swarmed about the -gilded rocks, with great pelicans and scarlet cranes for comrades at -the sport. - -At such times, as I lay in some fairy glade above our little town, or -half asleep in our little gondola, I could hearken to the merry -tinkle of the anvil and the jolly laugh of the bellows mingling with -the cries and songs of the mariners at their work and play; and, -listening to the homely sounds, mellowed and transformed by the -tropic glory of earth and sky and sea, I could fancy that the old -life was gone with all its care and hideousness, being changed by the -rich spirit of the West to one long May-day. - -In fifteen days our ship and pinnaces with this light labour were -refitted, and our captain with two of the pinnaces set sail for Rio -Grande in search of provisions and intelligences. I remained behind -with John Drake to search the coast in the other pinnace, in order -that if possible we might, by Diego's help, meet with the Cimaroons. - -For six days we rowed up and down the Main aloof the shore, but found -no trace of those whom we sought. In these days I saw much of John -Drake, being all day and night in the pinnace with him, and I came to -love his simple, steadfast nature more than I ever had before, and -wondered to see how great was his control over the men by the very -earnestness of his worship of Frank, whose orders to him were as the -command of a god, to be carried out at all costs. It seemed as -though, when once he had a direction from his brother, all other -thoughts were dismissed from his mind. Any possibility of a -different course being good could never find a place in him. - -So day after day we rowed hopelessly along that lovely shore, in -spite of the fearful heat. To every suggestion I could make he had -but one answer. - -'Frank told us to row aloof the shore and find the Cimaroons,' he -would say, 'and he knows best. Cheerily, men, now! As like as not -we shall find them beyond the point ahead.' - -To me the thing seemed hopeless. To find a few negroes in that vast -wilderness of forest by rowing along the shore appeared little better -than a wild-goose chase. Still I believed in Frank almost as much as -his brother did, and still more was encouraged by Diego, who -continued to urge us on as he sat in the forepart, chin in hand, -gazing fixedly into the forest. - -It was on the seventh day, as we were almost worn out with the -growing heat of the sun, and all the shore was hushed before the -coming fire of the noonday, that Diego suddenly leaped up and, -casting both his hands above his head, gave forth a yell so loud and -strident as almost to stop your heart. - -Again with his hand to his mouth he shot his fiendish call towards -the shore, as though to summon a legion of devils to his side. - -'What is it, Diego?' cried Jack. - -'See, captain, see! There lie my people asleep. I can see. Up -there on the hill. I can see a new hut.' - -To our eyes all was the same wild waste, of foliage, but he saw more, -as we soon knew, for faintly out of the forest came an answering -shout. - -'I knew Frank was right,' said Jack triumphantly. 'He knew where to -find them.' And away we went to the shore. Sure enough Frank was -right; for as our keel grated on the golden sand two pelicans rose -lazily from where they had been standing, a bowshot to our right, and -winged their solemn flight along the shore. - -Something we knew must have flushed them, but we could see nothing in -the dense brakes. Diego hailed again, and then we saw a black face -peep stealthily at us. Poor folk! they dared not come out, for all -we had one of their kin with us. They had been too often betrayed to -their tormentors by such means before. - -'_Que gente? que gente?_' cried the black head over his bent bow, as -we could plainly see. - -'_Gente de Draque!_' cries Diego, leaping out of the boat and running -towards them. '_Draque! Draque!_' - -So it was they always called our general, since his name came hard to -their half-Spanish tongues. And what a name it was to them we soon -saw. For, after a strange, discordant babbling between Diego and the -Cimaroon, a loud cry went up in the bushes and out rushed some score -of dancing yelling fiends. Never saw I greater delight or heartier -welcome than in these poor folk. For a good space we could do -nothing with them, for their dancing and leaping round us and -embracing of our feet, especially Captain John's, to his great -discomfort, being a plain, simple man, not used to homage. - -There was no peace for us till Diego begged that we should suffer -them to bear us to their huts, which request our captain granted, -leaving two men with the pinnace. Their joy was then complete, and -each black fellow stood in front of one of our men, bending his back -for him to mount, which at last we all did, seeing how earnest they -were; and so, with no more ado with the biggest of us than if he had -been a baby, they trotted off, laughing and singing up the steep path -that led to their huts. - -We were soon set down in a little hamlet like our own town, but much -prettier and more artfully constructed, because of their greater -skill. Here each vied with another to set before us delicate fruits -and fowls and a certain fermented liquor which they had, very -pleasant to the taste and medicinable to the spirits. So like kings -we lay in those leafy bowers feasting merrily, each with a grinning -henchman or two to do his lightest bidding. Indeed I think, had we -permitted, they would have crowned us with flowers, and seen us eat -our banquet like that dainty gallant Horatius Flaccus with his boon -companions. - -By the end of our dinner we were all like brothers with these merry -folk, after the manner of English mariners, though I think half of -our company could not understand two words of Spanish. Their chief -was soon in close talk with John and me and Diego, and we broached -our business to him. It is an easy embassy when both parties desire -one thing. Our wish, no less than theirs, was for them to meet the -general and arrange our comedy for the entertainment of the -Spaniards. In a very short space it was agreed that we should leave -two of our men with the chief and take two of his to the general, in -token of pure good-will and amity between us, and that they should -come down to a river which ran into the sea half-way between the -haven where our ships lay and certain headlands towards Nombre de -Dios, which we always called 'The Cahezas.' This river we called the -'Rio Diego,' after our faithful Cimaroon ally. - -There was some difficulty in choosing our hostages, since every -mariner there wished to stay, preferring the cheery homage and good -fare of the Cimaroons to hard work and 'Poor John' in the pinnace. -At last it was settled by lot, and we bore away again amidst the like -rejoicings that had welcomed us, and with a fair wind came the same -night to our ship. - -It seemed to all men a plain work of God for the encouraging of our -allies that the very next day our general, with two frigates besides -the pinnaces, came sailing into 'Port Plenty.' So he now named our -haven, having seen by this first voyage how well we could supply -ourselves from the victuallers that sailed to Nombre de Dios and -Carthagena, and from the Indians about the Rio Grande, as well as -from the Spanish storehouses thereon. - -'If a man may judge by this fair beginning,' said he when we came to -speak of it, 'no name was ever better bestowed, for besides a great -store of provision which we obtained from the river, I have taken -five or six frigates and a bark, laden with live hogs, hens, maize, -and other provision which we require. But I gave away all the -prizes, except the two best, to the Spaniards for their pain in -supplying us so bountifully; and there are those we kept.' - -He pointed to where the two captured frigates lay, and went on to -tell me how he had obtained what was dearer to him than victuals, and -that was divers opinions of himself that prevailed amongst the -Spaniards. It was always his way while he kindly entertained his -prisoners to get them to speak about himself, and if their answers -were to his mind I think they often got off the more lightly. His -enemies, for even that noble spirit has enemies in these backbiting -times, set this down to a sordid love of flattery, but I know it was -from no such cause. For love of merriment he did it, no less than to -encourage his men, who joyed to hear the dread their captain begot -amongst the Spaniards. No man ever knew better than he how to win -the confidence and respect of his men, and this was one way he used -to that end. And no man was ever more laughter-loving than he, and -no jest did he love so much as to hear how he frightened the -Spaniards. For those reasons and no other he was wont to question -his prisoners, and I hold it foul slander to say that heroic -navigator was pleased with sordid flattery. - -I remember well his first words were of this when, the same day that -he returned to Port Plenty, I boarded his frigate with Jack. - -'Why, Jasper,' says he, taking my hand in his cheery way, 'you have -missed a merry time in chasing Cimaroons, though God be praised that -has so blessed your search. What think you they say of me, man? It -is a jest worth more laughter than all the company could furnish in a -month. Why, man, they say it is a devil. None but a devil or a -saint, they swear, with but a handful of men could have quietly -entered and held the Treasure-House of the mightiest emperor under -the sun as we did. And since, being a "Lutheran dog," I am no saint, -I must perforce be a devil, and you, my lad, an imp of Satan.' - -'By which sharp reasoning,' says Mr. Oxenham, 'they save their -gentility when they run away.' - -'And like Christian gentlemen,' cried Harry, 'when the fiend appears -cry, "Get thee behind me, Satan," and incontinently turn their backs.' - -'Yet,' said I, 'it seems to me that they would serve their gentility -better by a more courteous appellation of their enemy.' - -'And so your true Castilian does,' says Frank. 'For all the wrong -they have done me, yet I hold your true Castilian a gentleman and a -man of honour, and no coward. Such a one I took off Tolu, and as we -supped together on the good things which for our trouble in chasing -him he had felt bound to bestow on us, he told a different tale, and -set no horns on my head.' - -'No,' broke in Harry; 'it was all your most chastened, precise, -five-foot-in-the-blade, good manners. "By your most high-bred -courtesy," says he, "I now know for truth what gentlemen say of the -valiant Captain Drake, whose felicity and valour are so pre-eminent -that Sir Mars, the god of war, and Sir Neptune, the god of the sea, -seem to wait on all his attempts, which same notwithstanding are -eclipsed, overshadowed, and put out of countenance by the nobility -and generosity of his carriage towards the vanquished, whereby defeat -is made sweeter than victory." And with such like good report he -continued to discharge his great pieces in the captain's honour all -supper-time till we were wellnigh deafened with the thunders of his -courtesy.' - -'It was a very high mass of worship,' said Mr. Oxenham, 'till, by -this light, we began to doubt if we were not saints after all.' - -'God forbid,' says Frank; 'as you love salvation be an English devil -rather than a Spanish saint.' - -'Well, here are our brother devils,' cried Harry, as the two -Cimaroons we had brought were led forward by John Drake. 'Order -yourselves, signors, to receive the embassy of the Prince of -Darkness.' - -So the negroes came forward and testified of the joy their whole -nation had at our captain's coming, because of the renown he had won -amongst them by his proceedings at Nombre de Dios and in his two -former voyages, and finally most respectfully told him how their -chief waited for him at the Rio Diego, to see if haply it was his -pleasure to use them against their common enemies. - -A council of war was held to consider how far we could trust these -people, and what course we should take forthwith: whereat, after his -usual manner, Frank listened very attentively to all our advices, and -then took his own; which was forthwith to move our whole force up to -the Rio Diego, where John Drake and I had discovered an excellent -haven amongst the islands that were clustered there. - -I went on before with Frank in his pinnace to show him where we -should meet with the Cimaroon chief, which we did very joyfully at -the place appointed. The negroes' joy at meeting our captain was so -great that it was long before we could get to any quiet speech with -them, but at last we went aside with the chief into the leafy bower -which served him for a house, and Frank told him how he wished his -people to help us get gold and silver from the Spaniards. - -'Gold and silver!' said the negro, a giant in growth and strength who -spoke good Spanish. 'Do you mean gold and silver?' - -'Yes, surely,' said Frank; 'what else could we want?' - -'Why, even that which we want,' said the negro. - -'And what is that?' Frank asked. - -'Revenge,' answered the negro, 'revenge for all the wrongs those -hell-hounds have wreaked on us.' - -'Why, so do I,' said Frank cheerfully, 'and therefore will I take -from them what I want most and what they love best, even gold and -silver.' - -'Ah, but they love something better than that,' said the chief -eagerly, as though clutching at a hope. 'They love life better. And -we want something more than gold, we want blood--Spanish blood! To -dip our arms in to the elbow, and our legs to the knees,' he went on, -with the glare of a wild beast in his eyes. 'Help us to get that, -captain, and you shall have all the gold and silver you can want. -But for us it is not enough. What your wrongs have been I know not, -but ours are such that gold and silver will not avenge them. Had you -felt the lash curl round your ribs, had you seen your comrades -tortured to new effort when they dropped to die of sickness and -fatigue, had you seen a little part of what happens every day to my -people, you would forget gold and silver, and all but blood, and -never joy but when you saw it bubbling out from the rent your knife -had made.' - -We were both shocked at the savageness of our new ally, and Frank -told him in his plain blunt way that if they attempted anything -together the prisoners must be his, as well as the gold, though in -the fight they might kill as many as they would. The poor savage was -sadly disappointed, and would, I think, have hardly agreed to it if -Frank had not fed him with a picture of the havoc our arrows and -small shot would make amongst their enemies, and how sorely they -grieved over the loss of gold. - -'I know, I know,' said the Cimaroon sadly; 'and often we take gold -from them, not from love of it, but in despite of them. So be it as -you say, captain, for you we will follow to death against the -Spaniards, whatever be your will. Yet had I known it was gold you -wanted, there is plenty we have taken and sunk in the rivers which -you might have had, but now they are so swollen with the rains that -there is no coming at it. Nor can we take any till the dry season -begins, for in the rainy months they do not carry any treasure by -land, because the ways are so evil.' - -This was most unhappy news. It was nearly five months still before -the dry season began. To attempt with our pinnaces to capture the -gold frigates coming down the Chagres river was madness, seeing that -since our coming we heard they were always guarded by two galleys. -To wait five months was to run great risk not only of being attacked -in strength by the Spaniards, but also by sickness, which is very -rife in those regions during this time. - -Another council was held as soon as our strength joined us, and once -more Frank heard willingly our opinions and followed his own, which -was to make a lodgment in a hidden part of the coast, whence, that we -might employ our leisure as well as gather provisions, we could from -time to time sally out to annoy the Spaniards and satisfy ourselves. -Our captain further resolved to establish magazines besides those we -already had about Port Plenty, so that if one were discovered we -might have others to supply us. - -To this end the _Pasha_ was brought in through the islands with great -labour and much dangerous pilotage within a few bowshots of the Main, -and there moored hard by a reasonable island, in such a place as even -if she were discovered, which was wellnigh impossible, so shrouded -was she by trees, no enemy could come at her by night or even by day -without great risk of falling amongst shoals. - -Our island contained some three acres of good flat ground, which our -captain next began to fortify, setting out, after the best manner -used in the wars, a triangular fort made of timber and earth dug from -the trench about it. Harry having, as I have said, no little skill -in these matters was set over this work, Culverin being quartermaster -under him. The Sergeant therefore was now in great spirits, for I -think the ships, and still more the pinnaces, were as little to his -mind as ever. His stiff back and large form could never accommodate -itself to the straight quarters and uneasy motion to which he was -condemned at sea. Now, it was a real pleasure to see his gaunt -figure striding once more a-land, directing the Cimaroons, of whom -another band had joined us, as nicely as though he were entrenching -the Emperor's own camp. - -'Sea wars I will never decry again,' said he, when I went to give him -joy, 'especially since Captain Drake is of that profession; yet for -dignity, honour, and contemplation how can they compare to land wars? -Truly, the world lost much, sir, when Captain Drake became a sailor.' - -'Yet he is an indifferent good sea-captain, Sergeant,' said I. - -'Yes, sir; too good, greatly too good,' said Culverin. 'Few men, -look you, have been born with such soldiership. See, now, the care -he bestows in fortifying his camp, after the true manner of Julius -Cæsar, and yet he has never read a word of the _Commentaries_. It is -there he shows it. For, saving your wisdom, your true soldiership is -not valour, as many think. Valiant blades we have in plenty in every -land. Your great soldier must know what to fear and when to fear, -and so guard himself. To fear valiantly is your philosopher's stone -of victory. Take that of me, sir.' - -I think we were all of Sergeant Culverin's opinion, except perhaps -Mr. Oxenham. He was ever a reckless man who could not fear anything, -and so, as all men know, was afterwards brought to his evil end on a -Spanish gallows. But the rest of us were glad to see what care our -general took that we should pass our five months in safety, and above -all the Cimaroons, who saw in our preparations a sure token that we -were resolved to stand by them. - -Nor did they leave us without testimony of their satisfaction. It -was like fairyland to see how a little town built of Palmito boughs -rose up as if by magic upon our island, with fair houses for all our -company; and afterwards they so laboured at our fort that in two -weeks the ordnance and artillery were all in position within it, and -Frank was free to depart in search of victuals and intelligence. - -On the 7th of October he bid us farewell amidst a merry burst from -our music, and bore away for Carthagena, leaving his brother John as -governor of the fort over those who were left behind. Both Harry and -I remained to assist him in governing the Cimaroons and completing -our works. Had we but known the sorrow that was to come on us ere -those two pinnaces returned, I think our parting would have been less -blithe. But as it was we feared nothing; for our exploit at Nombre -de Dios and all that had followed, no less than the constant report -we had from the Cimaroons and our prisoners of the terror we had -created, had bred in us a sort of reckless courage, as well as a -laughing contempt for our enemies, which made us think that no -attempt was too hard for us. - -I cannot wonder at it or blame any for their overweening confidence, -seeing what our handful of unknown mariners had done against the -mighty power of the King of Spain. Surely never had folly, for I -hold contempt of a brave enemy no less, a better excuse. Would it -had had a lighter punishment! - -It was on this wise that it came about. At the Cativaas Islands, -some five leagues away from our fort, was a frigate laden with -planks. She was a prize Frank's pinnaces had taken in the Rio Grande -and left there till she should be wanted. But in a storm she was -driven hard ashore and now lay disabled. Out of tenderness for his -ordnance and crew Frank ordered that our first care should be to -fetch away her timbers and planks, to make platforms for the former -and good huts for the latter. - -For the rains still continued. The island was a slough of mire -wherever we worked, and the bowers which the Cimaroons made us hardly -availed to keep out the deluge of rain that fell every day. -Therefore as soon as Frank was gone we set about our work, John Drake -going himself to order the matter in the pinnace called _Lion_. I -went with him and about half a crew besides. - -It was the second afternoon after Frank's departure that we were -returning to our fort with a load of planks, when we descried a -deep-laden frigate making for Nombre de Dios. - -'Will you not attempt her, Captain John?' said one of the men, a -quartermaster called Allen. - -'Not I,' says Jack; 'though nothing would be more to my mind had we -finished the work which our general set us to do.' - -'What matter of that?' cried Allen; 'it is but half an hour's work to -make her ours. A pretty prize she will be for us, and I don't see -why the rest should have all the sport and we all the labour.' - -'Well, it is just because the general so ordered it,' says Jack. -'That is enough for me and enough for you.' - -'Nay, then,' said Allen, 'I know the general never meant us to be -forbidden fair booty. What say you, lads?' and the men all said he -was right, and that they were for attempting the frigate. - -'Then must you be mad,' cried Jack. 'You know not how the frigate is -provided, while you are sure we are cumbered with planks and have no -weapons.' - -'We have a rapier,' objected Allen, 'and a visgee, and a caliver, and -that is enough for Englishmen against any yellow-livered Dons.' - -'But the rapier is broken, the visgee old and worn, and the caliver -all a-rust,' said Jack. 'I tell you you are mad, and I will have no -part with your madness. The general's orders are straight, and I -would not depart from them were we twice as many, and twice as well -armed.' - -But the men still murmured and continued to urge him to it, till I -wondered to see how he could resist them, and loved him more than -ever for his loyalty to his brother's commands. - -'Never mind, lads,' said Allen mockingly at last. 'We will go to the -fort and wait till the general comes back. He knows how to show Dons -what dirt they are under English feet, and he will make us amends -when he hears how our voyage was spoilt, because our captain was -afraid of a craft only three times his size.' - -Poor Jack! That was more than he could endure. It touched him in -his one weak point, which Allen knew well enough. He was a lion in -courage, but yet not brave enough to bear calmly any suspicion of -cowardice. - -'What!' he roared. 'You dog! Dare you use me so? Then, by yea and -nay, you shall have your will, and see who is afraid and who is not.' - -'Oh, never mark him, Jack!' I said, wishing to dissuade him from this -wild attempt. 'Look not round at every cur that barks! Who doubts -your courage is an ass!' - -'No, Jasper, hold your peace,' cried poor Jack, more furious than -ever. 'Never shall they say to my brother that their voyage is lost -by my cowardice. They shall run their heads into danger, but never -shall they say mine was not there first. Give me the rapier. Allen, -take you the visgee and stand by my side in the forepart if you are a -man. Robert shall take the caliver, and Mr. Festing steer. And now, -lads, overboard with the planks or we shall never catch her.' - -In a very short time the pinnace was clear, Jack was standing in the -forepart with the broken rapier, and his pillow wrapped round his -left hand for a warding gauntlet, for there was no buckler in the -boat, and Allen stood by his side. We overhauled our chase very -quickly, and were soon but a few boat-lengths from her. I could see -she had taken measures to prevent our boarding, and was doubtless -well prepared. - -'See, Jack,' I cried, 'she has close-fights all round her bulwarks; -we shall never board.' - -'We shall board her or never another,' said he, with set teeth. 