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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bravest of the Brave, by G. A. Henty
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Bravest of the Brave
+       or, with Peterborough in Spain
+
+Author: G. A. Henty
+
+Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7318]
+Posting Date: July 30, 2009
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Martin Robb
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE
+
+OR, WITH PETERBOROUGH IN SPAIN
+
+
+By G. A. Henty.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+My Dear Lads:
+
+There are few great leaders whose lives and actions have so completely
+fallen into oblivion as those of the Earl of Peterborough. His career as
+a general was a brief one, extending only over little more than a year,
+and yet in that time he showed a genius for warfare which has never been
+surpassed, and performed feats of daring worthy of taking their place
+among those of the leaders of chivalry.
+
+The fact that they have made so slight a mark upon history is due to
+several reasons. In the first place, they were overshadowed by the glory
+and successes of Marlborough; they were performed in a cause which could
+scarcely be said to be that of England, and in which the public had a
+comparatively feeble interest; the object, too, for which he fought was
+frustrated, and the war was an unsuccessful one, although from no fault
+on his part.
+
+But most of all, Lord Peterborough failed to attain that place in the
+list of British worthies to which his genius and his bravery should
+have raised him, because that genius was directed by no steady aim
+or purpose. Lord Peterborough is, indeed, one of the most striking
+instances in history of genius and talent wasted, and a life thrown away
+by want of fixed principle and by an inability or unwillingness to work
+with other men. He quarreled in turn with every party and with almost
+every individual with whom he came in contact; and while he himself
+was constantly changing his opinions, he was intolerant of all opinions
+differing from those which he at the moment held, and was always ready
+to express in the most open and offensive manner his contempt and
+dislike for those who differed from him. His eccentricities were great;
+he was haughty and arrogant, hasty and passionate; he denied his God,
+quarreled with his king, and rendered himself utterly obnoxious to every
+party in the state.
+
+And yet there was a vast amount of good in this strange man. He was
+generous and warm hearted to a fault, kind to those in station beneath
+him, thoughtful and considerate for his troops, who adored him, cool
+in danger, sagacious in difficulties, and capable at need of evincing
+a patience and calmness wholly at variance with his ordinary impetuous
+character. Although he did not scruple to carry deception, in order to
+mislead an enemy, to a point vastly beyond what is generally considered
+admissible in war, he was true to his word and punctiliously honorable
+in the ordinary affairs of life.
+
+For the historical events I have described, and for the details of
+Peterborough's conduct and character, I have relied chiefly upon the
+memoir of the earl written by Mr. C. Warburton, and published some
+thirty years ago.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I: THE WAR OF THE SUCCESSION
+
+
+"He is an idle vagabond!" the mayor of the good town of Southampton
+said, in high wrath--"a ne'er do well, and an insolent puppy; and as to
+you, Mistress Alice, if I catch you exchanging words with him again, ay,
+or nodding to him, or looking as if in any way you were conscious of his
+presence, I will put you on bread and water, and will send you away for
+six months to the care of my sister Deborah, who will, I warrant me,
+bring you to your senses."
+
+The Mayor of Southampton must have been very angry indeed when he spoke
+in this way to his daughter Alice, who in most matters had her own
+way. Especially did it show that he was angry, since he so spoke in the
+presence of Mistress Anthony, his wife, who was accustomed to have a by
+no means unimportant share in any decision arrived at respecting family
+matters.
+
+She was too wise a woman, however, to attempt to arrest the torrent
+in full flood, especially as it was a matter on which her husband had
+already shown a very unusual determination to have his own way. She
+therefore continued to work in silence, and paid no attention to the
+appealing glance which her daughter, a girl of fourteen, cast toward
+her. But although she said nothing, her husband understood in her
+silence an unuttered protest.
+
+"It is no use your taking that scamp's part, Mary, in this matter. I am
+determined to have my own way, and the townspeople know well that when
+Richard Anthony makes up his mind, nothing will move him."
+
+"I have had no opportunity to take his part, Richard," his wife said
+quietly; "you have been storming without interruption since you came in
+five minutes ago, and I have not uttered a single word."
+
+"But you agree with me, Mary--you cannot but agree with me--that it is
+nothing short of a scandal for the daughter of the Mayor of Southampton
+to be talking to a penniless young rogue like that at the garden gate."
+
+"Alice should not have met him there," Mistress Anthony said; "but
+seeing that she is only fourteen years old, and the boy only sixteen,
+and he her second cousin, I do not see that the matter is so very
+shocking."
+
+"In four more years, Mistress Anthony," the mayor said profoundly, "he
+will be twenty, and she will be eighteen."
+
+"So I suppose, Richard; I am no great head at a figures, but even I can
+reckon that. But as at present they are only fourteen and sixteen, I
+repeat that I do not see that it matters--at least not so very much.
+Alice, do you go to your room, and remain there till I send for you."
+
+The girl without a word rose and retired. In the reign of King William
+the Third implicit obedience was expected of children.
+
+"I think, Richard," Mrs. Anthony went on when the door closed behind her
+daughter, "you are not acting quite with your usual wisdom in treating
+this matter in so serious a light, and in putting ideas into the girl's
+head which would probably never have entered there otherwise. Of course
+Alice is fond of Jack. It is only natural that she should be, seeing
+that he is her second cousin, and that for two years they have lived
+together under this roof."
+
+"I was a fool, Mistress Anthony," the mayor said angrily, "ever to yield
+to your persuasions in that matter. It was unfortunate, of course, that
+the boy's father, the husband of your Cousin Margaret, should have been
+turned out of his living by the Sectarians, as befell thousands of other
+clergymen besides him. It was still more unfortunate that when King
+Charles returned he did not get reinstated; but, after all, that was
+Margaret's business and not mine; and if she was fool enough to marry a
+pauper, and he well nigh old enough to be her father--well, as I say, it
+was no business of mine."
+
+"He was not a pauper, Richard, and you know it; and he made enough by
+teaching to keep him and Margaret comfortably till he broke down and
+died three years ago, and poor Margaret followed him to the grave a year
+later. He was a good man--in every way a good man."
+
+"Tut, tut! I am not saying he wasn't a good man. I am only saying that,
+good or bad, it was no business of mine; and then nothing will do but
+I must send for the boy and put him in my business. And a nice mess
+he made of it--an idler, more careless apprentice, no cloth merchant,
+especially one who stood well with his fellow citizens, and who was
+on the highway to becoming mayor of his native city, was ever crossed
+with."
+
+"I think he was hardly as bad as that, Richard. I don't think you were
+ever quite fair to the boy."
+
+"Not fair, Mary! I am surprised at you. In what way was I not quite
+fair?"
+
+"I don't think you meant to be unfair, Richard; but you see you were a
+little--just a little--prejudiced against him from the first; because,
+instead of jumping at your offer to apprentice him to your trade, he
+said he should like to be a sailor."
+
+"Quite enough to prejudice me, too, madam. Why, there are scores of sons
+of respectable burgesses of this town who would jump at such an offer;
+and here this penniless boy turns up his nose at it."
+
+"It was foolish, no doubt, Richard; but you see the boy had been
+reading the lives of admirals and navigators--he was full of life and
+spirit--and I believe his father had consented to his going to sea."
+
+"Full of life and spirit, madam!" the mayor repeated more angrily than
+before; "let me tell you it is these fellows who are full of life and
+adventure who come to the gallows. Naturally I was offended; but as I
+had given you my word I kept to it. Every man in Southampton knows
+that the word of Richard Anthony is as good as his bond. I bound him
+apprentice, and what comes of it? My foreman, Andrew Carson, is knocked
+flat on his back in the middle of the shop."
+
+Mrs. Anthony bit her lips to prevent herself from smiling.
+
+"We will not speak any more about that, Richard," she said; "because, if
+we did, we should begin to argue. You know it is my opinion, and always
+has been, that Carson deliberately set you against the boy; that he was
+always telling you tales to his disadvantage; and although I admit that
+the lad was very wrong to knock him down when he struck him, I think, my
+dear, I should have done the same had I been in his place."
+
+"Then, madam," Mr. Anthony said solemnly, "you would have deserved
+what happened to him--that you should be turned neck and crop into the
+street."
+
+Mrs. Anthony gave a determined nod of her head--a nod which signified
+that she should have a voice on that point. However, seeing that in her
+husband's present mood it was better to say no more, she resumed her
+work.
+
+While this conversation had been proceeding, Jack Stilwell, who had fled
+hastily when surprised by the mayor as he was talking to his daughter at
+the back gate of the garden, had made his way down to the wharves, and
+there, seating himself upon a pile of wood, had stared moodily at the
+tract of mud extending from his feet to the strip of water far away.
+His position was indeed an unenviable one. As Mrs. Anthony had said,
+his father was a clergyman of the Church of England, the vicar of a
+snug living in Lincolnshire, but he had been cast out when the
+Parliamentarians gained the upper hand, and his living was handed over
+to a Sectarian preacher. When, after years of poverty, King Charles came
+to the throne, the dispossessed minister thought that as a matter of
+course he should be restored to his living; but it was not so. As in
+hundreds of other cases the new occupant conformed at once to the new
+laws, and the Rev. Thomas Stilwell, having no friends or interest, was,
+like many another clergyman, left out in the cold.
+
+But by this time he had settled at Oxford--at which university he
+had been educated--and was gaining a not uncomfortable livelihood
+by teaching the sons of citizens. Late in life he married Margaret
+Ullathorpe, who, still a young woman, had, during a visit to some
+friends at Oxford, made his acquaintance. In spite of the disparity of
+years the union was a happy one. One son was born to them, and all had
+gone well until a sudden chill had been the cause of Mr. Stilwell's
+death, his wife surviving him only one year. Her death took place at
+Southampton, where she had moved after the loss of her husband, having
+no further tie at Oxford, and a week later Jack Stilwell found himself
+domiciled at the house of Mr. Anthony.
+
+It was in vain that he represented to the cloth merchant that his wishes
+lay toward a seafaring life, and that although his father had wished him
+to go into the ministry, he had given way to his entreaties. Mr. Anthony
+sharply pooh poohed the idea, and insisted that it was nothing short
+of madness to dream of such a thing when so excellent an opportunity of
+learning a respectable business was open to him.
+
+At any other time Jack would have resisted stoutly, and would have run
+away and taken his chance rather than agree to the proposition; but he
+was broken down by grief at his mother's death. Incapable of making a
+struggle against the obstinacy of Mr. Anthony, and scarce caring what
+became of himself, he signed the deed of apprenticeship which made him
+for five years the slave of the cloth merchant. Not that the latter
+intended to be anything but kind, and he sincerely believed that he was
+acting for the good of the boy in taking him as his apprentice; but as
+Jack recovered his spirits and energy, he absolutely loathed the trade
+to which he was bound. Had it not been for Mistress Anthony and Alice
+he would have braved the heavy pains and penalties which in those days
+befell disobedient apprentices, and would have run away to sea; but
+their constant kindness, and the fact that his mother with her dying
+breath had charged him to regard her cousin as standing in her place,
+prevented him from carrying the idea which he often formed into effect.
+
+In the shop his life was wretched. He was not stupid, as his master
+asserted; for indeed in other matters he was bright and clever, and his
+father had been well pleased with the progress he made with his studies;
+but, in the first place; he hated his work, and, in the second, every
+shortcoming and mistake was magnified and made the most of by the
+foreman, Andrew Carson. This man had long looked to be taken into
+partnership, and finally to succeed his master, seeing that the latter
+had no sons, and he conceived a violent jealousy of Jack Stilwell,
+in whose presence, as a prime favorite of Mistress Anthony and of her
+daughter, he thought he foresaw an overthrow of his plans.
+
+He was not long in effecting a breach between the boy and his
+master--for Jack's carelessness and inattention gave him plenty of
+opportunities--and Mr. Anthony ere long viewed the boy's errors as acts
+of willful disobedience. This state of things lasted for two years until
+the climax came, when, as Mr. Anthony had said to his wife, Jack, upon
+the foreman attempting to strike him, had knocked the latter down in the
+shop.
+
+Mr. Anthony's first impulse was to take his apprentice before the
+justices and to demand condign punishment for such an act of flagrant
+rebellion; but a moment's reflection told him that Jack, at the end of
+his punishment, would return to his house, where his wife would take
+his part as usual, and the quarrels which had frequently arisen on his
+account would be more bitter than before.
+
+It was far better to get rid of him at once, and he accordingly ordered
+him from the shop, tore up his indenture before his eyes, and bade
+him never let him see his face again. For the first few hours Jack was
+delighted at his freedom. He spent the day down on the wharves talking
+to the fishermen and sailors. There were no foreign bound ships in
+the port, and he had no wish to ship on board a coaster; he therefore
+resolved to wait until a vessel sailing for foreign ports should leave.
+
+He had no money; but a few hours after he left the shop Mrs. Anthony's
+maid found him on the wharf, and gave him a letter from her mistress. In
+this was inclosed a sum of money sufficient to last him for some time,
+and an assurance that she did not share her husband's anger against him.
+
+"I have no doubt, my dear Jack," she said, "that in time I could heal
+the breach and could arrange for you to come back again, but I think
+perhaps it is better as it is. You would never make a clothier, and I
+don't think you would ever become Mayor of Southampton. I know what your
+wishes are, and I think that you had better follow them out. Alice is
+heartbroken over the affair, but I assure her that it will all turn out
+for the best. I cannot ask you to come up to the house; but whenever you
+have settled on anything leave a note with Dorothy for me, and I will
+come down with Alice to see you and say goodby to you. I will see that
+you do not go without a proper outfit."
+
+It was to deliver this letter that Jack had gone up to the back
+gate; and seeing Alice in the garden they had naturally fallen into
+conversation at the gate, when the mayor, looking out from the window of
+his warehouse, happened to see them, and went out in the greatest wrath
+to put a stop to the conversation.
+
+Jack had indeed found a ship; she had come in from Holland with cloth
+and other merchandise, and was after she was discharged to sail for
+the colonies with English goods. She would not leave the port for some
+weeks; but he had seen the captain, who had agreed to take him as ship's
+boy. Had the mayor been aware that his late apprentice was on the point
+of leaving he would not have interfered with his intention; but as he
+had peremptorily ordered that his name was not to be mentioned before
+him, and as Mrs. Anthony had no motive in approaching the forbidden
+subject, the mayor remained in ignorance that Jack was about to depart
+on a distant voyage.
+
+One day, on going down to the town hail, he found an official letter
+waiting him; it was an order from government empowering justices of the
+peace to impress such men as they thought fit, with the only restriction
+that men entitled to vote for members of parliament were exempted. This
+tremendous power had just been legalized by an act of parliament. A more
+iniquitous act never disgraced our statutes, for it enabled justices of
+the peace to spite any of their poorer neighbors against whom they had a
+grudge, and to ship them off to share in the hardships of Marlborough's
+campaign in Germany and the Low Countries, or in the expedition now
+preparing for Spain.
+
+At that time the army was held in the greatest dislike by the English
+people. The nation had always been opposed to a standing force, and
+it was only now that the necessities of the country induced them to
+tolerate it. It was, however, recruited almost entirely from reckless
+and desperate men. Criminals were allowed to commute sentences of
+imprisonment for service in the army, and the gates of the prisons
+were also opened to insolvent debtors consenting to enlist. But all the
+efforts of the recruiting sergeants, aided by such measures as these,
+proved insufficient to attract a sufficient number of men to keep up the
+armies at the required strength.
+
+Pressing had always existed to a certain extent; but it had been carried
+on secretly, and was regarded as illegal. Therefore, as men must be had,
+the law giving justices the authority and power to impress any men
+they might select, with the exception of those who possessed a vote for
+members of parliament, was passed with the approval of parties on both
+sides of the House of Commons.
+
+There was indeed great need for men. England had allied herself with
+Austria and Holland in opposition to France, the subject of dispute
+being the succession to the crown of Spain, England's feelings in the
+matter being further imbittered by the recognition by Louis XIV of the
+Pretender as King of England. Therefore, although her interests were not
+so deeply engaged in the question as to the succession to the throne of
+Spain as were those of the continental powers, she threw herself into
+the struggle with ardor.
+
+The two claimants to the throne of Spain were the Archduke Charles,
+second son of Leopold, Emperor of Austria, and Philip, Duke of Anjou, a
+younger grandson of Louis. On the marriage of the French king with Maria
+Theresa, the sister of Charles II of Spain, she had formally renounced
+all claims to the succession, but the French king had nevertheless
+continued from time to time to bring them forward. Had these rights
+not been renounced Philip would have had the best claim to the Spanish
+throne, the next of kin after him being Charles of Austria.
+
+During the later days of the King of Spain all Europe had looked on with
+the most intense interest at the efforts which the respective parties
+made for their candidates. Whichever might succeed to the throne the
+balance of power would be destroyed; for either Austria and Spain
+united, or France and Spain united, would be sufficient to overawe the
+rest of the Continent. Louis XIV lulled the fears of the Austrian party
+by suggesting a treaty of partition to the Dutch states and William the
+Third of England.
+
+By this treaty it was agreed that the Archduke Charles was to be
+acknowledged successor to the crowns of Spain, the Indies, and the
+Netherlands; while the dauphin, as the eldest son of Maria Theresa,
+should receive the kingdom of Naples and Sicily, with the Spanish
+province of Guipuscoa and the duchy of Milan, in compensation of his
+abandonment of other claims. When the conditions of this treaty became
+known they inspired natural indignation in the minds of the people of
+the country which had thus been arbitrarily allotted, and the dying
+Charles of Spain was infuriated by this conspiracy to break up and
+divide his dominion. His jealousy of France would have led him to select
+the Austrian claimant; but the emperor's undisguised greed for a portion
+of the Spanish empire, and the overbearing and unpleasant manner of the
+Austrian ambassador in the Spanish court, drove him to listen to the
+overtures of Louis, who had a powerful ally in Cardinal Portocarrero,
+Archbishop of Toledo, whose influence was all powerful with the king.
+The cardinal argued that the grandson of Maria Theresa could not be
+bound by her renunciation, and also that it had only been made with a
+view to keep separate the French and Spanish monarchies, and that if a
+descendant of hers, other than the heir to the throne of France, were
+chosen, this condition would be carried out.
+
+Finally, he persuaded Charles, a month before his death, to sign a will
+declaring Philip, Duke of Anjou, grandson of his brother in law Louis
+XIV, sole heir of the Spanish empire. The will was kept secret till the
+death of the king, and was then publicly proclaimed. Louis accepted the
+bequest in favor of his grandson, and Philip was declared king in Spain
+and her dependencies.
+
+The greatest indignation was caused in England, Holland, and the empire
+at this breach by the King of France of the treaty of partition,
+of which he himself had been the author. England and Holland were
+unprepared for war, and therefore bided their time, but Austria at once
+commenced hostilities by directing large bodies of troops, under Prince
+Eugene, into the duchy of Milan, and by inciting the Neapolitans to
+revolt. The young king was at first popular in Spain, but Cardinal
+Portocarrero, who exercised the real power of the state, by his
+overbearing temper, his avarice, and his shameless corruption, speedily
+alienated the people from their monarch. Above all, the cardinal was
+supposed to be the tool of the French king, and to represent the policy
+which had for its object the dismemberment of the Spanish monarchy and
+the aggrandizement of France.
+
+That Louis had such designs was undoubted, and, if properly managed and
+bribed, Portocarrero would have been a pliant instrument in his hands;
+but the cardinal was soon estranged by the constant interference by the
+French agents in his own measures of government, and therefore turned
+against France that power of intrigue which he had recently used in her
+favor. He pretended to be devoted to France, and referred even the most
+minute details of government to Paris for approbation, with the double
+view of disgusting Louis with the government of Spain and of enraging
+the Spanish people at the constant interference of Louis.
+
+Philip, however, found a new and powerful ally in the hearts of the
+people by his marriage with Maria Louisa, daughter of the Duke of
+Savoy--a beautiful girl of fourteen years old, who rapidly developed
+into a graceful and gifted woman, and became the darling of the
+Spanish people, and whose intellect, firmness, and courage guided and
+strengthened her weak but amiable husband. For a time the power of Spain
+and France united overshadowed Europe, the trading interests of England
+and Holland were assailed, and a French army assembled close to the
+Flemish frontier.
+
+The indignation of the Dutch overcame their fears, and they yielded
+to the quiet efforts which King William was making, and combined with
+England and Austria in a grand alliance against France, the object of
+the combination being to exclude Louis from the Netherlands and West
+Indies, and to prevent the union of the crowns of France and Spain upon
+the same head. King William might not have obtained from the English
+parliament a ratification of the alliance had not Louis just at this
+moment acknowledged the son of the ex-king James as king of England.
+This insult roused the spirit of the English people, the House of
+Commons approved the triple alliance, and voted large supplies. King
+William died just after seeing his favorite project successful, and was
+succeeded by Queen Anne, who continued his policy. The Austrian Archduke
+Charles was recognized by the allies as King of Spain, and preparation
+made for war.
+
+An English army was landed near Cadiz; but the Spaniards showed no signs
+of rising in favor of Charles, and, after bringing great discredit
+on themselves and exciting the animosity of the Spaniards by gross
+misconduct, the English army embarked again. Some treasure ships were
+captured, and others sunk in the harbor of Vigo, but the fleet was no
+more effective than the army. Admiral Sir John Munden was cashiered
+for treachery or cowardice on the coast of Spain, and four captains of
+vessels in the gallant Benbow's West India fleet were either dismissed
+or shot for refusing to meet the enemy and for abandoning their chief.
+
+In 1703 little was done in the way of fighting, but the allies received
+an important addition of strength by the accession of Portugal to their
+ranks. In 1704 the allies made an attempt upon the important city of
+Barcelona. It was believed that the Catalans would have declared for
+Charles; but the plot by which the town was to be given up to him was
+discovered on the eve of execution, and the English force re-embarked on
+their ships. Their success was still less on the side of Portugal, where
+the Duke of Berwick, who was in command of the forces of King Philip,
+defeated the English and Dutch under the Duke of Schomberg and captured
+many towns.
+
+The Portuguese rendered the allies but slight assistance. These reverses
+were, however, balanced by the capture of Gibraltar on the 21st of June
+by the fleet under Sir George Rooke, and a small land force under
+Prince George of Hesse. Schomberg was recalled and Lord Galway took the
+command; but he succeeded no better than his predecessor, and affairs
+looked but badly for the allies, when the Duke of Marlborough, with the
+English and allied troops in Germany, inflicted the first great check
+upon the power and ambition of Louis XIV by the splendid victory of
+Blenheim.
+
+This defeat of the French had a disastrous effect upon the fortunes of
+Philip. He could no longer hope for help from his grandfather, for Louis
+was now called upon to muster his whole strength on his eastern frontier
+for the defense of his own dominion, and Philip was forced to depend
+upon his partisans in Spain only. The partisans of Charles at once took
+heart. The Catalans had never been warm in the cause of Philip; the
+crowns of Castile, Arragon, and Catalonia had only recently been united,
+and dangerous jealousy existed between these provinces. The Castilians
+were devoted adherents of Philip, and this in itself was sufficient to
+set Catalonia and Arragon against him.
+
+The English government had been informed of this growing discontent in
+the north of Spain, and sent out an emissary to inquire into the truth
+of the statement. As his report confirmed all that they had heard, it
+was decided in the spring of 1705 to send out an expedition which was to
+effect a landing in Catalonia, and would, it was hoped, be joined by all
+the people of that province and Arragon. By the efforts and patronage
+of the Duchess of Marlborough, who was all powerful with Queen Anne, the
+Earl of Peterborough was named to the command of the expedition.
+
+The choice certainly appeared a singular one, for hitherto the earl had
+done nothing which would entitle him to so distinguished a position.
+Charles Mordaunt was the eldest son of John Lord Mordaunt, Viscount
+Avalon, a brave and daring cavalier, who had fought heart and soul
+for Charles, and had been tried by Cromwell for treason, and narrowly
+escaped execution. On the restoration, as a reward for his risk of
+life and fortune, and for his loyalty and ability, he was raised to the
+peerage.
+
+His son Charles inherited none of his father's steadfastness. Brought
+up in the profligate court of Charles the Second he became an atheist,
+a scoffer at morality, and a republican. At the same time he had many
+redeeming points. He was brilliant, witty, energetic, and brave. He
+was generous and strictly honorable to his word. He was filled with a
+burning desire for adventure, and, at the close of 1674, when in
+his seventeenth year, he embarked in Admiral Torrington's ship, and
+proceeded to join as a volunteer Sir John Narborough's fleet in the
+Mediterranean, in order to take part in the expedition to restrain and
+revenge the piratical depredations of the barbarous states of Tripoli
+and Algiers.
+
+He distinguished himself on the 14th of January, 1675, in an attack by
+the boats of the fleet upon four corsair men o' war moored under
+the very guns of the castle and fort of Tripoli. The exploit was a
+successful one, the ships were all burned, and most of their crews
+slain. Another encounter with the fleet of Tripoli took place in
+February, when the pirates were again defeated, and the bey forced to
+grant all the English demands.
+
+In 1677 the fleet returned to England, and with it Mordaunt, who had
+during his absence succeeded to his father's title and estates, John
+Lord Mordaunt having died on the 5th of June, 1675. Shortly after his
+return to England Lord Mordaunt, though still but twenty years
+old, married a daughter of Sir Alexander Fraser. But his spirit was
+altogether unsuited to the quiet enjoyment of domestic life, and at the
+end of September, 1678, he went out as a volunteer in his majesty's ship
+Bristol, which was on the point of sailing for the Mediterranean to
+take part in an expedition fitting out for the relief of Tangier, then
+besieged by the Moors. Nothing, however, came of the expedition, and
+Mordaunt returned to England in the autumn of 1679.
+
+In June, 1680, he again sailed for Tangier with a small expedition
+commanded by the Earl of Plymouth. The expedition succeeded in throwing
+themselves into the besieged town, and continued the defense with vigor,
+and Mordaunt again distinguished himself; but he soon wearied of
+the monotony of a long siege, and before the end of the year found
+opportunity to return to England, where he plunged into politics and
+became one of the leaders of the party formed to exclude the Duke of
+York from the throne.
+
+Although a close friend of Lord Russell and Algernon Sidney he had
+fortunately for himself not been admitted to the fatal privilege of
+their private councils, and therefore escaped the fate which befell
+them. He continued his friendship with them to the last, and accompanied
+Algernon Sidney to the scaffold. But even while throwing himself heart
+and soul into politics he was continually indulging in wild freaks which
+rendered him the talk of the town.
+
+On the accession of King James he made his first speech in the House of
+Peers against a standing army, and distinguished himself alike by the
+eloquence and violence of his language. He was now under the displeasure
+of the court, and his profuse generosity had brought him into pecuniary
+trouble. In 1686, therefore, he quitted England with the professed
+intention of accepting a command in the Dutch fleet then about to sail
+for the West Indies, When he arrived in Holland, however, he presented
+himself immediately to the Prince of Orange, and first among the British
+nobility boldly proposed to William an immediate invasion of England.
+He pushed his arguments with fiery zeal, urged the disaffection of all
+classes, the hatred of the Commons, the defection of the Lords, the
+alarm of the Church, and the wavering loyalty of the army.
+
+William, however, was already informed of these facts, and was not to be
+hurried. Mordaunt remained with him till, on the 20th of October, 1688,
+he sailed for England. The first commission that King William signed in
+England was the appointment of Lord Mordaunt as lieutenant colonel of
+horse, and raising a regiment he rendered good service at Exeter. As
+soon as the revolution was completed, and William and Mary ascended the
+throne, Mordaunt was made a privy councilor and one of the lords of the
+bedchamber, and in April, 1689, he was made first commissioner of the
+treasury, and advanced to the dignity of Earl of Monmouth. In addition
+to the other offices to which he was appointed he was given the
+colonelcy of the regiment of horse guards.
+
+His conduct in office showed in brilliant contrast to that of the men
+with whom he was placed. He alone was free from the slightest suspicion
+of corruption and venality, and he speedily made enemies among his
+colleagues by the open contempt which he manifested for their gross
+corruption.
+
+Although he had taken so prominent a part in bringing King William to
+England, Monmouth soon became mixed up in all sorts of intrigues and
+plots. He was already tired of the reign of the Dutch king, and longed
+for a commonwealth. He was constantly quarreling with his colleagues,
+and whenever there was a debate in the House of Lords Monmouth took a
+prominent part on the side of the minority. In 1692 he went out with his
+regiment of horse guards to Holland, and fought bravely at the battle
+of Steenkirk. The campaign was a failure, and in October he returned to
+England with the king.
+
+For two years after this he lived quietly, devoting his principal
+attention to his garden and the society of wits and men of letters. Then
+he again appeared in parliament, and took a leading part in the movement
+in opposition to the crown, and inveighed in bitter terms against the
+bribery of persons in power by the East India Company, and the venality
+of many members of parliament and even the ministry. His relations
+with the king were now of the coldest kind, and he became mixed up in
+a Jacobite plot. How far he was guilty in the matter was never proved.
+Public opinion certainly condemned him, and by a vote of the peers he
+was deprived of all his employments and sent to the Tower. The king,
+however, stood his friend, and released him at the end of the session.
+
+In 1697, by the death of his uncle, Charles became Earl of Peterborough,
+and passed the next four years in private life, emerging only
+occasionally to go down to the House of Peers and make fiery onslaughts
+upon abuses and corruption. In the course of these years, both in
+parliament and at court, he had been sometimes the friend, sometimes the
+opponent of Marlborough; but he had the good fortune to be a favorite of
+the duchess, and when the time came that a leader was required for the
+proposed expedition to Spain, she exerted herself so effectually that
+she procured his nomination.
+
+Hitherto his life had been a strange one. Indolent and energetic by
+turns, restless and intriguing, quarreling with all with whom he came
+in contact, burning with righteous indignation against corruption and
+misdoing, generous to a point which crippled his finances seriously, he
+was a puzzle to all who knew him, and had he died at this time he
+would only have left behind him the reputation of being one of the most
+brilliant, gifted, and honest, but at the same time one of the most
+unstable, eccentric, and ill regulated spirits of his time.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II: IMPRESSED
+
+
+When the Mayor of Southampton opened the official document empowering
+and requesting him to obtain recruits for the queen's service he was not
+greatly pleased. This sort of thing would give a good deal of trouble,
+and would assuredly not add to his popularity. He saw at once that he
+would be able to oblige many of his friends by getting rid of people
+troublesome to them, but with this exception where was he to find the
+recruits the queen required? There were, of course, a few never do wells
+in the town who could be packed off, to the general satisfaction of
+the inhabitants, but beyond this every one taken would have friends and
+relations who would cry out and protest.
+
+It was likely to be a troublesome business, and the mayor threw down the
+paper on the table before him. Then suddenly his expression changed.
+He had been thinking of obliging his friends by sending off persons
+troublesome to them, but he had not thought of his own case. Here was
+the very thing; he would send off this troublesome lad to fight for the
+queen; and whether he went to the Low Countries under Marlborough, or
+to Spain with this new expedition which was being prepared, it was very
+unlikely that he would ever return to trouble him.
+
+He was only sixteen, indeed, but he was strong and well grown, and much
+fitter for service than many of those who would be sent. If the
+young fellow stopped here he would always be a trouble, and a bone of
+contention between himself and his wife. Besides, for Alice's sake,
+it was clearly his duty to get the fellow out of the way. Girls, Mr.
+Anthony considered, were always falling in love with the very last
+people in the world with whom they should do so, and out of sheer
+contrariety it was more than possible that Alice might take a fancy for
+this penniless vagabond, and if she did Mrs. Anthony was fool enough to
+support her in her folly.
+
+Of course there would be trouble with his wife when she found what had
+happened to the lad--for the mayor did not deceive himself for a moment
+by the thought that he would be able to conceal from his wife the cause
+of Jack's absence; he was too well aware of Mrs. Anthony's power of
+investigation. Still, after it was done it could not be undone, and
+it was better to have one domestic storm than a continuation of foul
+weather.
+
+Calling in his clerk the mayor read over to him the order he had
+received, and bade him turn to the court book and make out a list of the
+names of forty young men who had been charged before him with offenses
+of drunkenness, assault, battery and rioting.
+
+"When you have made up the list, Johnson, you will go round to the
+aldermen and inform them of the order that I have received from the
+government, and you can tell them that if there are any persons they
+know of whom they consider that Southampton would be well rid, if they
+will send the names to me I will add them to the list. Bid them not to
+choose married men, if it can be avoided, for the town would be burdened
+with the support of their wives and families. Another ten names will do.
+The letter which accompanies the order says that from my well known zeal
+and loyalty it is doubted not that Southampton will furnish a hundred
+men, but if I begin with fifty that will be well enough, and we can pick
+out the others at our leisure."
+
+By the afternoon the list was filled up. One of the aldermen had
+inserted the name of a troublesome nephew, another that of a foreman
+with whom he had had a dispute about wages, and who had threatened to
+proceed against him in the court. Some of the names were inserted from
+mere petty spite; but with scarce an exception the aldermen responded to
+the invitation of the mayor, and placed on the list the name of some one
+whom they, or Southampton, would be the better without.
+
+When the list was completed the mayor struck out one of the first names
+inserted by his clerk and inserted that of John Stilwell in its place.
+His instructions were that he was to notify to an officer, who would
+arrive with a company of soldiers on the following day, the names of
+those whom he deemed suitable for the queen's service. The officer after
+taking them was to embark them on board one of the queen's cutters,
+which would come round from Portsmouth for the purpose, and would convey
+them to Dover, where a camp was being formed and the troops assembling.
+
+Upon the following day the company marched into the town, and the
+officer in command, having seen his men billeted among the citizens,
+called upon the mayor.
+
+"Well, Mr. Mayor," he said, "I hope you have a good list of recruits
+for me. I don't want to be waiting here, for I have to go on a similar
+errand to other towns. It is not a job I like, I can tell you, but it is
+not for me to question orders."
+
+"I have a list of fifty men, all active and hearty fellows, who will
+make good soldiers," the mayor said.
+
+"And of whom, no doubt, Southampton will be well rid," the officer said
+with a laugh. "Truly, I pity the Earl of Peterborough, for he will
+have as rough a body of soldiers as ever marched to war. However, it is
+usually the case that the sort of men who give trouble at home are just
+those who, when the time comes, make the best fighters. I would rather
+have half a dozen of your reckless blades, when the pinch comes, than a
+score of honest plowboys. How do you propose that I shall take them?"
+
+"That I will leave entirely to you," the mayor said; "here is a list
+of the houses where they lodge. I will place the town watch at your
+disposal to show you the way and to point out the men to you."
+
+"That will be all I shall require," the officer said; "but you can give
+me a list of those who are most likely to give trouble. These I will
+pounce upon and get on board ship first of all. When they are secured
+I will tell my men off in parties, each with one of your constables to
+point out the men, and we will pick them up so many every evening. It
+is better not to break into houses and seize them; for, although we
+are acting legally and under the authority of act of parliament, it is
+always as well to avoid giving cause of complaint, which might tend to
+excite a feeling against the war and make the government unpopular, and
+which, moreover, might do you harm with the good citizens, and do me
+harm with those above me. I am sure you agree with me."
+
+"Quite so, quite so," the mayor said hastily; "you speak very prudently
+and well, sir. I hope you will honor me by taking up your abode in my
+house during your stay here; but may I ask you not to allow my wife,
+who is inquisitive by nature, to see the list with which I furnish you?
+Women are ever meddling in matters which concern them not."
+
+"I understand," the officer said with a wink, "there are names on the
+list of which your wife would not approve. I have known the same thing
+happen before. But never fear, the list shall be kept safe; and, indeed,
+it were better that nothing were said of my business in the town, for if
+this get abroad, some of those whose conscience may tell them that they
+will be likely to be chosen for service might very well slip off and be
+out of the way until they hear that I and my men have left."
+
+Two days later, when, as the evening was falling, Jack Stilwell was
+walking up from the wharf, where he had been watching the unlading of
+the vessel in which he was to sail, he came upon a group of four or five
+soldiers standing at a corner. Then a voice, which he recognized as that
+of the foreman, Richard Carson, said:
+
+"That is your man, officer;" and the soldiers made a sudden rush upon
+him.
+
+Taken by surprise he nevertheless struggled desperately, but a heavy
+blow with a staff fell on the back of his head, and for a time he knew
+nothing more. When he recovered his consciousness he was lying almost in
+complete darkness, but by the faint gleam of the lantern he discovered
+that he was in the hold of a ship. Several other men were sitting or
+laying near him. Some of them were cursing and swearing, others were
+stanching the blood which flowed from various cuts and gashes.
+
+"What does all this mean?" he asked as he somewhat recovered himself.
+
+"It means," said one, "that we are pressed to serve as soldiers. I made
+a fight for it, and just as they had got the handcuffs on some citizens
+came up and asked what was doing, and the sergeant said, 'It is quite
+legal. We hold the mayor's warrant to impress this man for service in
+the army; there is a constable here who will tell you we are acting on
+authority, and if any interfere it will be worse for them.'"
+
+Jack heard the news in silence. So, he had been pressed by a warrant of
+the mayor, he was the victim of the spite of his late employer. But his
+thoughts soon turned from this by the consciousness that his shirt and
+clothes were soaked with blood, and putting his hand to the back of
+his head he found a great lump from which the blood was still slowly
+flowing. Taking off his neck handkerchief he bound it round his head
+and then lay down again. He tried to think, but his brain was weak and
+confused, and he presently fell into a sound sleep, from which he was
+not aroused by the arrival of another batch of prisoners.
+
+It was morning when he awoke, and he found that he had now nearly
+twenty companions in captivity. Some were walking up and down like caged
+animals, others were loudly bewailing their fate, some sat moody and
+silent, while some bawled out threats of vengeance against those they
+considered responsible for their captivity. A sentry with a shouldered
+musket was standing at the foot of the steps, and from time to time some
+sailors passed up and down. Jack went up to one of these.
+
+"Mate," he said, "could you let us have a few buckets of water down
+here? In the first place we are parched with thirst, and in the second
+we may as well try to get off some of the blood which, from a good many
+of us, has been let out pretty freely."
+
+"Well, you seem a reasonable sort of chap," the sailor said, "and to
+take things coolly. That's the way, my lad; when the king, or the queen
+now--it's all the same thing--has once got his hand on you it's of no
+use kicking against it. I have been pressed twice myself, so I know how
+you feel. Here, mates," he said to two of the other sailors, "lend a
+hand and get a bucket of fresh water and a pannikin, and half a dozen
+buckets of salt water, and let these lads have a drink and a wash."
+
+It was soon done. The prisoners were all glad of the drink, but few
+cared to trouble about washing. Jack, however, took possession of a
+bucket, stripped to the waist, and had a good wash. The salt water made
+his wound smart, but he continued for half an hour bathing it, and at
+the end of that time felt vastly fresher and better. Then he soaked his
+shirt in the water, and as far as possible removed the broad stains of
+blood which stiffened it. Then he wrung it out and hung it up to dry,
+and, putting on his coat, sat down and thought matters over.
+
+He had never had the idea of entering the army, for the measures taken
+to fill the ranks rendered the military service distasteful in the
+extreme to the English people. Since the days of Agincourt the English
+army had never gained any brilliant successes abroad, and there was
+consequently none of that national pride which now exists in its bravery
+and glorious history.
+
+Still, Jack reflected, it did not make much difference to him whether he
+became a soldier or a sailor. He had longed to see the world, to
+share in deeds of adventure, and, above all, to escape from the dreary
+drudgery of the clothier's shop. These objects would be attained as well
+in the army as in the navy; and, indeed, now that he thought of it, he
+preferred the active service which he would see under Marlborough or
+Peterborough to the monotony of a long sea voyage. At any rate, it was
+clear that remonstrance or resistance were vain. He as well as others
+were aware of the law which had just been passed, giving magistrates the
+power of impressing soldiers for the service, and he felt, therefore,
+that although his impressment had no doubt been dictated by the private
+desire of the mayor to get him out of the way, it was yet strictly
+legal, and that it would be useless his making any protest against it.
+He resolved, therefore, to make the best of things, and to endeavor to
+win the goodwill of his officers by prompt and cheerful acquiescence in
+the inevitable.
+
+Presently some sailors brought down a tray with a number of hunks of
+black bread, a large pot filled with a sort of broth, and a score of
+earthenware mugs. Jack at once dipped one of the mugs into the pot, and,
+taking a hunk of bread, sat down to his breakfast. A few others followed
+his example, but most of them were too angry or too dispirited to care
+about eating; and, indeed, it seemed to them that their refusal to
+partake of the meal was a sort of protest against their captivity.
+
+Half an hour afterward the sailors removed the food; and many of those
+who had refused to touch it soon regretted bitterly that they had not
+done so, for as the time went on hunger began to make itself felt. It
+was evening before the next meal, consisting of black bread and a
+great piece of salt beef, was brought down. This time there were no
+abstentions. As the evening wore on fresh batches of prisoners were
+brought in, until, by midnight, the number was raised to fifty. Many of
+them had been seriously knocked about in their capture, and Jack, who
+had persuaded his friend the sailor to bring down three or four more
+buckets of salt water, did his best, by bathing and bandaging their
+wounds, to put them at their ease.
+
+In the morning he could see who were his companions in misfortune. Many
+of them he knew by sight as loafers on the wharves and as troublesome or
+riotous characters. Three or four were men of different type. There were
+two or three respectable mechanics--men who had had, at various times,
+drawn upon them the dislikes of the great men of the town by insisting
+on their rights; and there were two idle young fellows of a higher
+class, who had vexed their friends beyond endurance.
+
+Presently the officer in charge of the recruiting party, who had now
+come on board, came down into the hold. He was at once assailed with a
+storm of curses and angry remonstrances.
+
+"Look here, my lads," he said, raising his hand for silence, "it is of
+no use your going on like this, and I warn you that the sooner you make
+up your minds that you have got to serve her majesty the better for
+you, because that you have got to do it is certain. You have all been
+impressed according to act of parliament, and there is no getting out
+of it. It's your own fault that you got those hard knocks that I see the
+marks of, and you will get more if you give any more trouble. Now, those
+who choose to agree at once to serve her majesty can come on deck."
+
+Jack at once stepped forward.
+
+"I am ready to serve, sir," he said.
+
+"That's right," the officer replied heartily; "you are a lad of spirit,
+I can see, and will make a good soldier. You look young yet, but that's
+all in your favor; you will be a sergeant at an age when others are
+learning their recruit drill. Now, who's the next?"
+
+Some half dozen of the others followed Jack's example, but the rest were
+still too sore and angry to be willing to do anything voluntarily.
+
+Jack leaped lightly up on deck and looked round; the cutter was already
+under weigh, and with a gentle breeze was running along the smooth
+surface of Southampton waters; the ivy covered ruins of Netley Abbey
+were abreast of them, and behind was the shipping of the port.
+
+"Well, young un," an old sergeant said, "so I suppose you have agreed to
+serve the queen?"
+
+"As her majesty was so pressing," Jack replied with a smile, "you see I
+had no choice in the matter."
+
+"That's right," the sergeant said kindly; "always keep up your spirits,
+lad. Care killed a cat, you know. You are one of the right sort, I can
+see, but you are young to be pressed. How old are you?"
+
+"Sixteen," Jack replied.
+
+"Then they had no right to take you," the sergeant said; "seventeen's
+the earliest age, and as a rule soldiers ain't much good till they are
+past twenty. You would have a right to get off if you could prove your
+age; but of course you could not do that without witnesses or papers,
+and it's an old game for recruits who look young to try to pass as under
+age."
+
+"I shan't try," Jack answered; "I have made up my mind to it now, and
+there's an end to it. But why ain't soldiers any good till they are past
+twenty, sergeant? As far as I can see, boys are just as brave as men."
+
+"Just as brave, my lad, and when it comes to fighting the young soldier
+is very often every bit as good as the old one; but they can't stand
+fatigue and hardship like old soldiers. A boy will start out on as long
+a walk as a man can take, but he can't keep it up day after day. When it
+comes to long marches, to sleeping on the ground in the wet, bad food,
+and fever from the marshes, the young soldier breaks down, the hospital
+gets full of boys, and they just die off like flies, while the older men
+pull through."
+
+"You are a Job's comforter, I must say," Jack said with a laugh; "but
+I must hope that I shan't have long marches, and bad food, and damp
+weather, and marsh fever till I get a bit older."
+
+"I don't want to discourage you," the sergeant remarked, "and you know
+there are young soldiers and young soldiers. There are the weedy, narrow
+chested chaps as seems to be made special for filling a grave; and there
+is the sturdy, hardy young chap, whose good health and good spirits
+carries him through. That's your sort, I reckon. Good spirits is the
+best medicine in the world; it's worth all the doctors and apothecaries
+in the army. But how did you come to be pressed? it's generally the
+ne'er do well and idle who get picked out as food for powder. That
+doesn't look your sort, or I'm mistaken."
+
+"I hope not," Jack said. "I am here because I am a sort of cousin of the
+Mayor of Southampton. He wanted me to serve in his shop. I stood it for
+a time, but I hated it, and at last I had a row with his foreman and
+knocked him down, so I was kicked out into the streets; and I suppose
+he didn't like seeing me about, and so took this means of getting rid
+of me. He needn't have been in such a hurry, for if he had waited a few
+days I should have gone, for I had shipped as a boy on board of a ship
+about to sail for the colonies."
+
+"In that case, my lad, you have no reason for ill will against this
+precious relation of yours, for he has done you a good turn while
+meaning to do you a bad un. The life of a boy on board a ship isn't one
+to be envied, I can tell you; he is at every one's beck and call, and
+gets more kicks than halfpence. Besides, what comes of it? You get to be
+a sailor, and, as far as I can see, the life of a sailor is the life
+of a dog. Look at the place where he sleeps--why, it ain't as good as
+a decent kennel. Look at his food--salt meat as hard as a stone, and
+rotten biscuit that a decent dog would turn up his nose at; his time
+is never his own--wet or dry, storm or calm, he's got to work when he's
+told. And what's he got to look forward to? A spree on shore when his
+voyage is done, and then to work again. Why, my lad, a soldier's life is
+a gentleman's life in comparison. Once you have learned your drill and
+know your duty you have an easy time of it. Most of your time's your
+own. When you are on a campaign you eat, drink, and are jolly at other
+folks' expense; and if you do get wet when you are on duty, you can
+generally manage to turn in dry when you are relieved. It's not a bad
+life, my boy, I can tell you; and if you do your duty well, and you
+are steady, and civil, and smart, you are sure to get your stripes,
+especially if you can read and write, as I suppose you can."
+
+Jack nodded with a half smile.
+
+"In that case," the sergeant said, "you may even in time get to be an
+officer. I can't read nor write--not one in twenty can--but those as
+can, of course, has a better chance of promotion if they distinguish
+themselves. I should have got it last year in the Low Country, and
+Marlborough himself said, 'Well done!' when I, with ten rank and file,
+held a bridge across a canal for half an hour against a company of
+French. He sent for me after it was over, but when he found I couldn't
+read or write he couldn't promote me; but he gave me a purse of twenty
+guineas, and I don't know but what that suited me better, for I am
+a deal more comfortable as a sergeant than I should have been as an
+officer; but you see, if you had been in my place up you would have
+gone."
+
+The wind fell in the afternoon, and the cutter dropped her anchor as the
+tide was running against her. At night Jack Stilwell and the others
+who had accepted their fate slept with the troops on board instead of
+returning to rejoin their companions in the hold. Jack was extremely
+glad of the change, as there was air and ventilation, whereas in the
+hold the atmosphere had been close and oppressive. He was the more glad
+next morning when he found that the wind, which had sprung up soon after
+midnight, was freshening fast, and was, as one of the sailors said,
+likely to blow hard before long. The cutter was already beginning to
+feel the effect of the rising sea, and toward the afternoon was pitching
+in a lively way and taking the sea over her bows.
+
+"You seem to enjoy it, young un," the sergeant said as Jack, holding
+on by a shroud, was facing the wind regardless of the showers of spray
+which flew over him. "Half our company are down with seasickness, and as
+for those chaps down in the fore hold they must be having a bad time of
+it, for I can hear them groaning and cursing through the bulkhead. The
+hatchway has been battened down for the last three hours."
+
+"I enjoy it," Jack said; "whenever I got a holiday at Southampton I used
+to go out sailing. I knew most of the fishermen there; they were always
+ready to take me with them as an extra hand. When do you think we shall
+get to Dover?"
+
+"She is walking along fast," the sergeant said; "we shall be there
+tomorrow morning. We might be there before, but the sailors say that the
+skipper is not likely to run in before daylight, and before it gets dark
+he will shorten sail so as not to get there before."
+
+The wind increased until it was blowing a gale; but the cutter was a
+good sea boat, and being in light trim made good weather of it. However,
+even Jack was pleased when he felt a sudden change in the motion of the
+vessel, and knew that she was running into Dover harbor.
+
+Morning was just breaking, and the hatchways being removed the sergeant
+shouted down to the pressed men that they could come on deck. It was a
+miserable body of men who crawled up in answer to the summons, utterly
+worn out and exhausted with the seasickness, the closeness of the air,
+and the tossing and buffeting of the last eighteen hours; many had
+scarce strength to climb the ladder.