'It -is too late to turn now. What I take in hand I carry through. -Steady as she goes, and stand by to board!' - -In another moment we fell aboard of her. I saw Jack and Allen leap -up on her close-fights. Then suddenly she was alive with belching -flame. There was a roar, a cloud of smoke, a flash of pikes, and in -the midst two bodies fell heavily back into the pinnace. - -'Shove off for your lives,' I cried, 'before they grapple.' For I -could see the frigate was swarming with pikes and small shot. - -Those in the forepart seized their oars, some thrusting away from our -enemies' side, while others swiped at the faces of those who were -trying to grapple or stay our purpose with their long pikes and -halberds. Amongst these I saw Jack rise painfully and work with a -will. Once I saw a pike levelled straight at Allen as he too was -shoving off, in spite of an awful wound in his head. I made sure he -was gone, but Jack dashed his oar into the pikeman's face and fell -backwards fainting with the effort. - -By good luck at that moment we fell free, and a few lusty strokes -fetched us clear. With all our force we rowed out of danger of her -small shot; but they neither saluted us again nor made anything of -their triumph, believing, as I think, it was best not to tempt us to -return. - -'Tell Frank how it was, lad,' said Jack, as I laid him down in the -stern all covered with blood, and he opened his eyes. - -'Nay, lad,' said I, 'you shall tell him yourself.' - -'No, never, Jasper,' murmured he; 'my time is come. God has judged -me for disobeying Frank's words; he always knew best. But Allen -maddened me. Poor fellow! he is sore hurt. See to him, Jasper. -'Tis a brave heart.' - -'First I must see to you,' I said, 'and mend your hurt a bit.' - -''Tis no good,' he said, more faintly still. 'Mine is past mending. -I feel it. What will Frank say of me? Would my death had come any -way but this! Yet they will not call me coward again, will they, -Jasper?' - -His voice grew weaker and weaker, and a deadly pallor overspread his -face. - -'Tell father how it was I disobeyed Frank,' he went on, with long -spaces between the words. 'He will forgive me. He knows it always -maddened me to be called coward. But what will Frank say? what will -Frank say?' - -Again he urged me to go to the others and see if I could not remedy -the evil his disobedience had brought on the company. I found Allen -at death's door, cursing himself with his last breath for what he had -brought on his valiant captain. Two or three others were hurt, but -not grievously; and as soon as I had tended them a little I went -again to Jack's side. I could see death written on his face, and -gave him some wine to revive him. - -'Tell Frank how I grieved for my folly,' he said, speaking with great -difficulty. 'And tell Joe never to swerve a hairsbreadth from the -course Frank marks. And ask him to forgive me. And, Jasper, say a -prayer for me; not for superstition, lad, but just for comfort's -sake.' - -I had not prayed since that terrible night at the inn, which now -seemed so long ago and so far away. Yet I could not refuse. So I -knelt down, and all the mariners did likewise, uncovering -respectfully. I prayed, as well as I could recall it, the prayer I -heard on the old preacher's lips at my father's funeral, and repeated -the beautiful words of his text, which I remembered so well. - -'Now sing a psalm,' said the dying man; 'just for comfort's sake--for -comfort's sake.' - -So on that still and lonely tropic sea we raised with our rough -voices a homely English hymn, to the deep diapason of the booming -surf sounding outside the islands. As we ended he smiled, and I saw -his lips moved. I leaned down to hear what he said. - -'Frank will forgive me,' the low murmur said, 'when you tell him how -it was. He was always good to us, Frank was, and always knew best. -He will understand. Frank always underst----' - -So his murmur ceased; and that brave youth, my friend, passed -peacefully away as the sun went down. And within an hour Allen's -soul followed his captain's. - -Next day we buried them both on the island, thinking much of the high -hopes we had of our governor's greatness had he lived, and deeply -lamenting the cheerful, steadfast spirit that was gone from amongst -us. As for the simple Cimaroons, they were beside themselves with -grief, and would have performed strange idolatrous ceremonies about -his grave had we suffered it, but the sailors would not let them go -near, save once a day to cover it with fresh flowers. This was their -only comfort, save a sure hope that, now his brother was killed, -Frank would be no longer content with gold, but would want to 'wash -his elbows' in Spanish blood. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -Wearily the weeks went by after John Drake's death. What with the -miserable effect it had upon the whole company and the continual -rains, it was all that Harry and I could do to keep the men in good -heart. Indeed, our lives at that time were far from easy, not only -in respect of our spirits, because of our grief, but also in respect -of our bodies, because of the wet and cold, and, above all, the -legions of a certain grievous insect, which the constant rain seemed -to engender of the mud upon our islands. - -We had suffered from them all along the coast, but never so -grievously as here. The Spaniards call them 'mosquitoes.' They are -insects of the bigness and similitude of reasonable gnats, but for -ferocity, persistence, and trumpeting past anything we know in -England. We often marvelled for what purpose they could have been -made, unless it were to punish Spaniards. Yet this reason halts, for -a mariner who had sailed in a ship of the Muscovy Company reported to -us that he had felt and seen them as bad, or worse, in the country of -the Samoits and Permians upon the Muscovy Sea. - -Yet by constant work in strengthening our fort, and hunting with the -Cimaroons on the Main, no less than by every pastime Harry could -devise, we managed to keep in health till the general returned. It -was towards the end of November that he came back, with a prize of -some ninety tons, which, as well as his pinnaces, was laden with all -manner of provisions, not forgetting several botijos of good Spanish -wine. - -Like ourselves he had suffered much from wet and cold, as well as -from want of meat, for he had found the whole coast thoroughly -alarmed and prepared for his coming. Yet had he taken not a few -prizes, and, what pleased him best, ridden out a storm which lasted -many days in the harbour of Carthagena itself, in spite of all the -Spaniards could do with horse, foot, ordnance, and treachery to drive -him thence. - -But all the joy with which we might have talked over these things was -marred, because Jack was no longer there to take his part. Of -Frank's and Joseph's grief over the loss of their brother I will not -speak. Yet I know how deep it was, though they said but little. -Frank seemed to care no longer to jest over what the prisoners had -said about him, and when alone was very stern, though outwardly with -the men he would be cheerful as ever. - -It was all the harder to bear since we were now condemned more than -ever to inaction. From what the general saw on his last-made voyage -to Carthagena, and the intelligences he had from the prisoners, he -was resolved to keep close, that the Spaniards might think us -entirely gone, until we could hear of the coming of the Plate Fleet, -when with better hope we could make our attempt by land against the -_recuas_ that came to meet it. - -We were well able to lie still awhile, since our magazines were full, -and there was no necessity for our putting to sea for intelligence, -since the Cimaroons had spies out everywhere for the first tidings of -the coming of the fleet. - -Frank's efforts to keep the men in good heart were redoubled, since, -now that the rains were beginning to abate, he knew the sun would -increase in power and draw all kinds of noxious humours and -exhalations from the sodden earth; against which danger he held there -was nothing so medicinable as a cheerful spirit. - -Till the end of the year things went well, though in spite of all we -could do with daily worship, music, and sports, it was plain that -crude and heavy humours were being engendered in us by the sudden -change we underwent from cold to heat. - -Our surgeon was ever urging Frank to permit him to rid the men of -these humours by strong purgations, but he would not consent to it, -rather serving out more wine to those who seemed most oppressed. So -we passed Christmas indifferently well; but, our merrymaking over, -things went worse than ever, with constant quarrels and murmuring, -which Frank bore with very patiently, knowing it was an infirmity of -the flesh rather than the spirit. - -At last some lay down and would not be persuaded to any sport, and -before the end of the day our surgeon pronounced ten of them to be -sick of a calenture. Three days after half our company was down and -several dead. In vain did Frank and the surgeon try every remedy -they could devise. On the seventh day Joseph Drake was seized, to -his brother's great grief. - -For some days our general had been very earnest to have made -discovery of this terrible disease by ripping open one of those who -had died, and now in hope to save his brother he openly proclaimed -his intention, but in spite of their sufferings the company murmured -so loudly at this profanation of their dead comrades that he was -compelled to forego his desire. - -'They say I care not what indignity I set on them,' said Frank to me, -when I told him what the men were saying, 'so long as I save my -brother? Poor lads, they must be sorely sick in body and spirits to -say that. They shall see yet how they are all brothers to me, and -they shall have their way. Yet I would dearly love to make discovery -of the strange matter. It is hard, very hard, to lose Joe as well as -Jack.' - -Yet so he did, and two days after Joseph Drake breathed his last in -his brother's arms. I saw tears drop from Frank's eyes as he bent -over the fair curly head that lay on his knee, watching the bright -young life go fitfully out. Joe had spoken last of his unhappy -mother, seeming to lament he had not been more kind to her, and this -memory had touched Frank, who was himself sick, more keenly than he -could bear. - -So, as I say, he was weeping over his brother as he died. When the -last glimmer of life was gone he laid the fair head on the pillow, -and, kneeling down, prayed to God very earnestly that his brother -might be the last to die. Nearly all the company were gathered round -kneeling very respectfully as the general prayed. When he made an -end they all cried 'Amen,' and most tried in vain to keep back a tear -when they saw how tenderly their general leaned down and kissed the -calm young face of his dead brother. - -All the time our rat-faced surgeon sat unmoved in the corner of the -house where we were. He alone did not kneel, but sat with his case -of knives on his knee, and never took his little round eyes off the -general. He shifted uneasily when Frank stooped to give his farewell -embrace to his brother, and looked more keenly than ever when he rose -up to his feet with dry eyes and the old resolute look on his face. - -'Now, my lads,' said he, 'you may go. It is over. I thank you all -heartily for your prayers. Your duty is done, but mine and Master -Surgeon's is only begun. You would not let me do it before, and so -we have come to this pass; but, by God's help, this day we will make -an end. You thought I used you hardly when I would have done this to -one of your mates. So I stayed my hand, knowing how abominable it is -to unlearned men. Yet now you shall not hinder me, for between me -and my brother's body no one has a right to stand. Go now, and ere -long you shall know whether I hold my brotherhood to my father's son -higher than my brotherhood to you, my company.' - -The rat-faced surgeon had opened his case, but the men still were -loath to go, as though they would have stayed Frank from his purpose, -and again the little black eyes looked keen and anxious at the -captain. - -'Go, men!' cried Frank in a sharp, biting voice. 'It is I, Captain -Drake, who bid you, and whom you know.' - -Slowly then they left. More than one stopped at the door to look -round at the surgeon rolling up his sleeves and shudder, till Frank's -set look sent them on their way. He beckoned me to stay; and indeed -I think he had need of some one to support him in his terrible -resolution. It is a fearful thing to use a body as we were about to -do, but what must it have been to Frank thus to desecrate the mortal -part of that fair youth he loved so well! - -It made me sick to see how eagerly the surgeon went to his work. As -soon as we had stripped the corpse Frank drew from his pack a book he -had often spoken to me about. It was _The Anglishman's Treasure, or -the True Anatomy of Man's Body_, by Master Thomas Vicary. This he -held open in his hand, and signed to the surgeon to begin. - -Over the terrible sight that followed let me draw the veil. To me it -was as heroic a spectacle as ever Agamemnon presented at Aulis. It -was a holy sacrifice by our general of his tenderest feelings. Yet -when I think how detestable, inhuman, and sacrilegous in most men's -eyes is the dissection of bodies, how it has ever been banned by the -Church, how there are many who would have it altogether prevented by -law, and how loathsome it is even in my eyes, who so well know its -necessity, I hasten from the picture that fills my memory, since I -have said enough for men to bear in mind this crowning act of Francis -Drake's heroical resolution. Everything he did before and afterwards -I think called for less from his noble nature than that. Many -high-sounding acts he achieved before his death, in the face of -danger and the heat of battle, with a constancy that will make true -English hearts beat higher for all time; yet nothing stamps hero on -his memory, to my thinking, like what that January afternoon he -steadfastly endured on that fever-stricken isle, in cold blood, -unshaken, unflinching, and almost unmarked. It was the first -experiment in anatomy that our captain made that voyage. I cannot -wonder it was also the last. - -Even the surgeon was more moved than he, and in order to purge the -pestilent humours which he swore arose from the body and were the -cause of the disease he took so strong a dose of his own compounding -that he never spake again, nor did his boy, who also tasted the -medicine, recover wholly till we reached England. - -Frank, therefore, became surgeon himself, and whether from the -knowledge he had gained by his terrible experiment on his brother, or -whether by using different remedies, or none at all, I know not, but -certain it is that from that time no more died, and those that were -sick began rapidly to mend. - -Still we had suffered heavy loss before it was all ended, and many -were for giving up our voyage, protesting it was useless to attempt -to 'make' it with so maimed a company. But Frank would not hear such -counsel, and cheerfully encouraged them to endure a little longer. - -Our joy then may be judged when on the last day of January some of -the Cimaroons, who ever since our first meeting with them had been -continually ranging up and down the country to gather news, reported -of a certainty that the Plate Fleet had put into Nombre de Dios. - -A pinnace was at once despatched to the outermost island of the -Cativaas to confirm this report, whereby our general hoped to test -how far our allies were worthy of trust, since he knew that if it -were as they said, the victuallers would be seen flocking to the -ships with supplies. - -Within a few days the pinnace returned bringing the joyful -confirmation we desired, and something more which we very little -desired, namely, thirteen Spanish prisoners, and amongst them the -_Scrivano_ of Tolu and a black-eyed comely girl, his daughter. These -had been taken on a frigate laden with victuals, which had been dealt -with for the sake of getting certain news of the fleet. - -Nothing could have embarrassed us more in the last preparations we -had now to make for our land journey. To release the prisoner was -impossible, since they would have straightway spread the news which -it was our business to conceal. While to keep them was to have them -in constant danger of being cruelly massacred by the Cimaroons. - -Frank took every precaution that was possible. The prisoners were -landed on 'Slaughter Island,' as we called it, since we had lost so -many of our company there, so as to keep the Cimaroons from sight of -them, and then speedily set on board our great Carthagena prize, -which lay moored hard by the island. - -Here they were all brought before our general to be questioned. He -received them in such state as we could make upon the poop, and -presently encouraged them to fear nothing, for they seemed very ill -at ease as not knowing what treatment they should get at our hands. -In the midst of his speaking I saw the girl draw a knife from her -breast, and with the suddenness of a cat spring upon Frank. In truth -I think he must have been very near his death had not I seized her -hand, being prepared by what I had seen, and held her. - -It was all I could do to keep her from him, for she writhed and -struggled in a frenzy of passion and would not be pacified, till, -much against our will, we were forced to bind her pretty hands behind -her for the sake of peace, as though she had been a common mariner. -Then she stood alone in the midst before Frank helpless, panting, and -flushed, a passingly beautiful picture. Her luxuriant black hair was -loosened in her struggles and fell all about her face, and her large -dark eyes were flashing defiance at Frank as she drew herself up -proudly before him, looking like some young tigress fresh caught from -the forest in the plenitude of her wild youth and beauty. - -'Well, my beauty,' says Frank good-humouredly, 'this is strange -woman's work! Why will you force on us such discourtesy as to fit -you with such rude bracelets. Your pretty white arms were meant for -other work than this.' - -'I know that,' she answered scornfully; 'but when men turn women, -women must do men's work. You--you are men, and know not what it is -for a woman to be amongst such curs as these, who cower to be kicked -at the very sight of an Englishman, and let you heretic Lutheran dogs -plunder good Catholics as you will and then whine to the Blessed -Virgin to help their cowardice. Ah, if we had a few hearts like -yours and mine then you should see!' - -'God forbid,' says Frank, 'that we meet many men like you, else -surely will our voyage take more making than we bargained for.' - -'Ah, you are a man,' she said, 'and you know. I am glad I did not -kill you now, though I vowed the first time I met him to attempt with -my bodkin the life of the Dragon Francisco.' - -'Dragon Francisco is good,' laughed Frank. 'Were you twice as wild -you should have your bracelets off for that! Loose her, Jasper; she -will be quiet now.' - -'Ah,' she said again, as I undid her bonds, 'you are a man. It is -long since I felt a man's hand.' With that she threw herself at the -captain's feet, and, taking his rough hand in hers, kissed it -ardently. Then without a word she walked away from where we sat, and -quietly fell to twisting up the great masses of black hair that clung -about her, which was a wonder to us all. - -Having got the intelligence we required from the prisoners, it -remained but to set a guard over them, both to prevent their escape -and to keep an eye on the Cimaroons. I think Mr. Oxenham would have -very gladly undertaken this labour for the sake of those same -lustrous dark eyes; but Frank would not have it so, and appointed me -to it, bidding me treat the prisoners with all courtesy so far as I -could, having regard to their safe-keeping. - -I did not much relish my wardship of the wild girl, though I think I -was as much taken with her beauty and spirit as any of us. For Frank -would not have her put under constraint, though he suffered me to -keep the rest below hatches when night came on. So I allotted her -the best place in the poop, and bade her good-night. - -As the night wore on my anxiety only increased, and, being unable to -sleep, I went to walk on deck. It was a glorious tropic night, with -the moon flooding the dark forests and studded islands and the -slumbering sea with a brilliancy we do not know in the Old World. It -was so beautiful that I bade the look-out man go to rest, saying I -did not wish to sleep and would keep his watch for him. He seemed -very surprised, but thanked me civilly and went below. - -As I watched alone on deck the Spanish girl kept constantly in my -thoughts. Whatever way I tried to think my mind always came back to -her, and her white skin and beautiful eyes, so flashing in anger, so -soft in peace. I began to dread she would be the cause of -contentions amongst us, and to long for the time when we should be -well away on our land journey. - -I was sitting on the forecastle, and had been there perhaps for the -space of half an hour, when, just as the Seņorita was most vividly in -my thoughts, I saw the poop door stealthily open and a strange figure -appear. I knew in a moment who it was, in spite of her being so -changed. It was plainly the Spanish girl, looking more beautiful -than ever in the dress she had adopted. It was nothing more than the -ordinary apparel which the Spanish mariners use in those seas, -consisting of loose striped drawers reaching just above the knee, and -an easy-fitting sleeveless shirt of white material, which she had -girt tightly about her waist with a red scarf. - -Too amazed to act, I could only watch her ripe young figure, which -her dress set off to its full beauty, creeping warily forward towards -me. Very quietly I sunk lower into the shadow of the bulwarks to -watch what she would do. - -Every now and again she looked round in some new and graceful posture -to see if she were watched. At last she reached the foremast, to -which was fixed the mutilated image of the Virgin and Child, and -there she fell upon her knees and began to pray in a low earnest -voice that I could just hear. - -'Holy Mother of God,' she said, 'for the last time I beseech thine -aid to support me across the dark waters, to guide me through the -forest, to bring me safely to Nombre de Dios, that thy loving -worshippers may come at my word and destroy the heretics that would -plunder the treasure which his most Catholic Majesty would devote to -thy service, saving only, if it be not sin, Captain Francisco Draque, -whom it were a pity to kill, and the sad-faced man who has warded me -so courteously, and who, I think, is half in love with me.' - -Then she rose and walked with desperate quickness towards the side, -but ere she had gone three steps I had leaped down into the waist, -and she was struggling frantically in my arms. I was resolved to -stay her from the wild purpose her brave spirit was bent on. As she -writhed in my grasp I remember being rather afraid that she should -fall into the hands of the Cimaroons than that we should be betrayed -to the Spaniards. - -Like an eel she strove to get free, her dress giving her perfect -freedom to strain every effort. So tenderly did I feel towards her -for the sake of her heroic attempt that I was only thoughtful how not -to hurt her, but it was misplaced kindness, for suddenly she slipped -from my loosened grasp. In a moment she was at the bulwarks, poising -herself for a spring into the water, when suddenly she gave a low cry -of horror and sprang back into my arms as I rushed to her side. - -In an extremity of abject terror, to which her resolution was -suddenly changed, she clung about me, trembling from head to foot. - -'Save me, Seņor, save me!' she gasped, as she sank down clasping my -knees wildly. 'O God, O Sancta Maria! see what is coming,--O God, -what will they do to me! I cannot bear it. Save me, Seņor, save me!' - -So distractedly did she cling to me that I was obliged to lift her in -my arms before I could get to the side to see what had frightened -her, and then I could not wonder how her courage had melted, for I -saw a sight that made my blood run cold. - -Close to the ship and moving swiftly towards her swam over half a -score of black woolly heads. The ghostly moonlight glittered white -on the long wake that stretched behind each, and on their rolling -eyes, and, worst of all, on a grizzly knife which each held in his -grinning teeth. Like some hellish monsters engendered in the foul -womb of the sea they came on with lusty strokes, silent, sure, and -determined. - -There was no time to fetch my caliver or wake the guard had I been -willing to do so. But this was far from my wish; for I feared, had -they known the negroes' purpose and seen the terror of their pretty -prisoner, they would have dealt more hardly with our allies than the -general would have liked. Moreover, to be plain, I had a still -stronger reason for what I did; for I could not bear to think that -those rough men should see my beautiful captive so scantily yet -withal so prettily clad as she was. So, drawing my rapier, I sprang -to the gangway, for which they were making. - -'Back, back!' I cried, as low as I could for them to hear. 