+
+All the spirit and indignation had been knocked out of them--they were
+too miserable and dejected to utter a complaint. The sergeant ordered
+his men to draw up some buckets of water, and told the recruits to wash
+themselves and make themselves as decent as they could, and the order
+was sharply enforced by the captain when he came on deck.
+
+"I would not march through the streets of Dover with such a filthy, hang
+dog crew," he said; "why, the very boys would throw mud at you. Come, do
+what you can to make yourselves clean, or I will have buckets of water
+thrown over you. I would rather take you on shore drenched to the skin
+than in that state. You have brought it entirely on yourselves by your
+obstinacy. Had you enlisted at once without further trouble you would
+not have suffered as you have."
+
+The fresh air and cold water soon revived even the most exhausted of
+the new recruits, and as soon as all had been made as presentable as
+circumstances would admit of, the order was given to land. The party
+were formed on the quay, four abreast, the soldiers forming the outside
+line, and so they marched through Dover, where but yet a few people
+were up and stirring, to the camp formed just outside the walls of the
+castle. The colonel of the regiment met them as they marched in.
+
+"Well, Captain Lowther, you have had a rough time of it, I reckon. I
+thought the whole camp was going to be blown away last night. These are
+the recruits from Southampton, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, colonel, what there is left of them; they certainly had a baddish
+twelve hours of it."
+
+"Form them in line," the colonel said, "and let me have a look at them.
+They are all ready and willing to serve her majesty, I hope," he added
+with a grim smile.
+
+"They are all ready, no doubt," Captain Lowther replied; "as to their
+willingness I can't say so much. Some half dozen or so agreed at once to
+join without giving any trouble, foremost among them that lad at the end
+of the line, who, Sergeant Edwards tells me, is a fine young fellow and
+likely to do credit to the regiment; the rest chose to be sulky, and
+have suffered for it by being kept below during the voyage. However, I
+think all their nonsense is knocked out of them now."
+
+The colonel walked along the line and examined the men.
+
+"A sturdy set of fellows," he said to the captain, "when they have got
+over their buffeting. Now, my lads," he went on, addressing the men,
+"you have all been pressed to serve her majesty in accordance with act
+of parliament, and though some of you may not like it just at present,
+you will soon get over that and take to it kindly enough. I warn you
+that the discipline will be strict. In a newly raised regiment like this
+it is necessary to keep a tight hand, but if you behave yourselves and
+do your duty you will not find the life a hard one.
+
+"Remember, it's no use any of you thinking of deserting; we have got
+your names and addresses, so you couldn't go home if you did; and you
+would soon be brought back wherever you went, and you know pretty well
+what's the punishment for desertion without my telling you. That will
+do."
+
+No one raised a voice in reply--each man felt that his position was
+hopeless, for, as the colonel said, they had been legally impressed.
+They were first taken before the adjutant, who rapidly swore them in,
+and they were then set to work, assisted by some more soldiers, in
+pitching tents. Clothes were soon served out to them and the work of
+drill commenced at once.
+
+Each day brought fresh additions to the force, and in a fortnight its
+strength was complete. Jack did not object to the hard drill which they
+had to go through, and which occupied them from morning till night, for
+the colonel knew that on any day the regiment might receive orders to
+embark, and he wanted to get it in something like shape before setting
+sail. Jack did, however, shrink from the company in which he found
+himself. With a few exceptions the regiment was made up of wild and
+worthless fellows, of whom the various magistrates had been only too
+glad to clear their towns, and mingled with these were the sweepings of
+the jails, rogues and ruffians of every description. The regiment
+might eventually be welded into a body of good soldiers, but at present
+discipline had not done its work, and it was simply a collection of
+reckless men, thieves, and vagabonds.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III: A DOMESTIC STORM
+
+
+Great was the surprise of Dame Anthony when, on sending down her servant
+with a letter to Jack Stilwell, the woman returned, saying that he had
+left his lodging two days before and had not returned. All his things
+had been left behind, and it was evident that when he went out he had no
+intention of leaving. The woman of the house said that Master Stilwell
+was a steady and regular lodger, and that she could not but think
+something had happened to him. Of course she didn't know, but all the
+town were talking of the men who had been taken away by the press gang,
+and she thought they must have clapped hands on her lodger.
+
+Dame Anthony at once jumped at that conclusion. The pressing of fifty
+men had indeed made a great stir in the town during the last two days.
+The mayor's office had been thronged by angry women complaining of their
+husbands or sons being dragged away; and the mayor had been the object
+of many threats and much indignation, and had the evening before
+returned home bespattered with mud, having been pelted on his way from
+the town hall by the women, and having only been saved from more serious
+assaults by the exertions of the constables.
+
+Dame Anthony had been surprised that her husband had taken these things
+so quietly. Some of the women had indeed been seized and set in the
+stocks, but the mayor had made light of the affair, and had altogether
+seemed in an unusually good state of temper. Dame Anthony at once
+connected this with Jack's disappearance. She knew that the list had
+been made out by the mayor, and the idea that her husband had taken this
+means of getting rid of Jack, and that he was exulting over the success
+of his scheme, flashed across her. As the mayor was away at the town
+hall she was forced to wait till his return to dinner; but no sooner
+had the meal been concluded and Andrew Carson and the two assistants had
+left the table than she began:
+
+"Richard, I want to look at the list of the men who were pressed."
+
+The request scarcely came as a surprise upon the clothier. He had made
+up his mind that his wife would be sure sooner or later to discover
+that Jack was missing, and would connect his disappearance with the
+operations of the press gang.
+
+"What do you want to see that for?" he asked shortly.
+
+"I want to see who have been taken," his wife said. "There is no secret
+about it, I suppose?"
+
+"No, there is no secret," the mayor replied. "According to the act of
+parliament and the request of her majesty's minister I drew up a list
+of fifty of the most useless and disreputable of the inhabitants of
+this town, and I rejoice to say that the place is rid of them all. The
+respectable citizens are all grateful to me for the manner in which
+I have fulfilled the task laid upon me, and as to the clamor of a few
+angry women, it causes me not a moment's annoyance."
+
+"I don't know why you are telling me all this, Richard," his wife said
+calmly. "I did not cast any reflections as to the manner in which you
+made your choice. I only said I wished to see the list."
+
+"I do not see that the list concerns you," the mayor said. "Why do you
+wish to see it?"
+
+"I wish to see it, Richard, because I suspect that the name of my Cousin
+Jack Stilwell is upon it."
+
+"Oh, mother!" cried Alice, who had been listening in surprise to the
+conversation, suddenly starting to her feet; "you don't mean that they
+have pressed Jack to be a soldier."
+
+"Leave the room, Alice," her father said angrily. "This is no concern of
+a child like you." When the door closed behind the girl he said to his
+wife:
+
+"Naturally his name is in the list. I selected fifty of the most
+worthless fellows in Southampton, and his name was the first which
+occurred to me. What then?"
+
+"Then I tell you, Richard," Dame Anthony said, rising, "that you are a
+wretch, a mean, cowardly, cruel wretch. You have vented your spite upon
+Jack, whom I love as if he were my own son, because he would not put
+up with the tyranny of your foreman and yourself. You may be Mayor of
+Southampton, you may be a great man in your own way, but I call you a
+mean, pitiful fellow. I won't stay in the house with you an hour longer.
+The wagon for Basingstoke comes past at three o'clock, and I shall go
+and stay with my father and mother there, and take Alice with me."
+
+"I forbid you to do anything of the sort," the mayor said pompously.
+
+"You forbid!" Dame Anthony cried. "What do I care for your forbidding?
+If you say a word I will go down the town and join those who pelted you
+with mud last night. A nice spectacle it would be for the worthy Mayor
+of Southampton to be pelted in the street by a lot of women led by his
+own wife. You know me, Richard. You know when I say I will do a thing I
+will do it."
+
+"I will lock you up in your own room, woman."
+
+"You won't," Dame Anthony said scornfully. "I would scream out of the
+window till I brought the whole town round. No, Mr. Mayor. You have had
+your own way, and I am going to have mine. Go and tell the town if you
+like that your wife has left you because you kidnapped her cousin, the
+boy she loved. You tell your story and I will tell mine. Why, the women
+in the town would hoot you, and you wouldn't dare show your face in the
+streets. You insist, indeed! Why, you miserable little man, my fingers
+are tingling now. Say another word to me and I will box your ears till
+you won't know whether you are standing on your head or your heels."
+
+The mayor was a small man, while Dame Anthony, although not above the
+usual height, was plump and strong; and her crestfallen spouse felt
+that she was capable of carrying her threat into execution. He therefore
+thought it prudent to make no reply, and his angry wife swept from the
+room.
+
+It was some time before the mayor descended to his shop. In the interval
+he had thought the matter over, and had concluded that it would be best
+for him to let his wife have her way. Indeed, he did not see how he
+could do otherwise.
+
+He had expected a storm, but not such a storm as this. Never before
+in his fifteen years of married life had he seen his wife in such a
+passion, and there was no saying whether she would not carry all her
+threats into execution if he interfered with her now. No. It would be
+better to let her go. The storm would blow over in time. It was natural
+enough for her to go over and stay a few weeks with her people, and in
+time, of course, she would come back again. After all, he had got rid of
+Jack, and this being so, he could afford for awhile to put up with the
+absence of his wife. It was unpleasant, of course, very unpleasant, to
+be called such names, but as no one had heard them but himself it did
+not so much matter. Perhaps, after all, it was the best thing that could
+happen that she should take it into her head to go away for a time. In
+her present mood she would not make things comfortable at home, and, of
+course, his daughter would side with her mother.
+
+Accordingly, when the carrier's wagon stopped at the door the mayor
+went out with a pleasant countenance, and saw that the boxes were safely
+placed in it, and that his wife was comfortably seated on some shawls
+spread over a heap of straw. His attention, however, received neither
+thanks nor recognition from Dame Anthony, while Alice, whose face was
+swollen with crying, did not speak a word. However, they were seated
+well under the cover of the wagon, and could not be seen by the few
+people standing near; and as the mayor continued till the wagon started
+speaking cheerfully, and giving them all sorts of injunctions as to
+taking care of themselves on the way, he flattered himself that no one
+would have an idea that the departure was anything but an amicable one.
+
+A week later a letter arrived for Dame Anthony and the mayor at once
+recognized the handwriting of Jack Stilwell. He took it up to his room,
+and had a considerable debate with himself as to whether he would open
+it or not. The question was, What did the boy say? If he wrote full of
+bitter complaints as to his treatment, the receipt of the letter by his
+wife would only make matters worse, and in that case it would be better
+to destroy the letter as well as any others which might follow it, and
+so put an end to all communication, for it was unlikely that the boy
+would ever return to England.
+
+Accordingly he opened the letter, and after reading it through, laid
+it down with a feeling of something like relief. It was written in a
+cheerful spirit. Jack began by saying that he feared Dame Anthony and
+Alice would have been anxious when they heard that he was missing from
+his lodgings.
+
+"I have no doubt, my dear cousin, you will have guessed what has
+befallen me, seeing that so many have been taken away in the same way. I
+don't think that my late master acted handsomely in thus getting rid of
+me; for, as the list was made up by him, it was of course his doing. But
+you will please tell him from me that I feel no grudge against him. In
+the first place, he did not know I was going away to sea, and it must
+naturally have angered him to see one known to be connected with him
+hanging about Southampton doing nothing. Besides, I know that he always
+meant kindly by me. He took me in when I had nowhere to go, he gave
+me my apprenticeship without fee, and, had it not been that my roving
+spirit rendered me disinclined for so quiet a life, he would doubtless
+have done much for me hereafter. Thus thinking it over, it seems to me
+but reasonable that he should have been angered at my rejection of the
+benefits he intended for me.
+
+"In the next place, it may be that his action in shipping me off as a
+soldier may in the end prove to be for my welfare. Had I carried out my
+intention and gone as a sailor, a sailor I might have remained all my
+life. It seems to me that as a soldier my chances are larger. Not only
+shall I see plenty of fighting and adventure, which accords well with
+my spirit, but it seems to me--and a sergeant who has shown me much
+kindness says that it is so--that there are fair chances of advancement.
+The soldiers are for the great part disorderly and ignorant men; and,
+as I mean to be steady and obedient so as to gain the goodwill of the
+officers, and as I have received a good education from my dear father,
+I hope in time to come to be regarded as one somewhat different from the
+common herd; and if I get an opportunity of distinguishing myself, and
+do not get killed by a Spanish bullet or pike thrust, or by the fevers
+which they say are not uncommon, then it is possible I may come back at
+the end of the war with some honor and credit, and, the sergeant said,
+may even obtain advancement to the rank of an officer. Therefore my late
+master, having done me many good turns, may perhaps find that this last
+one--even though he intended it not--is the best of all. Will you make
+my respects to him, dear cousin, and tell him that I feel no grudge or
+ill will against him? Will you give my love to my Cousin Alice? Tell her
+that I will bring her home some rare keepsakes from Spain should they
+fall in my way; and you know I will do the same for yourself, who have
+always been so good and kind to me."
+
+"The boy is not a bad boy," the mayor said, well pleased as he laid down
+the letter. "It may be that I have judged him too harshly, seeing that
+he set himself against what was best for his welfare. Still, one cannot
+expect men's heads on boys' shoulders, and he writes dutifully and
+properly. I believe it is the fault of Andrew Carson, who was forever
+edging me on by reports of the boy's laziness and carelessness. He
+certainly has a grudge against him, and he assuredly exceeded his place
+and authority when he lifted his hand against my wife's cousin. It seems
+to me truly that I have acted somewhat hastily and wrong headedly in the
+matter. I shall give Master Carson notice that at the end of a month
+I shall require his services no longer--the fellow puts himself too
+forward. That will please Mary; she never liked him, and women in these
+matters of likes and dislikes are shrewder than we are. Perhaps when she
+hears that he is going, and reads this letter, which I will forward
+to her by the carrier, she may come back to me. I certainly miss her
+sorely, and the household matters go all wrong now that she is away. She
+ought not to have said things to me; but no wise man thinks anything of
+what a woman says when she's angry; and now that I think things over, it
+certainly seems to me that she had some sort of warrant for her words.
+Yes, I certainly don't know what can have come over me, unless it was
+that fellow, Andrew Carson. Richard Anthony has not been considered a
+bad fellow else he would never have become the Mayor of Southampton; and
+for fifteen years Mary and I have got on very well together, save
+for the little disputes which have arisen from her over masterful
+disposition. But she is a good wife--none could wish for better--though
+she is given to flame out at what she considers unrighteous dealings;
+but every woman has her faults, and every man too as far as that goes,
+and upon the whole few of them have less than Mary. I will write to her
+at once."
+
+The mayor was not a man to delay when his mind was once made up, and
+sitting down at a writing desk he wrote as follows:
+
+"DEAR WIFE: I inclose a letter which has come for you from your Cousin
+Jack. I opened it, and you will think poorly of me when I tell you that
+had it been filled with complaints of me, as I expected, it would not
+have come to your hands; for your anger against me is fierce enough
+without the adding of fresh fuel thereto. But the lad, as you will see,
+writes in quite another strain, and remembers former kindnesses rather
+than late injuries. His letter has put it into my head to think matters
+over, and in a different spirit from that in which I had previously
+regarded it, and I have come to the conclusion that I have acted
+wrongly; first, that I did not make allowances enough for the boy;
+second, that I insisted on keeping him to a trade he disliked; third,
+that I have given too willing an ear to what Andrew Carson has said
+against the boy; lastly, that I took such means of freeing myself from
+him. I today give Andrew Carson notice to quit my service--a matter in
+which I have hitherto withstood you. I am willing to forget the words
+which you spoke to me in anger, seeing that there was some foundation
+for them, and that when a woman is in a passion her tongue goes further
+than she means.
+
+"Now, as I am ready to put this on one side, I trust that you also will
+put aside your anger at my having obtained the pressing for a soldier
+of your cousin. You can see for yourself by his writing that he does not
+desire that any enmity shall arise out of the manner of his going. For
+fifteen years we have lived in amity, and I see not why, after this
+cloud passes away, we should not do so again.
+
+"I miss you sorely. Things go badly with us since you have gone. The
+food is badly cooked, and the serving indifferent. If you will write
+to tell me that you are willing to come back, and to be a loving
+and dutiful wife again, I will make me a holiday and come over to
+Basingstoke to fetch you and Alice home again. I am writing to Jack
+and sending him five guineas, for which he will no doubt find a use in
+getting things suitable for the adventure upon which he is embarked,
+for the payment of her majesty to her soldiers does not permit of the
+purchase of many luxuries. On second thoughts I have resolved to pay
+Andrew Carson his month's wages, and to let him go at once. So that if
+you return you will not find one here against whom you have always been
+set, and who is indeed in no small way the author of the matters which
+have come between us, save only as touching the impressment, of which
+I own that I must take the blame solely upon myself. Give my love to
+Alice, and say that she must keep up her spirits, and look forward to
+the time when her Cousin Jack shall come back to her after the killing
+of many Spaniards."
+
+Having signed and carefully sealed this letter, with that from Jack
+inclosed within it, the mayor then proceeded to write the following to
+the young soldier:
+
+"MY DEAR COUSIN JACK: I have read the letter which you sent to my wife,
+and it is written in a very proper and dutiful strain. Your departure
+has caused trouble between my wife and me; but this I hope will pass
+away after she has read and considered your letter. She carried matters
+so far that she is at present with your Cousin Alice at the house of
+her parents at Basingstoke. Having read your letter, I write to tell
+you that I feel that I am not without blame toward you. I did not see
+it myself until the manner of your letter opened my eyes to the fact.
+I have misunderstood you, and, being bent on carrying out my own
+inclinations, made not enough allowance for yours. Were you here now I
+doubt not that in future we should get on better together; but as that
+cannot be, I can only say that I recognize the kind spirit in which
+you wrote, and that I trust that in future we shall be good friends. I
+inclose you an order for five guineas on a tradesman in Dover with whom
+I have dealings. There are many little things that you may want to buy
+for your voyage to supplement the pay which you receive. Andrew Carson
+is leaving my service. I think that it is he greatly who came between
+us, and has brought things to the pass which I cannot but regret."
+
+A week later the cloth merchant's shop in the High Street was shut up,
+and the mayor, having appointed a deputy for the week he purposed to
+be absent, took his place in the stage for Basingstoke, when a complete
+reconciliation was effected between him and his wife.
+
+The starting of the expedition was delayed beyond the intended time, for
+the government either could not or would not furnish the required funds,
+and the Earl of Peterborough was obliged to borrow considerable sums
+of money, and to involve himself in serious pecuniary embarrassments to
+remedy the defects, and to supply as far as possible the munition and
+stores necessary for the efficiency of the little force he had been
+appointed to command. It consisted of some three thousand English
+troops, who were nearly all raw and undisciplined, and a brigade, two
+thousand strong, of Dutch soldiers.
+
+Early in May the regiment to which Jack Stilwell belonged marched
+for Portsmouth, where the rest of the expedition were assembled, and
+embarked on board the transports lying at Spithead, and on the 22d
+of the month set sail for St. Helens, where they were joined on the
+following day by their general, who embarked with his suit on board the
+admiral's ship. On the 24th the fleet sailed for Lisbon.
+
+Fond as Jack was of the sea, he did not find the change an agreeable
+one. On shore the constant drill and steady work had fully occupied
+the men, and had left them but little time for grumbling. On board ship
+things were different. In those days there was but little of the strict
+discipline which is now maintained on board a troop ship. It was true
+that the vessels in which the expedition was being carried belonged to
+the royal navy; but even here the discipline was but lax. There were
+many good sailors on board; but the bulk of the crew had been pressed
+into the service as harshly and tyrannically as were the soldiers
+themselves, and the grumblers of one class found ready sympathizers
+among the others.
+
+The captain was a young man of good family who had obtained his
+appointment solely by interest, and who, although he would have fought
+his ship bravely in an action with the enemy, took but little interest
+in the regular work, leaving such matters entirely in the hands of his
+first lieutenant. The military officers were all new to their work.
+On shore they had had the support which the presence of a considerable
+number of veteran troops in garrison in the castle gave them; but they
+now ceased to struggle against the difficulty of keeping up discipline
+among a large number of raw and insubordinate recruits, relying upon
+bringing them into order and discipline when they got them ashore in a
+foreign country. Beyond, therefore, a daily parade, and half an hour's
+drill in the handling of their firelocks, they interfered but little
+with the men.
+
+Sergeant Edwards with twenty of his men had at the last minute,
+to Jack's great satisfaction, been drafted into the regiment, and
+accompanied them on their voyage.
+
+"Ay, they are a rough lot," the sergeant said in answer to an
+observation of Jack as to the grumbling of the men after they had been
+at sea a few days; "but what can you expect when you take men from their
+homes against their will, pick out the worst characters in each town,
+make up their number with jail birds, and then pack them off to sea
+before they have got into shape? There's nothing tries men more than a
+sea voyage. Here they are packed up as close as herrings, with scarcely
+room to move about, with nothing to do, and with food which a dog
+would turn up his nose to eat. Naturally they get talking together, and
+grumbling over their wrongs till they work themselves up.
+
+"I wish the voyage was over. It wouldn't matter if we had a good steady
+old crew, but more than half of them have been pressed; many of them are
+landsmen who have been carried off just as you were. No doubt they would
+all fight toughly enough if a Frenchman hove in view, but the captain
+couldn't rely on them in a row on board. As long as the fleet keeps
+together it's all right enough. Here are nine vessels, and no one on
+board one knows what's going on in the others, but if the captain of
+any one of them were to hoist a signal that a mutiny had broken out on
+board, the others would be round her with their portholes opened ready
+to give her a dose of round shot in no time."
+
+"But you don't think that it is really likely that we shall have any
+trouble, sergeant?"
+
+"There won't be any trouble if, as I am telling you, the weather holds
+fine and the fleet keeps together; but if there's a gale and the ships
+get scattered, no one can't say what might come of it."
+
+"I can't think how they could be so mad as to get up a mutiny," Jack
+said; "why, even supposing they did take the ship, what would they do
+with it?"
+
+"Them's questions as has been asked before, my lad, and there's sense
+and reason in them, but you knows as well as I that there's many a craft
+sailing the seas under the black flag. There isn't a ship as puts to sea
+but what has half a dozen hands on board who have been in slavers, and
+who are full of tales of islands where everything grows without the
+trouble of putting a spade in the ground, where all sorts of strange
+fruit can be had for the picking, and where the natives are glad enough
+to be servants or wives, as the case may be, to whites. It's just such
+tales as these as leads men away, and I will warrant there's a score at
+least among the crew of the Caesar who are telling such tales to any who
+will listen to them. Well, you see, it's a tempting story enough to one
+as knows no better. On the one side there is a hard life, with bad food
+and the chance of being shot at, and the sartainty of being ordered
+about and not being able to call your life your own. On the other side
+is a life of idleness and pleasure, of being your own master, and, if
+you want something which the islands can't afford you, why, there's
+just a short cruise and then back you come with your ship filled up with
+plunder. I don't say as it's not tempting; but there's one thing agin
+it, and the chaps as tells these yarns don't say much about that."
+
+"What is it, sergeant?"
+
+"It's just the certainty of a halter or a bloody grave sooner or later.
+The thing goes on for some time, and then, when merchant ship after
+merchant ship is missing, there are complaints at home, and out comes
+a ship or two with the queen's pennant at the head, and then either the
+pirate ship gets caught at sea and sunk or captured, or there's a visit
+to the little island, and a short shrift for those found there.
+
+"No, I don't think it can pay, my lad, even at its best. It's jolly
+enough for awhile, maybe, for those whose hearts are so hard that they
+think nothing of scuttling a ship with all on board, or of making the
+crew and passengers walk the plank in cold blood. Still even they must
+know that it can't last, and that there's a gallows somewhere waiting
+for them. Still, you see, they don't think of all that when a chap is
+atelling them of these islands, and how pleasant the life is there, and
+how easy it would be to do for the officers, and take the command of
+the ship and sail away. Two or three chaps as makes up their mind for it
+will poison a whole crew in no time."
+
+"You speak as if you knew all about it."
+
+"I know a good deal about it," the sergeant replied gravely. "It's a
+tale as there ain't many as knows; but you are a sort of lad as one can
+trust, and so I don't mind if I tell it you. Though you wouldn't think
+it, I have sailed under the black flag myself."
+
+"You, sergeant!" Jack exclaimed incredulously; "do you mean to say you
+have been a pirate?"