'The -first man that tries to board has my blade through him.' - -That, I thought, dismayed them, for each as he swam up stopped -without attempting to board, which they might easily have done; for -the ship, being full of victuals, was very low in the water, and, -moreover, two chains hung down the side by the gangway. I was in no -little doubt how I could deal with them should they make any attempt, -for I feared that my terrified Seņorita would much hamper my -movements, since she had followed me to the gangway. Therefore, to -further dissuade them, I fell to showing them how ill the general -would take what they did, seeing the prisoners were his. - -Even as I spoke I was much encouraged to feel the Seņorita's arm -steal round me and draw from its sheath the strong sailor's knife I -always wore. I knew then the brave girl had recovered her spirit. I -could not refrain from pressing the little hand as it closed round -the hilt of the knife, to let her know how I marked her courage. - -My speech had small effect on the Cimaroons; for though they still -held off, yet they seemed not to note my words, but only to glare -horribly at the girl by my side. Wondering what next to do, I was -all at once aware that most of them had disappeared. There was -something so unearthly and magical in this sudden vanishing that my -heart misgave me. While I could see my foes I did not fear but that -I could deal with them as I wished; but now I was encompassed by -unseen dangers, and in that ghostly moonlight, I say plainly, I was -afraid. - -Nothing would have been more to my mind than to cry aloud and wake -the sailors. Yet I set my teeth hard and gripped anew Harry's -rapier. I felt he would have done as I hoped for courage to do, and -I clung to my former resolution. Yet I saw it was useless to wait -where I was, so, taking the Seņorita's hand, I led her towards the -poop. Half-way there she looked back, started, and clutched my arm. - -'Look, Seņor, look,' she whispered, 'look at the forecastle.' - -I turned and saw the evil sight I dreaded. Black against the moonlit -sky the wet, shining figure of a Cimaroon was climbing over the -bulwarks where our head-fast ran out. I knew directly they must have -dived to the cable and climbed up by it. In another minute they -would all be aboard. - -Then I knew there was but one thing to do, and ran quickly under the -poop-gallery with the Seņorita. - -'Go in, Seņorita,' said I, as soon as we reached the door. 'You must -leave me to deal with these alone.' - -'No, Seņor,' she answered, 'I will not leave. I am not afraid now. -It was only for a moment. I will stay and fight them with you.' - -'There is no need,' said I; 'I am going to rouse the mariners.' - -Indeed, it was time. One after another I could see the black forms -climb over the bulwarks, dripping and gleaming in the moonlight, and -each with his bright knife. A hideous head, too, was glaring over -the gangway, as though waiting for the rest. Still the Seņorita -would not go, but rather stepped out into the moonlight to be farther -from the door, which I held open. - -'No! I will wait with you,' she said resolutely. 'Why should I not -wait and fight beside the sailors when they come?' - -'Because, Seņorita,' said I, growing desperate as I saw the wet, -shining forms creeping athwart the forecastle, 'because they are -rough men, and I would not have them see you as you are.' - -A crimson flush overspread her beautiful face. With wide astonished -eyes and parted lips she met my gaze for a moment. - -'Ah!' she cried then, just as she had to Frank, 'you are a man!' -Dropping the knife as she spoke, she sprang towards me, and before I -was aware what she did she had taken my face between her soft little -hands and kissed me on the lips. Then she was gone; and even as that -fair vision passed I saw black forms dropping from the forecastle -into the waist. Loudly then I shouted to my company, and ere the -Cimaroons had advanced many paces one of the mariners came running up -to me, and then another, and another, blowing up their matches. - -That was enough for the Cimaroons, who we afterwards found had no -heart to stand before gunpowder. One of them uttered a loud cry, and -then with one accord they all leaped into the sea. Lustily they made -for the shore, and I had much ado to prevent my small-shot men and -archers hastening their swimming, but at last I prevailed. - -After that I set a double watch, but we were no more disturbed that -night. Next day I reported these things to the general, who so dealt -with the Cimaroons, and took such order for a guard over the -prisoners, that the Spaniards were no more molested till we departed -on our land journey, though the negroes ceased not to urge him by -every device they could think of to permit them to have at least a -few to murder, or better than naught, the girl alone. - -As for me, I craved to be relieved of my charge, feeling that after -what had passed it would be better for us both if the captive had -another warder; but Frank only laughed, and said he could trust no -one, not even himself, with that lump of Eve's flesh, unless it were -a sober scholar like myself. With that answer, whereby he showed -less knowledge of men than ordinary, I had to be content, and bear -myself as soberly and scholarly towards my prisoner as I could make -shift to do till the time came for our departure. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -A fortnight later, in a fair clearing on the summit of those -forest-clad hills which separate the Atlantic Ocean from the South -Sea knelt eighteen sunburnt, way-worn Englishmen. In their midst -rose a giant-tree that reared its head high above all the dense -growth around it. In its rugged bark steps had been cut that led -upwards to a sort of bower high amidst the massive branches, which -might have served as a watch-house to the little settlement that was -about the glade. - -For all around where those gaunt men knelt were strong houses built -in the manner of the Cimaroons, some thirty of whom knelt reverently -outward of the Englishmen listening to the prayer which the -thick-set, curly-bearded man in the centre offered up so earnestly. - -Earnestly, too, those seventeen others listened, as they knelt in the -heart of the Spanish Main, with as stout an air of triumph on their -youthful faces as though it were all their own. And no wonder it was -so. For each man there had but just ascended to that silvan -watch-tower, and there had seen to the northward the ocean whence he -had come, and over against it, beyond the rolling slope of gorgeous -tropic forest, that silent sea of mystery on which no Englishman had -sailed stretched at his feet, as though waiting peacefully for him to -come and take possession. - -[Illustration: SIR FRANCIS DRAKE] - -To our fancies, heated with the hundred tales we had heard of the -inexhaustible treasure which came from that new-found sea whereof the -wisest of the ancients were ignorant, it seemed to glitter like a -boundless, unfathomable caldron of molten silver. From this, our -first sight of it, it seemed but a little step with our elated -spirits to enter and possess it; and so it was with uplifted hearts -and throbbing pulse that, resting on our weapons, we kneeled and -listened to Frank Drake's prayer. - -'O Almighty God,' he said, 'who has granted us of Thy great goodness -that we should set our eyes at last on that great sea which for all -the ages till now no man knew, but only Thou, and which, though Thou -hadst kept it hidden as an inheritance for all mankind who served -Thee aright, the Bishop of Rome has impiously taken upon himself to -give to an idolatrous king and people: Grant to me now out of the -plenty of Thy power and bounty life and leave to sail once, if only -once, in an English ship in that sea. So shall I, thy servant, and -such of those others here to whom Thou wilt vouchsafe the same, enter -thereon to the advancement to Thy glory, and the confusion of the -lewd priest and potentate who has usurped and abused the vineyard -which Thou hadst prepared for Thy people.' - -So he ceased, and a deep 'Amen' mingled with the rustle of the breeze -amongst the vines and canes. Then up sprang Mr. John Oxenham, and -held on high his right hand. - -'Hearkye, lads,' he cried, very excited, 'you have heard the -captain's prayer, and know his resolution. Now bear witness that by -yea and nay I protest, as I am a gentleman, that, unless he beat me -from his company, I will follow him, by God's grace, into that sea.' - -So one after another we all protested to the like intent, very -earnest and eager for that time to come; and yet, resolute as we all -were, how few ever made good our resolve, and notably Mr. Oxenham! -Had he but been content to follow Frank, instead of faithlessly -trying to be before him, who knows but he too might have died a -knight with a golden collar, and not, as he did, like a felon with a -necklet of Spanish hemp! But let that pass, for who knows better -than I how hard it may be to keep a resolution which in the making -seemed so easy? Such falling away we must openly condemn, for the -sake of the state and reverence for the laws; yet no wise man will -inwardly hasten to loathe sin, since he is well aware that until he -has made trial he cannot tell how small a shock of temptation will -lay his own honour in ruins. - -And surely the sight of that golden sea, whereof no man knew the -bounds, was enough to turn any man's head. None of us were in haste -to leave that glorious sight, feeling as though we could never gaze -our fill. To us, the first of Englishmen, was unfolded the -portentous secret which the Spaniards had kept so well. That night, -then, we lay there to dream over the boundless visions to which our -discovery gave birth. - -On the morrow, refreshed with our rest, and feeling each one of us a -new man in the presence of that new ocean, we began our perilous -descent towards Panama. And perilous indeed it was, though none of -us now could think of danger or anything but the golden sea. - -We were, as I have said, but eighteen Englishmen. This little band -was all we could muster for our attempt. Eight and twenty of our -company were lying dead in graves already half hidden in brakes. -Well-nigh half the rest were sick; and when these were set aside with -a sufficiency of whole men to tend them, and above all to protect our -ships and prisoners, eighteen were all we could spare. - -I had been appointed one of the number, seeing that I was still -whole; yet it must be said I was hard put to it to go. For my -prisoner coaxed me so prettily to stay and protect her, and pouted so -sweetly with her full red lips when I would not be moved, that I more -than once came near to yielding, and was not a little glad that we -marched as soon as we did. - -Besides our eighteen we had with us thirty Cimaroons, who lightened -the labour of our march not only by their ready bearing of our -burdens, which they would not suffer us to touch, but also by their -cheerful spirits. They seemed never to weary, and were ever laughing -and singing, even when the way was steepest and the brakes most -dense. They seemed, now that they were away from the Spaniards and -we came to know them better, an altogether docile, childlike people, -whom one could but love, for all their hidden fierceness, as one -would a staunch and faithful hound. - -Pedro, their chief, who best knew the danger of our enterprise, had -put it hard to the general that he should tarry at a certain town of -theirs till a greater force of Cimaroons could be gathered. But this -Frank would not hearken to. 'No, Pedro,' said he; 'the time speeds -for "making" my voyage, and since I have enough I would not delay an -hour though I might have twenty times as many.' A resolute answer -which rejoiced and gave heart to us all. - -So on the morrow of our discovery of the South Sea we began our -descent as we were towards Panama. It was our general's purpose to -waylay a _recua_ as close as possible to Panama, where the Spaniards -would least look for us, in case they had any wind of our still being -on the coast. To this end we had made our toilsome march, going a -good way about that we might not be descried, and so come down -secretly upon the road which led from Panama to Venta Cruz, where, as -I have said, the gold was embarked in frigates to be carried down the -Rio Chagres to Nombre de Dios. We were the more moved to this course -because of our uncertainty whether the _recuas_ went as yet all the -way by land to Nombre de Dios. As we were now it mattered little; -for by thus striking boldly across the Main we could deal with them -before they reached the river, and thus save them the pain of -disappointing us. - -Very warily now we pursued our painful way through the matted forest, -in the order which Pedro besought us to adopt. First went, about a -mile ahead of us, four Cimaroons, who best knew those trackless -solitudes. For not a sign of a way was there, and even had there -been one it would have been overgrown by the luxuriant brakes as fast -as it was made. We had nothing further to direct us than the broken -branches by which our guides marked the way we were to follow. How -they could know their road amidst those wellnigh impenetrable woods, -where they could not even see the sky above their heads, was more -than I could tell. Mr. Oxenham said it was a special instinct which -God had given them that they might the better be revenged upon the -Spaniards who had so foully ill-treated them. How this may be I -cannot say, but I know that Frank and most of the company said openly -it was nothing short of a miracle, by which God showed His great love -and tenderness towards us. For it is certain that without the aid of -these poor folk we could never even have attempted the Spaniards by -land. - -Our general was very earnest to show his gratitude for this mercy by -burdening himself with care for their souls. For when he found that -they seemed to have no religion, save a sort of idolatrous and -superstitious reverence for the Cross, he would not rest till by -continual urging them at our halts he brought them to lay it aside -and learn in its stead the Lord's Prayer and certain plain doctrines -as he thought sufficient for their low understanding. - -Great as was the skill of our guides in leading, it was little -exceeding our vanguard's diligence in clearing the way. For in the -front of our main body marched twelve Cimaroons, who with loving care -made the way as easy as might be for us and their two chiefs, who -were in company with us. Rearwards of all were twelve negroes more, -bearing our burdens and watching against any danger that might -threaten from the rear. - -So we marched stealthily through that eternal wilderness of brake, -and vine, and flower, and massive overshadowing trees hour after -hour, in perfect silence, save for the scolding of the frightened -parrots overhead and the strident screaming of the fearless guans. -To me that march gave a pleasure and present sense of strong life -that I had never known before; nor did my content end there. For -Harry felt the influence as strongly as I, and so there was bred -between us one more piece of sympathy, which gave me yet further hope -that I might win his love again. It seemed to bring back our -boyhood, and almost in his old boyish way he came that night and sat -beside me. - -'Is this not glorious work?' said he, as he stretched his weary limbs -upon the flowers. - -'I could almost wish it would never end,' I answered. 'It lifts a -man out of himself like nothing else I know.' - -'That is it,' he mused. 'Indeed, I think there is nothing which will -keep a man so continually excited as silently stalking through a -boundless forest like this, where a white man's foot has never trod -before. As you pick your way at each step, that no stick may crack -or stone roll; as cautiously you press through the boughs, that none -may break or fly back noisily; as you strain your ear for the -whispered order that is passed from your comrade, and peer ever -forwards towards where the danger lies, then you know best the pure -joy of living, the joy of the tiger leaping on his prey, the joy of -the falcon stooping at his quarry.' - -'Well said! well said!' I cried, catching his enthusiasm. 'Even so I -now at last can say, "I live and know my life. Now live I with the -life of my father Adam, the son of God." Now know I that fable for a -true allegory, and feel I have dominion over the beast of the field -and the fowls of the air, which is called the inheritance of Adam.' - -'Truly what greater joy was his than we have now!' said Harry. 'The -wild pigs and deer and pheasants are our meat, the bubbling brooks -our wine-cups, the leafy boughs our roof, the flowers our beds. His -inheritance is ours! 'Slight, it is a time to tempt a man to throw -aside the fetters of his clothes and the burden of his arms, and rise -up with nought but a spear as symbol of dominion, and live to his -life's end a lord of beasts.' - -'It is you, Harry,' said I, 'whom I must thank that I too can know -'this intense joy. It was your father's bringing-up of me that -taught me to love the out-of-doors.' - -'Well, it is mock-modesty,' he answered, 'to say he knew not how to -make a man. Indeed, I think Machiavelli did not much err when he -praised the education of Achilles, for whom Chiron chose a master -half-man, half-beast, that he might be acquainted with both, seeing -that without the qualities of one the other will be of little -duration. Such teachers we cannot come by now, yet we can make shift -with one who forgets not that man is half a beast.' - -Such talk we had many times afterwards; and I call it a fortunate -thing that our march drew to an end before we had quite run wild. On -the second day after leaving the spot where we had viewed the South -Sea we came out of the forests to a pleasant champaign country, -overgrown with mighty grass, so rank that, as Pedro told us, the -Spaniards had to burn it thrice a year, lest it grow so tall that the -oxen cannot reach to feed on it; which will seem a wonder to those -who know not the Western Wonderland, but it is none the less plain -truth. - -Three days we passed through this marvel, suffering grievously from -the heat after the cool shadows of the forest, yet being cheered many -times by getting glimpses of Panama whenever we passed over the -rolling hills that fell in our path. On the fourth day, being the -14th of February, we had for our valentine the blue roadstead of -Panama, with its burden of gold ships riding upon it. - -It was a sight to set every heart there beating faster, -notwithstanding the many dangers and excitements through which we had -passed since we heard the farewell guns from Plymouth platform. -Indeed, it was now that our great peril began; for by hook or crook -we had to reach undescried a great grove which lay apart in the midst -of the champaign lands, about a league from the town. - -Our danger of discovery, which would mar all, was now very great; for -the Cimaroons told us it was the custom of the ladies in Panama to -send out fowlers in search of a certain delicate bird of which they -were very fond. Should we fall in with but one of these men, which -would be very easy in the tall grass, the alarm would be at once -given, and our chance of gold gone--ay, and perhaps our lives with it. - -Frank therefore bade us break up our order, and, falling into small -parties, grope our way as silently and stealthily as possible towards -our goal. It was weary work, and anxious. The sun was blazing down -upon us with intolerable power. Every few minutes we had to stop and -listen. - -After going thus for a good space with infinite toil we struck a -river bed, which was almost dry. This, to our great relief, the -Cimaroons said we could follow safely, since it led straight to the -grove. So in the end, by picking our way over the stones like cats, -we came undescried to our hiding-place about three in the afternoon, -and then disposed ourselves to rest, wellnigh exhausted. - -There was now nothing to do but lie there still as mice till the -night fell; for the _recuas_ do not travel by day between Panama and -Venta-Cruz, because the way lies wholly across the champaign country, -where there is no shelter from the scorching fire of the sun. -Moreover it was our captain's purpose, as soon as evening drew near, -to send a negro in disguise into Panama to discover whether any -_recuas_ were to be laden that night, and at what hour they were to -start. - -As I lay with the rest, half-asleep after my weary march, Frank came -to me and asked if I were too tired for half an hour's more work. - -'Not if you want it of me,' said I. - -'Well then,' says he, 'come with me to the edge of the grove, whence -Pedro says we can descry Panama.' - -'But to what end?' I asked. 'We shall run great risk of discovery.' - -'Not if we are careful,' says he; 'and it is worth the risk.' - -'Why, what good will our intelligence be?' I asked, not wishing him -to expose himself. - -'Not much now,' he answered, 'but, by God's help, some day I will -serve Panama as I served Nombre de Dios. If God grants my prayer for -life and leave, and we sail that sea, yonder harbour is where we must -strike, if we get not our fill elsewhere; and now I have opportunity -of learning how the town lies, I will not throw it away. It is thus -I have sped so far, and thus I mean to continue. For I hold it not -enough for a man to pray earnestly; he must show by fearless, -ungrudging endeavour that he is in earnest, and leave nothing undone -which may speed the granting of his prayer. God could do all this -and more without my help, that I know well; but yet I think He loves -best to help men who are ready to show they are in earnest in seeking -His help.' - -So together we went and lay down where we could see the fair city, -lying some little way from the harbour on either side of a goodly -broad street that led northwards from the sea right through the -houses. All was very still, because of the great heat that still -prevailed. Yet we could see the convent nestling in its garden of -palms, the tall spire of the church, the high bare walls of the -King's Treasure-House, as big and strong as that at Nombre de Dios. -And beyond all slumbered the gold ships in the roadstead. - -'A fair place! a goodly place!' said Frank in a whisper. 'Too fair -and goodly for those that possess it. It should be ours, Jasper, and -our Queen's; and so it shall be, at least for as long as its -plundering will take, if I can come into that roadstead with but two -stout well-manned ships. We shall see, we shall see. Let us come -away. It is in the Lord's hands to deal with as He wills.' - -On our return to the strength we found the Cimaroons busy dressing -our espial in the costume which the servants in Panama were -accustomed to wear. He was a merry, shrewd fellow, who had served a -master in the city formerly, and he bade us not to doubt that he -would soon be back with all the intelligence we wanted. - -After his going was another space of anxious waiting, during which we -refreshed ourselves with such victuals as we had with us. To every -man was given a little _aqua vitæ_ for his comfort. I was surprised -to see Sergeant Culverin drinking, as I thought a little too freely, -from a private store he had. I went to him, and he respectfully -offered me some. - -'No, Sergeant,' said I; 'if there is danger before us I would rather -keep my head cool.' - -'As you will, sir,' he said. 'It may be well enough for a young man, -but with an old soldier it is different.' - -'Then has not an old soldier as much need of a cool head as a young -one?' I asked. - -'Yes, perhaps,' he answered; 'but a cool head is little use if your -heart is cool too.' - -'Why, Sergeant,' said I, very surprised, 'your heart at least will -not be faint when a fight is ahead.' - -'No, sir,' said he gravely, 'no man shall say that; and yet I like to -go about with it that it shall not faint, and therefore I discipline -it with a sufficiency of _aqua vitæ_.' - -'Well, Sergeant,' said I, still very puzzled at the signs of timidity -on the part of the grim old soldier, 'you are the last I should have -suspected of needing so base a crutch for his courage.' - -'Maybe my courage halts,' he answered sadly, 'maybe it does not. -Once I never gave a thought to danger, but when a man has served much -he knows. I do not think I have less courage than any man here, but -I know what war is better than they. As you shall see more of war, -sir, you shall see less of its glory and more of its horror. That is -why I wished to come to England; and to be plain with you, I should -never have run my head into this wild venture of Captain Drake's had -it not been that my poor master---- but I crave your honour's pardon, -I prattle impertinently.' - -'No matter, Sergeant,' said I; 'it is I who should crave your pardon. -But tell me, do you think our danger so very great?' - -'Not perhaps if we succeed,' answered the Sergeant; 'but if we fail, -where shall we retreat?' - -'But we must not think of that,' said I. - -'A young soldier need not,' said he sadly; 'but alas! an old soldier -cannot choose but think of it, unless----' - -'Unless what, Sergeant?' I asked. - -'Unless, sir,' said he, grimly smiling, 'in the stead of the ardent -spirit of youth, which in you burns up such doubt, a man may come by -a sufficiency of this most courageous _agua ardiente_.' - -With that I left him, revolving much in my mind whether he or I were -the braver man. - -It was not long before our espial came back. We gathered eagerly -round him for his news, which as eagerly he gave, seeing he was so -full of it that he was like to burst had he not got this relief as -soon as he did. And no wonder, for he told us he had found the Plaza -full of mules, which men were fitting with packs. On questioning -these he found that two great _recuas_, with a little silver and much -victuals, were about to start for the fleet that night; but what was -better, and what caused his eagerness, was that, besides these, there -was preparing to precede them a _recua_ for no less a man than the -Treasurer of Lima himself,' who, being bent on returning to Spain by -the first _adviso_ that sailed, was starting that very night for -Nombre de Dios with all his servants and his daughter, together with -one mule load of jewels and eight of gold! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -It was midnight. Silence and darkness had fallen on that grass-bound -highway that joined the oceans. Not a breath stirred the tall -herbage. All was still as death, save for the distant mingled voices -of the tropic night. Yet on either side the way, some two leagues -short of Venta Cruz, that reedy pasture might have been seen to nod -from time to time with a strange unaccustomed motion. - -Save that, there was nothing to show a traveller that the sea of -grass, through which his way led him, held stranger fish than all the -rest of the wide expanse on either hand. Yet so it was. Strange -fish, both black and white, lay there as still as serpents. - -For thither had our captain led us as the most fitting spot for our -venture, being, as Pedro showed, the farthest from Spanish relief and -most convenient for our retreat with the plunder. So there I lay at -Frank's side, and about me half our band, cutting strange figures. -For Frank had made us put on our shirts over our other clothes, so -that we might know friend from foe in the coming struggle. - -Farther on, upon the other side of the way, was Mr. Oxenham, with -Harry and the rest, so placed that he might stop the head of the -Treasurer's _recua_ while we dealt with the tail. By this order, -too, we might use our bows without fear of hurting our friends. - -Between Frank and me lay a Spanish soldier fast bound. Our two -Cimaroon guides had captured him on our march from the grove where we -had lain hid all the afternoon. From him we had gathered -intelligence which confirmed all that our espial had told us. Before -this Frank had been loath to believe our good luck, thinking so -strange a chance savoured of a trap to undo us. But this soldier, as -soon as he learned who our captain was, was so overjoyed at knowing -he would be softly dealt with that he gave us full knowledge of how -to proceed, which he was the better able to do seeing that he himself -was one of those hired to guard the Treasurer. All this, he swore, -was honest truth, as he was a gentleman soldier. He seemed to wish -nothing so much as our success, which we better could understand when -he craved in return for his intelligence that our captain would not -only save him from the Cimaroons, but also deal with him as he had -with others in like place, giving him sufficient of the plunder to -keep him and his mistress. He courteously promised in addition to -make our names famous throughout all Spain and the Indies if we did -this; but I think Frank was not very earnest to have his trumpet -blown by such false lips. And I noted that as we lay there he had -his dagger ready to curb any desire our prisoner might have to alarm -his master when he approached. - -It seemed hours that we lay there in the dim starlight. The tall -grass about us hid everything from us but the white shirts of our -comrades. We heard nothing but the drawing of our own breath, the -beating of our own hearts, howsoever hard we strained our ears for a -sound of the _recuas_. In truth, it could not have been past an hour -before a puff of wind from the northward stirred the grass above us, -and with it came the distant tinkle of bells. - -It was but a _recua_ from Venta Cruz, we knew, all of which we had -resolved to let pass as only carrying merchandise for the city and -Peru. Yet it made my heart beat faster for a while, till the breeze -died again; and even as it ceased came another tinkle from the -direction of the city. Every man moved to listen better, making the -grass rustle, and Frank held up his hand to quiet them. The tinkling -died away again as the _recua_ passed down to some hollow, where the -sound of its bells was drowned to us. - -Night is day on this the most notable highway in the world, as I have -shown, and great and rich is the traffic either way in the cool hours -between sunset and dawn, when the Plate Fleet is lying in Nombre de -Dios, and all the Spanish Main is stirring with the life, and hopes, -and fears it brings. - -It was natural, then, to hear on the round stones with which years -ago Pizarro had paved the way the clatter of a horse's feet coming up -from Venta Cruz, and mingling with the rise and fall of the distant -tinkling. As the sound drew near, Pedro, who had been lying with his -head pressed against the ground, crawled towards us like a snake. - -'It is a _cabalero_,' whispered he. - -'How do you know that?' says Frank. - -'I can hear he has a page-boy running at his stirrup,' answered the -Cimaroon, whose ears seemed to turn to eyes in the dark. 'It is easy -to hear on the hard road. Listen!' - -'Well, whatever he be, let him pass,' said Frank, for so we had -determined. Yet very gladly, I think, would Pedro have made a dash -at the gentleman's throat. - -On came the horse at a gentle trot till, when he came about opposite -Mr. Oxenham's party, we heard a plunging, as though he had taken -fright at something, and immediately after he dashed past us at a -false gallop on the way to the city. - -'Why has he changed his pace?' said Frank quickly. - -'For no reason that I can tell,' said Pedro, 'unless the others -showed themselves.' - -'They can never have been so mad,' said Frank. 'And yet I think he -must have seen them. Did the page come by us?' - -'No,' answered Pedro. - -'Did he go back?' asked Frank. - -'I could not hear,' said the Cimaroon. - -'Surely they must have shown themselves,' said Frank. 'Yet there is -nothing for it but to lie still and wait.' - -I thought of Sergeant Culverin and his _agua ardiente_, but held my -peace. Silently we lay again listening breathlessly to the sound of -the galloping horse dying away in the distance towards Panama, and -the growing clamour of the bells on either hand, not knowing how far -we were descried, and being wholly unable to find out. Had the -horseman seen anything, and would he warn the _recuas_ of their -danger? As we listened the full jangling of the mule-bells ceased -and gave place to a fitful tinkle. It was now the sound of mules at -a standstill, which shook themselves or tried to lick the places -where the flies had galled them. Faint cries of impatient men -mingled with the broken sound, and at last we could not doubt but -that they had stopped. Frank and Pedro looked at each other blankly. - -'They have surely been warned,' said Pedro. - -'Still we must wait,' said Frank, with his stern look settling hard -on his resolute face. 'It is in God's hand. Peradventure the gold -was well gotten by this Treasurer, and it is not His will that we -should take it from him.' - -With this cold comfort we had to content ourselves and listen again. -Very soon the bells towards Venta Cruz pealed full again, and in a -few minutes Pedro knew they were returning. Our wits were now wholly -bent towards the city. Would they come on and trust to the -Treasurer's guard? That was all we could ask ourselves. The answer -came before many minutes were past. - -Again the full jangle broke the stillness. They had moved again. As -loud as ever it sounded, and our hopes beat high, but only for a -short space. Lower and lower sank the sound, till we could hardly -hear it. Pedro whispered to Frank, who held up his hand to calm some -who had half risen, hoping for an order to pursue. - -It was plain they were fast losing patience, when suddenly the faint -tinkling waxed again, till it burst out with a full-toned peal not -half a mile from us. Then I knew it was but a deep hollow in the -road that had kept the sound from us. Louder and louder it grew, -till we could hear each bell sweet and distinct, for the Spaniards -love to have them strong and full-toned for comfort on their long and -dreary marches. - -I saw Frank's whistle, on which he always gave us the signal to -attack, glisten in the starlight as he pulled it out. I drew my -rapier silently. Now we could hear the men cursing their mules and -beating them, as though they were in hot haste. Now they were -abreast of us. Still we stirred not. Mule after mule we could hear -go by, almost deafening us with the clang of their bells, though not -a hair could we see in our dark lair. A whole train so passed, and -then came another. Now was our time. The whistle gleamed at Frank's -lips. I gripped my hilt hard. Shrilly went up the signal, clear -above the jangling bells. - -In a moment we were on our feet, rushing through the grass breast -high on two full trains of mules. Whether there were soldiers there -we could not tell, yet no armour could I descry. There was no time -to think. Already I heard Mr. Oxenham's voice shouting to the -leading carriers to stop, and we were amongst them. - -Every one knocked over or seized the man in front of him. I rushed -with Frank to the rear to stay any man escaping. We knew our other -company had stopped the front _recua_, for the mules all began lying -down, as is their wont when they are halted. - -They were soon all stretched peacefully in the way, and it was all -over. Not a sign of resistance was there. We hardly knew what to -make of it. There was not a Spaniard in all the train, much less a -Treasurer and his daughter. - -'Hold that false Spaniard fast, Jasper,' cried Frank. 'If he has -deceived us, as I fear he has, he shall rue the day.' - -So I clung to my charge, the prisoner we had brought along with us, -while the rest made discovery of our capture. Bale after bale they -cut, but no treasure was to be found. Nothing was in them but -victuals for the fleet. Frank sent for the chief carrier to learn -where the gold was, as we had little time to spare, and then we knew -the worst. - -'Ah, most worthy _cabalero_,' said the chief carrier, who seemed a -very tall, sensible fellow, 'they have played you a trick, for which -none is to blame but yourself.' - -'But was not the Treasurer of Lima to pass first to-night?' asked -Frank impatiently. - -'Since you know that I will tell you all,' answered the man. 'Sure -enough he was to come with all his gold and family and jewels, but -half-way hither a _cabalero_ met us in hot haste, saying he had seen -something alive, half white, half black, rolling in the grass, and he -feared there was danger. So he urged his Excellency to turn back and -send on the victual _recuas_ to try and spring the trap, if there was -one. We have done it, and crave indulgence, since it was but our -orders, noble captain.' - -I saw Frank's face darken with anger in the flare of the torches we -had now kindled. He turned quickly from the muleteer to us who stood -by. - -'Mr. Oxenham,' said he sternly, in a firm low voice, 'it was one of -your company that spoiled all, for it was ere he reached us that this -discreet gentleman changed his pace. What does it mean?' - -'Sergeant,' said Harry, who now stepped forward, 'report yourself for -punishment!' - -Very unsteadily the poor Sergeant came up and gave a reeling salute. -He was plainly very drunk, yet to judge by his melancholy face -sobered enough to know what he had done. - -'I could not help it, Captain Drake,' blurted the unhappy man. 'I -had not seen a horse for nigh on a year. I could not choose but look -when I heard him come. It would have been well, but the Cimaroon who -was with me jumped on my back to pull me down, and so we rolled over, -and the enemy's horse descried us.' - -'Enough,' said Frank sharply; 'you are a fool, and shall smart for -your folly, but not now. We have other work. Go! You are Mr. -Waldyve's prisoner.' - -With another salute a little more steadily he faced about and -withdrew, crestfallen beyond all words. I could see Frank was -consumed with anger, but yet he gave it not rein, for he had need of -his calmness. That we were thus disappointed by the folly of one of -our own company was bad enough when we had come so near to so great -success, but there was worse beyond. - -Our case was a very desperate one, that was plain. We had failed, -and nothing was left us but to escape as quickly as we could to our -ships, or at least the forest, ere the Spaniards could gather a force -to attack us. How far they had discovered us was our only doubt, and -Frank again questioned the muleteer to find out what they knew of our -numbers. - -'Nay, that I know not,' said the man. 'Yet I am persuaded that -unless you make haste away they will be upon you with all the force -they can muster. They have good reason to fear your strength, or -otherwise his Excellency would have trusted to his own guard. I tell -you this because I owe them a grudge for making me a cat's-paw.' - -'But why did he not trust to his guard?' asked Frank. - -'Why, for good reason enough. "What folk can these be?" he says to -the gentleman that met us. "Well," says he, "there are only two who -would have stomach for this wild stroke into the heart of -Tierra-Firme, where no pirate has ever dared to set his foot before. -I tell your Excellency it is Drake or the Devil." "Say rather the -Devil Drake," says his Excellency, and thereupon very easily is -persuaded to send me on instead of himself.' - -This answer after his own heart brought a smile to the general's face -in spite of his anger, and helped him to calmly choose what course we -should take. There were but two. One was to return by the terrible -long and painful way we had come; the other the short way along the -road through Venta Cruz. The former was the safest, but we were all -wearied out and footsore. Moreover, though disappointed of the gold -and jewels, we had some two loads of silver to carry. I know not if -it were past our strength to attempt it, but I know that desperate as -we were over our cruel failure it was long past our inclination. - -Pedro, who told us all this, stood waiting for an answer as the -captain pondered. I knew what Frank was thinking of, for he -presently looked hard at the Cimaroon. In success he doubted not -their faith. In failure could he trust them? This was the last and -greatest of our perils, enough in all to have crushed a heart less -stout than his. - -'Pedro,' says he suddenly, still staring hard at the chief out of his -wide blue eyes, 'will you give me your hand not to forsake me if I do -it?' - -The Cimaroon knew what he meant; so did we all. He drew his muscular -black frame to the full height very proudly before he answered. - -'Captain Drake,' says he then, 'you and I are chiefs who have sworn -company. Rather would I die at your feet than leave you to your -enemies, if you dare hold to it, as I know you dare.' - -With that they gripped hands, and Frank, turning cheerfully to the -company, gave us his resolution. - -'Seeing we have failed, lads,' said he, 'we must even haste back to -our ships as fast as we may, from which we have been too long absent -already, that we may defend them in case they be attacked, and -moreover to let things quiet down a bit till we can try again. For -try again we will, since I am resolved not to leave this coast till -our voyage be made. Well, there are two ways back--one the long and -weary track by which we came, the other short and quick, but it lies -through Venta Cruz.' He paused a moment to see the effect of his -words, which seemed to catch the breath of those who listened, and -they looked from one to the other as he went on. 'By the long way -half of us will drop with fatigue, to be picked up by Spaniards. The -short way is easy along the high road. The mules will carry us as -far as the town, and then all we have to do is to force a passage. I -am for the short way; who is for the long?' - -Not a man spoke, half of them being still breathless, I think, at the -thought of this desperate expedient. Had any other man proposed it -we should have set him down for a mad fellow, but we had all come to -think that nothing was too hard for us under our heroic general, and -not a man demurred. - -'Then we are all for the short way,' cried Frank. 'Mount then, and -away! There is no time to lose, if we do not want the whole Panama -garrison at our heels.' - -In a few minutes we were all ambling on our borrowed steeds on the -road towards Venta Cruz, silent and oppressed with thinking of our -forlorn attempt, yet each desperate and resolved to do his best. So -we continued till within a mile of the town, where the road entered -the forest again. A very perilous pass it looked, and Frank called -on us to draw rein. The road was but from ten to twelve feet wide, -and on either side a dense wall of tangled boughs and vines, reaching -high above our heads, as thick as any well-kept Kentish hedge. For -in that land the growth of the woods is so fast and rank that were it -not that men were always at work shredding and ridding the way, it -would be altogether lost and overgrown in one year. This constant -cutting had made the leafy walls on either hand as dense as I have -said, so that a man could hardly push through them without hurt. - -Just as we drew rein I saw dimly, from where I rode in front with -Frank, that our two Cimaroons had stopped about half a flight ahead -of us. We drew near, and saw they were snuffing the air through -their widely-distended nostrils like hounds. - -'Small shot in the wood!' they said, as we came to them. - -'Where?' says Frank. 'Can you see them?' - -'No,' said the elder Cimaroon; 'but we can smell their matches. It -is sure the wood is full of them on either hand.' - -We could neither see nor smell anything, but doubted not it was as -these strangely gifted men had said. The Spaniards had been too -quick for us; they were ready. Clearly it was to be no Nombre de -Dios affair again. - -'What is to be done?' said I. - -'Why, go through with it,' said Frank. 'Now, lads, the wood is full -of harquebusiers in ambush; we must force a passage. Hold your fire -till their first volley is spent. Then one old English salute, and -at them at push of pike in the old fashion!' - -Our prisoner and the _recuas_ were now turned away, with strict -charge that none should follow us on pain of death. The Cimaroons -divided the burden of the silver amongst them, and once more we -pressed on. - -'Ho! stand!' suddenly comes out of the darkness, and a Spanish -captain glittering in brilliant harness steps into the road. - -'Ho!' returns Frank, as though the road were his own, 'stand and -declare yourself!' - -'_Que gente?_' says the Spaniard, very proud. - -'English,' says Frank, blowing up the match of his pistol; 'what -would you?' - -'Gentlemen Englishmen,' cries the Spaniard, 'it pains me to be so -discourteous as to deny you passage this way. In the name of his -most Catholic and Puissant Majesty the King of Spain, I bid you yield -yourselves; and promise you, on the word and faith of a Castilian and -a gentleman soldier, in that case to use you with all courtesy.' - -'Most worthy captain,' says Frank, 'it is utter grief to me that we -are in too great haste to grant you this favour, and are forced to -inform you, notwithstanding your courteous offer, that for the honour -of her most High and Mighty Majesty the Queen of England, Defender of -the Faith, we must have passage this way.' - -A sharp crack from Frank's pistol was the fitting conclusion to his -speech, and I saw the Spaniard reel. Then there was a roar in front -of us. Long tongues of flame leaped from the thickets ahead on -either hand. A hot iron seemed to sear my leg. Frank clapped his -hand to his thigh, and the man on the other side of me fell forward -with a terrible cry. Thick and fast their shot whistled by. The -Cimaroons had entirely disappeared, and we took what shelter we could. - -The narrow road was now full of choking sulphurous smoke. We could -see nothing but here and there the leaping flash of a harquebuss or -the glimmer of a match. Almost as suddenly as it had begun their -fire slackened, and then a merry trill went up, shrill and clear, -from Frank's whistle. - -We were all out in the road again in a minute. Bow-strings were -singing, and small shot barking, as arrows and slugs went tearing -into the dense smoke. Then we knew our silence had done its work, -and brought the enemy rashly out of their cover. Shrieks, groans, -curses, followed our discharge, and gave us courage to advance, which -we did at a run through the choking smoke. Still we could not come -to push of pike. They seemed to be retreating before us. - -'Where are the Cimaroons?' said I, as I ran by Frank's side. - -'I know not,' he said; 'God grant they have not deserted us.' - -The words were hardly out of his mouth when an unearthly yell arose -behind us, and Pedro bounded past towards the town. In a moment the -air was rent with the horrible screams of his people. Encouraged, as -I think, by hearing us advance, they had issued from the cover, where -their horror of gunpowder had driven them. Howsoever they had feared -before, they were now most terrible to behold. - -Like incarnate fiends they bounded on before us, leaping, dancing, -casting up their arms, and all the while yelling, '_Yó pehó! Yó -pehó!_' in most evil sort, and singing unearthly spells, after the -fashion of their own savage warfare. Their frenzy seemed to give -them more than human power; and even as they ran they leaped so high -as I never saw before, nor all the while did they cease to discharge -their deadly arrows and awful war-cries. - -Whether it were witchcraft or not I cannot tell, but very soon we -were all as mad as they, and ran so fast that before the Spaniards -reached the town gate we overtook many of them. They tried to make a -stand, but it was to no purpose. The Cimaroons burrowed into the -thickets like snakes, and drew them forth by the heels, never ceasing -to yell their rhythmic '_Yó pehó! Yó pehó!