+
+"Just that, my boy. I don't look like it, do I? There ain't nothing
+buccaneering about my cut. I looks just what I am, a tough old sergeant
+in a queen's regiment; but for all that I have been a pirate. The yarn
+is a long one, and I can't tell it you now, because just at present, you
+see, I have got to go below to look after the dinners of the company,
+but the first time as we can get an opportunity for a quiet talk I will
+tell it you. But don't you go away and think till then as I was a pirate
+from choice. I shouldn't like you to think that of me; there ain't never
+no saying at sea what may happen. I might tumble overboard tonight and
+get drowned, or one of the convoy might run foul of us and sink us, and
+tomorrow you might be alive and I might be dead, and I shouldn't like
+you to go on thinking all your life as that Sergeant Edwards had been
+a bloody pirate of his own free will. So you just bear in mind, till I
+tells you the whole story, as how it was forced upon me. Mind, I don't
+say as how I hadn't the choice of death or that, and maybe had you been
+in my place you would have chosen death; but, you see, I had never been
+brought up as you were. I had had no chances to speak of, and being only
+just about your age, I didn't like the thought of dying, so you see I
+took to it, making up my mind secret at the same time that the first
+chance I had I would slip away from them. I won't tell you more now,
+I hain't time; but just you bear that in mind, in case of anything
+happening, that if Sergeant Edwards once sailed under the black flag, he
+didn't do it willing."
+
+The sergeant now hurried below, leaving Jack wondering over what he
+had heard. Some days elapsed before the story was told, for a few hours
+later the sky clouded over and the wind rose, and before next morning
+the vessel was laboring heavily under double reefed topsails. The
+soldiers were all kept below, and there was no possibility of anything
+like a quiet talk. The weather had hitherto been so fine and the wind
+so light that the vessels had glided over the sea almost without motion,
+and very few indeed of those on board had experienced anything of the
+usual seasickness; but now, in the stifling atmosphere between decks,
+with the vessel rolling and plunging heavily, the greater part were soon
+prostrate with seasickness, and even Jack, accustomed to the sea as he
+was, succumbed to the unpleasantness of the surroundings.
+
+On the second day of the storm Sergeant Edwards, who had been on deck to
+make a report to the captain of the company, was eagerly questioned on
+his return below on the condition of the weather.
+
+"It's blowing about as hard as it can be," he said, "and she rolls fit
+to take the masts out of her. There don't seem no chance of the gale
+breaking, and none of the other ships of the fleet are in sight. That's
+about all I have to tell you, except that I told the captain that if
+he didn't get the hatches lifted a little we should be all stifled down
+here. He says if there's a bit of a lull he will ask them to give us
+a little fresh air, and in the mean time he says that any who are good
+sailors may go up on deck, but it will be at their own risk, for some of
+the seas go pretty nearly clean over her."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV: THE SERGEANT'S YARN
+
+
+Jack Stilwell and a few of the other men availed themselves of the
+permission to escape for a time from the stifling atmosphere below, and
+made their way on deck. For a time the rush of the wind and the wild
+confusion of the sea almost bewildered them. Masses of water were
+rushing along the deck, and each time she rolled the waves seemed as
+if they would topple over the bulwarks. Several of the party turned
+and went below again at once, but Jack, with a few others, waited their
+opportunity and, making a rush across the deck, grasped the shrouds and
+there hung on. Jack soon recovered from his first confusion and was able
+to enjoy the grandeur of the scene.
+
+Small as was the canvas she was showing, the vessel was traveling fast
+through the waves, sometimes completely burying her head under a sea;
+then as she rose again the water rushed aft knee deep, and Jack had
+as much as he could do to prevent himself being carried off his feet.
+Fortunately all loose articles had long since been swept overboard,
+otherwise the risk of a broken limb from their contact would have been
+serious.
+
+In a quarter of an hour even Jack had had enough of it and went below,
+and, having changed his drenched clothes, slung his hammock and turned
+in. The next day the gale began to abate, and by evening the wind had
+nearly died away, although the vessel was rolling as heavily as before
+among the great masses of water which rolled in from the Atlantic.
+
+The hatchways, however, were now removed, and all below ordered on deck,
+and after awhile a party was told off to sluice down their quarters
+below. The men were all weakened by their confinement, but their spirits
+soon rose, and there was ere long plenty of laughter at the misfortunes
+which befell those who tried to cross the deck, for the ship was rolling
+so heavily that it was impossible for a landsman to keep his feet
+without holding on.
+
+The next morning, although a heavy swell was still rolling, the ship
+assumed her normal aspect. The sailors had removed all trace of disorder
+above, clothes were hung out to dry, and, as the ship was still far too
+unsteady to allow of walking exercise, the soldiers sat in groups on
+the deck, laughing and chatting and enjoying the warm sun whose rays
+streamed down upon them. Seeing Sergeant Edwards standing alone looking
+over the bulwark, Jack made his way up to him.
+
+"It has been a sharp blow," the sergeant said, "and I am glad it's over;
+the last four days have been enough to sicken one of the sea for life. I
+suppose you think this is a good opportunity for my yarn."
+
+"That is just what I was thinking, sergeant."
+
+"Very well, then, my lad, here goes. I was born at Poole. My people were
+all in the seafaring line, and it was only natural that, as soon as I
+got old enough to stand kicking, I was put on board a coaster plying
+between Poole and London. It was pretty rough, but the skipper wasn't a
+bad kind of fellow when he was sober. I stuck to that for three years,
+and then the old craft was wrecked on Shoreham beach. Fortunately she
+was driven up so far that we were able to drop over the bowsprit pretty
+well beyond the reach of the waves, but there was no getting the Eliza
+off. It was no great loss, for she would have had to be broken up
+as firewood in another year or two. About six hours out of every
+twenty-four I was taking my turn at spells at the pump.
+
+"Now the Eliza was cast away, I had to look out for another ship. I
+had had enough of coasters, so instead of going home I tramped it up to
+London. Having got a berth on board a foreign bound vessel I made two
+voyages out to Brazil and back. A fine country is the Brazils, but the
+Portuguese ain't the fellows to make much out of it. Little undersized
+chaps, they are all chatter and jabber, and when they used to come
+alongside to unload, it were jest for all the world like so many
+boatfuls of monkeys.
+
+"Well, I starts for my third voyage, being by this time about sixteen
+or seventeen. We got out to Rio right enough; but we couldn't get a full
+cargo back, and the captain determined to cruise among the West Indy
+Islands and fill up his ship. We were pretty nigh full when one morning
+the lookout hailed that there were two vessels just coming out of an
+inlet in an island we were passing some three miles on the weather bow.
+
+"The captain was soon on deck with his glass, and no sooner did he make
+them out than he gave orders to clap every sail on her. We hadn't a very
+smart crew, but there are not many British ships ever made sail faster
+than we did then. The men just flew about, for it needed no glass to
+show that the two vessels which came creeping out from among trees
+weren't customers as one wanted to talk to on the high seas. The one
+was a brig, the other a schooner. They carried lofty spars ever so much
+higher than an honest trader could want; and quick as we had got up our
+sails, they had got their canvas spread as soon as we had.
+
+"The ship was a fast sailer, but it didn't need half an hour to show
+that they had the legs of us. So the skipper called the crew aft. 'Now,
+my lads,' he said, 'you see those two vessels astern. I don't think it
+needs any telling from me as to what they are. They might be Spaniards
+or they might be French, or they might be native traders, but we are
+pretty well sure they ain't anything of the kind. They are pirates--I
+guess the same two vessels I heard them talking about down at Rio. They
+have been doing no end of damage there. There were pretty nigh a dozen
+ships missing, and they put them all down to them. However, a couple of
+English frigates had come into Rio, and hearing what had happened had
+gone out to chase them. They hadn't caught them, and the Brazilians
+thought that they had shifted their quarters and gone for a cruise in
+other latitudes.
+
+"'The description they gave of them answered to these two--a brig and a
+schooner, with low hulls and tall spars. One of them carries ten guns,
+the other two on each side, and a heavy piece mounted on a swivel
+amidship. It was said that before they went down to Brazil they had been
+carrying on their games among the West India Islands, and had made it so
+hot for themselves that they had been obliged to move off from there.
+It was like enough that, now the hue and cry after them had abated, they
+would return to their old quarters.
+
+"'Well, my lads, I needn't tell you what we have to expect if they take
+us. Every man Jack will either get his throat cut or be forced to walk
+the plank. So we will fight her to the last; for if the worst comes
+to the worst, it's better to be killed fighting like men than to be
+murdered in cold blood. However, I hope it won't come to that. We carry
+twelve guns, and they are heavier metal than most merchantmen have on
+board. We are more than a match for either of them alone; and if we can
+manage to cripple one, we can beat the other off.
+
+"'At any rate we will try our best. Thank God we have no women on board,
+and only ourselves to think of! Now, my lads, cast the guns loose and
+get the ammunition on deck; run two of the guns aft and train them over
+the stern. As soon as they come within range we will try and knock some
+spars out of them. Now, boys, give three cheers for the old flag, and we
+will swear together it shall never come down while there's one of us to
+fight the ship.'
+
+"The men gave three cheers and then went off to their quarters at the
+guns. They were quiet and grave, and it was easy enough to see that they
+did not like the prospect. An Englishman always goes into action, as
+far as I have seen, with a light heart and a joke on his lips when he's
+fighting against Frenchmen or Spaniards or any other foe, but it's a
+different thing when it's a pirate he has to deal with. Every man knows
+then that it's a case of life or death, and that he's got to win or die.
+The enemy made no secret of what they were, for when they got within a
+mile of us two black flags ran up to their mastheads.
+
+"The captain he trained one of the stern chasers hisself, and the first
+mate took the other. They fired at the same moment, both aiming at the
+schooner, which was getting the nearest to us. They were good shots both
+of them. The mate's ball struck the water some twenty yards in front
+of her forefoot, and smashed her bow planking some three feet above the
+waterline; while the captain's struck her bulwark, tore along her deck,
+and went out astern, doing some damage by the way, I reckon.
+
+"We could see there was some confusion on board. They hadn't reckoned
+that we carried such heavy metal, and our luck in getting both shots on
+board must have surprised them. Then her bow paid off, there was a puff
+of smoke amidship, and a ball from the long swivel gun buzzed overhead,
+passing through our mainsail without touching mast or stay.
+
+"So far we had the best of it, and the men looked more cheerful than
+they had done from the first moment when the pirates showed from among
+the trees. After that we kept up a fire from the stern guns as fast as
+we could load. I could not see myself what damage we were doing, for I
+was kept hard at work carrying ammunition. Presently the broadside guns
+began to fire too, and taking the chance for a look round I saw that the
+pirates had separated, and were coming up one on each side of us.
+
+"So far they had not fired a shot after the first. I suppose they didn't
+want to lose ground by yawing, but as they came abreast of us they both
+opened fire. Our chaps fought their guns well, and I expect the pirates
+found they were not getting much the best of it; for one of them made a
+signal, and they both closed in to board. We hadn't had much luck after
+our first shot. We had hulled them over and over again and spotted their
+sails with shot. Many of their ropes were hanging loose, but we hadn't
+succeeded in crippling them, although almost every shot had been aimed
+at the masts; for every man knew that our only chance was to bring them
+down.
+
+"As they came up close to us they poured in a volley of grape, and a
+minute later they grated alongside and a crowd of men swarmed on board
+over the bulwarks. Our fellows fought to the last, but the odds were
+five to one against them. The skipper had been killed by a grapeshot,
+but the mate he led the men; and if fighting could have saved us the
+ship would not have been captured. But it was no use. In two minutes
+every man had been cut down or disarmed. I had laid about me with
+a cutlass till I got a lick over my head with a boarding pike which
+knocked my senses out of me.
+
+"When I opened my eyes I was hauled up to my feet and put alongside the
+mate and six others, all of whom was bleeding more or less. The rest had
+all been chucked overboard at once. In a minute or two the captain of
+one of the pirates, a little dapper Frenchman, came up to us. 'You have
+fought your ship well,' he said to the mate, 'and have killed several of
+my officers and men; but I bear you no malice, and if you are ready
+to ship with me I will spare your life.' 'I would rather die a hundred
+times!' the mate said. The pirate said nothing, but just nodded, and
+four of his men seized the mate and flung him over the bulwarks. The
+same question was asked of each of the men; but each in turn refused,
+and an end was made of them. I was the last.
+
+"'Now, my boy,' the captain said, 'I hope you won't be stupid like those
+pig headed fellows. What do you say--good treatment and a free life on
+the sea, or the sharks?'
+
+"Well, lad, if my turn hadn't been last I would have said 'no' like
+the others. I wouldn't have shown the white feather before any of my
+shipmates; but they had gone--there wasn't one to cast a reproachful
+look at me or to taunt me with cowardice. I just stood alone; there
+weren't no one to back me up in choosing to die rather than to serve,
+and so I says, 'I will join you, captain.' I don't say I was right, lad;
+I don't say I didn't act as a coward; but I think most young chaps with
+my bringing up, and placed as I was, would have done the same. There's
+many as would have said 'no' if they had had comrades and friends
+looking on, but I don't think there's many as would have said 'no' if
+they had stood all alone as I did.
+
+"I can't say as I blame myself much about that business, though I have
+thought it over many a score of times; but anyhow, from the first I made
+up my mind that at the very first chance I would get away from them. I
+knew the chance wasn't likely to come for some time--still there it was;
+and during all the black scenes I took part in on board that ship I was
+always telling myself that I was there against my will.
+
+"It was the brig as I was to go in. And as soon as that little matter of
+the crew was settled all hands set to work to shift the cargo from the
+ship aboard the pirates. Wonderful quick they did it too; and when I
+thought how long that cargo had taken to get on board, it was wonderful
+how soon they whipped it out of her. When they had stripped her of all
+they thought worth taking, they ran one of the cannon to the open hatch,
+loaded it and crammed it full of balls to the muzzle; then they pointed
+it down the hold and fired it, and were soon on board their own craft.
+
+"The charge must have torn a great hole in the ship's bottom, for I
+could see she was settling down in the water before we had left her five
+minutes, and in a quarter of an hour she gave a sudden lurch and sank.
+As I was in for it now, I knew the best thing was to put a good face
+on it, so I lent a hand at shifting the cargo and did my best to seem
+contented. We sailed off in company, and in the morning when I came on
+deck I found the two craft riding side by side in a land locked harbor.
+
+"A few minutes later the boats were lowered and the work of getting the
+cargo on shore began. It was clear enough that this was the pirates'
+headquarters; for there were lots of huts built on the sloping sides of
+the inlet, and a number of men and women stood gathered on the shore to
+receive us as we landed. The women were of all countries, English and
+French, Dutch, Spaniards, and Portuguese, with a good sprinkling of dark
+skinned natives. All the white women had been taken prisoners at some
+time or other from vessels which had fallen into the pirates' hands,
+and though most of them must have been miserable enough at heart, poor
+creatures, they all made a show of being glad to see the men back again.
+It was but a week, I learned, since the pirates had sailed, and it was
+considered a great stroke of luck that they should so soon have effected
+a capture.
+
+"No one attended to me, but I worked hard all day with the others rowing
+backward and forward between the shore and the ship. When it became dusk
+they knocked off work, and the men went off to their huts, for it seemed
+that each of them had a wife, brown skinned or white. Seeing that nobody
+paid any attention to me, I went off to the little captain, who was
+making his way up to a hut of a better class than the others.
+
+"'What is to become of me, captain?' I asked. 'Ah! I had not thought of
+you,' he said; 'well, you can go up with me and get some supper, and
+you can have a blanket and sleep on my veranda for tonight; we will see
+where you can be lodged in the morning.' I followed him into his house,
+and was astonished as I entered at the luxury of the apartment, which
+far exceeded anything I had ever seen before. The plank walls were
+concealed by hangings of light green silk, a rich carpet covered the
+floor, the furniture was most handsome and massive, and had no doubt
+been intended for the palace of the Spanish governor of some of the
+islands. A pair of candelabra of solid silver stood on the table, and
+the white candles in them, which had just been lighted, threw a soft
+glow of light over the room and lighted up the table, on which was a
+service, also of solid silver, with vases and, lovely flowers. A young
+woman rose from a couch as he entered: 'I have been expecting you for
+the last half hour, Eugene. You have worked longer than usual this
+evening; if the fish are spoiled you must not blame Zoe.'
+
+"The speaker was a tall and very handsome woman, and I now understood
+how it was that my captor spoke such excellent English. There was a deep
+expression of melancholy on her face, but she smiled when speaking to
+the pirate, and her tone was one of affection.
+
+"'I have brought home a countryman of yours, Ellen. I forgot to allot
+him quarters until it was too late, so please give him over to the care
+of Zoe and ask her to give him some supper and a blanket; he will sleep
+in the veranda.'
+
+"The first look which the woman gave me as the captain spoke made me
+wish that instead of speaking to the captain I had lain down fasting
+under a tree, there was so much contempt and horror in it; then, as I
+suppose she saw I was but a boy, it changed, and it seemed to me that
+she pitied me from her heart; however, she clapped her hands and a
+negress entered. She said something to her in Spanish, and the old woman
+beckoned me to follow her, and I was soon sitting in front of a better
+meal than I had tasted for many a month, perhaps the best meal I had
+tasted in my life.
+
+"As she couldn't speak English there was no talking with the old woman.
+She gave me a tumbler of stiff rum and water to drink with my supper,
+and after I had done she handed me a blanket, took me out into the
+veranda, pointed to the side where I should get the sea breeze, and left
+me. I smoked a pipe or two and then went to sleep. I was awakened in the
+morning by some one coming along the veranda, and, sitting up, saw the
+lady I had seen the night before. 'So you are English?' she said. 'Yes,
+ma'am,' says I, touching my hat sailor fashion. 'Are you lately from
+home?' she asked. 'Not very late, ma'am,' says I; 'we went to Rio first,
+and not filling up there were cruising about picking up a cargo when--'
+and I stopped, not knowing, you see, how I should put it. 'Are there
+any more of you?' she asked after awhile in a low sort of voice. 'No,
+ma'am,' says I; 'I am the only one.' 'I did not ask,' she said almost
+in a whisper, and I could see her face was 'most as white as a sheet, 'I
+never ask. And so you have joined them?' 'Yes,' says I, 'I couldn't help
+it, ma'am. I was the last, you see; if there had been any one else to
+have encouraged me I should have said no, but being alone--' 'Don't
+excuse yourself, poor boy,' she said; 'don't think I blame you. Who am
+I that I should blame any one? It is little I can do for you, but if
+you should want anything I will do my best to befriend you.' I heard the
+captain's voice calling. Suddenly she put her finger to her lips, as a
+hint to me to hold my tongue, and off she went.
+
+"I don't know whether the captain's wife spoke to him about me or not,
+but at any rate he didn't tell me off to any of the huts, but kept me
+at the house. I used to go down in the day to work with the other men
+unloading the ship and stowing away the stores, but they only worked for
+a few hours morning and evening, lying in hammocks slung under the trees
+during the heat of the day. I made myself useful about the house, helped
+the old woman to chop wood, drew water for her, attended to the plants
+in the little garden round the house, trained the creepers up the
+veranda, and lent a hand at all sorts of odd jobs, just as a sailor will
+do.
+
+"When, ten days after we arrived, the ships got ready for another
+cruise, I was afraid they would take me with them, and I lay awake at
+nights sweating as I thought over the fearful deeds I should have to
+take part in; but the captain gave me no orders, and to my delight the
+men embarked and the ships sailed away without me. I found there were
+some forty men left behind, whose duty it was to keep a sharp lookout
+and man the batteries they had got at the entrance to the cove in case
+any of our cruisers came in sight.
+
+"The man who was in command was a Spaniard, a sulky, cruel looking
+scoundrel. However, he didn't have much to do with me; I took my turn at
+the lookout with the rest of them, and besides that there was nothing
+to do. The men on shore had all been in one or other of the ships when I
+was taken; for I found there were about a hundred and sixty of them, and
+a quarter stayed at home by turns, changing after each cruise, whether
+it was a long or short one.
+
+"The captain's wife often spoke to me now; she would come out and sit in
+the veranda while I was at work. She asked me what part I came from, and
+where I had sailed, and what friends I had at home. But she never said
+a word to me about the capture of the ship. She always looked sad now,
+while she had been cheerful and bright while the captain was on shore.
+In time she got quite friendly with me, and one day she said, 'Peter,
+you will have to go to sea next time, what will you do?'
+
+"'I must do as the others do, God forgive me,' says I; 'but don't think,
+ma'am, as ever I shall do it willing. It may be years before I gets a
+chance, but if ever I does I shall make a run for it, whatever the risk
+may be. I speaks free to you, ma'am, for I feel sure as you won't say
+a word to no man, for it would cost me my life if they thought that I
+wasn't with them willing.'
+
+"'I will not tell any one, Peter, you may be sure,' she said; 'but I do
+not think you will ever have a chance of getting away--no one ever does
+who once comes here.'
+
+"Well, in time, lad, she lets out bit by bit a little about herself. She
+had been on her way out to join her father, who was an officer of the
+East Indy Company, when the ship was taken by the pirates. The men was
+all killed, but she and some other women was taken on board the pirate
+and at last brought there. The French captain took a fancy to her from
+the first, and after she had been there a year brought a Spanish priest
+they captured on board a ship and he married them. The pirates seemed to
+think it was a joke, and lots of them followed the captain's example and
+got married to the women there. What they did with the priest afterward,
+whether they cut his throat or landed him in some place thousands of
+miles away, or entered him on board ship, is more nor I know.
+
+"There's no doubt the captain's wife was fond of her husband; pirate as
+he was, he had not behaved so bad to her--but except when he was with
+her she was always sad.
+
+"She had an awful horror of the life he led, and with this was a terror
+lest he should fall into the hands of a cruiser, for she knew that if
+he hadn't the good luck to be killed in the fight, he would be tried and
+hung at the nearest port. It was a kind of mixed feeling, you see; she
+would have given everything to be free from the life she was leading,
+and yet even had she had the chance she would not have left her husband.
+I believe he had promised her to give it up, but she must have knowed
+that he never would do it; besides, if he had slipped away from the ship
+at any place where they touched he could not have got her away, and her
+life would have paid for his desertion.
+
+"But I don't think he would have gone if he could, for, quiet and nice
+as he was when at home, he was a demon at sea. Ruffians and scoundrels
+as were his crew, the boldest of them were afraid of him. It was not a
+word and a blow, but a word and a pistol shot with him; and if it
+hadn't been that he was a first rate seaman, that he fought his ships
+splendidly, and that there was no one who could have kept any show of
+order or discipline had he not been there, I don't believe they would
+have put up with him for a day.
+
+"Well, lad, I sailed with them for three voyages. I won't tell you what
+I saw and heard, but it was years before I could sleep 'well at night,
+but would start up in a cold sweat with those scenes before my eyes and
+those screams ringing in my ears. I can say that I never took the life
+of a man or woman. Of course I had to help to load the cannon, and when
+the time for boarding came would wave my cutlass and fire my pistols
+with the best of them; but I took good care never to be in the front
+line, and the others were too busy with their bloody doings to notice
+what share I took in them.
+
+"We had been out about a fortnight on my third voyage, and the schooner
+and brig were lying in a little bay when we saw what we took to be a
+large merchant ship coming along. She was all painted black, her rigging
+was badly set up, her sails were dirty and some of them patched, she
+was steering east, and seemed as if she was homeward bound after a long
+voyage. Off we went in pursuit, thinking we had got a prize. She clapped
+on more sail, but we came up to her hand over hand. She opened fire with
+two eight pounders over her stern. We didn't waste a shot in reply, but
+ranged up alongside, one on each beam. Then suddenly her sides seemed to
+open, fifteen ports on each side went up, and her deck swarmed with men.
+
+"A yell of dismay went up from the schooner which I was on. In a moment
+a flash of fire ran along the frigate's broadside; there was a crash of
+timber, and the schooner shook as if she had struck on a rock. There was
+a cry, 'We are sinking!' Some made a wild rush for the boats, others in
+their despair jumped overboard, some cursed and swore like madmen
+and shook their fists at the frigate. It seemed no time when another
+broadside came.
+
+"Down came the foremast, crushing half a dozen men as she fell. Her deck
+was nearly level with the water now. I climbed over the wreck of the
+foremast, and run out along the bowsprit. I looked round just as I
+leaped. The pirate captain was standing at the wheel. He had a pistol
+to his head, and I saw the flash, and he fell. Then I dived off and swam
+under water as hard as I could to get away from the sinking ship. When I
+came up I looked round. I just saw the flutter of a black flag above the
+water and she was gone. I was a good swimmer, and got rid of my shoes
+and jacket, and made up my mind for a long swim, for the frigate was too
+busy with the brig for any one to pay attention to us, but it did not
+take long to finish it.
+
+"In five minutes it was over. The brig lay dismasted, and scarce a dozen
+men out of the forty she carried were alive to throw down their arms
+on deck and cry that they surrendered. Then the frigate's boats were
+lowered; two rowed in our direction, while two put off to the brig.
+There were only nine of us picked up, for from the first broadside till
+we sank a heavy musketry fire had been poured down upon the deck, and
+as we were not more than fifty yards away from the frigate, the men had
+been just mowed down. We were all ironed as soon as we were brought on
+board. After that we were brought up one by one and questioned.
+
+"'You are young to be engaged in such work as this,' the captain said
+when my turn came.
+
+"'I was forced into it against my will, sir,' I said.
+
+"'Yes,' the captain said, 'I suppose so; that's the story each of the
+prisoners tells. How long have you been with them?'
+
+"'Less than six months, sir.'
+
+"'How old are you?'
+
+"'I am not seventeen yet. I was boy on board the Jane and William. We
+were taken by the pirates on our way back from Rio, and all except me
+killed or thrown overboard.'
+
+"'And you bought your life by agreeing to sail with them, I suppose?'
+the captain said contemptuously.
+
+"'I did, sir,' I said; 'but I was the last they asked; all the others
+had gone, and there warn't no one to back me up.'
+
+"'Well, boy, you know what your fate will be,' the captain said;
+'there's no mercy for pirates.'
+
+"The next day the captain sent for me again, and I took heart a little,
+for I thought if they had made up their minds to hang me they wouldn't
+have questioned me.
+
+"'Look here, lad,' the captain said; 'you are the youngest of the
+prisoners, and less steeped in crime than any here, therefore I will
+at once make you an offer. If you will direct us to the lair of the
+pirates, I promise your life shall be spared.'
+
+"'I don't know the latitude and longitudes sir,' I said, 'and I doubt if
+any besides the captain and one or two others do, but I know pretty well
+whereabout it is. We always set sail at night and came in at night, and
+none was allowed on deck except the helmsman and two or three old hands
+till morning; but when I was ashore and on duty at the lookout I noticed
+three trees growing together just at the edge of the cliff at the point
+where it was highest, two miles away from the entrance to the cove. They
+were a big un and two little uns, and I feel sure if I were to see them
+again I should know them.'
+
+"'Very well,' the captain said, 'I shall make for port at once, and hand
+over the prisoners to the Spanish authorities, then I will start on a
+cruise with you, and see if we can find your trees.'
+
+"From the description I could give him of the islands we passed after we
+had been at sea a few hours, and the time it took us to sail from them
+to some known points, the captain was able to form a sort of idea as to
+which group of islands it belonged to, and when he had reached port and
+got rid of his prisoners, all of whom were garroted--that's a sort of
+strangling, you know--by the Spaniards, a week afterward, we set out
+again on our search for the island."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V: THE PIRATE HOLD
+
+
+"The frigate was again disguised as a merchantman, as, if she had passed
+within sight of the island looking like a ship of war, it would have put
+the pirates on their guard, and I had told the captain there were guns
+enough at the mouth of the cove to blow the ship's boats out of the
+water. As to the frigate getting in, I knew she couldn't, for there was
+only just enough water at the entrance for the pirate vessels to enter
+in. I was not in irons now, but spent my time on deck; and a wretched
+time it was, I can tell you, for not a sailor on board would speak to
+me.
+
+"For three weeks we cruised about, sailing round island after island,
+but at last as we were approaching one of them I saw the three trees.
+
+"'That's the place,' I said to the boatswain, who was standing near me,
+and he carried the news to the quarterdeck, and brought back word I was
+to go to the captain.
+
+"You are sure those are the trees?'
+
+"'Quite sure, sir.'
+
+"'They answer to your description certainly,' the captain said. 'Keep
+her away, master, I don't want them to think we are steering for the
+island.'
+
+"The ship's course was altered, and she sailed along parallel with the
+coast.
+
+"'I beg your pardon, sir,' I said, touching my hat, 'but they have got
+some wonderful good glasses up at the lookout, and if I might make so
+bold I should say that they will make out that we have got a lot more
+men on deck than a merchant ship would carry.'
+
+"'You are right, lad,' the captain said, and he at once gave orders that
+all hands with the exception of half a dozen should sit down under the
+bulwarks or go below. The captain and first lieutenant kept a sharp
+lookout through their glasses until we had passed the end of the island.
+I pointed out to them the exact position of the cove, but it was so shut
+in that even when I showed where it was, it was as much as they could do
+to make it out.
+
+"'Now, lad, do you know of any other landing places on the other side of
+the island?'
+
+"'No, sir, and I don't believe there is any,' says I. I know the captain
+said to me the first day I was on shore, 'It's no use your thinking of
+making a bolt, for there ain't no other place but this where you could
+get to sea--not though you had twenty boats waiting to take you off.' I
+expect that's why they chose it. Anyhow, there never was any watch kept
+up on shore, though. I have no doubt there was many a one who had been
+pressed into pirating just as I was, to save their lives, would have
+made off had they seen ever such a little chance of getting away.
+
+"'Just come into the cabin with me,' says he; 'I want you to show me
+exactly where are these batteries, and the position of the village on
+shore.'
+
+"The first lieutenant came too, and I drew them out a chart as well as
+I could, showing them the position of things, and told them that every
+evening a boom was floated across the entrance.
+
+"'What sentries are there on at night?'
+
+"'Four, sir; two close down to the water, one each side of the cove, and
+two in the batteries at the top. That's the watch, but besides there
+are six men sleep in each of the other batteries, and six in each of the
+batteries inside.'
+
+"'Tell me more about the place and the life you led there,' the captain
+said, 'and then I shall understand the position of things better.'
+
+"So I spun him a regular yarn about the place and the people. I told him
+about the captain's wife, and she being an English woman, and how she
+was taken, which indeed was the way of most of the women there.
+
+"'I suppose that a good many of the men were pressed too,' the captain
+said.
+
+"'I expects so, sir; but when we were together on guard or on board a
+ship I noticed we never talked of such things. It seemed to me as if
+every one was trying to forget the past, and I think that made them more
+brutal and bloody minded than they would have been. Every one was afraid
+of every one else guessing as he wasn't contented, and was wanting to
+get away, and so each carried on as bad as he could.'
+
+"'I dare say you are right, lad; it must be a terrible position for a
+man to be in; but you see the law can make no distinctions. If it
+wasn't thoroughly understood that if a man took up the life of a pirate,
+whether willingly or unwillingly, he would assuredly be executed if he
+was caught, we should have the sea swarming with pirates. Now, lad, you
+know how this boom was fastened; can you suggest any way that we could
+get over it or loosen it without giving the alarm?'
+
+"'There is no way, sir. One end is fastened by a big chain which is
+fixed to a great shackle which is let into a hole in the rock and
+fastened in there with lead; that's the fixed end of the boom. The other
+end, which is swung backward and forward when the ships go in port, has
+got a big chain too. It goes under an iron bar which is bent, and the
+two ends fastened in a rock. When they want to fix the boom the end
+of the chain is passed under this iron loop and then fastened to some
+blocks and ropes worked from the battery above, and the end of the chain
+is drawn up tight there, so that there is no loosing the chain till that
+battery is taken.'
+
+"'And you say the guns of the lower batteries at the inner point sweep
+the entrance?'
+
+"'They do, sir. There are ten of them on each side, twelve pounder
+carronades, which are always charged, and crammed up to the muzzle with
+bullets and nails and bits of iron. The batteries on the top of the
+cliff at the entrance are the heaviest metal. They have got twenty guns
+in each of them. They are loaded with round shot to keep a vessel from
+approaching, though of course they could fire grape into any boats they
+saw coming in.'
+
+"'This does not seem an easy business by any means, Mr. Earnshaw,' the
+captain said.
+
+"'It does not, sir,' the lieutenant agreed in a dubisome sort of way;
+'but no doubt it can be done, sir--no doubt it can be done.'
+
+"'Yes, but how?' the captain asked. 'You will be in command of the
+boats, Mr. Earnshaw, and it will never do to attack such a place as that
+without some sort of plan.'
+
+"'What is the boom like, my lad?' the lieutenant asked; 'is it lashed
+together?'
+
+"'No, it is a solid spar,' I said. 'The entrance is not more than forty
+feet wide, and the boom is part of the mainmast of a big ship.'
+
+"'It seems to me,' said the lieutenant, 'that the only way to get at it
+would be to go straight at the boom, the two lightest boats to go first.
+The men must get on the spar and pull the boats over, and then make a
+dash for the batteries; the heavy boats can follow them.'
+
+"'It would never do, Mr. Earnshaw,' the captain said. 'You forget there
+are twelve guns loaded to the muzzle with grape and musketballs all
+trained upon a point only forty feet across. Would it be possible to
+land just outside the boom, lad, on one or both sides, and to keep along
+the edge, or wade in the water to the batteries?'
+
+"'No, sir, the rock goes straight up from the water both sides.'
+
+"'Well, the two sentries, how do they get down to the water's edge?'
+
+"'They are let down by rope from above, sir, and the rope is hauled up
+as soon as they are down.'
+
+"'This is a deuce of a place, Mr. Earnshaw,' the captain said. 'We must
+do nothing hastily in this matter, or we shall only be throwing away
+the lives of a lot of men, and failing in our object. I was intending to
+sail on and not return for a week, for no doubt they will be specially
+vigilant for a time after seeing a large ship pass them. As it is, I
+will return tonight to the back of the island, and will there leave the
+cutter and my gig. You will be in charge of the cutter, and Mr. Escombe
+will take the gig. I shall then sail away again before daylight; for
+although from what the lad said there is no watch kept on that side of
+the island, it cannot be more than three miles across, and any of the
+men or women might stroll across or might from any high point in the
+island obtain a view that way. You will make a thorough survey of all
+that side. The cliffs certainly seem, so far as we could see them as we
+left the island, as perpendicular as they are on the side we passed;
+but there may be some place easier than another--some place where, by
+setting our wits to work, we may make a shift to climb up. Get into the
+island I will, if I have to blast a flight of steps up the cliff.'
+
+"'I will do my best to find a place, sir,' the lieutenant said; 'and, if
+there isn't one, I will make one.'
+
+"The lieutenant told me that I was to accompany him in the cutter, and
+all was got ready for the trip. Water and a week's rations of food were
+placed on board the boats; for in that climate there was no saying when
+a gale might spring up, or how long the vessel might be before she got
+back to pick up the boats.
+
+"When we were fairly out of sight of the island we lay to till it got
+dusk, and then her head was pointed back again. There was scarce a
+breath of wind stirring, and the vessel went through the water so
+slowly that a couple of hours later the captain ordered the boats to be
+lowered, for he saw that if the wind didn't freshen the ship could not
+get to the island, much less get away again, before daylight. The oars
+were got out and off we started, and after four hours' steady rowing,
+the lieutenant, who was steering by compass, made out the land looming
+high above us. Another quarter of an hour's row and we dropped our
+grapnels close to the foot of the cliffs, and the men were told to get a
+sleep as well as they could till morning.
+
+"As soon as it was daylight we were off again and rowed to the end of
+the island; for, as Mr. Earnshaw said to the third lieutenant, we had
+best begin at the end and do the work thoroughly. When we got to the
+point we turned and rowed back, keeping about two hundred yards from
+the cliff, so that we could see well up. They were about a hundred feet
+high--sometimes a little less, sometimes a good bit more, and they went
+as straight up from the water's edge as the cliffs at Dover, only there
+weren't no beach. It was deep water right up to the foot.
+
+"We went along very slowly, the men only just dipping their oars into
+the water, and all of us watching every foot of the cliffs. Sometimes we
+would stop altogether while the officers talked over the possibility of
+any one climbing up at some place where the water trickling down from
+the top had eaten away the face a little; but not a goat in the world
+could have climbed up them, not to say men. So we kept on till we got to
+the other end of the island, which must have been five miles long. Not a
+place could we see.
+
+"'Unless we are going to do as the captain said--blast steps up the face
+of that rock--I don't believe it's to be done,' Lieutenant Earnshaw said
+to Mr. Escombe. 'Well, there's nothing to do, lads, but to row in
+and drop your grapnels again and wait till we see the ship's lights
+tonight.'
+
+"Although we rowed in to within an oar's length of the cliff, there was
+eight fathoms of water when we dropped the grapnels. We had been lying
+there an hour when the third lieutenant said:
+
+"'I should think, Mr. Earnshaw, that if we were to bring the pinnace
+with that four pounder gun in the bow and up end it, and with a small
+charge fire a ball with a rope fastened to it up into that clump of
+trees we saw just about the middle of the island, it might get caught.'
+
+"'So it might, Escombe, and the idea is a good one; but I doubt whether
+there's a man on board ship could climb a rope swinging like that
+against the face of those cliffs.'
+
+"'He might if we used a knotted rope,' Mr. Escombe said.
+
+"'I wouldn't mind making a try, yer honor,' one of the sailors said, and
+half a dozen others volunteered their readiness to make the attempt.
+
+"'I will put it to the captain,' Mr. Earnshaw said; 'if he agrees, as
+you were the first to volunteer, Jones, you shall have the chance.'
+
+"The day was dead calm, so was the night that followed it; and although
+we rowed back to the end of the island from which we had come, no lights
+were to be seen that night.
+
+"The next day passed slowly. The sun was hot; but toward evening the
+lieutenant gave permission for the men to bathe; but warned us that no
+man must go far from the boats, because there might be sharks about.
+However, we didn't see none, and we enjoyed the dip, and were in better
+humor still when we found that a light breeze was springing up. It
+might have been about midnight when the men on watch made out a light to
+seaward, and we weren't long in getting up our grapnels and sitting our
+oars. In half an hour we were on board, and were soon sailing away from
+the island again.
+
+"The next night in we came again, and I saw that the third lieutenant's
+plan was going to be adopted; in fact, I guessed so before; for the sail
+makers had been at work with two light ropes making a rope ladder, and
+the ship's smith had got some empty shells on deck, and had made a shift
+to screw some iron eyes into them for fixing ropes to. The gun was taken
+out of the pinnace and a little mortar fixed in her, and half a dozen
+ropes, each a hundred fathoms long, had knots put in them every two
+feet.
+
+"The launch and the two cutters were lowered as well as the pinnace this
+time, and the crews were armed with cutlass and pistol. I went with them
+as before, as I should be wanted to guide them when they got near the
+village. It was a bright starlight night without haze, so that when we
+got close we could make out the outline of the cliffs, and could see the
+thick wood growing on the top. When we got within about a hundred yards
+of the cliffs the boat stopped rowing.
+
+"'Don't use more powder than you can help, gunner,' Mr. Earnshaw said.
+'In the first place, we don't want to do more than carry out the rope
+to its full length; in the next place, we don't want to make more noise
+than we can help. What wind there is is fortunately blowing seaward,
+and being so close under the cliff the sound will be echoed back. At the
+same time the less noise the better.'
+
+"'I will begin with very little, sir. If the ball don't go to the top of
+the cliff I shall put a trifle more into the gun next time; it's better
+to make a mistake on the right side.'
+
+"A small quantity of powder was put in the mortar, which was only a four
+inch one. Then a wad was put in, and a shell with one of the knotted
+ropes fastened to it dropped in the top. The rope had been coiled in a
+tub so as to run out easily. The gunner applied the match. There was a
+dull report, and every man held his breath to listen. There was a thud
+high up on the cliff and then a splash.
+
+"'A few feet short of the top, I should say, gunner. You must put in
+more next time, for the shell must go well up over the trees and drop
+among them; otherwise it won't catch.'
+
+"The gunner by the light of the lantern measured out half as much powder
+again as he had used before, and then fired. This time we heard no sound
+till there was a faint splash in the water.
+
+"'The rope's gone, sir,' the gunner said, looking into the tub. 'There
+was a little too much this time.'
+
+"'I don't think so,' Mr. Escombe said. 'I think that splash was the end
+of the rope touching the water. In that case it will be just right, a
+hundred feet up the cliffs, and five hundred feet among the trees. No
+fear of the rope coming back to us.'
+
+"It took us a quarter of an hour's search in the dark to find the rope;
+but at last we came upon it, and sure enough there was only four or five
+fathoms in the water.
+
+"'Now, Jones,' Mr. Earnshaw said, 'it's your turn. Put that light line
+over your shoulders, and when you get to the top haul on it till you
+get up the rope ladder, and fasten that to a stout trunk and give a low
+hail. We will hold the rope as steady as we can below while you mount.'
+
+"'Ay, ay, sir,' said the man, who was an active young chap; 'I will be
+up there in a jiffy.'
+
+"We fastened the lower end round one of the thwarts of the boat, and
+then he began to climb. It was near five minutes before he got to the
+top, for there were some nasty places where the cliff jutted out, and
+the rope was hard against it; but presently the shaking ceased, and a
+minute later the light line was hauled tight. There was a low cheer in
+the boats, and then up went the rope ladder. A minute or two later there
+was a hail from the top.
+
+"'All taut, sir.'
+
+"'I will go first,' Mr. Earnshaw said.
+
+"Accordingly up he went, and one by one we followed, each waiting for
+the signal that the one before him had got up, till all had gone except
+the two told off as boat watch. Then the men of the launch and cutters
+followed, and in about two hours they were all at the top, and a lantern
+was shown to tell the ship we were there.
+
+"We started at once across the island, Mr. Earnshaw keeping the line by
+a pocket compass. It was rough work, though, and at last the lieutenant
+said:
+
+"'We make such a noise going through the bushes that we had better wait
+till daylight, so just halt where you are, lads.'
+
+"As soon as the first ray of light showed we were off again, and an hour
+later reached the edge of the slope down to the cove.
+
+"'Now, remember,' the lieutenant said, 'that no woman is to be hurt.
+All the men who resist are to be shot or cut down; but you are to take
+prisoners all who throw down their arms. Some of them may be able to
+prove themselves less guilty than the rest. At any rate, there is no
+fear of the Spanish authorities being too merciful. These pirates have
+been the scourge of these seas for the last six years.'
+
+"Well, lad, there ain't much more to tell you. We took them completely
+by surprise, and the men in the village were all knocked down and bound,
+without firing a shot. The men in the batteries tried to slew their guns
+round, but we didn't give 'em time. They fought desperately, for they
+knew what their doom was, and there weren't any prisoners taken there.
+As soon as the village was taken I went straight with Mr. Escombe to
+the captain's house. His wife was standing at the door, and she gave
+a little cry as she saw the British uniforms, and ran a step or two to
+meet us, then she stopped, and her arms dropped by her side.
+
+"'What! you, Peter!' she said as we came up. 'Is it you who led them
+here?'
+
+"'Yes, ma'am, it was me,' says I, 'and the best thing I could do for
+you, for you could not wish to stay here all your life with just the
+people that are here.'
+
+"'But what has happened?' she said. 'How is it you are here? What has
+become of the schooner?'
+
+"'The schooner is sunk, ma'am, and the brig is captured.'
+
+"'And my husband?'
+
+"'Well, ma'am, don't you take on, but your husband went down with the
+schooner.'
+
+"She tottered, and I thought she would have fallen, but Mr. Escombe put
+his arm round her and led her to the house and left her there, putting
+two sailors on guard to see as she wasn't disturbed. An hour or two
+later the frigate was off the cove, and the captain landed. We stopped
+a week there, and carried off all there was worth taking; and I tell
+you there was enough to give every man Jack on board a handsome share of
+prize money when the things came to be sold afterward.
+
+"Money, there was lots of it, all stored away in what they called the
+treasure house, for money was no good there. Jewels and ornaments,
+watches, and the things which they uses in them Catholic churches, and
+all kinds of valuable things, and stores of silks and velvets and all
+kinds of materials; and as to wine and such like, there was enough
+to have lasted them for years, for from first to last it was shown
+afterward that those fellows must have captured more nor fifty vessels.
+Why they shouldn't have stopped ashore and enjoyed what they got was a
+mystery to me. But I suppose they couldn't do without excitement, and
+though every man talked of the time when the treasure would be divided
+and they were to scatter, I don't suppose as one ever expected as the
+time would really come.
+
+"Well, arter everything was on board, and the women and children, the
+place was burned, and we sailed for the nearest Spanish port. We had
+had a sort of court martial on board the frigate, and two or three young
+chaps like myself, and two men as was proved to have been captured in
+the pirates' last cruise, and who hadn't been to sea with them or taken
+part in any of their bloody doings, was kept on board ship, and the rest
+was handed over to the Spanish authorities. Most of them was garroted,
+and a few was condemned to work on the roads for life. I and the others
+was taken back to England in the frigate, whose foreign time was up,
+and when we got to Portsmouth we was drafted into a regiment there, and
+lucky we thought ourselves to get off so easy. The captain's wife and
+some of the other white women came home to England on board the frigate.
+She was very low at first, but she brightened up a good deal toward
+the end of the voyage, which lasted two months. She grieved over her
+husband, you see, but she couldn't but have felt that it was all for the
+best. I heard afterward as how two years after she married Mr. Earnshaw,
+who by that time had got to be a captain. So that, you see, my lad, is
+how I came to fight under the black flag first and then to be a soldier
+of the queen. I didn't mean it to be sich a long yarn, but when I once
+began it all came back to me, and you see, I haven't spoken of it for
+years. You don't think altogether as I was very wrong, I hope."
+
+"I thank you very much for your story, sergeant," Jack replied. "I only
+wish it had been longer; and although it's very easy to say that a man
+ought to die rather than consent to be a pirate, I don't think there are
+many lads who would choose death if they were placed as you were."
+
+"I am glad you think that, young un; it's always been a sore point with
+me, I have done my duty since, and no one can say as he's ever seen
+Sergeant Edwards show the white feather. But the thought that that once
+I did not act as a brave man would have done has always troubled me."
+
+The next day, as the sea went down, and the recruits recovered from the
+effects of the confinement and sickness, they again began to talk among
+themselves. The fact that all the other vessels of the fleet were out of
+sight naturally encouraged them. Jack observed, however, that the call
+to parade on deck was answered with more quickness than before, and the
+exercises were gone through with a painstaking steadiness greater than
+had been shown since the embarkation. When the men were dismissed from
+parade Jack remarked this to the sergeant.
+
+"Ay, ay, lad, I noticed it too," the sergeant said, shaking his head,
+"and in my opinion it's a bad sign. They want to throw the officers
+off their guard. It's a pity you have been seen talking so much to me,
+because, of course, they won't say anything when you are listening; but
+one or two of the men who came into the regiment with me have dropped
+a word as they happened to pass this morning that they wanted to have
+a word if they could get one without being noticed, so I hope to hear a
+little more tonight."
+
+That evening, before going below, Jack had an hour's talk with Sergeant
+Edwards.
+
+"It's just as I thought," the latter said, "they've got an idea of
+seizing the ship. The men I spoke of managed to get a few words with me
+this evening. They don't know anything about piracy. All they have heard
+is that there is a proposal to seize the ship and to carry her into
+one of the northern ports of Spain, where the men will land and give up
+their arms to the Spanish authorities, and then either disperse and make
+their way home by twos and threes as best they can, or they will take
+service with the King of Spain, who, they think, will pay them a deal
+better than the English government.
+
+"A part of the crew are in the scheme. These, the men tell me, do not
+intend to land, but only tell the others that they shall sail away.
+That's about what I thought would be. The greater part of these fellows
+only wants to get quickly home again, while the sailors, who may want to
+go abuccaneering, would not care about having the soldiers with them.
+I shall give a hint to the captain of my company tonight as to what
+is going on, but I don't much expect he will pay any attention to it.
+Officers never believe these things till it is too late, and you see
+I can't give them any names yet or prove what I say; besides, likely
+enough, any inquiry set on foot would only bring the matter to a head.
+We must wait till we know something sure.
+
+"You keep your ears open, my boy, and your eyes too, and I will do the
+same. If it comes, and you see a chance of warning the captain of the
+ship or the first lieutenant in time, you do it; but don't you do it if
+you don't think there's time enough, or if you can't do it without being
+seen. If it's too late, and you are found out, they would just chuck you
+overboard or knock you on the head, and you will have done no good
+after all, and perhaps only caused bloodshed. Like enough, if matters
+go quietly, there won't be no bloodshed, and the officers and those who
+stick to them will just be turned adrift in the boats, or maybe handed
+over to the Spanish at the port they go into as prisoners."
+
+Jack promised to follow the sergeant's instructions, and went below. He
+thought that the men were unusually quiet, and taking his blanket--for
+although some of the soldiers slept in hammocks, the majority lay on the
+deck wrapped in their blankets--he lay down by the side of a gun whose
+port had been opened to admit air between decks. After thinking the
+matter over for some time, and wondering what would be the end of it, he
+dropped off into a light sleep.