_' Half of the enemy we -now saw were monks, who kicked and screamed most lustily till they -were speared by the maddened Cimaroons. - -Still a few pikemen boldly held their ground with the captain; and in -this struggle a few more of us were wounded. The Cimaroons fought -like demons. One close by me was run through with a pike, whereupon, -so mad was he, that he drew himself along the shaft till he could -reach the Spaniard who held it, and then stabbed his enemy to the -death. - -Such a sight of frantic, wanton daring I never saw. It seemed to -strike terror into our enemy; for incontinently with a cry of horror -they fled, and we leaped after them so fast that all entered the town -together--sailors, Spaniards, friars, and Cimaroons, in one confused -throng. - -We gave them no time to recover their senses, but hustled them clean -into the monastery, where we locked them up. In a very short space -the town was fairly in our hands, and all quiet. Guards were set at -the gate where we had entered, and also at the bridge at the other -end of the town, whereby we should have to pass out over the river to -continue our way. Then we had leisure to look to our wounds, which, -though many, were slight, seeing that the enemy had but powdered us -with hail-shot. The man who first fell by me was the only one of the -company sorely hurt, and he died very soon after. - -Our business in the town occupied us about an hour and a half. -Amongst other merchandise we dealt in were above a thousand bulls and -pardons which had newly come out of Rome. With these the mariners -made more sport than was needful, yet the church and all other things -ecclesiastic were respected. - -We found some women there, moreover, with new-born infants, who had -come thither because no Spanish child may safely be born in Nombre de -Dios by reason of its pestilent airs. These were terribly affrighted -by our presence, and would not be content till the general went to -them himself as soon as he had leisure, to show it was indeed Francis -Drake who had taken the town, whereby they were forthwith comforted, -knowing that in his hands they were safe, as indeed they were, even -from the fury of the Cimaroons, who very faithfully kept their word -to the general, and hurt no one after the fight was done. - -Our dealings, though not large, brought us no little comfort for the -loss of our Treasurer, and it was more heavily laden than when we -entered that we continued our way, after blocking the bridge to -prevent pursuit. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -Of the terrible march we had ere we regained our ships I will not -speak. Our spirits were at the lowest ebb by reason of our failure, -for what we had seen in the governor's cellars at Nombre de Dios had -so turned our heads that we counted the plunder we had got as -nothing. Moreover our general was in a desperate hurry to reach the -ships before evil befell them, and we therefore marched so rapidly -that we had no time or strength to get proper victuals, and were -always half fasting. Our boots were worn to tatters, our feet cut -and blistered, our wounds galled us, the mosquitoes tormented us, and -beneath all, as I say, rankled our failure. - -Under such a load of trouble I think we should have sunk had it not -been for Frank, who never ceased to cheer us with new plans for the -making of our voyage. What bred most wonder in me was the order he -took to lighten our pains. For if one complained of his worn boots -or his wound, Frank would always complain louder, and cry plague on -the stones, the boots, the gnats, and everything. I knew his wound -was slight and his feet whole, so asked him the reason of his words. - -'Why,' says he, 'see you not that the poor lads, however bad they be, -will take some grain of courage if they think there is one who is -worse and yet can go on? and moreover, where captain and men share -alike you are most sure to find yourself marching in company content.' - -Yet for all this many fainted by the way, and then the Cimaroons -would cease their valiant bragging, which otherwise was unceasing -since our capture of Vera Cruz, and bear such as could not walk -between two of them very loving and cheerful for two miles or more at -a spell. - -The poor Sergeant, the cause of all our woe, plodded on in silence at -Harry's heels. He looked like a man who would never joy again, and -by no means could I win him to speech. - -Seven days we toiled thus to the mouth of a river called by the -Cimaroons Rio Tortugas, and hither to our great joy came the master, -Ellis Hixom, to whom our captain had sent, and took us off to Fort -Diego in the pinnace. - -There was great joy at our meeting in spite of our little plunder, -since they had begun to fear we were destroyed. They said they -hardly knew us for the same men, except the captain, so haggard and -thin and burnt we were, to say no more of the tatters to which the -brakes and stones had turned our clothes. Hunger and toil and grief -had doubtless made great havoc with us, and the fire of that terrible -sun had burnt us well-nigh black. - -My Seņorita, to whom I went for comfort soon after I got to the -ships, seemed quite shocked to see me. - -'Madre de Dios, Seņor!' she cried, clasping her little hands in -terror. 'How you are changed! Ah! and you are wounded. It is well -you have come back to me to be made yourself again. Indeed I am glad -you are come back.' - -She held out her hands in such frank welcome that I felt half healed -already, and sat down as she bade me on her own cushions. - -'Indeed I am glad you are come back to us,' she said again. - -'Then did not Master Hixom treat you well?' I asked. - -'Ah, I hate him,' she said, knitting her dainty brows. 'He is a -stock, a stone, a log! He kept us well, but I hate him.' - -I never knew why she was so hot against him, but I could only smile -to think she must have tried her coaxing on him as she had on me, but -with less success. He was a flinty Puritan from Plymouth with a wife -and children, who would not have unbent, I think, had Princess Helen -herself put up her lips to him. She begged me to come and be her -gaoler again, and I left her with such hope as it was not hard to -give. - -That evening as I sat with others in the general's bower, talking -over what next was to be attempted, we were surprised by Sergeant -Culverin saluting in the doorway. - -'I come, Captain Drake, by your leave,' says he, holding himself very -stiff, 'to report myself for punishment.' - -'I shall give you none,' says Frank, but looked very stern at him, -for he was ever slow to forget a fault. 'You have suffered enough -already with your wound, and what of your fault is unpunished is -wiped out by your valiant bearing before Venta Cruz.' - -For indeed he had done wonders there, and had gotten a sore -pike-thrust in the arm, from which he had suffered great pain -unmurmuring on our pitiful march. - -'By your leave, Captain Drake,' said he, when Frank finished, 'I -crave you allot some punishment to me. It was a most grievous breach -of the discipline of the wars, and I shall joy no more till it be -atoned. Moreover it will be an evil example to the youth of your -company, and like to breed much discontent and danger to our voyage -if I go unpunished. Therefore, for the love of soldiership, I pray -you omit not this just dealing with me. The Signor John Peter -Pugliano always held----' - -'Peace, enough!' said Frank. 'It shall be as you say, so you will -spare us your Italian's wisdom. I reverence your soldiership, and -adjudge you the honourable estate of an hour on the hobby-horse.' - -A rail was soon set up by some of the mariners, who were nothing -loath to be revenged on the old soldier. On this he was speedily set -with his hands bound behind him, and a harquebuss hanging to each -foot. There he sat stiff and upright, as though he were in the -emperor's tilting ground again. He gave no heed to the jeers of -younger sailors, but sat grimly on uncomplaining. - -As I passed him presently I could see the pain was as much as he -could bear, weak as he was from hunger and his wound. Just then one -threw a tuft of grass at him. Then he looked round fiercely, but he -only bit his lip to keep in the angry burst that was on his tongue, -and stared grimly in front of him again. - -Then two or three began to whisper it was a sin that such a tall -fellow who took his punishment so well should be tormented for what -was after all but too deep a pull at his flask. So they went amongst -the others, and the jeering ceased. Then they fell to encouraging -him and watching the sand-glass, till at last, seeing how stiff and -grim he still sat, they went in a body to Frank and would not be -content till they had leave to take him down, which at last they did, -in spite of his angry protesting that he would sit his punishment out. - -So their past toils and grief were fast forgotten, and all talk was -of what was to be attempted next. Some were for attacking the -treasure frigates which were sure to be moving on the coast now the -Plate Fleets were in, but others counted this but folly, seeing how -strong and well manned with soldiers were the wafters that convoyed -them. Others, amongst whom was Mr. Oxenham, were for gathering fresh -victuals from the provision ships, which were always unprotected, -that we might thereby recover our sick and get sufficient strength -for another attempt by land, which now was not to be thought of, -seeing that all the Main was alarmed and half our company sick. - -Pedro was very earnest for us to attempt Veragua, a rich town between -Nombre de Dios and Nicaragua, where his former master, Seņor Pezoro, -had the richest gold mine in all the north side, whence he won daily -above Ģ200 worth of gold. All this he stored in a great treasure -house, to which Pedro promised he could lead us undescried through -the woods and make us masters of the untold treasure therein. Every -Cimaroon on the Main would further our attempt, he said, because this -Pezoro was known to be worse than a devil to his slaves, and hated -more than any man in all the Indies. - -But our general was loath to undertake so long a march, though sorely -tempted by the greatness of the prize. Our company was too much -broken by wounds and sickness to venture so far, so it was concluded -to send forth two pinnaces, which were all we could man, to try what -could be done. Mr. Oxenham took the _Bear_ eastwards towards Tolu to -gather victuals, as he had wished, while the general took the -_Minion_ to ply towards the west, and have dealings, if it were -possible, in the treasure trade, which we knew to be great at this -time from Veragua and Nicaragua to the Fleet. - -As for me, I was far too sick with my wound to join either; but not -being quite so spent as some, was able to take my old charge of the -prisoners. Being little able to walk, I was almost entirely in the -ship with the Spaniards. Indeed I had little duty or pleasure -elsewhere. Hixom, our master, was again set over those that -remained, and, since Harry, Frank, and Mr. Oxenham were away in the -pinnaces, there was no one amongst the mariners with whom I cared to -converse so much as the courtly old Scrivano and his friends. - -And why should I not confess the rest since I have unfolded so much? -Whether I did wrong I cannot tell. I had abandoned the guide whom -all my life I had followed, because, as I thought, he had only led me -astray. It was hard to trust to anything again. Often I would play -with Harry's rapier and think. I know not if the quick, hard life I -had been leading was to blame, but it would not say me Ay or No! - -After all my recent toil and labour it was so pleasant, to have her -at my side, to look at and talk to. Pleasant, too, it was to see how -she was bent on winning me, whether for her father's sake to earn him -favour at my hands, or for very wanton love of winning a new kind of -conquest, I cannot tell; pleasant, too, to mark how lovingly she -sought to ease my pain and beguile the lagging hours, how tenderly -she dressed my wound and smoothed my pillow when she bade me sleep. -What wonder, then, if I gave myself up to the sweet beguilement! -What wonder if, when she had set me to rest and no one was by, I drew -the pretty face to mine and our lips met! I know not, I say, how I -shall be blamed. She was so sweet and gentle and kind; I was so weak -and weary. It was all I had to give; it was the payment most -grateful to her. Well! well! It is long past now for good or ill. -If any has been so diseased as I in body and spirit and so sweetly -tended, lying as I did all day in the murmur and savour of a tropic -spring in the midst of those jewelled seas, let him judge me. - -There were some among my prisoners who looked on with little ease and -twirled their fierce moustaches, but the worldly old Scrivano would -not have it otherwise. - -'Let them be,' he would say; 'it will not last for ever. A friend at -court is worth winning.' - -It was when she told me this that I first knew a sweet fear that all -she did might not be done in wantonness or even for the prisoners' -sakes. Till then I had thought it was only in their behoof she was -kind, and I trod my flowery path with a light heart. Now I began to -doubt we were come to where thorns were hidden beneath the blossoms -by the way, but it was still too fair and pleasant for me to stop. -In my weakness I said there was still time enough. - -So we continued till near the middle of March, when Mr. Oxenham -returned in great heart with a smart frigate laden with a good store -of maize and live hogs and hens, which greatly rejoiced us, since we -were pining for fresh food. I was nevertheless not so glad to see -him back as I had hoped, since now the general was away there was -none to prevent him coming on board my ship every day, where he -talked so gaily with my Seņorita, to her manifest content, that I -wished in my heart his voyage had been less fortunate. - -I was overjoyed when Frank came back, not only because it put an end -to Mr. Oxenham's visits, but also for the news he brought. Off the -Cabeįas he had met with a frigate of Nicaragua, which he had -lightened of a pretty store of gold and her Genoese pilot. This man, -who but a week before was at Veragua, had assured our general that -the whole coast was palsied with fear of him. So fast had he moved -and so suddenly struck that it seemed, so the man said, nothing less -than magical, and none knew where their dreaded enemy would next -appear. The plain truth was that, eschewing armour after the manner -of English mariners, we marched more quickly than the Spaniards ever -thought possible, and this greatly increased their fears. - -So from Nicaragua to Carthagena they lay shivering in their beds, -never knowing if they should sleep the night in peace. Our pilot was -only too glad to join his fortunes to ours on promise that his right -should be done him, and had led our captain into Veragua harbour, -where lay a frigate laden with above a million in gold, not daring to -venture forth. But by a new order of watch which they had taken, the -pinnace was descried and the attempt abandoned, since there lay a -still better chance in the Chagres river. - -The galleys that were to waft the gold fleet, the Genoese said, were -laid up at Nombre de Dios to be fitted. Thus there was nothing to -protect the gold frigates but land soldiers, with whom Frank doubted -not he could deal, if he gathered all his whole men together, and to -this end he was now returned to join Mr. Oxenham. - -The frigate which the _Lion_ had captured, being a very smart one, -fell in well with Frank's purpose. She was speedily careened, new -tallowed, and launched again, as stout a man-of-war as any on the -coast. All the best of our ordnance was set aboard of her, and as -soon as Easter was past and the men refreshed Frank set sail with her -and the _Bear_ for the Rio Chagres. - -Being willing to break from the dalliance in which I lived, I had -craved to be taken with them, for I was fast mending since fresh meat -had grown abundant. But Frank would not hear of it, and once more I -was left alone with my prisoners, of which in my heart I fear I was -glad. - -Sweet indeed were the days that followed. Every hour my strength -seemed to grow, and since there was nothing to do after I had made my -rounds amongst the sick, I wandered with my Seņorita along the shore -or in the woods wellnigh the livelong day, and was never weary. Yet -what we spoke of I cannot tell. I can hardly recall a phrase she -uttered, yet she chattered like the golden brook, where we loved best -to sit, and I listened more willing and untiring than ever I did to -the wisest voices of the ancients. - -Of herself and of me it seems to me now was all her talk, the empty -prattle of a child; yet I sat and watched her ripe face and wanted no -more. Ours was the life of the lazy pelicans and the scarlet cranes, -and all the other shore fowl that breathed around us that tingling -tropic life, and crowned with their presence the enchanting beauty of -the scene. - -Once, and only once, I remember she wandered to deeper things. She -spoke of the faith of her people, and how she longed sometimes to be -a nun, and have done with love and be good again. - -'Are you a heretic?' she then said, suddenly looking at me very -wistfully. - -'I trust not,' I said, smiling, for it seemed a strangely merry thing -to me to see her serious. - -'Why do you laugh?' she said, pouting a little. 'My Padre says all -Englishmen are Lutheran heretics and will go to torment. How can you -laugh at that? It makes me very sad to think of you there, and to -think I shall not find you in heaven when I come. Why will you be a -heretic and pray to the devil?' - -'Ah, gentle Seņorita,' I answered, 'never think of those things. -Your pretty head must not wear such ugly thoughts. Forget it now; go -and crown yourself with flowers as you did yesterday, and I will -worship a true goddess and no devil, though something of a witch. So -you shall see I am a true believer in your loveliness and no heretic. -What would you more?' - -'Witch or not,' she answered, rising with a smile, 'I have tamed your -tongue, my faithful worshipper, and brought it to a most gentle -pacing; I may not choose but be carried now whithersoever it will -amble with me.' - -''Twas but a sorry jade,' I said, as she rose and gathered some -bright flowers that seemed to bend down to kiss her hand. 'Yet since -you took the rein I think it can never stumble, nor ever falter or -grow dull so long as it feels the gentle spurring of your eye.' - -'Save us now, worshipper, from your sharp and stinging comparisons,' -she said, as she turned on me radiantly, her pliant figure entwined -with a tender vine of rose-coloured flowers, and her glossy hair -crowned with glowing blossoms, 'and send your goddess a daintier -offering!' - -'Nay, goddess,' said I, 'it was a bright and glittering offering -enough till your radiance put it out of countenance.' - -'Then must you offer me something brighter still,' she said, as she -sat herself upon a great rock half hidden in flowers. 'See, your -goddess is enthroned. To your knees, errant worshipper; I will -endure no heretical postures.' - -So I knelt before her and offered her such dainty sweetmeat phrases -as every pretty woman loves, so they be compounded to her taste and -served so that she may taste without offence. - -In such wise my pretty plaything and I played together till the sun -began to sink and I returned to my duties, wondering idly, as the -wise Sieur de Montaigne tells us in his _Apology for Raymond Sebond_ -he did of his cat, whether she played with me or I with her; and -wondering, too, still more to think how the magic of the west, or -warfare, or whatsoever else it might be, had changed me. It was -barely a year ago since I was alone with another woman, the first I -ever knew. How different it was then, and yet perhaps how like, if -we but knew the springs of our hearts! But enough of that! Let me -not speak of those two with one breath. - -I seemed another man as I looked backward. Yet was there no miracle. -For surely it is no more than natural that, when a man has burst the -bonds in which he blindly bound down and tormented his soul, it -should grow quickly to its proper shape if it finds itself planted in -soil that is apt to its true nature. - -All too soon, as we thought, and yet perhaps not soon enough, Frank -came back with the frigate and the pinnace in company with a goodly -bark. - -'A fat prize at last,' I cried, as he rowed up to the ship, 'and I -not there to see. Is our voyage made?' - -'Not yet,' said Frank, 'and yet I hope not far from it. Yonder is no -prize, but a Frenchman with seventy good Huguenots aboard, whom we -have admitted to our company. Let me present to you her captain, -most worthy Monsieur Tetú.' - -He bowed with great ceremony and much spreading abroad of his hands, -and I asked if he had any news from Europe, at which to my surprise -he seemed very pained. - -'Yes,' broke in Frank, 'he has news. Would God he had not!' - -'Is the Queen married then?' I asked quickly, for it was always the -first inquiry of strangers in those shifting times. - -'No!' answered Frank, 'nor like to be, it seems. Be pleased, -Monsieur, to tell Mr. Festing what tidings you bring.' - -And with that the little French captain, with excited gesture and -kindling eyes, poured into my scorched ears the black and awful tale -of the Massacre of Paris on St. Bartholomew's day, on the occasion of -the King of Navarre's marriage with the Princess Margaret. We could -none of us speak for a while when he ended the relation of that most -foul and detestable crime. I could only feel leap up in my heart a -mad longing, like Frank's, to be revenged, and that speedily. It -seemed to revive in me all my old detestation of the Papists, and the -whole body of them, innocent and guilty alike, seemed again a cursed -thing in my eyes. - -Many a better man than I was seized with the same mad rage when he -knew that tale. How could we be otherwise? Yet I contained myself -enough to express my pity to the French captain, who seemed well-nigh -broken-hearted at the blot upon his country's fame. - -'Truly, Mr. Festing, it is hard to bear,' he said, with a bitterness -that cut me to the heart. 'I never thought to see the day when I -could say that those Frenchmen were happiest who were farthest from -France. That is why I have sailed hither and turned my back on her. -I wash my hands of her. She is France no longer, but rather Frenzy, -and all Gaul is gall indeed.' - -His attempt at pleasantry touched me very deeply, for I knew how -bitterly he felt the loss of his country, and I tried some apology. - -'You are kind, Mr. Festing,' he said, taking my hand very warmly, -after the manner of his country. 'It is not France--my pure, simple, -single-hearted France--that has done this. It is Italian practices -that have over-mastered French simplicity. Truly, sir, Italy is an -accursed land, that curses all it touches with its noisome humours.' - -He seemed a brave heart, and was a seaman in all his inches. For my -part I conceived a great liking for him, though I think Frank would -have been glad enough to be well rid of him and his company. - -'Yet I could not say him nay,' he said to me, 'when I saw his poor -fellows more than half starved. Moreover he was so mighty civil, and -said that five weeks ago he had heard of us and of our great -dealings, as he pleased to put it, and ever since he had been -seeking, desiring nothing so much as to meet with the gentlemen who -had set the whole Spanish Main in a tremble. I was bound to relieve -him with our spare victuals, and so was obliged to abandon our -attempt on the Chagres river.' - -'And then you agreed to venture in company?' said I. - -'Yes,' said he. 'Yet I will not say it was without some jealousy and -mistrust, for all his civility. Yet, seeing how earnest he was to be -our friend, and how strong to hurt us if he were our enemy, we -concluded to take him and twenty of his company and venture equally.' - -'And is it man for man and ton for ton again?' I asked. - -'No, lad, no,' answered Frank. 'That would never do. As I told our -Monsieur, though his company was seventy and mine now but thirty-one, -mine must weigh more than his, since in our purposed play the -principal actors were not numbers of men, but rather their judgment -and knowledge; to which arguments he agreed with the best grace he -could. The more so as I showed him his great tonnage was no good in -our present case.' - -'Then are we not to attempt the Chagres fleet?' said I. - -'No,' he answered; 'that is where they are looking for us. We must -attempt the place where they last expect us.' - -'And where is that?' said I. - -'Where but knocking at the back door of Nombre de Dios,' he answered, -laughing to see my surprise at this his wildest plan of all. - -'Now save you, Frank,' said I, 'from a very mid-summer madness! You -will never get in there again, or at least get out again if you do.' - -'Oh,' says he, ''tis not so mad as that. We have no cause to go in. -We will get the gold outside. The great _recuas_ are passing by road -now the whole way. What is easier with our present help than to deal -with one of them when it is all but home, and thinks all danger is -over? Pedro will lead us thither, into the Rio Francisco and then a -little march. I have already sent for the Cimaroons. Many times, -Jasper, we have struck amiss. God has shown the Spaniards great -mercy; yet now, I think, since He has sent us this French company, -with tidings of this last most bloody dealing of the Italian priest -against His faithful people of Paris, it is surely His will that we -shall entreat these idolaters according to their iniquity; and so by -His grace we will, and our voyage be made.' - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -In six days all was ready, and our Frenchmen sufficiently refreshed -from the nearest magazines to undergo the labour of our desperate -attempt. When the hour was come I went to take leave of my Seņorita. - -'Sweet goddess!' said I, for she would not be otherwise named by me, -'your faithful worshipper comes to crave your leave to depart.' - -'Madre de Dios!' she said, looking at me with wide, frightened eyes. -'What new wild venture is this? When will this devil cease to -torment my people and set us free?' - -'Does my goddess then so long to change her paradise?' I asked. - -'Yes,' she answered petulantly, 'for her worshipper loves her not and -is faithless, or he would be content to stay here in paradise. But -no,' she went on, starting suddenly up, 'you shall not go. I forbid -it. You will be killed, and I--I shall be left with these rough men. -You must stay and worship me.' - -'Nay, let me go and worship you,' said I. 