+
+Presently he was aroused by a confused sound. Looking round cautiously,
+he saw by the dim light of the lantern that most of the men were on
+their feet. Some of them were taking down their firearms from the arm
+racks; small groups were stooping over some of the sleeping figures; and
+to the mast, close to which one of the lanterns hung, two or three
+men were bound, and two soldiers with pikes were standing by them. The
+crisis, then, had come, and Jack at once proceeded to carry out the plan
+he had thought out after he lay down.
+
+Very quietly he crawled out through the porthole, and then raised
+himself and stood on the muzzle of the gun. There he could reach the
+foot of the shrouds of the foremast, which happened to be immediately
+above the port. He swung himself up, and, placing his hands on the edge
+of the bulwark, cautiously looked over.
+
+At present all was quiet there; the signal from below had not been
+given, and the troops on deck--for, owing to the numbers on board,
+one fourth were always on deck in fine weather--were standing about or
+sitting in groups. Keeping his feet on the ledge which ran round level
+with the deck, and his fingers on the top of the bulwark, Jack managed
+to edge his way aft until he reached the line of the quarterdeck. Here
+the line of the bulwark ceased, the cabins of the officers rising, as
+was usual in those days, in a double tier high about the waist.
+
+The nearest porthole, which was open, was but three feet long, and Jack,
+reaching forward, put one hand in it and continued his way. The porthole
+was but just large enough for him to squeeze through. Looking in before
+he attempted it he saw an officer asleep immediately below him. It was
+the ensign of his own company. Leaning in he touched him gently. After
+one or two attempts, the young officer opened his eyes, saying, "What is
+it? It's not morning yet."
+
+"Hush, sir," Jack said earnestly; "I am Jack Stilwell of your company.
+There is a mutiny, sir, forward. Please help me in, I want to warn the
+captain of the ship, and he will know what to do."
+
+The young officer leaped from his bunk and assisted Jack to enter.
+
+"I will come with you," he said, hastily dragging on his trousers and
+coat. "Are you sure of what you say?"
+
+"Quite sure, sir; the noncommissioned officers are bound; it may begin
+at any moment."
+
+The ensign led the way to the captain's cabin, which he opened and
+entered without ceremony.
+
+"What is it?" the captain exclaimed. The ensign said who he was, and
+Jack repeated his story.
+
+"The dogs!" the captain said, "we will teach them a lesson. Let me see,
+the second lieutenant is on duty; rouse all the other officers;" and he
+himself assisted them to do so. In a minute or two they were gathered
+hastily attired, with sword and pistol, in the captain's cabin.
+
+"Do you, Mr. Hartwell," the captain said, addressing the first
+lieutenant, "go below and rouse the boatswain and petty officers,
+and bid them get together all the men they can depend upon, arm them
+quietly, and be ready to rush on deck the instant a stir is heard
+forward among the soldiers. Any man who disobeys orders, shoot him
+instantly. Do you, sir," he said to the second officer, "go to the
+magazine with four of the midshipmen, open it and bring up charges of
+grape for the guns on the quarterdeck. Be as quick as you can. Now,
+gentlemen, the rest of us will make our way up quietly, one by one,
+to the quarterdeck. Go well aft, so that the men in the waist will not
+notice you. Directly the cartridges come up we will load the guns, and
+be in readiness to slew them across the deck; and in the mean time, if
+they should attack before we are ready, we must hold the ladders to the
+last."
+
+One by one the officers stole out from the cabin with bare feet, and
+made their way up to the quarterdeck, until some thirty of them were
+gathered there, being all the officers of the regiment, the naval
+officers, and midshipmen. The night was a dark one, and this was
+accomplished without the movement being noticed by any of those in the
+waist of the ship.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI: A COMMISSION
+
+
+The moments passed slowly and anxiously, for if the mutineers were to
+pour up from below before the cartridges arrived and the lieutenant had
+got the petty officers and men on whom they could rely ready for action,
+it was improbable that the officers would be able successfully to oppose
+the rush of the men, armed as these would be with matchlock and pike.
+
+The mutineers, however, believing that there was no occasion to hurry,
+were quietly carrying out their intentions. The noncommissioned officers
+had all been seized, tied, and placed under sentries, whose orders were
+to pike them if they uttered a word. A strong guard had been placed at
+the foot of the gangway to prevent any of the soldiers who were not in
+the plan from going on deck and giving the alarm. The muskets were not
+loaded, as on embarkation all ball cartridges had, as usual, been stowed
+away in the magazine; but they reckoned upon obtaining possession of
+this at the first rush. The ringleaders proceeded to form the men in
+fours, so that they could pour on to the deck in military order. The men
+of each company were told off to separate work. Two companies were to
+clear the decks, where, on their appearance, they would be joined by
+their comrades there, and to overpower any sailors who might offer
+resistance.
+
+Another company was to run down and secure the magazine, and, breaking
+it open, to serve out cartridges to all. Two other companies were to
+rush aft and overpower the officers; the sixth and seventh were to form
+round the head of the hatchway leading to the decks where the sailors
+slept, and to allow only those to come on deck who had entered into the
+plot. The other three companies were already on deck. The arrangements
+were excellent, but the care taken in preparing for them, and the
+necessity for doing this in silence lest the stir should be heard and an
+alarm be given on deck, occupied time which the officers were turning to
+advantage.
+
+As soon as the captain and naval men had gained the quarterdeck they
+threw off the lashings of the guns, and had all in readiness for running
+them in and taking them aft to the edge of the quarterdeck. There was
+a deep sensation of relief as one after another the midshipmen joined
+them, each carrying three cartridges of grape, and followed by the
+gunner with four more. The lieutenant was to stay below to lead the
+sailors on to the deck.
+
+The gunner brought a message saying that all was well. Many of
+the sailors were found to have turned into their hammocks without
+undressing, and to have hand pikes or cutlasses concealed beneath
+the clothes. These, however, had been surprised and taken without the
+slightest noise; as, on finding a lantern on one side of their heads
+and a pistol on the other, each had submitted without the slightest
+resistance. All these had been sent down to the hold below, and a guard
+placed over them. The guns were loaded and the whole of the officers
+divided among them in readiness to run them forward. Four or five
+minutes passed, then a shout was heard forward and a low rush of many
+feet.
+
+In an instant the four guns on the quarterdeck were run across. While
+this was being done there was a clashing of swords, shouts, and a noise
+of conflict heard forward, and at the same time a loud cheer arose,
+while from the after hatchway a dark body of men rushed up on to the
+deck and formed across it. Some midshipmen, who had been told off for
+the duty, ran up from the officers' cabin with lighted lanterns, which
+were ranged along at the edge of the quarterdeck.
+
+There was a rush aft of the mutineers, but these recoiled astonished at
+the sight of the pikes which confronted them, and the line of sailors
+four deep across the deck, while at the same moment the light of the
+lanterns showed them the officers on the quarterdeck, and the four
+guns pointed threateningly toward them. For a moment a silence of
+astonishment and dismay succeeded the uproar which had preceded it, then
+the captain's voice was heard:
+
+"Down with your arms, you mutinous dogs, or I will blow you into the
+air. It is useless to resist. We are prepared for you, and you are
+without ammunition. Throw down the arms on the decks, every man of you,
+before I count three, or I fire. One--two--"
+
+There was a loud clattering of arms, mingled with shouts of--"We
+surrender; don't fire, sir, don't fire."
+
+"It's all over," the captain said grimly. "Mr. Hartwell, march your men
+forward, shoot any scoundrel instantly whom you find with arms in his
+hands, collect all the weapons and bring them aft.
+
+"Now, Colonel Clifford," he said, turning to the officer in command of
+the regiment, "if you go below with the officers, you can unloose the
+noncommissioned officers; they will be able to point out to you the
+ringleaders in this business. They had better be ironed at once and put
+into the hold. You will have no more trouble now, I fancy."
+
+In ten minutes the whole of the arms had been collected and stored
+up, the noncommissioned officers had pointed out some twenty of the
+ringleaders, and these were safely in irons below, while a strong guard
+of armed sailors was placed between decks to see that there was no
+renewal of insubordinate conduct. There was, however, no fear of this;
+the men were thoroughly cowed and humiliated by the failure of their
+plan, and each was occupied only in hoping that he had not been
+sufficiently conspicuous to be handed over in the morning to join the
+prisoners below.
+
+There was no more sleep that night on board the ship. After breakfast
+two courts martial were held, the one by the naval, the other by the
+military officers. The latter sentenced two men, who were convicted
+on the testimony of the noncommissioned officers as having been the
+leaders, to be hung, and the sentence was at once carried out. The
+regiment was formed in close order on deck unarmed and witnessed the
+execution of their comrades, who were hung up to the extremities of
+the main yard. The other prisoners were sentenced to two hundred lashes
+apiece--a punishment which was, according to the ideas of the time,
+very lenient, such a punishment being frequently administered for
+comparatively trifling offenses, and the prisoners considered themselves
+fortunate in escaping hanging, for which, indeed, they had prepared
+themselves.
+
+Previous to the administration of their punishment the colonel addressed
+the men, and told them that all the ringleaders had been found guilty
+and sentenced to death, but that the members of the court martial had
+agreed with him that, considering the youth and inexperience of the
+offenders and the whole circumstances of the case, it would be possible
+to remit the death sentence, confident that the prisoners and the whole
+of the regiment would recognize the leniency with which they had
+been treated, and would return to their duty with a firm and hearty
+determination to do all in their power to atone for their misconduct,
+and to show themselves true and worthy soldiers of the queen. If this
+was the case, no further notice would be taken of the error; but at the
+same time he warned them that he had by him a long list of men who had
+taken a prominent part in the affair, and that the first time any of
+these misconducted themselves they might be well assured that no mercy
+would be shown to them.
+
+The naval court martial showed no greater severity than that
+administered by the military officers. The vessel was short handed, and
+moreover the officers did not wish the stigma to attach to the ship of
+a serious mutiny among the crew. Had any of these been hung, the matter
+must have been reported; but as none of the crew had absolutely taken
+part in the rising, however evident it was that they intended to do
+so, no sentences of death were passed. But a number of the men were
+sentenced to be flogged more or less severely, those who had but lately
+been pressed getting off with comparatively light punishments, while
+the heaviest sentences were passed on the older hands concerned in the
+affair.
+
+The arms of the troops continued to be kept under a strong guard until,
+ten days later, the rest of the fleet were seen, just as the northern
+point of Portugal was made out. A few hours later the fleet was united;
+and the next day, the wind dying entirely away, Colonel Clifford
+proceeded in a boat to the flagship to report to the Earl of
+Peterborough the mutiny which had taken place in his regiment, and its
+successful suppression.
+
+Immediately the mutiny had been put down Jack Stilwell had stolen away
+and rejoined the soldiers forward; and although there was much wonder
+among the men as to how the affair had been discovered, none suspected
+him of having betrayed them, and believed that the officers must have
+been warned by some word incautiously let drop in their hearing. Only to
+Sergeant Edwards did Jack reveal what had taken place.
+
+"Do you know, lad, I guessed as you had had a hand in the business
+somehow. When I was standing tied up against the mast I had to keep my
+mouth shut; but I had the use of my eyes, and I could not make you out
+among them. I might have missed you, of course; but your company was
+formed up close to where I was standing, and I thought I should have
+seen you if you had been there. I could not think what had become of
+you; but when the men came pouring down again without their arms, and I
+heard them cursing and swearing because the sailors and the officers and
+all was found in readiness to receive them, it somehow came to my mind
+as that you was at the bottom of it--though how, I could not for the
+life of me make out, for I knew you had gone below when I did."
+
+"I wish, sergeant, that when you are examined, as you will be about this
+affair, you will ask Captain Curtis to ask the colonel not to let it
+be known publicly that it was I who warned him, for my life would
+be unbearable among the men if they knew it. And if it didn't happen
+before, it would be certain that the first time we went into action I
+should get a bullet in my back."
+
+"You are right there, my lad. I will tell the captain. You may be sure
+your conduct won't be overlooked; but at present, as you say, the less
+said about it the better."
+
+An hour after Colonel Clifford had gone on board the flagship the boat
+returned with orders that Private Stilwell, of D Company, was to go back
+with them. The order was given to Captain Curtis, who sent first for
+Sergeant Edwards.
+
+"Go forward, sergeant, and tell Stilwell that he is to go on board the
+flagship. No doubt the colonel has spoken to the general. Tell the lad
+apart, and let him make his way aft here to the gangway quietly, so that
+he won't be noticed. If any of the men happen to see him going off in
+the boat, they may suppose that the colonel has only sent for some man
+who can write; and naturally if the captain had ordered me to choose a
+man, I should have picked him out."
+
+On reaching the deck of the flagship Jack was conducted to the admiral's
+cabin. At the head of the table was seated a man whom Jack recognized
+at once, from the description he had heard of him, as the Earl of
+Peterborough. He was small and very spare in person, his features were
+pleasant, his nose somewhat prominent, his eye lively and penetrating.
+He had laid aside the immense wig which, in accordance with the custom,
+he wore when abroad or at court in England; and Jack saw his hair, which
+was light brown and somewhat scanty. The admiral of the fleet sat next
+to him; for although Peterborough had the command of the expedition
+both at land and sea, an admiral was in command of the fleet under him.
+Colonel Clifford was seated on the earl's left, and several other naval
+and military officers were at the table.
+
+"Well, young man," Peterborough said, "Colonel Clifford has been telling
+us that it is due to you that I have not a regiment the less under my
+orders, and that her majesty has not lost a ship from the list of her
+navy. He says that the whole thing was so quickly done that he has
+not been able to learn the full particulars from you, and that he has
+abstained from questioning you because you did not wish any suspicion
+to be excited among the men of the part you played in it. Now, please to
+tell me the whole history of the affair."
+
+Jack thereupon related how his suspicions had been aroused by Sergeant
+Edwards, who was only waiting for sufficient opportunity and a certainty
+of information to divulge the plot to the officers. He then related
+his awaking as the mutiny began, and the steps he had taken to warn the
+officers. When he had done, the earl said:
+
+"You have acted smartly and well, young man; you have shown promptness,
+courage, and fidelity. You speak above your rank. What is your
+parentage?"
+
+"My father was a clergyman, sir," Jack said, "but being dispossessed of
+his living in the troubles, could not make his case known on the return
+of King Charles; but he supported himself by teaching, and gave me such
+education as he could, in hope that I too should enter the ministry.
+But my thoughts did not incline that way; and when he died, and also my
+mother, I thought of going to sea, when it happened that I was pressed
+for a soldier. And seeing that it was so, I made up my mind to make the
+best of things."
+
+"And you have done so, young man; and right glad am I that your
+education and parentage are such that I can reward you as I should wish.
+I give you a discharge now from your regiment and appoint you ensign.
+You will at present form one of my staff; and glad am I to have so
+dashing and able a young officer ready to hand for any perilous service
+I may require."
+
+On the 20th of June the fleet sailed up the Tagus.
+
+Jack had not returned on board his ship.
+
+"Better stop here," the earl said. "If you went back, and they heard you
+were promoted, likely enough some of them might toss you overboard on
+a dark night. We will set the tailors at once to work to rig you up an
+undress uniform. You can get a full dress made at Lisbon. Not that you
+will be wanting to wear that much, for we have come out for rough work;
+still, when we ride triumphantly into any town we have taken, it is as
+well to make a good impression upon the Spanish donnas. And, say what
+they will, fine feathers go a long way toward making fine birds. Do you
+write a good hand?"
+
+"I think I write a pretty fair one, sir."
+
+"That is good. I write a crabbed stick myself, and there's nothing I
+hate more than writing; and as for these young gentlemen, I don't think
+they will be of much use for that sort of thing. However, I shan't have
+a great deal of it. But you shall act as my secretary when necessary."
+
+The earl's orders to the tailors were peremptory to lose no time in
+fitting Jack with an undress suit, and in twenty-four hours he was able
+to join the mess of the young officers and volunteers who accompanied
+the general. These were all young men of good family; and having heard
+how Jack had saved the ship from mutiny, they received him among them
+with great heartiness, which was increased when they found that he was
+well educated and the son of a gentleman.
+
+It was a great satisfaction to Jack, that owing to the kindness and
+generosity of the earl, he was able to pay his expenses at mess and to
+live on equal terms with them; for the general had dropped a purse with
+a hundred guineas into his hand, saying:
+
+"This will be useful to you, lad, for you must live like the other
+officers. I owe it to you many times over for having saved me that
+regiment, upon whose equipment and fitting out I had spent well nigh a
+hundred times that sum."
+
+Some of the officers were but little older than Jack, and by the time
+the ship dropped anchor in the Tagus he was quite at home with them.
+
+"What a lovely city!" he said as he leaned over the bulwark and looked
+at the town standing on the steep hills sloping down to the river.
+
+"Yes, indeed," Graham, one of the young officers, agreed. "But I fancy
+the Portuguese are but poor creatures. The Earl of Galway writes in his
+dispatches that they are great at promises, but he finds he can expect
+little assistance from them."
+
+"Have you any idea whether we are going to land here?"
+
+"No; wherever we land, you may be sure it won't be here. The Earl of
+Galway has been here two or three months, and he has some good regiments
+with him. Our chief would be losing his position did we land here, as
+he has a separate command, and would of course be under Galway if the
+forces were joined. The Dutch fleet is to be here in a day or two, and
+the Archduke Charles sailed a fortnight before we did; and as we have
+made a very slow voyage of it, he ought to have been here long ago. What
+a talk there will be! What with the archduke, and the Portuguese, and
+the Dutch, and the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, and the Earls of Galway
+and Peterborough, and probably every one of them with his own ideas and
+opinions, it will be hard to come to any arrangement. Besides there will
+be dispatches from the British court, and the court of the Netherlands,
+and the Austrian emperor, all of whom will probably differ as to what
+is the best thing to be done. There will be a nice to do altogether.
+There's one thing to be said, our chief can out talk them all; and he
+can say such disagreeable things when he likes that he will be likely
+to get his own way, if it's only to get rid of him. There goes his boat
+into the water. What an impatient fellow he is, to be sure."
+
+No sooner had Peterborough landed than he turned all his energies to
+obtain the supplies which had been denied to him at home, and after much
+difficulty he succeeded in borrowing a hundred thousand pounds from
+a Jew named Curtisos on treasury bills on Lord Godolphin, with the
+condition that the lender should be given the contract for the supply of
+provisions and other requisites for the army. The day that the earl had
+carried out this arrangement he returned on board radiant. Hitherto
+he had been terribly out of temper, and Jack, who had become his
+amanuensis, had written at his dictation many very sharp notes to every
+one with whom he had come in contact. As soon as he came on board he
+sent for Jack to his cabin.
+
+"Sit down, Mr. Stilwell. I have a dispatch for you to write to the lord
+treasurer. I have got my money, so that difficulty is at an end. It is
+glorious! I couldn't get a penny out of them before I sailed, now I have
+got as much as I want. I would give a thousand guineas out of my own
+pocket to see Godolphin's face when he reads my dispatch, and finds that
+he's got to honor bills for a hundred thousand pounds; it will be better
+than any comedy that ever was acted. How the pompous old owl will fret
+and fume! But he will have to find the money for all that. He can't
+begin the campaign by dishonoring bills of her majesty's general, or no
+one would trust us hereafter. You haven't seen my lord treasurer, Mr.
+Stilwell?"
+
+"No, sir, I have not been at court at all."
+
+"That's a pity," the earl said; "for you lose the cream of the joke.
+Now, I shall go on shore tomorrow and get everything that is wanted, and
+then the sooner we are off the better; we have been here a fortnight,
+and I am sick of the place."
+
+Jack was by no means sick of Lisbon, for he enjoyed himself vastly. The
+town was full of troops--English, Dutch, and Portuguese. Of an evening
+there were fetes and galas of all kinds, and as the earl always attended
+these, Jack and the other young officers were permitted to go ashore
+either in full uniform to take part in the fetes, or to enjoy themselves
+according to their fancies.
+
+As Graham had predicted, it was some time before any conclusion was
+arrived at as to the destination of the fleet. Several councils were
+held, but no decision was come to. Peterborough's orders were so vague
+that he could use his own discretion. He had, indeed, been recommended
+to prevail upon the Archduke Charles to accompany him and to proceed
+to Italy, where he was to form a junction with Victor Amadeus, Duke of
+Savoy, who was sorely pressed by the armies of France.
+
+A messenger, however, arrived by sea with an order from the queen that
+the fleet should proceed to the coast of Catalonia, in consequence of
+information which had been sent to the British court of the favorable
+disposition of the Catalans toward the Archduke Charles. This was in
+accordance with the counsel which the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt had been
+strenuously urging, and his recent success in the capture and
+subsequent defense of Gibraltar gave weight to his words and effaced the
+recollection of his failure before Barcelona in the previous year.
+
+The final decision rested in a great measure with the Archduke Charles,
+who at last decided to proceed with Lord Peterborough and land upon the
+coast of Spain and test the disposition of his Valencian and Catalan
+subjects. The reasons for Peterborough's falling in with the decision to
+move on Barcelona are explained in a dispatch which he dictated to Sir
+George Rooke on the 20th of July.
+
+"Upon the letter of my Lord Godolphin and the secretary of state,
+the King of Spain, his ministers, and my Lord Galway and myself have
+concluded there was no other attempt to be made but upon Catalonia,
+where all advices agree that six thousand men and twelve hundred horse
+are ready expecting our arrival with a general goodwill of all the
+people. The Portuguese have entirely refused to join in any design
+against Cadiz, and by a copy of my Lord Galway's letter you will find he
+is in an utter despair of their attempting anything this year, and that
+by our instructions it will appear that there is no other enterprise
+left for our choice."
+
+Peterborough's military force was, however, wholly insufficient for such
+an enterprise. He prevailed upon Lord Galway to give him a part of Lord
+Raby's and General Cunningham's regiments of English dragoons, although
+the Portuguese strenuously opposed this being done. Their conduct,
+indeed, at this time was very similar to that which they adopted a
+hundred years later toward the Duke of Wellington, throwing every
+conceivable obstacle in the English commander's way, and opposing every
+plan of action which he suggested. Many of the dragoons were without
+horses, but Lord Peterborough mounted them on animals which he bought
+with some of the money he had procured from Curtisos.
+
+The Prince of Hesse Darmstadt went on ahead to Gibraltar to arrange for
+a portion of the garrison to accompany the expedition. On the 28th of
+July the Archduke Charles embarked with Lord Peterborough on board the
+Ranelagh, and an hour later the fleet put to sea. Off Tangiers they were
+joined by the squadron under Sir Cloudesley Shovel, and a few days later
+they reached the Bay of Gibraltar.
+
+Here they found that the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt had arranged that
+the battalion of the guards, with three other veteran regiments that had
+borne part in the gallant defense of the fortress, were to be embarked,
+and two of the newly raised corps Lord Peterborough had brought out from
+England were to take their place in the garrison. The regiment to which
+Jack had belonged was one of these. As soon as he heard the news he took
+the first opportunity of speaking to the earl.
+
+"I have a favor to ask, sir."
+
+"What is that, lad?"
+
+"It is, sir, that Sergeant Edwards, who, if you remember, advised me
+about warning the officers of the mutiny, should be transferred to one
+of the regiments coming on board."
+
+"Certainly, my lad; I had not forgotten him. I truly wish that he had
+sufficient education to give him a commission. I sent to inquire of his
+colonel, but finding that he could not read or write, and that he would
+be out of place among the officers, I could not do it; but I will gladly
+take him with us on active service. It would be hard on a good soldier
+to be left behind with that mutinous set of rascals."
+
+Jack had already heard from Sergeant Edwards, whom he had met several
+times on shore at Lisbon, and who had rejoiced most heartily at his
+promotion, that Lord Peterborough had sent him, through the colonel, a
+purse of fifty guineas as a reward for his conduct.
+
+Jack immediately proceeded in a boat to his old vessel, with an order
+from the earl that the sergeant should be at once transferred into one
+of the regiments coming on board. The sergeant was delighted, for orders
+had already been received for the regiment to disembark and form part of
+the garrison.
+
+An hour later the Archduke Charles landed, amid the thunder of the
+guns of the fleet and fortress, for here for the first time he was
+acknowledged as and received the honor due to the King of Spain. There
+was but little delay--Lord Peterborough's energy hurried every one else
+forward, and on the 5th of August the fleet again put to sea, the king
+and the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt accompanying it.
+
+The winds were contrary, and it was not till the 11th that they anchored
+in Altea Bay, at the mouth of the Guadalaviar, on the Valencian coast.
+On the other side of the roadstead stood the castle and village of
+Denia. The expedition was received with good will by the people, who
+hated the ascendency of France at Madrid and were bitterly jealous of
+Castile.