'Lip-service is unworthy -to offer at your shrine; I will go and bring you better offerings -than that, so you will give me leave.' - -With such jesting talk I tried to win her free consent, that we might -not mar the pleasant comedy we played. Still she would not give it, -and I thought she but held it back in her wanton way, wishing for -more. But at last her face quite altered, and she turned quickly on -me. - -'Hold! hold!' she said. 'Your tongue has a devil. You and your -captain are devils together. Go to him; but--oh, Gasparo, I have -played too long--I have played till play has grown to earnest. Go! -but come back to play no more. Come back to love me; or, Gasparo,' -she continued, sinking her voice to an awe-hushed whisper, 'I know -the devil will come into my heart, too, and drive me to do I know not -what.' - -Just then Frank's whistle sounded a shrill call to embark. I could -not think what to say or do. I bent over her to snatch a hasty kiss -and go, since it was so we always parted now, but she shrank away. - -'No!' she said; 'the play is done. Our lips shall meet no more till -they meet in earnest, till they meet in love. Go now, and the Holy -Mother be with you!' - -An hour afterwards I was sailing merrily onwards, bearing room for -the Cabeįas. 'Our fleet was made up of the new-tallowed frigate and -two pinnaces. In them were fifteen English, twenty French, and our -Cimaroons; and who amongst them all was so tormented with his crowded -thoughts as I, or rejoiced so much in the perilous nature of our -enterprise? - -What would have happened to me and her I cannot dare to think, had it -not been that my thoughts were occupied more and more fully each mile -we sailed with the wild excitement of our new, most daring -enterprise. By the time we had passed the Cabeįas, where we left the -frigate with a mixed guard, and were sailing with the pinnaces aloof -the shore towards the Rio Francisco, all I had left behind was -wellnigh lost in what was to come. - -Arrived at the river, which is but five leagues by sea from Nombre de -Dios, we landed very quietly and dismissed the pinnaces, charging -those that had guard of them to return to the Cabeįas and be in the -river again without fail in four days, which time, Pedro deemed, was -all that we should want, since now the _recuas_ were coming daily -from Panama, and the road by Nombre de Dios was not above seven -leagues from the spot where we landed. - -So we started through the dense forest once more in our old order, -yet in better heart than ever, in spite of our miscarriages. For now -we knew what the danger was and feared it less. Besides, there was -not one of us in whose heart did not burn a mad desire for revenge. -The flame of anger which the news from Paris had kindled in all the -company consumed every other thought, and none cared what came of him -so long as he made shift to strike one good blow in return. - -A great part of our company had sailed under the Prince of Condé's -commission in the old days in the narrow seas, and some even had -served in French ships, whereby a sort of brotherhood had grown up -between our mariners and the Huguenots--a kindliness which those now -with us did not a little to keep warm by the very cheerful spirits -with which they infected us. During all the voyage from Fort Diego -they had made great light of our perils, and protested a very great -readiness for the attempt. Indeed we found their courage very hot, -out of their joy, as they ceased not to tell us, at marching under -our captain, of whom they had heard so much since they had been on -the coast, no less than from the natural disposition of their -countrymen for attack, and all services where spirit is of more -account than endurance. - -It was no small hardship to them to hold their peace, and our method -of silent and catlike marching, in which, by use, we were now almost -as skilful as the Cimaroons, was a great marvel to them, as was the -discipline by which it was maintained to their captain. By no means -could they come to the same stillness as we, whereat the Cimaroons -conceived a great scorn of them, and would give no heed or trust to -them. In answer the Frenchmen fell into a great distrust of them, as -we burrowed deeper and deeper into the tangled forest and mazy -ravines, protesting that it was madness to go on so, since, should -the negroes prove false, we could never find the pinnaces again. - -This was true enough; but Frank gave them to understand such fears -were groundless and must not be broached, since we had made long -trial of the negroes' constancy, and if they feared that they should -never have come. Moreover, he took such sharp order with them, by -Monsieur Tetú's consent and furtherance, to have silence observed -that in a very short space they were as firmly under his spell as any -of us, and things went well again. - -Having come thus within a mile of the road on the second evening, we -chose a place where we might lie and refresh ourselves all night, -since the _recuas_ did not reach Nombre de Dios till morning. This -was a perilous time for us, for the Frenchmen, being new to the -trade, were, for the most part, too excited to sleep. - -Nor can I blame them, for we lay so near to that great town, wherein -were now enough soldiers to have eaten our whole company at a -sitting, that we could hear plainly what was passing there. As we -lay in the brakes, still as mice, we could mark the lazy challenge of -the watch and the noisy laughter of the guard at their cups, mingling -with the busy din of the carpenters on the fleet. They had just -begun work; for, because of the great heat, they do not work in the -day, and all night long there came up from the harbour the sounds of -saw, and axe, and hammer, as they wrought busily to get the fleet -ready for sea. - -Soon after we came thither two _recuas_ passed out of the Panama gate -and toiled up the hill to us with such a monstrous clanging of bells -that we had much ado to keep the Frenchmen quiet, so moved were they -at the sound. Soon they passed. We could hear their music die away -towards the south, and then on that side all was still, and we fell -to listening to the labour in the harbour again. - -Hour by hour the still night wore on. The Englishmen about me fell -asleep, as well as some of the French, though I grieved to see the -wine-flasks passing about amongst others more than gave hope of cool -heads in the morning. - -Harry, who lay by my side, was one of the first to compose himself to -rest. I saw him take out a little picture from his breast. I knew -too well what it was. He kissed it lovingly, and then quietly -stretched himself out and lay quite still. The Sergeant slept at his -feet. Harry had craved leave for him to come and retrieve his -reputation, saying well he was the least likely of all the company to -get us descried again. - -It was in the first gray of the morning that I awoke, with Harry's -hand on my shoulder and the faint sound of bells in my ears. His -face was radiant, and he held up his finger to bid me listen. Close -by lay a Cimaroon with his head uplifted, like a dog when he suddenly -hears a strange tread at hand. His eyes were wide open, glistening -and bloodshot, and his big white teeth gleaming as he listened -intently. I could see he was greatly excited, and so was I to watch -him. Suddenly he turned to me as though satisfied. - -'What is it?' I whispered. - -'The biggest luck ever men done got,' he answered. 'Hark! hark!' - -'Yes,' said I; 'I can hear it is a _recua_ from Panama, and a big one -by the sound.' - -'A _recua_!' he answered scornfully. 'It is one, two, three -_recuas_! Now you will have more gold and silver than all of us can -carry away!' - -'And more soldiers than we can drive away perhaps,' whispered Harry; -'but we must strike all the lustier, that is all.' - -Our talk was cut short by the word being passed that we should creep -on to the edge of the road, which we did very quiet and quickly, -being divided into two bands, under the general and Mr. Oxenham, as -before, that we might strike head and tail again. - -By the time we were in our places I could not doubt that what the -Cimaroon had said was right. The sounds from the town were hushed as -the dawn brightened, and I could plainly hear such a clanging of -bells as told me clearly there must be many more mules than I had -ever heard together before. - -Nearer and nearer they drew; and the louder waxed the deep-toned -music, so sweet in our ears, the quieter were we. Not a sign was -there to tell of our presence, save now and again the dull snap of a -bow being bent, or the low sound of breath as the matches of our -small-shot men were blown up, or a gentle rustle of the brakes as a -young hand moved nervously. - -Everything was at last drowned in the clash of the bells. Now they -had quite passed Mr. Oxenham's party in the rear. Now the clank of -arms was abreast of us. I saw Frank's whistle at his lips, once more -its piercing note split the air, and we were all on our feet rushing -down into the road, shouting, 'Drake! Drake!' like madmen. - -As I leapt down into it I could see a sight that made my heart bound. -Some three hundred mules, laden with little leather bags, and all -tied tail to tail, stretched along the road. In front glittered the -morions and corselets of some score of soldiers, and at different -points in the line and in the far rear, where our men were already -engaged, were more. In front of all rode two or three officers in -splendid armour. - -But there was no time to see more. In a moment I had discharged my -pistol, and was hand to hand at it with the foot. Harry was by my -side at like work, and I could see the Sergeant, sword in hand, -making for one of the officers. - -At our first onset they fell back, being quite unprepared and -dismayed with our shot and arrows. Half of them carried their -morions in their hands, and none had their matches ready. So we were -left to stop the mules, which all lay down quietly as before, but it -was only a short respite. - -The balls and hail-shot were soon flying about our ears up the narrow -road. Poor Captain Tetú rushed most valiantly upon them, sword in -band, but was doubled up in the road before he came to his distance. -For a while it was desperate work. In a confused mass we fought and -struggled together, and the woods re-echoed with the explosions of -the small shot and the frantic cries of 'Drake! Drake!' and -'Santiago! Santiago!' - -I was hand to hand again with a soldier, who gave me stiff work, when -I heard the plunging of a horse and the whistle of a blade behind me. -I made sure my end had come, and turned to hear a thundering shout of -'Drake,' and see Sergeant Culverin dash by into the thick of the foot. - -He seemed a new man. As he passed he slashed at my opponent and set -me free. I could not even then but admire his splendid management of -his frantic horse in the press. Hewing and slashing, he made -straight for a mounted officer, who was fighting like a lion. -Involuntarily I paused to watch and get my breath. Straight at him -the Sergeant rode, and with a sudden check of the bit, made his -stolen charger rear right up against the Spaniard, at his rein hand, -so that he was wholly guarded from the officer's blade. Then as the -horse descended the Sergeant's heavy 'schiavona' rang upon the -Spaniard's morion. The officer reeled in his saddle, his sword -dropped, and his horse turned and galloped madly out of the press -towards the town. - -The old riding-master had been too much for the cavalier's skill. -The victory of our horse seemed to paralyse the foot. Resistance -ceased. They only thought of escape. Down the road, into the woods, -anywhere, they fled to avoid us. 'Yó pehó! yó pehó!' seemed once -more to people the air with fiends, as the leaping, yelling Cimaroons -danced after them, almost as fast as the Sergeant rode. - -How far he would have continued his pursuit in the midst of his -diabolic company I cannot tell, for Frank's shrill whistle called all -back. Mr. Oxenham's work was done as soon as ours, for the Spaniards -in the rear, having no officer to encourage them, were soon persuaded -to leave the mules in his care. So that now all hands were wanted -for the heaviest part of the task, which was to get our plunder into -the forest. - -Like children we went at it, half-mad with joy over our extraordinary -good fortune. After all our toil and all our failures we had -succeeded at last, and that beyond all our hopes. We found our prize -was one _recua_ of fifty mules and two of seventy. Every mule -carried three hundred pounds' weight of silver, making in all some -twenty-five tons, besides such store of jewels and yellow bars and -quoits as made us have no eyes for the baser metal. - -'All hands now,' sang out Frank, 'to ease the mules, which must be -sore weary, and yarely now! or the Spaniards will be taking pains to -stay us doing the poor animals this kindness. And, Sergeant,' he -said, as Culverin reined up, 'our horse shall go to the front to give -us advertisement of their coming, that we may prepare a salutation -for them.' - -'An honourable service, Captain Drake,' said the Sergeant, beaming -with delight, 'for which I crave leave to thank you.' - -'Nay, Sergeant,' laughed Frank, 'it is yours of right. I marked how -you took the weather of the cavalier. I never brought up to windward -better myself. Away now, for we must work.' - -And indeed there was need. In spite of the huge loads the Cimaroons -could carry, it was no light or speedy labour we had, especially -since some were hurt. Yet the only sore wound we had was the French -captain's, who was so grievously struck with hail-shot in the belly -that he could not walk, in spite of most valiant endeavours. - -The whole time we worked we could hear the turmoil our visit had -caused in the town. Trumpets were braying and drums beating up and -down, as though the devil had broken loose, as perhaps they thought -he had. We could not doubt that the soldiers we had relieved had -given, after the manner of Spaniards, so monstrous and boasting an -account of our numbers that the whole garrison was making ready to -visit us. - -Indeed, as our last mule was eased, the Sergeant came galloping in to -bring news of a mighty preparation of horse and foot on the march out -of the Plaza, as he guessed by the notes of their trumpets. This -great preparation was our saving instead of our undoing, for by the -time the enemy's horse and foot reached the _recuas_ the foremost of -us were already far in the woods, intent on burying some of our -silver, which was over and above what we could carry. Being thus -busy we could not receive them, and since they had no mind to follow -us through the forest, we could not choose but disappoint them in -their intention of saluting us. - -Some fifteen tons we buried, partly under fallen trees, partly in the -bed of a river, and partly in the holes of land-crabs, whereof we -found a colony, and begged of them this hospitality; and so, with -some ten tons of silver and all the gold and jewels, we went on our -way, the Cimaroons bearing loads which were a marvel to us all how -they did not break their backs. - -At a fitting place the Cimaroons made a little house for the French -captain, for by no means could he be persuaded to cumber us, so that -we should carry less of the treasure. He stoutly protested that -nothing but a rest would save his life. So, being unable to move him -from his valiant resolve, we were compelled against our wills to -leave him in charge of two of his men, who vowed they would not -desert their captain while there was a spark of life left in him. - -We had not gone far when the Frenchmen began to cry out that one of -their number was missing, and were for going back, thinking him to be -lying wounded on the road. Upon this our captain made searching -examination to find out how it should be, which he soon did from a -Cimaroon. - -'I done see him,' said the negro. 'He done got too much pillage and -too much wine, so he done go on before in a hurry to get to the -ships. I think he done lost his way.' - -This indeed was true, as we had occasion afterwards to know. Our -captain was angry at it, and would not stay longer, being in a great -hurry to get to the pinnaces in the Rio Francisco before they were -discovered by the Spaniards, as he doubted not they would endeavour, -having been so outwitted by us. - -So we toiled on under our loads, through, a terrible tempest of rain -and wind which overtook us, and made our march none the easier by -reason of the swollen torrents and mire. Yet if we had heavy loads -we had light hearts, and comforted ourselves with a hundred jests at -our luck, no less than with a speedy hope of reaching our pinnaces. - -It was early on the second day that we came to the river, and all -quickened their pace to be among the first to tell their comrades the -news. Yet were our pains thrown away; for when we had passed out of -the forest and reached the rendezvous not a sign of the pinnaces was -to be seen, only the river rolling down in double volume, brown and -swollen from the rain. - -'Where can they be?' said I to Frank. - -'Nay, lad, who can tell?' he said, looking very grave. 'Unless,' he -added more cheerfully, 'the tempest has delayed them. The wind was -westerly. Let us go and have a look out to sea. Maybe they are even -now at hand.' - -In great anxiety we hurried to a place whence a great part of the -coast could be descried, and the rest who were not too weary, seeing -what the general did, followed. Eagerly, as the sea opened out -before us, we scanned its glittering surface towards the Cabeįas, -whence our pinnaces were to come, and there, to our horror, we saw -rowing, as though from the very spot, seven Spanish pinnaces, crammed -with men in glittering harness! - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -Certain men, whom misfortune and loss of riches have driven to seek -comfort in philosophy, have devoured much paper and spilled an -infinity of ink in dispraise of gold and silver, railing at those -metals with a plentiful store of scornful epithets, to show their -baseness and want of true value. - -Had any such been with us now they would have found a very plausible -argument for their conclusions. Rolling in gold and silver, we were -destitute; though oppressed with wealth, we were poorer than church -mice. Willingly we would have given all we had, and more, for one -smart, well-furnished frigate in the road. - -After the discovery of our forlorn state many were so moved that they -cast away their gold, and, losing all hope of escape, gave themselves -up to despair; and not without excuse. For we could not doubt but -that our pinnaces had been taken, and that our stronghold at Fort -Diego would be revealed by the torture of prisoners. Thus all hope -of ever getting back to our homes was gone; and the greater part of -the company, losing all heart, began to murmur and complain very -bitterly against the captains who had brought them to such a pass. I -can say no more of the depth to which our spirits sank, or the misery -of that hour, than that it was one of those times when Frank Drake's -nature rose to its greatest height. He leaped upon a log, and with -his clear, cheerful voice addressed them without a note of fear or -misgiving, where no one else could discern the smallest ray of -encouragement or the forlornest hope of safety. - -'Shame on you! shame!' he cried. 'What faint-heartedness is this? -If you miscarry, so do I. You venture no further than I. And is -this a time to wail and fear? If it be, then is it also a time to -hasten to prevent what we fear. If the enemy have prevailed against -our pinnaces, which God forbid, yet all is not lost. Only half their -work is done. They must have time to search and examine their -prisoners as to where our strength lies; and then they will want some -time to form their resolution, and quarrel who is to command. Ah! -you know not Spaniards. Then they will want time to order a fleet -twice or thrice as large as needful; item, time to come to our ships; -item, time to resolve upon their method of attack; item, time to find -stomach to deliver it. And before all this will be discharged we can -get to our ships, if you will so resolve, like the men that you have -at divers times shown yourselves.' - -'But how? how?' they cried, as he paused. - -'Why, now you speak like men,' he said, 'and give a captain heart to -save you. By land, I think, we cannot come to them, though our Pedro -would have us so try. It is sixteen days' journey thither, and -before that the Spaniards will have struck. Yet by sea we may. See -you those trees God has sent down the river for you by last night's -storm? Of those we can make a raft; and four of us sail aloof the -shore and call the ships hither. Of those four I shall be one; who -will be the others?' - -The words were hardly out of his mouth when Harry had shouted 'I!' -and then followed a clamour of 'I's' in English, French, and Spanish, -as half the whites and all the blacks offered themselves when they -understood what our captain's words should mean. Finally he chose -Harry, as having spoken first, and two Frenchmen, who were great -swimmers, because our fellow-venturers boldly claimed, as of right, a -half-share in every danger as well as in all plunder. - -So from despair our captain's resolute words, so cheerfully spoken, -raised them all in a short space to a lively hope; and all hands set -eagerly to work to bind together some of the trees which the swollen -river had brought down. - -Meanwhile, more grieved than I can say to think that Harry was going -to what seemed almost certain death, in spite of what Frank had said, -I went to him to try and dissuade him from his purpose. - -'Tush!' said he, 'what is there to fear?' - -'Nothing for you to fear, I know well,' I answered; 'it is not that. -It is what I fear. I have a most evil foreboding that if you go on -this venture we shall never see you again.' - -'Well, and what matter?' he laughed; 'a man must die once.' - -'Yes,' said I, 'but he need not rot to death in a Spanish prison, or -die before his time. The Spanish shallops will be scouring all the -coast, and must of a certainty pick you up like half-drowned rats ere -ever you reach the Cabeįas. Why should you do this when there is no -need--you who of us all have most to live for?' - -'And what have I to live for,' he answered, with clouding brow, 'that -others have not?' - -'You know! you know!' I said. 