+
+As soon as the fleet anchored Peterborough caused a manifesto to be
+distributed among the people disclaiming any idea of aggrandizement on
+the part of Great Britain or her allies, or any intention of injuring
+the persons or property of Spaniards who were the lawful subjects of
+King Charles III.
+
+"We come," said he, "to free you from the insupportable yoke of the
+government of foreigners, and from the slavery to which you have been
+reduced and sold to France by ill designing persons."
+
+Several of the Spanish followers of the king landed to encourage the
+people, among them General Basset y Ramos, an active officer who was a
+Valencian by birth. The people rapidly assembled from the surrounding
+country and lined the shore shouting "Long live King Charles III!"
+
+Abundant supplies of provisions were sent off to the fleet, for which,
+however, Peterborough insisted upon liberal payment being made.
+
+A detachment of British infantry was landed to cover the operation of
+watering the fleet. The insurrection spread rapidly, and a thousand of
+the peasants seized the town of Denia for the king. A frigate and two
+bomb vessels crossed the bay and threatened the castle. This, although a
+magnificent pile of building, was but weakly fortified, and after a few
+shots had been fired it surrendered, and General Ramos with four hundred
+regular troops from the fleet landed and took possession, and amid
+the enthusiasm of the population Charles III was for the first time on
+Spanish ground proclaimed King of Spain and of the Indies.
+
+The Earl of Peterborough now proposed a plan of the most brilliant and
+daring kind, and had his advice been taken the war would probably have
+terminated in a very short time, by securely seating Charles III upon
+the Spanish throne. Madrid was distant but fifty leagues from Altea
+Bay. Requena was the only town of strength that lay in the way; the rich
+country would have afforded ample provision and means of transport,
+and these the friendly portion of the people would have placed at the
+disposal of the army.
+
+In the whole of Central Spain there was no force which could oppose
+him. All the troops of Philip were either on the frontier of Portugal or
+occupying the disaffected cities of the north. At Madrid there were but
+a few troops of horse; in a week then, and possibly without shedding a
+drop of blood, Charles might have been proclaimed king in the capital of
+Spain. The plan was, of course, not without danger. Marshal Tesse, with
+an overwhelming force, would threaten the left of the advancing army,
+and the garrisons of the northern cities, if united, could march with
+equal superiority of force upon its right; but Tesse would be followed
+by Lord Galway and the allied and Portuguese army, while Barcelona and
+the other strongholds of Catalonia would rise if their garrisons were
+withdrawn.
+
+Even in the case of failure Peterborough could have retired safely
+through Valencia and have re-embarked on board the fleet, or could have
+marched to Gibraltar. The scheme was at once daring and judicious,
+but the Archduke Charles was slow and timid, and was controlled by the
+advice of his even slower and more cautious German advisers, and neither
+argument nor entreaty on the part of Peterborough could suffice to move
+him. The earl was in despair at so brilliant an opportunity being thrown
+away, and expressed himself with the greatest of bitterness in his
+letters home as to the impossibility of carrying out movements when
+embarrassed by the presence of the king and by the incapacity of the
+king's advisers.
+
+However, finding that nothing could be done he re-embarked his troops,
+and the fleet sailed for Barcelona. It was not however, thought probable
+that a successful attempt could be made upon so strongly fortified
+a city, and it was determined that if upon inspection the chances of
+success should appear slight, the fleet and army should at once proceed,
+as originally intended, to the assistance of the Duke of Savoy.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII: BARCELONA
+
+
+The city of Barcelona, one of the most populous and important in Spain,
+is not naturally a place of great strength. It is situated on a plain
+close to the sea, and its defenses, although extensive, were not very
+formidable against a strong army provided with a siege train. To hold
+them fully required a much larger force than was disposable for the
+defense. The garrison was, however, fully equal in strength to the force
+of Peterborough, and should have been able to defend the city against
+an army vastly exceeding their own numbers. Ten bastions and some old
+towers protected the town toward the north and east; between the city
+and the sea was a long rampart with an unfinished ditch and covered
+way; while to the west, standing on a lofty elevation, the castle of
+Montjuich overlooked and guarded the walls of the city.
+
+From the center of the sea face a mole projected into the water,
+guarding a small harbor. The country round the town was fertile and
+beautiful, carefully cultivated and watered by streams flowing from the
+neighboring mountains. At the distance of about a league from the shore
+the land rises into an amphitheater of hills thickly dotted with small
+towns, villages, and country seats.
+
+As soon as the allied fleet had anchored the garrison commenced a
+cannonade from the mole and from a battery close to the sea upon some
+of the transports nearest to the shore; but their shot did not reach the
+vessels, and the fire soon ceased. The east wind, however, proved more
+troublesome than the enemy's fire, and the ships rolled heavily from the
+sea which came in from the east.
+
+The Prince of Hesse Darmstadt with two frigates put into the harbor of
+Mataro for the purpose of obtaining intelligence. He found that in the
+neighboring town of Vich the people had risen for King Charles, and
+putting himself in communication with their leaders he advised them to
+march upon the coast and cooperate with the forces about to land. On his
+way to rejoin the fleet the prince chased two Neapolitan galleys, which
+managed to get safely into Barcelona.
+
+They had on board the Duke and Duchess of Popoli, M. d'Abary, a French
+officer of distinction, and forty other young gentlemen, partisans of
+the Duke d'Anjou, and destined for employment in different parts of
+Spain. They were now, however, detained in the city by the governor to
+assist in its defense.
+
+The first glance into the state of affairs gave the Earl of Peterborough
+such an unfavorable impression that he at once objected to the proposed
+attack.
+
+The governor, Don Francisco Velasco, was a brave and distinguished
+officer, the garrison equaled his own force in numbers, the town was
+well supplied with provisions and stores, and, in order to add to the
+difficulties of the besiegers, orders had been given to destroy all the
+forage in the surrounding country which could not be conveyed within
+the walls. Any Austrian sympathies the inhabitants might possess were
+effectually suppressed by the power and vigilance of the governor.
+The besieging army was far too small to attempt a blockade, while the
+chances of an assault upon an equal force behind well armed defenses
+seemed almost desperate.
+
+The engineers declared that the difficulties of a regular siege were
+enormous, if not insurmountable, and that the only vulnerable point
+was covered by a bog, where the transport of cannon or the formation
+of works would be impossible. Above all, the principal hope of the
+expedition had failed. The adherents of Charles had assured him that the
+whole country would rise in his favor on the arrival of the fleet, and
+that the town itself would probably open its gates to receive him. These
+promises had, like all others he had received from his Spanish friends,
+proved delusive. Few of the peasantry appeared to receive them on the
+coast, and these were unarmed and without officers.
+
+The earl's instructions, although generally quite indefinite, were
+stringent upon one point. He was on no account to make the slightest
+alteration in the plans of the expedition, or to take any decisive step
+for their accomplishment, without the advice of the council of war. This
+would have been in any case embarrassing for a general; in the present
+instance it was calculated altogether to cripple him. There was but
+little harmony among the chief officers. The English military officers
+were by no means on good terms with each other, while the naval officers
+regarded almost as an insult Lord Peterborough's being placed in command
+of them. The English hated the German officers and despised the Dutch.
+Lord Peterborough himself disliked almost all his associates, and
+entertained a profound contempt for any one whose opinion might differ
+from that which he at the moment might happen to hold.
+
+It was impossible that good could come from a council of war composed
+of such jarring elements as these. However, Lord Peterborough's
+instructions were positive, and on the 16th of August, 1705, he convened
+a council of war on board the Britannia, consisting of nine generals and
+a brigadier, with two colonels on the staff. The king and the Prince
+of Hesse Darmstadt were present, but took no part in the deliberations.
+Singularly enough the council proved unanimous in their opinion that
+Barcelona should not be attacked. The reasons for the decision were
+drawn up and put on record. The council pointed out all the difficulties
+which existed, and declared the strength of the allied army to be only
+nineteen battalions of foot and two cavalry regiments, of whom no more
+than seven thousand men were fit for action, and only one hundred and
+twenty dragoon horses had survived the voyage in serviceable condition.
+
+The decision of the council was most opposed to the hopes and wishes of
+Charles and the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, and they addressed letters
+of strong remonstrance to Lord Peterborough, urging that to abandon the
+expedition at this juncture would be alike fatal to the common cause and
+discreditable to the British arms.
+
+Meanwhile, however, the greater part of the troops had landed without
+opposition; but the sea broke with such force on the beach that much
+difficulty had been experienced in getting ashore. The landing place had
+been well chosen by Lord Peterborough and Sir Cloudesley Shovel. It
+was about two miles east of the city, near a place called Badalona, and
+close to the mouth of the little river Basoz. The transports were
+moored in as close as possible, and the boats of the fleet carried three
+thousand men ashore each trip.
+
+In five hours fifteen battalions were landed without the loss of a man.
+A strong natural position about a mile from the city was chosen for the
+encampment; its left rested on the sea, its right was covered by several
+abrupt hills and defiles through which the river Basoz flowed. The front
+was, however, much extended, but this mattered the less, as the people
+from the neighboring villages began to assemble when the landing took
+place, and welcomed the allies of King Charles with joy. A number of
+these were employed by Lord Peterborough in guarding the advanced posts
+and covering the numerous roads leading from the city toward the camp.
+
+On the 22d another council of war was held at the Dutch General
+Schratenbach's quarters in the camp to consider two letters of the
+king, in which he again urged the allied generals to attack the city.
+He proposed that a battery of fifty guns should be erected to breach
+the wall between two of the bastions, and that the whole strength of the
+army should be thrown upon an assault. He acknowledged the force of the
+several objections to the attack, but urged that in such a case vigorous
+action was the safest. He dwelt upon the ruin that must fall upon such
+of his subjects as had declared for him if abandoned to their fate, and
+concluded by declaring that he at least would not desert them.
+
+The appeal failed to move any of the council with the exception of
+Peterborough himself, and he alone voted, although in opposition to his
+own judgment, in compliance with the king's plan. Notwithstanding the
+adverse decision of the council the horses and dragoons were landed on
+the 24th.
+
+On the 25th, the 26th, and the 28th the council again assembled to
+deliberate upon an earnest request of the king that they should attempt
+the siege for a period of eighteen days. The first decision was adverse,
+two only voting with Lord Peterborough for the siege. At the second
+council, his influence succeeded in obtaining a majority; but at the
+third, they agreed to abandon the attempt, even the commander in chief
+concurring.
+
+The cause of this sudden reversal of their opinion was that none of the
+workmen whom they had demanded from the leaders of the Catalan peasantry
+had appeared, and they felt it impossible to carry on the works and
+erect the siege batteries without such assistance. Nevertheless
+the peasantry gave effectual aid in landing the artillery, tents,
+ammunition, and stores. On the 28th the king landed amid a great
+concourse of people, who received him with every demonstration of
+enthusiasm, and he could with difficulty make his way through them to
+the camp prepared for him near San Martino.
+
+The presence of the king on shore added to the difficulties of the
+situation. He and his following of German courtiers complained bitterly
+of the disinclination of the allies to undertake the siege, while
+the allies were incensed against those who reproached them for not
+undertaking impossibilities. Dissension spread between the allies
+themselves, and the Dutch general declared that he would disobey the
+orders of the commander in chief rather than vainly sacrifice his men.
+
+Peterborough was driven nearly out of his mind by the reproaches and
+recrimination to which he was exposed, and the quarrels which took place
+around him. He was most anxious to carry out his instructions, and as
+far as possible to defer to the opinion of Charles, but he was also
+bound by the decisions of the councils of war, which were exactly
+opposite to the wishes of the king.
+
+The Prince of Hesse Darmstadt enraged him by insisting that fifteen
+hundred disorderly peasants whom he had raised were an army, and should
+be paid as regular soldiers from the military chest, while they would
+submit to no discipline and refused to labor in the trenches, and an
+open rupture took place, when the prince, in his vexation at the results
+of the councils of war, even went so far as to accuse the earl of having
+used secret influence to thwart the enterprise.
+
+To add to the difficulties of the commander in chief the English
+troops were loud in their complaints against him for having landed
+and committed them to this apparently hopeless enterprise; but they
+nevertheless clamored to be led against the town, that they might not be
+said to have "come like fools and gone like cowards."
+
+Lord Peterborough confided his trouble and vexation freely to his young
+secretary. Jack was sincerely attached to his generous and eccentric
+chief, and the general was gratified by the young officer's readiness at
+all times and hours to come to him and write from his dictation the
+long letters and dispatches which he sent home. He saw, too, that he
+was thoroughly trustworthy, and could be relied upon to keep absolute
+silence as to the confidences which he made him.
+
+In the midst of all these quarrels and disputes the siege was carried
+on in a languid manner. A battery of fifty heavy guns, supplied by the
+ships and manned by seamen, was placed upon a rising ground flanked
+by two deep ravines, and on several of the adjacent hills batteries of
+light field guns had been raised. Three weeks were consumed in these
+comparatively unimportant operations, and no real advance toward the
+capture of the place had been effected. Something like a blockade,
+however, had been established, for the Catalan peasants guarded
+vigilantly every approach to the town.
+
+The officers of the fleet were no less discontented than their brethren
+on shore at the feeble conduct of the siege, and had they been consulted
+they would have been in favor of a direct attack upon the city with
+scaling ladders, as if they had been about to board a hostile ship.
+But Peterborough and his officers were well aware that such an attack
+against a city defended by a superior force would be simple madness, and
+even an attack by regular approaches, with the means and labor at their
+disposal, would have had no chance of success. But while all on shore
+and in the fleet were chafing at the slowness and hopelessness of the
+siege, Jack Stilwell was alone aware that the commander in chief did not
+share in the general despair of any good arising from the operations.
+
+Lord Peterborough had little communication with the other generals; but,
+alone in his tent with Jack and an interpreter, he occupied himself
+from morning till night in examining peasants and spies as to every
+particular of the fortifications of the city, of the ground near to the
+walls, and of the habits and proceedings of the garrison. At last he
+resolved upon an attempt which, in its daring and enterprise, is almost
+without parallel. Indeed its only hope of success lay in its boldness,
+for neither friend nor foe could anticipate that it would be attempted.
+It was no less than the surprise of the citadel of Montjuich.
+
+This formidable stronghold covered the weakest part of the defenses,
+that toward the southwest, and far exceeded in strength any other part
+of the lines. It had been most skillfully designed. The ditches were
+deep, and the walls firm; the outworks skillfully planned; the batteries
+well armed, and the inner defenses formidable in themselves. It was,
+in fact, by far the strongest point in the position of the besieged.
+Standing on a commanding height, it was abundantly capable of defense
+even against a regular siege, and its reduction was always regarded as
+a most formidable enterprise, to be undertaken at leisure after the
+capture of the town. Its only weakness lay in the fact that surrounding
+it on every side were numerous ravines and hollows, which would afford
+concealment to an assailant, and that trusting to the extraordinary
+strength of their position the garrison of Montjuich might neglect
+proper precautions.
+
+One morning before daybreak the earl, accompanied only by Jack and a
+native guide, left the camp on foot, having laid aside their uniforms
+and put on the attire of peasants, so that the glitter of their
+accouterments might not attract the attention of the enemy's outposts.
+Making a long detour they approached the castle, and ascending one of
+the ravines gained a point where, themselves unseen, they could mark all
+particulars of the fortifications. Having carried out his purpose the
+earl returned to camp with his companion without his absence having been
+observed. The observations which Peterborough had made confirmed the
+reports of the peasants, that the garrison kept but a negligent watch,
+and he at once resolved upon making the attempt; but to none of his most
+intimate friends did he give the slightest hint of his intentions.
+
+To disguise his views he called councils of war both in the camp and
+fleet, wherein it was resolved, with his full consent, that the siege of
+Barcelona should be abandoned, and that the army should be immediately
+re-embarked and conveyed to Italy. Accordingly the heavy artillery was
+conveyed on board ship, the warlike stores collected, and the troops
+warned to be ready for embarkation. A storm of reproaches was poured
+upon the earl by Charles and his courtiers. The officers of the fleet
+protested openly, declaring that an assault ought to be attempted, and
+that it was too late in the season to attempt operations elsewhere.
+
+To Jack's surprise his commander, usually so hasty, irritable, and
+passionate, bore with the greatest calmness and patience the reproaches
+and accusations to which he was exposed. No one dreamed that behind
+these preparations for embarkation any plan of attack was hidden.
+
+On the 13th of September the army received orders to embark on the
+morrow, while within the town the garrison and the inhabitants, who
+were, or pretended to be, well affected to the Bourbons held high
+rejoicing at the approaching departure.
+
+On the afternoon of that day a detachment of English and Dutch troops
+twelve hundred strong was ordered to assemble in the allied camp for the
+purpose, as was supposed, of covering the embarkation. Scaling ladders
+and everything necessary for an assault had already been privately
+prepared by the Catalan peasants under Peterborough's instructions.
+
+About six o'clock in the evening four hundred grenadiers of the party
+assembled under the command of Hon. Colonel Southwell, and were ordered
+to march by the Serria road, as if en route to Taragona to meet the
+fleet and embark in that harbor. The remainder of the detachment
+followed in support at some little distance. At nightfall the Prince of
+Hesse Darmstadt was surprised by Lord Peterborough's entrance into his
+quarters. Since their rupture all intercourse had ceased between them.
+
+"I have determined," the earl said, "to make this night an attack upon
+the enemy. You may now, if you please, be a judge of our behavior, and
+see whether my officers and soldiers really deserve the bad character
+which you of late have so readily imputed to them." He then explained
+that the troops were already on their march to Montjuich.
+
+The prince immediately ordered his horse, and the two gallant but
+impulsive and singular men rode off, followed only by Jack Stillwell and
+the prince's aide de camp. At ten o'clock they overtook the troops, and
+Peterborough ordered a total change of route, he himself leading.
+
+The roads were winding, narrow, and difficult. For a great part of the
+way there was only room for the men to march in single file. The night
+was very dark, and the detachment many hours on the march, so that
+daylight was just breaking when they reached the foot of the hill on
+which the fort of Montjuich stood.
+
+The troops under Peterborough's command now perceived the object of
+their march, and imagined that they would be led to the attack before
+the day had fairly broke; but the general had well considered the
+subject, and had determined to avoid the risk and confusion of a night
+assault. He called his officers together and explained to them why he
+did not mean to attack till broad daylight.
+
+His examination of the place had shown him that the ditches could be
+crossed, no palisades or barriers having been erected. He had noticed,
+too, that the inner works were not sufficiently high to enable their
+guns properly to command the outer works should these be carried by an
+enemy. He had therefore determined to carry the outworks by assault,
+judging that if he captured them the inner works could not long resist.
+In case of a reverse, or to enable him to take advantage of success, he
+told them that he had ordered Brigadier General Stanhope to march during
+the night with a thousand infantry and the handful of cavalry to a
+convent lying halfway between the camp and the city, and there to hold
+himself in reserve.
+
+Peterborough now silently and coolly completed his arrangements for the
+assault. He divided the body of troops into three parties; the first of
+these, two hundred and eighty strong, were to attack the bastion facing
+the town, which was the strongest part of the defense. He himself and
+the Prince of Hesse accompanied this party. A lieutenant and thirty men
+formed the advance, a captain and fifty more were the support, and the
+remaining two hundred men were to form in the rear.
+
+The orders were that they should push forward in spite of the enemy's
+fire, leap into the ditch, drive the garrison before them, and if
+possible enter the works with them; but, if not, to obtain at least
+a firm footing on the outer defenses. The second party, similar in
+strength and formation, under the command of the Hon. Colonel Southwell,
+were to attack an unfinished demibastion on the extreme western point
+of the fort and furthermost from the town. The remainder of the little
+force, under a Dutch colonel, were to be held in reserve, and to assist
+wherever they might be most useful. They occupied a position somewhat
+in rear of and halfway between the two parties who were to make the
+assault.
+
+Soon after daylight Peterborough gave the order to advance, and in the
+highest spirits, and in excellent order, the soldiers pushed up the
+hill toward the fort. Some irregular Spanish troops were the first to
+perceive them. These fired a hasty volley at the British troops as they
+ascended the crest and then retreated into the fort. Seizing their arms
+the garrison rushed to the ramparts and manned them in time to receive
+the assailants with a sharp fire. The grenadiers who formed the leading
+party did not hesitate for a moment, but leaped into the unfinished
+ditch, clambered up the outer rampart, and with pike and bayonet
+attacked the defenders.
+
+The captain's detachment speedily joined them. The defenders gave way,
+broke, and fled, and in wild confusion both parties rushed into the
+bastion. Peterborough and the prince with their two hundred men followed
+them quickly and in perfect order, and were soon masters of the bastion.
+The earl at once set his men to work to throw up a breastwork to cover
+them from the guns of the inner works; and as there was plenty of
+materials collected just at this spot for the carrying out of some
+extensive repairs, they were able to put themselves under cover before
+the enemy opened fire upon them.
+
+The attention of the garrison was wholly occupied by this sudden and
+unexpected attack, and the Prince della Torrella, a Neapolitan officer
+in temporary command of the fort, ordered all his force to oppose the
+assailants. This was what Peterborough had expected. He at once sent
+orders to Colonel Southwell to commence his attack upon the now almost
+undefended west bastion. The order was promptly obeyed. At the first
+rush the ditch was passed, the rampart gained, the outer walls scaled,
+and three guns taken without the loss of a man.
+
+The defenders hastened at once to meet this new danger. They opened a
+heavy fire upon the British, and sallying out, endeavored to retake the
+outer rampart with the bayonet. A desperate contest ensued; but though
+many of the English officers and soldiers fell, they would not yield
+a foot of the position they had captured. Colonel Southwell, a man of
+great personal strength and daring, was in the struggle three times
+surrounded by the enemy; but each time he cut his way out in safety.
+
+The sally was at last repulsed, and the English intrenched their
+position and turned their captured guns against the fort. While both the
+assaulting columns were occupied in intrenching themselves there was a
+lull in the battle. The besieged could not venture to advance against
+either, as they would have been exposed to the fire of the other, and to
+the risk of a flank attack.
+
+Peterborough exerted himself to the utmost. He ordered up the thousand
+men under General Stanhope and made prodigious exertions to get some
+guns and mortars into position upon the newly won ramparts.
+
+Great was the consternation and astonishment in Barcelona when a loud
+roar of musketry broke out round the citadel, and Velasco, the governor,
+was thunderstruck to find himself threatened in this vital point by an
+enemy whose departure he had, the evening before, been celebrating. The
+assembly was sounded, and the church bells pealed out the alarm.
+
+The troops ran to their places of assembly, the fortifications round the
+town were manned, and a body of four hundred mounted grenadiers under
+the Marquis de Risbourg hurried off to the succor of Montjuich. The earl
+had been sure that such a movement would be made. He could not spare men
+from his own scanty force to guard the roads between the city and the
+castle, but he had posted a number of the armed Spanish peasants who
+were in the pay of the army in a narrow gorge, where, with hardly any
+risk to themselves, they might easily have prevented the horsemen from
+passing. The peasants, however, fired a hurried volley and then fled in
+all directions.
+
+Lord Peterborough learned a lesson here which he never forgot, namely,
+that these Spanish irregulars, useful as they might be in harassing an
+enemy or pursuing a beaten foe, were utterly untrustworthy in any plan
+of combined action. The succor, therefore, reached Montjuich in safety;
+two hundred of the men dismounted and entered the fort; the remainder,
+leading their horses, returned to Barcelona.
+
+The Marquis de Risbourg had no sooner entered the fort and taken the
+command than he adopted a stratagem which nearly proved fatal to the
+English hopes of success. He ordered his men to shout "Long live Charles
+the Third!" and threw open the gates of the fort as if to surrender. The
+Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, who commanded at this point, was completely
+deceived, and he ordered Colonel Allen to advance with two hundred
+and fifty men, while he himself followed with a company in reserve,
+believing that the Spanish garrison had declared for King Charles.
+
+The British advanced eagerly and in some disorder into the ditch, when
+a terrible fire of musketry was suddenly opened upon them from the front
+and flank. In vain they tried to defend themselves; the brave prince was
+struck down by a mortal wound while endeavoring to encourage them,
+and was carried to the rear, and Allen and two hundred men were taken
+prisoners. The prince expired a few minutes later before there was time
+for a doctor to examine his wound.
+
+Peterborough, who had come up just at the end of the struggle, remained
+with him till he died, and then hurried off to retrieve the fortune of
+the day, which, during these few minutes, had greatly changed. Velasco
+had dispatched three thousand men, as fast as they could be got
+together, to follow Risbourg's dragoons to the succor of the fort, and
+these were already in sight. But this was not all. One of the strange
+panics which occasionally attack even the best troops had seized the
+British in the bastion.