'Give me not the pain or shame of -saying what. Nay, hear me then,' I went on, as I saw a bitter reply -rising to his lips; and then, determined to leave no means untried to -preserve him to the woman I had so cruelly wronged, I told him how I -had gone back to Ashtead after that terrible night; how I had seen -through the window his dear wife kissing his letter and weeping over -his child; how I had marked a hundred signs whereby I knew her love -for him was only the more pure and ardent for the trial it had -undergone. - -God be praised! if it was He that put the burning words in my mouth -with which I told my tale and pleaded my cause. Long had I kept it -pent up in my heart, for want of courage to tell him, as well as for -fear of increasing his grief and his hate for me; and now it flowed -with the full strength of the gathered flood which his long coldness -had frozen up in me. - -What joy was in my heart I cannot tell in words when, ere I had done, -he seized my hand in his manly way and said, 'Have your will, -brother! Go in my place. If we ever meet again we shall be brothers -indeed once more, and brothers we should never have ceased to be had -I known you as I should. Let what I do be a token to you. I know -the danger of this service as well as you, and never did I think for -any man I could turn back from such an attempt when I had offered -myself and been chosen. To you, brother, and her, I sacrifice thus -my honour in token of how high beyond all words I value this love you -have both given me, who deserve it so little.' - -Bright shone the sun in my heart, bright as the mid-day fire over our -heads, as to the music of a hearty cheer we dropped down the river in -our frail bark. Frank was steering her with a rude oar which had -been shaped from a young tree, the two Frenchmen stood by with poles -in case of need, and I managed the biscuit-bag whereof we had made -our sail. - -The Cimaroons had bitterly lamented not coming with us, but them -Frank would have stay to succour those who remained, since there we -had greatest need of them. - -'No,' he had said; 'stay here for a little while to conduct my -company by land if I return not. Yet, if it please God that I shall -once put foot in safety aboard my frigate, I will, God willing, get -you all aboard, in despite of all the Spaniards in the Indies.' - -With this courageous speech he left the whole company in good heart, -because they knew of a surety, since he had so passed his word, that -if they were lost it would not be for want of the last effort of the -man who best in all the world knew how to save them. - -Our voyage was evil enough to have damped any spirits less lifted -with joy than mine, or less constant than Frank's. The whole time we -were up to our waists in water as we sat, and as soon as we reached -the open sea we found the swell so big that each wave surged up to -our necks, and we had much ado to hold on. Moreover the sun so -burned down upon us, all unprotected as we were, that what with the -salt water and the scorching, we soon had little skin left that was -not all blisters. - -Yet a very smart breeze was blowing from the westwards, so that we -made good progress towards the Cabeįas, and so kept up our spirits. -It was as the sun was getting low that Frank suddenly cried to me, -'Look! look! Jasper, ahead there off the point!' - -I looked where he pointed and saw two large pinnaces struggling to -weather the headland with oars against the freshening breeze. - -'What shall we do?' said I. 'We must drive. We cannot stop. How -shall we avoid them?' - -'Avoid them!' said Frank, with a merry laugh. 'Why, lad, they are -our own, and if we can but make them see, we are saved.' - -'Yet perhaps they are prizes to Spaniards,' suggested one of the -Frenchmen, 'and are manned by Spaniards.' - -'No, monsieur, no,' said Frank; 'you never saw Spaniards row like -that. See how they labour, and yet I think they make no head. Pray -God they be not cast away on the point!' - -Indeed as we drew nearer there seemed no small danger of this. The -wind was shifting more and more on to the land as it freshened, and -we could see they made a lot of leeway. - -'They will never do it,' said Frank; 'they are too short of hands. -It is hard to be so near safety, yet so far.' - -Even as he spoke we saw them cease rowing and fall slowly under the -lee of the point. In a few minutes they were out of sight, and we -blankly confessed to ourselves that they must have resolved to ride -out the rising gale and the night in the still water behind the point. - -It was a bitter disappointment to us, and our new-found joy at -finding our pinnaces were still safe gave way to a new-found grief. -So intent had we been in watching them that we had not noticed how -the shifting wind was driving us a-land. Straight ahead of us was -the dark forest-clad point against which the surf was booming and -spouting sheets of white spray. It was plain we could never weather -it, and that if we continued as we were we must almost certainly be -dashed to pieces in the foaming breakers. - -Eagerly I watched, and tried to persuade myself our raft was bearing -better room. Every tilt which the waves gave her I tried to fancy -was a change of course, but still we drifted to leeward in spite of -the rapid headway we made before the rising gale. All at once, as I -watched, our head swung round to leeward and all chance was gone. I -looked to see the cause and saw Frank very calm and stern with the -helm hard up. - -'Now, if ever,' said he; 'pray God to help us. Nay, look not scared, -Jasper. It is our only chance. We cannot weather the point, and all -that is left is to try and beach the raft this side, and then, if we -land alive and whole, make about the point to the pinnaces afoot. -All which we can well do, if it please God to send us a big wave and -a pleasant beach.' - -It was indeed a time for prayer. Soon close ahead we could see the -breakers rolling in upon the shore rank after rank, a wilderness of -boiling foam. I saw the two Frenchmen tighten their belts for the -coming struggle. Each of them pulled out a great quoit of gold from -his breast. Then they whispered together for a space and put them -back. So I kept mine in spite of the danger, if we had to swim, and -Frank kept his. - -In a few minutes we were at the edge of our peril. Frank steadied -the raft before the wind like the master hand he was; a raging mass -of foam seemed to rise beneath us and shoot us towards the shore. -What was in front we could not see. Like an arrow we flew, nor ever -rested till we crashed upon the beach. - -With that hoarse and terrible whistle with which the breakers on a -shingly shore seem to draw their monstrous breath for a new effort to -destroy, the wave that had borne us went screaming back. In a moment -we had leaped on the rolling shingle and rushed up the beach as fast -as our remaining strength and our shifting foothold would let us. - -Again the angry sea swept at us, but it was too late. As once more -it retired, drawing its strident breath, we dug hands, feet, and -knees into the moving stones till it was gone, and then once more got -up and ran. Ere another wave had burst we were in safety, lying -breathless upon a flowery bank. - -Frank was the first to move. I heard him mutter his words of -thanksgiving for our safety, and then he called cheerfully to us in -high spirit. - -'Up, lads, up,' he said; 'we must lose no time. See yonder light to -windward; the gale will lessen in another hour, and the pinnaces as -like as not will sail. We will go about the point now as quick as we -can, and when we see them run our fastest, like men pursued, to give -them a rattling fright, that they may prove their quickness to save -us since they have been so slow hitherto. It is but fair dealing to -put this jest on them for giving us such an evil sail.' - -This we did, and were no sooner come about the point than we saw the -blessed sight of our two pinnaces anchored in a quiet cove. Away -went Frank running towards them as hard as he could, and we after him -crying at the top of our voices. They seemed terribly afraid to see -their captain thus suddenly appear with but three followers, and made -the greatest speed to take us aboard. - -At first Frank did not speak, but sat very solemn and stern, and we, -taking our cue from him, did likewise; nor did they ask anything of -what our running and sudden appearance might mean. Indeed they -feared our news was too terrible for them to be in a hurry to hear it. - -'How does all the company?' said one at last. - -'Well,' said Frank sullenly, which made them all look more alarmed -than ever, till he could bear it no longer, and, bursting into a loud -laugh, he drew his golden quoit from his doublet. - -'Look there!' he cried, brandishing it in their faces. 'At last our -voyage is made!' - -And so he told them how we had sped, and told the Frenchmen amongst -them how their captain was left behind sore wounded, and comforted -them by letting them know how two of his company remained with him, -and how it was our intention to rescue him. - -'And tell me,' he said, 'how it was you discharged not the order I -most straitly gave you to be in the Rio Francisco yesterday?' - -'We did our best,' said the commander. 'Yet the gale was so strong -from the west that with all our rowing we could get no farther than -this.' - -'Well, God be praised for His mercy,' said Frank. 'Surely is He -wiser than man. Had you done as I said, you would have come to the -river in the nick of time to be devoured by seven pinnaces from -Nombre de Dios, which I doubt not were fitted out for that purpose. -I think they have been driven in for fear of the gale, and will be -out again as soon as it abates. Therefore we must make shift to -continue our way with oars as soon as possible.' - -And this they cheerfully did before an hour was gone. Their short -rest and our news seemed to make new men of them, so that, partly by -infinite labour at the oars with our help, and partly by an abating -of the wind, we came by morning into the Rio Francisco. There we -took all our company and treasure aboard, and so sailed back to our -frigate, and thence without mishap to our ships. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -Fort Diego was now all astir with preparations for our homeward -journey. The first care was to divide our vast booty between -ourselves and the Frenchmen; and I, being merchant to the expedition, -was so entirely occupied in this that I had no leisure to visit my -Seņorita, of which it must be said I was secretly glad, for I knew -not how to approach her. - -What little time I had, after my day's weighing and portioning and -scheduling was done, I spent in Harry's company. These hours of -extreme danger to which we had recently been exposed seemed to have -changed the whole world to us. In his gratitude for the poor service -I had sought to do him, in his joy to think how his wife still loved -him, he seemed to forget all the past and to hold no pleasure so high -as being in my company, that he might talk over the old happy days -and build plans for spending our new-won wealth, so as best to -delight her in the new happy days that were to come. - -My joy would have been complete had it not been that there still hung -over my head the words which my Seņorita had used when I bade her -farewell. Each hour I felt more keenly I must go to her and tell her -plainly that what she wished could never be. I had no doubt of that. -To me she was but a plaything. That I was more to her was a thing of -which I felt pure shame. I accepted all the blame of it, as a man -should. Yet however rightly he may look at it, the task is none the -lighter when that man has to go to a woman and tell her he loves her -not. The stoutest heart will feel a coward then. - -It was not till the evening of the third day after our coming, when -the plunder was all divided, and we had dismissed our French consorts -with their share, that I found heart or leisure to approach her. As -I neared the ship where the prisoners dwelt, and which had been -hauled ashore for some time past, I could see her stretched lazily in -her hammock. It was fastened between the mast and the bough of a -tree which grew up hard by and spread its branches over the poop. -Here it was that she loved to take her _siesta_, since it was a cool -and shady place. - -As I mounted the poop my discomfort at finding her alone, and at -knowing I could not now honestly avoid saying my say, was only -increased by her beauty, which never had seemed so great in my eyes. -Dressed in a soft loose robe of white, she lay back at full length in -her hammock, a picture of womanly grace. One white arm, on which her -head rested, was half buried in her lustrous hair. It had become -dishevelled in her sleep, and now fell in rich dark masses about her -face and neck, enhancing their dazzling whiteness like some frame of -ebony in which is set a magic crystal. Her soft cheeks were flushed -like those of a newly-wakened child, her ripe lips half parted, her -dark-fringed eyelids almost closed. Her other arm lay across her, -listlessly moving a fan of crimson feathers. Beyond that languid -movement there was no sign of life or motion in her, save the rise -and fall of the soft white robe as she drew her breath troublously, -like one who is deeply moved. - -I could not choose but pause, fascinated by a picture whose luxuriant -beauty surpassed even the tangled tropic growth that formed its -background. But I was soon awakened from my dream, and that rudely -too. From behind the mast, where I could not see, came the deep -tones of a man's voice pleading very low and earnest. She did not -raise her eyes even then, but I could fancy she drew her breath more -hardly still. - -I could not hear the words, and started quickly forward lest I -should. Of retreating I never once thought. My coward hesitation -was turned to something akin to anger by that half-heard voice, and -my only thought was to find out what bold man it was to whom my -Seņorita gave such familiar audience. - -She started as she saw me stride to her, but in a moment fell again -into her listless attitude, and looked languidly at the man behind -the mast. He started too, and I saw to my little ease it was Mr. -Oxenham. We stared hard and stiffly at each other, saying nothing. -He seemed disturbed by my coming, but hid his confusion by drawing -himself to his full height, and gently twisting his well-grown -moustache with one hand, while the other rested on his sword. So he -stood looking at me and waiting, with eyebrows raised superciliously. - -'Has my worshipper no offering for his goddess?' said the Seņorita's -musical voice. 'I expected something richer than silence after so -long an absence.' - -'Nay, silence is golden,' said Mr. Oxenham mockingly. 'What would -you more? Mr. Festing brings his best.' - -I know not whether it were self-love or love of her that made their -words hurt me so sore, but I know I had much ado to bridle my lips. - -'Truly, Seņorita,' said I, 'silence is the most precious offering I -have to give. Had I never laid on your altar aught less worthy than -that, methinks I should have been a more loyal worshipper.' - -She met my gaze with her dark eyes wide open for a moment, and then -dropped them again with a strange little laugh. - -'Save me, then,' she said, 'from loyal worshippers! Such barren -heretic ritual I call no-worship.' - -'Name it as you will, lady,' I answered; 'my comfort must still be -that "no-worship" is better than sacrilege. If I cannot be a -worshipper, at least I will not profane the shrine.' - -She flushed a little higher at this, and looked at me again, half -inquiring, half frightened, and then once more dropped her eyes. - -'Was this what you came hither to say, false worshipper?' she said, -as though a little vexed. - -'No, lady,' I answered; 'I had much to say, and I came to crave that -you would walk with me along the shore while I told my tale, but now -I think it needs no telling.' - -'Shall he come with us, Seņor?' she said to Mr. Oxenham, who still -stood twirling the end of his moustache. - -'It is for my queen to command,' he said, 'whether I escort her or -not.' - -'Then, my worshipper,' she said, after a moment's hesitation, 'for -this day your attendance is excused;' and with a queenly gesture she -held out her little hand for me to salute. - -It was hard to be dismissed so, although an hour ago I should have -looked on any dismissal as the happiest thing that could befall me. -Now it angered me. It flashed across my mind to turn roughly away -from her, and refuse the caress she offered with such pretty -insolence. Yet I hold, however ill a woman may treat a man, yet -shall he never better his case by a rude behaviour toward her. So I -took the little hand in my fingers, and put it to my lips with -ceremonious courtesy, and so withdrew. - -I turned round at the poop-ladder to descend, and was surprised to -see her gazing after me wistfully; but she looked away hurriedly when -she saw my eyes upon her, and laughed merrily at something, as I -suppose, that Mr. Oxenham said to her. I fancied her merriment -seemed to ring a little false; but maybe that was only my fancy. - -My thoughts were very ill at ease as I sought my lodging. All had -gone as I wished. The bonds wherein I had suffered myself heedlessly -to be bound to her were unloosed. I was free, and that more easily -than I had thought; yet somehow I did not feel released, but rather -thrust out and cast away. - -Harry came in to me later, and fell, as usual, to talking of the joy -of our return. Yet to-night it seemed wearisome to hear him. As he -pictured the pleasures of his coming life, of the untold joy of -living again at Ashtead with the wife whom he had lost a little while -and found again, my old library rose up ever in my mind, very cold -and dim and lonely, and I found it hard to share his content. - -As I listened to him my long, low chamber, with its gloomy rows of -books, its uneasy settles, and its great stiff chair beside the -hearth, became a vivid picture to me, as though I saw it. Each -moment it grew more real and gloomy and lonely, till suddenly, I know -not how, I seemed to see the beautiful form of the Seņorita glowing -in the great high-backed chair, and brightening the whole chamber -with her sunny presence. - -I crushed the fancy as it rose, but to little purpose. Try as I -would, I could not choose but picture it again and again, not only as -Harry talked, but also afterwards as soon as I closed my eyes to -sleep. There she always was, in that long, low room, which ever was -to me the centre of my life, curled up so prettily in the grim old -chair that it seemed quite proud and happy to hold the sweet burden -in its rough old arms. - -As my wife I pictured her there; but all the while I clearly saw what -folly it was. How could I, a scholar, wed a wayward piece of Eve's -flesh like that, with her wild temper, her empty little head, her -utter ignorance of all that made my life? In her whole nature there -was not a note to sound in harmony with me. It was a mad folly even -to think of it. I knew that; yet how she seemed to brighten the room -as she sat curled up in the great chair by the hearth! - -With great vigour I threw myself into the work of preparation which -was going forward, in order that I might forget my foolish fancy. -There was plenty to do; for Frank had determined to thoroughly refit -and furnish our frigate from the _Pasha_, which ship, being much -worn, he purposed to give to the Spanish prisoners, that they might -go whither they would. It was then his intention to move with the -frigate and pinnaces to the Cabeįas, and thence make an effort to -recover Captain Tetú and the treasure we had left in the care of the -land-crabs. - -In spite of all my sharp reasoning with myself, I became each day -more wretched and distraught as our work neared completion and the -day for dismissing our prisoners approached. Yet I was resolved not -to see her. - -'At her shrine,' I said ever to myself, 'I cannot worship; if I go to -her temple again it can only be for sacrilege.' - -So I went not near her again. But Mr. Oxenham, I think, was -continually both on the ship and walking with my Seņorita on the -shore and in the woods, till the time came for the prisoners -departing. - -It was about a fortnight after our return from capturing the -_recuas_, when we had taken all we desired from the _Pasha_, and we -no longer feared any danger from our hiding-place being revealed, -that Frank announced to the prisoners that they were to be freed on -the morrow, and entertained them in the fort by way of taking leave. - -That night I was captain of the watch. It was close on midnight, as -feeling very sad and lonely I was looking out over the land-locked -haven to where the _Pasha_ lay ready to sail on the morrow. The moon -was rising in great beauty over the dark foliage of the island, and -as it shed its light upon the peaceful waters I saw, to my surprise, -the _Pasha's_ gondola being rowed toward the shore. - -I made quickly for the spot where it was likely to touch the beach, -telling the guard to stand by and listen well for my whistle, as I -suspected some design of the prisoners upon our treasure. Concealing -myself in the brakes close to the sea, I waited, and very soon heard -the boat grate on the stones. Then I stepped out to see what it -might mean; and no less welcome sight could my eyes have seen. - -For there stood Mr. Oxenham helping the Seņorita ashore. I knew it -was she, though for some reason I cannot tell she was dressed in the -sailor garb in which I had seen her the night of the Cimaroons' -attempt upon the prisoners. Whether those two had some wild scheme -of escape together, or whether she hoped to pass observation till Mr. -Oxenham could conceal her and carry her home in the vice-admiral, -which he was to command, I cannot tell. - -Maybe it was only a romantic fancy of hers to attempt her escape in -this disguise, as she had heard of other women doing in old tales, or -maybe, knowing well how dazzling was her beauty in that array, she -thought thereby to charm her escort the more. This, indeed, I think -it did, for as he lifted her out of the boat with great tenderness, I -saw him kiss her very lovingly. Then all trace of love or respect -for her seemed to leave me, and I felt quite calm as I stepped -forward to do what seemed my plain duty, and passed them the -challenge. - -'What! again?' said Mr. Oxenham fiercely. 'Why, what a meddler are -you, that have not heart to love a fair wench, and will yet prevent a -man that has!' - -She started away from him when she saw me. Had she clung to him for -protection, I think I could hardly have kept as calm as I did. - -'Love or no love, Mr. Oxenham,' said I, 'it is no matter of that -here. What you intend I know not, but it is against the general's -plain orders that any prisoner should leave the _Pasha_ before she -sails, and this lady I must see aboard again.'' - -'What a pestilent meddler it is!' muttered Mr. Oxenham, drawing his -sword. 'If you want her for your own, by heaven, you shall fight for -her.' - -'Pray you be content, Mr. Oxenham,' I cried, giving ground, 'or I -must summon the guard. What madness is this?' - -He pressed on so hard, crying fiercely to me to draw, that I saw an -encounter could not be avoided; yet I would not whistle for the -watch, half for her sake once more, seeing how she was clad and what -men would say of her, half for shame of seeking help after Mr. -Oxenham's blade was drawn on me. - -Hoping the better to worst him without doing great hurt, I took my -cloak upon my left arm instead of my dagger and drew. He was coming -at me with his buckler advanced, and his sword uplifted for a -cross-blow like to the _mandritto sgualembrato_, but very -unscholarly. So I fell from my draw to the good ward _di testa_, as -Marozzo teaches, to receive his blow on my rapier, and hay! -straightway in _punta reversa_ threatened my _imbroccata_ at his -throat over his hand. He was cleverly ready for it with his buckler, -so I lowered my ward suddenly _lunga e larga_, and throwing a -resolute _staccato_, under his defence, compelled him to spring -backwards out of distance. - -He came on again immediately with a good down-right fendant, as -though he would have broken my ward by main force. I avoided it by a -quick _passado_ to the right, pushing at the same time a _stoccata_ -which he took again on his buckler. But it was only a feint of mine -to make him advance his defence, and so stop him recovering quickly. -It served its purpose well. For I was able to cast my cloak over his -blade before he could make his recovery, and so, passing my left leg -forward, I seized his sword by the hilt. At the same moment I -threatened an _imbroccata_ at his face, and while he raised his -buckler to bear my thrust, gave his hilt-points such a mighty wrench -with my left that, seeing he had not the Italian grip, I was able to -tear his sword from his grasp. - -It was no fair encounter. He was a pretty swordsman at the old -swashing sword and buckler play, but having been at sea all his -manhood he had never had occasion to learn the new fence as I had, -and would not, I think, if he had been able, for, like most -Englishmen of that time, he greatly despised it. I could not but be -sorry for him to see him stand at my mercy, as he now did, nor could -I resent his angry words. - -'Curse on your foining Italian birdspit play,' said he savagely as I -returned him his sword. 'Curse on your skewer scullion tricks. Did -you fight like a man, you should not have won her. Still won her you -have, and by that I abide. Take her, and rest you merry with your -light-o'-love.' - -With that he took his sword, and, with a mocking salute to the -Seņorita, strode rapidly away. I looked for no less in him. For in -all points of arms I had ever found him a most precise gentleman, and -had no doubt, since he was worsted, he would honourably leave the -field to me. So I slowly went to where my Seņorita's fairy form -leaned against the boat. - -'Lady,' said I, 'think not I deal hardly with you, but at a word you -must indeed go back.' - -'No, no, Gasparo,' she said, sinking on her knees before me. 'Take -me, for the love of Mary, take me, since you have gloriously won me. -Indeed I do not love him. I did but use him to play upon your love -and make it grow as great as mine. Tell me not I have killed it. I -did but go with him because he promised to deliver me from my misery. -It was only that I hoped to win you at last.' - -'Peace, peace, lady, as you value your honour,' said I, at my wits' -end how to keep my resolution. 'This thing cannot be. The general -would never suffer you to abide with us. It could only end in strife -and dishonour. Indeed you must go back.' - -'Oh, Gasparo,' she pleaded, clasping my knees, 'you know not what you -do. You love me, and know it not. You love me, and send me back to -my misery, when we might know such joy together. You cannot tell -what it is you condemn me to. You cannot tell the horror of a -woman's life when she is wedded to one she loathes.' - -'Wedded?' cried I, aghast. - -'Yes,' she answered wildly. 'Have pity on me. Do not hate me for -it. I did not tell you, nor did the others, because I pleaded with -my father to pass for unwed, that I might the better win favour for -them. So I said, but in truth it was that I might taste the joys I -had never known. I was hardly out of childhood ere they wedded me to -an old man for his wealth. He was bitter and cruel and ugly, an ape -that I loathed. Yet I had no respite from his detested presence till -he went to Lima on his affairs. Afterwards he wrote for me to join -him. I was on my way thither when you captured me, and at last I saw -my occasion to know for once what it was to be wooed. Oh Gasparo, -hate me not for it, but rather pity me. I am beautiful; I know it. -I was made for men to love, yet never knew what it was to be wooed by -one true man. Pity me and have mercy. I cannot go back now.' - -Horror-struck to find, as it were, that my sin had followed me even -to that far island in the West, where at least I might have hoped to -be free, my courage almost forsook me. A destiny, such as one short -year ago I might have laughed at as the last to be mine, seemed now -for ever fastened upon me. Once more I grasped the hilt of Harry's -sword for strength, and then firmly took the little hands in mine and -freed myself. - -She stood up before me then, gazing in sad entreaty in my face as I -implored her to go back. I showed her how, even were I willing to do -as she wished, Frank would never permit it. I tried, as well as I -could for shame, to show her how great was the sin she would bring -upon her soul. - -'It is hopeless,' she said as I ceased. 'I see it is hopeless to -move you. I must even return to the misery you have made doubly hard -to bear. Farewell, Gasparo, farewell.' - -She held out her hand to me as she spoke. I took it coldly, my other -hand on my sword. But that was not the end. With a sudden wild -impulse she flung her arms about me, and my lips were tingling with -one last passionate kiss. She had sprung into the boat and pushed -off ere I hardly knew what she had done. - -'So, faint heart,' she cried, as she stood up beautiful in the -moonlight, 'so I set my sign upon you. When another comes to whom -you would give what you deny to me, may she taste my kiss still -lingering there and learn, though you know it not, that you have -loved before.' - -With difficulty she rowed herself back to the ship. I watched her -shapely figure grow less and less across the moonlit water, till she -was lost behind the dark hull, and I was alone once more. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -I never saw my Seņorita again. Early next morning the _Pasha's_ -anchors were hove up, and Mr. Oxenham went aboard to work her out -through the tortuous channels by which she had entered more than six -months ago. - -It took all one day and part of the next to get the ship free, and -Mr. Oxenham did not quit her till she was quite clear of the shoals. -What passed between him and my Seņorita then I cannot say. Whether -they found means whereby afterwards letters went between them I do -not know, but when years after news of his end came I could not but -think it might have been so; and, in spite of seeming contradictions -in the varying reports that reached us, I have often wondered whether -my Seņorita were not the same fair lady for whose sweet sake, less -than three years after, when he had won undying honour by having -sailed the South Sea first of all Englishmen, he madly did that -whereby he not only lost all the wealth he had taken there, but also -his trusty company and his fair name, ay, and gave up his wasted life -beside as a pirate on a Spanish gallows at Lima. But let that pass. -I bear him no ill-will, and trust he rests in peace, as, for all his -sins, his courageous spirit well deserves. - -For such a spirit indeed he had, and, next to the general, our whole -company had conceived greater hope in him than in any other. So -that, when a few days after the release of the prisoners we came with -the frigate and the pinnaces to the Catenas, he was chosen to lead -the attempt to recover the French captain and the buried treasure. -For in spite of all Frank could say we would not suffer him to go, -saying his life was too precious to us now to be risked on so -dangerous a service, seeing he was the only man on whom we could -count to carry us back to England. - -Mr. Oxenham undertook the desperate service with the same light heart -wherewith he always faced the greatest perils, but was not rewarded -according to his courage. For, on coming to the Rio Francisco, he -found in most forlorn condition one of the men who had stayed behind -with Monsieur Tetú. From him he had news that the brave captain had -been taken half an hour after our departure, and his fellow a little -later, because he would not cast away his treasure, and so could not -run fast enough to escape. - -Moreover he told us that some two thousand Spaniards and negroes had -been digging and ranting up the ground for the space of a mile, every -way about the place where they must have learned from the prisoners -that our treasure was buried. This Mr. Oxenham found to be true; -for, notwithstanding the report, he still would go and see for -himself, and was rewarded by the discovery of thirteen silver bars -and some quoits of gold, which the Spaniards had not been able to -find. - -At last, then, our voyage was indeed made, and all we wanted for our -return homewards was another good stout frigate; and to this end the -general resolved to beat the same covert we had always found so full -of game--to wit, the coast beyond Carthagena, about the mouth of the -Rio Grande. - -All were very merry over the near hope of our return, except, I -think, myself. As for me, I could not but brood over what I had lost -or escaped from, I knew not which to call it. I fear I was but a -very doleful companion, and Harry, being now in great spirits with -all the world, would not let me rest. - -'So your Seņorita would not stay with you?' he said, with a twinkle -in his eye that much belied his pretended seriousness. - -'I did not ask her,' I answered. - -'Not ask her!' said he, 'and wherefore not, in a devil's name? Why, -lad, you were over ears in love with her.' - -'You are merry,' said I, a little testily I think, for it angered me -that both he and she should say this, while I was for ever telling -myself I could not be so foolish. 'I could as soon have loved one of -those glistening butterfly-birds that are all sparkle and humming, -and nothing of them beside.' - -'Well, what of that?' said he. 'Were I Pythagorean, I could find no -better case for a true woman's soul than one of those same dainty, -merry, little humming birds, that in these past months have so often -beguiled us when there was little else to make us forget our -troubles.' - -'True,' I answered. 'Such qualities will make a plaything, but never -a wife.' - -'Well, I know not,' he said; 'but I think a wife is mostly what a -husband makes her, and doubt if a man may not make as good a one out -of a plaything as anything else.' - -He should have known, yet I could not think him right, nor do I now. -I had no heart to pursue such talk then, so when he continued to -rally me I hastily told him the truth. - -'Forgive me,' he said, growing serious directly, and putting his hand -on my shoulder, 'if you can forgive such a brute-beast as I am to -torment you thus. What a curst unbroken tongue is mine! You would -have kept her marriage from me to shield her fame. Truly, lad, in -comparison to you, I deserve no woman's love.' - -So he said, not knowing himself, for never was woman's love better -bestowed than on him, yet he knew it not, and I verily believe, felt -that he never could do enough for his wife to repay her generosity in -marrying him. She thought no less, and often told me so. What -wonder that their lives were happy! - -We fell in with our French consort again soon after this, and they -bore us company till they heard we were going past Carthagena, but -this they would not venture with us, since the whole Plate Fleet lay -there with its well-armed wafters ready for sea. - -So we parted company once more at St. Bernardo, and then Frank stood -in towards the city, and ran past with a large wind hard by the -harbour's mouth, in sight of the whole fleet. Not one dared stir out -after us, though we braved them with our music, and the Cross of St. -George at our top, and all our silken streamers and ancients floating -down to the water defiantly. Perhaps it was a bit of foolish -bravado, but Frank laughed and rubbed his hands, and said it was -worth another _recua_ to have done it, which the whole company -agreed, being half mad to think how we had succeeded in our wild -adventure in despite of the whole power of the Indies. - -The same night we fell in with a frigate of twenty-five tons, well -laden with victuals, coming out of the river. We told the crew of -our necessity, and used other persuasions to such good effect that at -last they were content to go ashore, and leave their ship in our -hands. Whereupon we returned to the Cabeįas, and there, having -rested seven days to careen our ships and prepare them for the voyage -home, we bade farewell to our trusty Cimaroons, greatly contenting -them with the iron-work of the pinnaces, which we broke up. To Pedro -Frank presented a very goodly scimitar, which poor Monsieur Tetú had -given him in return for his hospitalities at their first meeting. So -greatly did the Cimaroon chief value this toy that he would not be -content till Frank had accepted four great wedges of gold from his -particular store. - -It was a private gift to our general, and I think it noteworthy, as -showing his just dealings with his mariners and venturers, that he -would not keep those wedges, but cast them into the common store. - -'Had not the venturers set me forth,' said he, 'and had not you, my -lads, so truly borne your parts, I should never have had this -present; wherefore I hold you should all enjoy the proportion of your -benefits, whatsoever they be.' - -So we took our leave of the Spanish Main, and, bearing room for Cape -Antonio, passed to Havana, where we took a bark, the last of all our -captures, which had been many, indeed, both for numbers and humanity -in dealing with them, past anything that had been seen before. For -at that time there were above two hundred frigates belonging to the -cities of the Spanish Main and the Islands, ranging from ten to one -hundred and twenty tons. Most of these we dealt with during our -stay, and some of them twice and thrice, yet of all the crews we -captured we hurt not a single man, save in the heat of fight, nor did -we burn or sink one ship save in act of war, nor keep any save for -our bare necessity. And so it was that Frank won himself a name of -terror along the whole Spanish Main, and therewith a reputation for -kindliness and mercy, both of which were never forgotten, and stood -him in good stead many a time in after years. - -He protested that God manifestly blessed him for the just -chastisement, tempered with mercy, which he had inflicted on the -idolaters; for that He so bountifully supplied us with rain for our -necessities, and wind for our speeding, that we had no cause to touch -at Newfoundland for our refreshing, but within twenty-three days we -passed from the Cape of Florida to the Isles of Scilly, and on Sunday -morning, the 9th day of August 1573, swaggered bravely into Plymouth -harbour, amidst the thunder of our great pieces, the braying of our -trumpets, and the gay fluttering of all our flags and streamers and -ancients. - -It was a sight to make a man forget all his sorrows, to see the Hoe -quickly brighten like a flower-bed with the Sunday clothes of the -godly people of Plymouth, and yet not godly enough to stay with the -preacher when they knew whose salutations were disturbing their -prayers. So with one accord they left the poor man, and hurried off -to hear the sermon Frank was preaching with his ordnance and his -music. - -'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven?' That was -his text, and so well he expounded it with a sight of our ballast to -all who came aboard, that I think there was hardly one that day who -did not vow he would no longer stand still disputing and railing -against Antichrist, but go forth and win gold for God out of the -idolaters' treasure-house. - -Wild were the rejoicings in Plymouth, and there was no one to check -them. The Queen's grace was in no mood just then to hide our -achievement under a bushel. Nay, rather she liked nothing better -than to flaunt it in Philip's eyes, to show him she had a power he -little dreamed of to answer the late-discovered felonious practices -of Spain against her glorious crown and life. - -Yet I tarried not longer than our business demanded, for Harry could -not rest till he was at Ashtead again, nor would he depart thither -without me. In vain I urged him to go alone and let me follow later, -after he had seen his wife and all was smooth again. - -'No, lad,' said he; 'we fled together, let us return together. It -was one cause drove us forth. That is ended and forgotten. If I can -go back, it is because you also may go back. Therefore one must not -go without the other.' - -So we rode together, Harry, the Sergeant, and I, and all the way to -London it was for us a triumphal procession. The news of Frank's -daring exploit had spread from town to town before us. The people -were half wild at the tidings, and came gaping to see us with their -own eyes, and hear from our own lips the truth of the tale that -seemed too glorious to believe; to hear how Englishmen at last had -trod that inviolate soil which seemed to give a magic and resistless -power to Spain, their dreaded enemy, and had broken its mysterious -spell for ever, and how we had so plenteously enriched ourselves out -of their very heart-wells in despite of all their boasted power. - -It seemed a strange and merry thing to them. They could only laugh -as though it were some rude jest we had put on the Spaniards, and -make merry over Philip's and Alva's wry faces to think of a poor -English captain quietly plucking their beards with one hand, and -cutting their purses with the other. That looming shadow in the -South which yesterday was a monster of terror, to-day was only a -bogie to frighten babies withal. So they strutted about, boasting -that though the King of Spain might set all the silly geese over the -sea in a flutter with his _braggadocio_, yet one quacking of an -English drake was enough to set him shivering on his throne. - -I trust we were more modest than they. Yet in those young days of -England's growing strength I cannot blame her if she laughed and -crowed like a lusty baby over each new step he learns to take. - -Our triumphal progress should have put us in good heart; yet, as we -approached our journey's end, a weight seemed to settle on us both. -As we rode from Gravesend each well-known object served to recall the -misery of the day we saw them last; and for the first time, I think, -Harry began to doubt whether it would be so easy to bring things back -to the old track again. - -He had sent word forward that he was coming, but no more, not knowing -what to write. Thus we could not tell how things stood at Ashtead, -or even whether Mrs. Waldyve were there at all. - -It was afternoon before we reached Rochester, and we stayed at the -'Crown' to dine, but did scant justice to the host's provision. -Harry grew only more melancholy when we were alone. - -'Would I could tell if she would forgive me!' he said at last. 'How -can I hope for it, who left her so basely in the midst of all her -grief? Tell me again, Jasper, all you saw when you went back to -Ashtead after that sad day.' - -So I told my tale again, and dwelt on those words she sang, giving -him to hope for the best. - -'Yet I think I will tarry till to-morrow,' he said. 'It is late; I -am weary. It will be too sudden for her at so late an hour. I will -tarry, and send her word I am waiting here for her to bid me come. -Maybe she is not there, and maybe grief has killed her.' - -He sank his voice very low as he uttered this new fear, and before I -could tell what to answer him--for, God knows, I too had little heart -for this meeting--the Sergeant came in and said the horses were -ready. Harry looked at me, but I could give him no help. My shame -was still quick within me, and my only desire was to put off the end, -which I could not foresee, but only fear. - -'Sergeant,' said Harry at last, desperately, 'we think it too late to -go on. We will lie here to-night, and come to Ashtead betimes -to-morrow.' - -'Cry you mercy, sir,' said the Sergeant, in a rebellious burst. 'If -you can be within two hours' ride of that peerless lady and not go to -her, it is more than I have power or discipline for. So I crave -leave to ride on alone with all speed.' - -'But how know you we are within two hours' ride of her?' said Harry -weakly, under the Sergeant's rebuking glance. - -'Save your worship,' cried the Sergeant, 'is that what ails you? -Then take it from me, you can ride thither without fear of not -finding her, for my good friends the drawers tell me she has abode at -home ever since your departing, though it is true that none have seen -her abroad of late.' - -And with that the Sergeant brought us our rapiers and cloaks, and for -very shame we were bound to take them and beat an honourable retreat -along the line which, by accident or design, he had left open for us. - -So, without more ado, we rode out through the throng which had -assembled to greet us when they heard we had come. The good people -followed us up the street to the gates, and then fell to cheering us -for two heroes, little thinking what sorry hearts those same heroes -carried. So they cheered us, and Drake, and the Queen, as we rode -out across the low land by the river, nor ceased till we began to -climb the downs. - -The Medway lay glistening in its mazy channels below us as we topped -the hill. Rainham church-tower rose dimly before us; on either hand -the turf swept downward from the road, broken by clumps of trees in -every hollow where they could find shelter from the wind. These and -a score of other familiar landmarks seemed to bring the past very -near, and only increased my fear that the short time we had been away -could not avail to heal the fearful wound I had made. - -Gladly would I have turned off on the road which led to Longdene, as -I had that first day I had seen Harry's wife, but I was resolved to -go on to the end with him, not knowing how great his need might soon -be of a comforter; for his doubts had infected me with a -heart-sickness as sore as his own. - -The bright picture of her as she was that day faded away as the -gables and turrets of Ashtead came in sight, and I gave way to -wondering what she looked like now, and of what she thought within -those dim walls. And that wondering ceased as we rode under the -gateway and dismounted. I could only then think of my brother. He -was deadly pale, and clutched at my arm as he trod the steps, and -stopped like one about to faint. - -'Would she had come out to meet us,' he murmured, 'when she heard our -horses in the court. She must have heard them.' - -I knew not what to say, but pressed his hand and put my arm through -his to steady him up the steps. He made a great effort as he reached -the top and threw open the door of the hall. - -There she stood in the lurid torch-light by the great hearth, as -though just risen from her seat. She was pale and wild-eyed, and -stood irresolute, gazing her heart out at him, with her white hands -spread out a little in front of her as though the last spark of hope -were dying within her, and she hardly dared to plead. Ah me! it was -a picture of long-endured misery as I pray God I may never see again, -and, still less, cause. - -Harry stood, it seemed so long, waiting for some sign from her, but -she stood like a statue with no power to move. Then he advanced -slowly towards her, and I followed into the hall. - -I had hardly stepped within when a sudden light came into her eyes as -she caught mine. She had seen me then for the first time. She had -seen me, and, God be praised, knew by my being there that all must be -forgiven. - -With a little glad cry she sprang forward, and in a moment those two -I loved so well, and had wronged so deeply, were locked lip to lip in -each other's arms. - -I heard a stifled sob behind me, and turned to see the tears rolling -down the Sergeant's bronzed face. Then we went forth that those two -might be alone; but very soon they came and called me back, and fed -me with such loving words as I could not have looked for had I been -their greatest benefactor and not their curse. - -Their most gentle dealing with me quite unmanned me, so that I easily -was persuaded to lie at Ashtead that night, but on the morrow I -thought it best to go. - -Very dim and lonely was my library that night. My consuming grief -was dead, drowned in their happiness and gentle usage of me. Yet it -was very lonely. I tried to read, but each book I sought availed -less to fasten my thoughts. So I sat musing on all that had befallen -me those last months, and trying not to think how empty and sad my -great chair looked without the sweet burden which, as it were, I had -once seen nestling there. - -That fancy grew dim as the months wore on, and I was ever at Ashtead -as of old playing with little Fulke, or hunting with Harry, or -talking over old times with Sergeant Culverin, who quickly settled -down as Harry's right-hand on his estate, and so continued till his -honest spirit passed away. But with Mrs. Waldyve I read no more -then, nor till years after, when, through my thrice-blessed -friendship with Signor Bruno, a deep-set faith came to comfort my -ripening years and hers. - -Indeed it was little I read at all, save in books of travel and -cosmography. Study seemed a very poor and dry food to me at that -time, the more so as there was no longer any one to urge me to it. -Mr. Cartwright's strife was now nothing but a din of unmeaning words -in my ears. Good Mr. Follet, my only other scholar friend, was dead, -and his cherished 'Apology' still-born; for though he bequeathed the -manuscript to me to set forth, I found its original obscurity and -tangled learning (in so far as it was legible) so over-laid and -involved and interlined with added matter from the four quarters of -earthly and unearthly wisdom as to be past human understanding. - -Each day then I saw more clearly that all was changed with me, and -grew to know that thenceforth, till age should bring me peace and -studious quiet, my content could only be found at Frank Drake's side, -or in such great and stirring work as his. - -And so it was, and not without good reward either, both in honour and -riches. Yet there was nothing which my unworthy service earned of -Her Majesty's grace and bounty that I valued higher than the loving -welcome which was so plentifully bestowed on me at Ashtead each time -I came home. - - - -THE END - - - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of For God and Gold, by Julian Corbett - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOR GOD AND GOLD *** - -***** This file should be named 62184-8.txt or 62184-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/1/8/62184/ - -Produced by Al Haines -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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