+
+Without any apparent cause, without a shot being fired at them from the
+fort, they fell into confusion. Their commander, Lord Charlemont, shared
+the panic, and gave orders for a retreat. The march soon became a rout,
+and the men fled in confusion from the position which they had just
+before so bravely won.
+
+Captain Carleton, a staff officer, disengaged himself from the throng
+of fugitives and rode off to inform the earl, who was reconnoitering
+the approaching Spaniards, of what had taken place. Peterborough at once
+turned his horse, and, followed by Carleton and Jack Stilwell, galloped
+up the hill. He drew his sword and threw away the scabbard as he met
+the troops, already halfway down the hill, and, dismounting, shouted to
+them:
+
+"I am sure all brave men will follow me. Will you bear the infamy of
+having deserted your post and forsaken your general?"
+
+The appeal was not in vain. Ashamed of their late panic the fugitives
+halted, faced about, and pressed after him up the hill, and, on reaching
+the top, found that, strangely enough, the garrison had not discovered
+that the bastion had been abandoned, for in their retreat the English
+were hidden from the sight of those in the inner works.
+
+The Marquis de Risbourg, instead of following up his advantage, had at
+once left Montjuich at the side near the city, taking Colonel Allen and
+the prisoners with him, and pushed on toward Barcelona. Halfway down
+he met the reinforcement of three thousand men. The prisoners, on being
+questioned, informed the Spanish commander that Lord Peterborough and
+the Prince of Hesse led the attack in person.
+
+Thereupon the officer commanding the reinforcements concluded that the
+whole of the allied army was round the castle, and that he would be
+risking destruction if he pushed on. He therefore turned and marched
+back to the city. Had he continued his way Peterborough's force must
+have been destroyed, as Stanhope had not yet come up, and he had with
+him only the little force with which he had marched out from camp, of
+whom more than a fourth were already captured or slain. Such are the
+circumstances upon which the fate of battles and campaigns depend.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII: A TUMULT IN THE CITY
+
+
+As the Spanish column retired to Barcelona under the idea that the
+whole English army was on the hill, the Miquelets, as the armed bands
+of peasants were called, swarmed down from the hills. Incapable of
+withstanding an attack by even a small force, they were in their element
+in harassing a large one in retreat. Halfway between Montjuich and the
+town was the small fort of San Bertram. The garrison, seeing the column
+in retreat toward the town, pursued by the insurgent peasantry, feared
+that they themselves would be cut off, and so abandoned their post and
+joined the retreat.
+
+The peasants at once took possession of San Bertram, where there were
+five light guns. As soon as the news reached Peterborough he called
+together two hundred men and led them down to the little fort. Ropes
+were fastened to the guns, and with forty men to each gun these were
+quickly run up the hill and placed in position in the captured bastions.
+So quickly was this done that in less than an hour from the abandonment
+of San Bertram by the Spanish the guns had opened fire upon Montjuich.
+
+While the troops worked these five guns and the three captured in
+Southwell's first attack Jack Stilwell was sent off on horseback at full
+speed with an order for the landing of the heavy guns and mortars from
+the fleet. The news of the attack on Montjuich and the retreat of the
+Spanish column spread with rapidity through the country, and swarms of
+armed peasants flocked in. These the earl dispersed among the ravines
+and groves round the city, so as to prevent any parties from coining
+out to ascertain what was going on round Montjuich, and to mask the
+movements of the besiegers.
+
+Velasco appeared paralyzed by the energy and daring of his opponent,
+and although he had in hand a force equal if not superior to that which
+Peterborough could dispose of, he allowed two days to pass without
+attempting to relieve Montjuich. In those two days wonders had been
+performed by the soldiers and sailors, who toiled unweariedly in
+dragging the heavy guns from the landing place to the hill of Montjuich.
+The light cannon of the besiegers had had but little effect upon the
+massive walls of the fortress, and the Prince Caraccioli held out for
+two days even against the heavier metal of the mortars and siege guns
+that were quickly brought to bear upon him.
+
+On the 17th, however, Colonel Southwell by a well aimed shot brought
+the siege to a close. He noticed that a small chapel within the fort
+appeared to be specially guarded by the besieged, and ordered a Dutch
+sergeant of artillery, who was working a heavy mortar, to try to drop
+a shell upon it. The artilleryman made several attempts, but each time
+missed the mark. Colonel Southwell undertook the management of the
+mortar himself, and soon succeeded in dropping a shell upon the roof
+of the building, which proved, as he had suspected, to be in use as a
+magazine. There was a tremendous explosion, the chapel was shattered
+into fragments, Caraccioli and three other officers were killed, and a
+great breach was blown in the main rampart.
+
+A loud cheer broke from the besiegers, and Colonel Southwell at once put
+himself at the head of the men in the trenches and advanced to storm
+the breach before the enemy could recover from their confusion. The
+disastrous effects of the explosion had, however, scared all idea of
+further resistance out of the minds of the defenders, who at once
+rushed out of the works and called out that they surrendered, the senior
+surviving officer and his companions delivering up their swords to
+Colonel Southwell, and begging that protection might at once be given to
+their soldiers from the Miquelets, whose ferocity was as notorious then
+as it was a hundred years afterward.
+
+Peterborough appointed Colonel Southwell governor of Montjuich, and
+at once turned his attention to the city. The brilliant result of the
+attack on the citadel had silenced all murmurs and completely restored
+Lord Peterborough's authority. Soldiers and sailors vied with each other
+in their exertions to get the guns into position, and the Miquelets,
+largely increased in number, became for once orderly and active, and
+labored steadily in the trenches.
+
+The main army conducted the attack from the side at which it had been
+originally commenced, while General Stanhope, his force considerably
+increased by troops from the main body, conducted the attack from the
+side of Montjuich. Four batteries of heavy guns and two of mortars soon
+opened fire upon the city, while the smaller vessels of the fleet moved
+close in to the shore and threw shot and shell into the town.
+
+A breach was soon effected in the rampart, and Velasco was summoned to
+surrender; but he refused to do so, although his position had become
+almost desperate. The disaffection of the inhabitants was now openly
+shown. The soldiers had lost confidence and heart, and the loyalty of
+many of them was more than doubtful. The governor arrested many of the
+mutinous soldiers and hostile citizens, and turned numbers of them out
+of the city.
+
+On the 3d of October the English engineers declared the breach on the
+side of Montjuich to be practicable, and Peterborough himself wrote to
+the governor offering honorable terms of capitulation, but declaring
+that if these were rejected he would not renew his offer.
+
+Velasco again refused. He had erected a formidable intrenchment within
+the breach, and had sunk two mines beneath the ruins in readiness to
+blow the assailing columns into the air.
+
+The guns again opened fire, and in a very short time a Dutch artillery
+officer threw two shells upon the intrenchment and almost destroyed
+it, while a third fell on the breach itself, and crashing through the
+rubbish fired Velasco's two mines and greatly enlarged the breach. The
+earl could now have carried the town by storm had he chosen, but with
+his usual magnanimity to the vanquished he again wrote to Velasco and
+summoned him to surrender.
+
+The governor had now no hope of a successful resistance, and he
+therefore agreed to surrender in four days should no relief arrive. The
+terms agreed upon were that the garrison should march out with all
+the honors of war, and should be transported by sea to San Felix, and
+escorted thence to Gerona; but as a few hours later the news arrived
+that Gerona had declared for King Charles, Velasco requested to be
+conveyed to Rosas instead. The capitulation was signed on the 9th of
+October, and the garrison were preparing to march out on the 14th, when,
+in the English camp, the sound of a tumult in the city was heard.
+
+"Quick, Stilwell!" the earl cried, running out of his tent, "to horse!
+The rascals inside are breaking out into a riot, and there will be a
+massacre unless I can put a stop to it."
+
+The earl leaped on to his horse, called to a few orderly dragoons
+who were at hand to accompany him, and ordered that four companies of
+grenadiers should follow as quickly as possible.
+
+Galloping at full speed Peterborough soon arrived at the gate of San
+Angelo, and ordered the Spanish guard to open it. This they did without
+hesitation, and followed by his little party he rode into the city. All
+was uproar and confusion. The repressive measures which the governor had
+been obliged to take against the disaffected had added to the Catalan
+hatred of the French, and the Austrian party determined to have
+vengeance upon the governor. A report was circulated that he intended
+to carry away with him a number of the principal inhabitants in spite
+of the articles of capitulation. This at once stirred up the people to
+fury, and they assailed and plundered the houses of the French and of
+the known partisans of the Duke d'Anjou.
+
+They then turned upon the governor and garrison. The latter dispersed
+through the city, and, unprepared for attack, would speedily have
+been massacred had not their late enemy been at hand to save them.
+Peterborough, with his little party of dragoons, rode through the
+streets exhorting, entreating, and commanding the rioters to abstain.
+When, as in some cases, the mob refused to listen to him, and continued
+their work, the dragoons belabored them heartily with the flats of their
+swords; and the surprise caused by seeing the British uniforms in their
+midst, and their ignorance of how many of the British had entered, did
+more even than the efforts of the dragoons to allay the tumult. Many
+ladies of quality had taken refuge in the convent, and Peterborough at
+once placed a guard over this.
+
+Dashing from street to street, unattended even by his dragoons,
+Peterborough came upon a lady and gentleman struggling with the mob, who
+were about to ill treat them. He charged into the thick of the tumult.
+
+His hat had been lost in the fray, and the mob, not recognizing the
+strange figure as the redoubted English general, resisted, and one
+discharged a musket at him at a distance of a few feet, but the ball
+passed through his periwig without touching the head under it.
+
+Fortunately two or three of his dragoons now rode up, and he was able
+to carry the lady and gentleman to their house hard by, when, to his
+satisfaction, he found that the gentleman he had saved was the Duke of
+Popoli, and the lady his wife, celebrated as one of the most beautiful
+women in Europe.
+
+Jack Stilwell had soon after they entered the town become separated from
+his general. Seeing a mob gathered before a house in a side street, and
+hearing screams, he turned off and rode into the middle of the crowd.
+Spurring his horse and making him rear, he made his way through them to
+the door, and then leaping off, drawing as he did so a pistol from his
+holster, he ran upstairs.
+
+It was a large and handsomely furnished house. On the first floor was a
+great corridor. A number of men were gathered round a doorway. Within he
+heard the clashing of steel and the shouts of men in conflict. Bursting
+his way in through the doorway he entered the room.
+
+In a corner, at the furthest end, crouched a lady holding a little boy
+in her arms. Before her stood a Spanish gentleman, sword in hand. A
+servant, also armed, stood by him. They were hard pressed, for six or
+eight men with swords and pikes were cutting and thrusting at them.
+Three servants lay dead upon the ground, and seven or eight of the
+townspeople were also lying dead or wounded. Jack rushed forward,
+and with his pistol shot the man who appeared to be the leader of the
+assailants, and then, drawing his sword, placed himself before the
+gentleman and shouted to the men to lay down their arms. The latter,
+astounded at the appearance of an English officer, drew back. Seeing he
+was alone, they would, however, have renewed the attack, but Jack ran to
+the window and opened it, and shouted as if to some soldiers below.
+
+The effect was instantaneous. The men dropped upon their knees, and
+throwing down their arms begged for mercy. Jack signified that he
+granted it, and motioned to them to carry off their dead and wounded
+comrades. Some of the men in the corridor came in to aid them in so
+doing. Jack, sword in hand, accompanied them to the door, and saw them
+out of the house. Then he told a boy to hold his horse, and closing
+the door returned upstairs. He found the gentleman sitting on a chair
+exhausted, while his wife, crying partly from relief, partly from
+anxiety, was endeavoring to stanch the blood which flowed from several
+wounds.
+
+Jack at once aided her in the task, and signed to the servant to bring
+something to drink. The man ran to a buffet and produced some cordials.
+Jack filled a glass and placed it at the lips of the wounded man, who,
+after drinking it, gradually recovered his strength.
+
+"My name, sir," he said, "is Count Julian de Minas, and I owe you my
+life and that of my wife and child. To whom am I indebted so much?"
+
+Jack did not, of course, understand his words, but the title caught his
+ear, and he guessed that the Spaniard was introducing himself.
+
+"My name is Stilwell," Jack said; "I am one of General Peterborough's
+aides de camp. I am very glad to be of assistance; and now, seeing you
+are so far recovered, I must leave you, for there is much to do in the
+town, and the general has entered with only a few troops. I think you
+need not fear any return on the part of these ruffians. The English
+troops will enter the town in the coarse of a few hours."
+
+So saying Jack immediately hurried away, and mounting his horse rode off
+to find the general.
+
+The news that Lord Peterborough and the English had entered spread
+rapidly through the city, and the rioters, fearing to excite the wrath
+of the man who in a few hours would be master of the town, scattered to
+their homes, and when all was quiet Peterborough again rode off to the
+camp with his troops and there waited quietly until the hour appointed
+for the capitulation. The Spanish then marched out, and the earl entered
+with a portion of his troops.
+
+He at once issued a proclamation that if any person had any lawful
+grievances against the late governor they should go to the town house
+and lay them in proper form, and that he would see that justice was
+done. An hour later some of the principal inhabitants waited upon him,
+and asked which churches he desired to have for the exercise of his
+religion. He replied:
+
+"Wherever I have my quarters I shall have conveniency enough to worship
+God, and as for the army they will strictly follow the rules of war, and
+perform divine service among themselves without giving any offense to
+any one."
+
+This answer gave great satisfaction to the people, as the French had
+spread a report among them that the Protestants, if they captured the
+town, would take their churches from them.
+
+In the evening the earl gave a great banquet, at which he entertained
+all the people of distinction of both parties, and his courtesy and
+affability at once won for him the confidence of all with whom he came
+in contact. The next day the shops were all opened, the markets filled,
+and there were no signs that the tranquillity of Barcelona had ever
+been disturbed. Soon after breakfast Jack, who was quartered in the
+governor's palace with the general, was informed that a gentleman wished
+to speak to him, and the Count de Minas was shown in. He took Jack's
+hand and bowed profoundly. As conversation was impossible Jack told his
+orderly to fetch one of the interpreters attached to the general.
+
+"I tried to come last night," the count said, "but I found that I was
+too weak to venture out. I could not understand what you said when you
+went away so suddenly, but I guessed that it was the call of duty. I
+did not know your name, but inquiring this morning who were the officers
+that entered with the general yesterday, I was told that his aide de
+camp, Lieutenant Stilwell, was alone with him. That is how I found
+you. And now, let me again thank you for the immense service you have
+rendered me and my wife and child. Remember, henceforth the life of the
+Count de Minas and all that he possesses is at your service."
+
+When the interpreter had translated this, Jack said in some confusion,
+"I am very glad, count, to have been of service to you. It was a piece
+of good fortune, indeed, on my part that I happened so providentially
+to ride along at the right moment. I was about this morning to do myself
+the honor of calling to inquire how the countess and yourself were after
+the terrible scene of yesterday."
+
+"The countess prayed me to bring you round to her," the count said.
+"Will you do me the honor of accompanying me now?"
+
+Jack at once assented, and, followed by the interpreter, proceeded with
+the count to his house. The room into which the count led him was not
+that in which the fray had taken place the day before. The countess rose
+as they entered, and Jack saw that, though still pale and shaken by the
+events of the previous day, she was a singularly beautiful woman.
+
+"Ah, senor," she said, advancing to meet him, and taking his hand and
+laying it against her heart, "how can I thank you for the lives of my
+husband and my boy! One more minute and you would have arrived too late.
+It seemed to me as if heaven had opened and an angel had come to our aid
+when you entered."
+
+Jack colored up hotly as the interpreter translated the words. If he had
+expressed his thoughts he would have said, "Please don't make any more
+fuss about it;" but he found that Spanish courtesy required much more
+than this, so he answered:
+
+"Countess, the moment was equally fortunate to me, and I shall ever feel
+grateful that I have been permitted to be of service to so beautiful a
+lady."
+
+The countess smiled as Jack's words were translated.
+
+"I did not know that you English were flatterers," she said. "They told
+us that you were uncouth islanders, but I see that they have calumniated
+you."
+
+"I hope some day," Jack said, "that I shall be able to talk to you
+without the aid of an interpreter. It is very difficult to speak when
+every word has to be translated."
+
+For a quarter of an hour the conversation was continued, the count and
+countess asking questions about England. At the end of that time Jack
+thought he might venture to take his leave. The count accompanied him to
+the door, and begged him to consider his house as his own, and then with
+many bows on each side Jack made his way into the street.
+
+"Confound all this Spanish politeness!" he muttered to himself; "it's
+very grand and stately, I have no doubt, but it's a horrible nuisance;
+and as to talking through an interpreter, it's like repeating lessons,
+only worse. I should like to see a man making a joke through an
+interpreter, and waiting to see how it told. I must get up a little
+Spanish as soon as possible. The earl has picked up a lot already, and
+there will be no fun to be had here in Spain unless one can make one's
+self understood."
+
+The next day there were rumors current that the population were
+determined to take vengeance upon Velasco. The earl marched eight
+hundred men into the town, placed the governor in their center and
+escorted him to the shore, and so took him safely on board a ship. He
+was conveyed, by his own desire, to Alicante, as the revolt had spread
+so rapidly through Catalonia that Rosas was now the only town which
+favored the cause of the Duke d'Anjou.
+
+The capture of Barcelona takes its place as one of the most brilliant
+feats in military history, and reflects extraordinary credit upon its
+general, who exhibited at once profound prudence, faithful adherence
+to his sovereign's orders, patience and self command under the ill
+concealed hatred of many of those with whom he had to cooperate--the
+wrong headedness of the king, the insolence of the German courtiers, the
+supineness of the Dutch, the jealousy of his own officers, and the open
+discontent of the army and navy--and a secrecy marvelously kept up for
+many weary and apparently hopeless days.
+
+On the 28th of October King Charles made his public entry into
+Barcelona, and for some days the city was the scene of continual fetes.
+The whole province rose in his favor, and the gentlemen of the district
+poured into the town to offer their homage to the king. Only about one
+thousand men of the Spanish garrison had to be conveyed to Rosas in
+accordance with the terms of capitulation, the rest of the troops taking
+the oath of allegiance to King Charles and being incorporated with the
+allied army.
+
+Jack Stilwell entered into the festivities with the enjoyment of youth.
+The officers of the allied army were made much of by the inhabitants,
+and Jack, as one of the general's aides de camp, was invited to every
+fete and festivity. The Count de Minas introduced him to many of
+the leading nobles of the city as the preserver of his life; but his
+inability to speak the language deprived him of much of the pleasure
+which he would otherwise have obtained, and, like many of the other
+officers, he set to work in earnest to acquire some knowledge of it.
+In one of the convents were some Scottish monks, and for three or four
+hours every morning Jack worked regularly with one of them.
+
+Although Lord Peterborough threw himself heart and soul into the
+festivities, he worked with equal ardor at the military preparations.
+But here, as before, his plans for energetic action were thwarted by
+the Germans and Dutch. At last, however, his energy, aided by the
+active spirit of the king, prevailed, and preparations were made for
+the continuance of the campaign. The season was so late that no further
+operations could be undertaken by sea, and the allied fleet therefore
+sailed for England and Holland, leaving four English and two Dutch
+frigates in support of the land forces at Barcelona.
+
+Garrisons of regular troops were dispatched to the various towns which
+had either declared for the king or had been captured by the Miquelets
+headed by the Marquis of Cifuentes, engineer officers being also sent to
+put them in a state of defense. Of these Tortosa was, from its position,
+the most important, as it commanded the bridge of boats on the Ebro, the
+main communication between Aragon and Valencia. To this town two hundred
+dragoons and one thousand foot were sent under Colonel Hans Hamilton.
+The king turned his attention to the organization of the Spanish
+army. He formed a regiment of five hundred dragoons for his bodyguard,
+mounting them upon the horses of the former garrison, while from these
+troops, swelled by levies from the province, he raised six powerful
+battalions of infantry. He excited, however, a very unfavorable feeling
+among the Spaniards by bestowing all the chief commands in these corps
+upon his German followers.
+
+But while the conquest of Barcelona had brought the whole of Catalonia
+to his side, the cause of King Charles was in other parts of Spain less
+flourishing. Lord Galway and General Fagel had been beaten by Marshal
+Tesse before Badajos, and the allied army had retreated into Portugal,
+leaving the French and Spanish adherents of Philip free to turn their
+whole attention against the allies in Catalonia.
+
+Weary weeks passed on before Lord Peterborough could overcome the apathy
+and obstinacy of the Germans and Dutch. At a council of war held on the
+30th of December Peterborough proposed to divide the army, that he in
+person would lead half of it to aid the insurrection which had broken
+out in Valencia, and that the other half should march into Aragon; but
+Brigadier General Conyngham and the Dutch General Schratenbach strongly
+opposed this bold counsel, urging that the troops required repose after
+their labors, and that their numbers were hardly sufficient to guard
+the province they had won. Such arguments drove Peterborough almost to
+madness; the troops had, in fact, gone through no hard work during the
+siege of Barcelona, and two months and a half had elapsed since that
+city surrendered. Moreover, far from being reinvigorated from rest,
+they were suffering from illness caused by inactivity in an unhealthy
+country.
+
+Already all the benefits derivable from the gallant capture of Barcelona
+had been lost. The enemy had recovered from the surprise and dismay
+excited by that event. The friendly and wavering, who would at once
+have risen had the king boldly advanced after his striking success, had
+already lost heart and become dispirited by the want of energy displayed
+in his after proceedings, and from all parts of Spain masses of troops
+were moving to crush the allies and stamp out the insurrection.
+
+In Valencia only had the partisans of Charles gained considerable
+advantages. In the beginning of December Colonel Nebot, commanding a
+regiment of Philip's dragoons, declared for Charles, and, accompanied by
+four hundred of his men, entered the town of Denia, where the people and
+Basset, the governor, at once declared for Charles.
+
+On the 11th Nebot and Basset attacked the little town of Xabea,
+garrisoned by five hundred Biscayans, and carried it, and the same night
+took Oliva and Gandia. The next day they pushed on through Alzira, where
+they were joined by many of the principal inhabitants, and a detachment
+of the dragoons under Nebot's brother, Alexander, surprised and routed
+three troops of the enemy's horse, captured their convoy of ammunition,
+and pursued them to the very gates of Valencia.
+
+On the night of the 15th the main body marched from Alzira, and appeared
+next morning before Valencia and summoned the town to surrender. The
+Marquis de Villa Garcia refused, but Alexander Nebot put himself at the
+head of his dragoons and galloped up to the gates shouting "Long live
+the king!" The inhabitants overpowered the guard at the gate and threw
+it open and Valencia was taken. When the news of these reverses reached
+Madrid the Conde de las Torres, a veteran officer who had seen much
+service in the wars of Italy, marched from Madrid in all haste to
+prevent if possible the junction of the forces of Catalonia with the
+Valencians.
+
+He at once marched upon San Matteo, which lay on the main line of
+communication, and commenced a vigorous siege of that city. The king
+received the news on the 18th of January, 1706, and wrote at once to
+Peterborough, urging him to go to the relief of San Matteo, but
+giving him no troops whatever to assist him in his enterprise; and
+Peterborough's difficulties were increased by General Conyngham, who
+commanded a brigade at Fraga, hastily falling back upon Lerida upon
+hearing exaggerated rumors of the strength of the enemy.
+
+Peterborough, however, did not hesitate a moment, but mounting his
+horse, and accompanied only by his aides de camp, Jack Stilwell and
+Lieutenant Graham, rode for Tortosa. Changing his horse at the various
+towns through which he passed, and riding almost night and day, he
+reached Tortosa on the 4th, and at once summoned the magnates of the
+town to give information as to the real state of things. He then found,
+to his astonishment, that the details which the king had sent him
+respecting the force of the enemy were entirely incorrect. Charles had
+written that they were two thousand strong, and that sixteen thousand
+peasants were in arms against them, whereas Las Torres had with him
+seven thousand good troops, and not a single peasant had taken up arms.
+
+General Killigrew, who now commanded the two hundred dragoons and
+the thousand British infantry at Tortosa, together with his officers,
+considered that under such circumstances it was absolutely hopeless to
+attempt any movement for the relief of San Matteo; but Peterborough did
+not hesitate a moment, and only said to his officers:
+
+"Unless I can raise that siege our affairs are desperate, and therefore
+capable only of desperate remedies. Be content; let me try my fortune,
+whether I cannot by diligence and surprise effect that which by
+downright force is apparently impracticable."
+
+The officers had unbounded confidence in their general, and although
+the enterprise appeared absolutely hopeless, they at once agreed to
+undertake it. Accordingly the three weak English regiments marched from
+Tortosa under Killigrew, and the next day the earl followed with the
+dragoons and a party of Miquelets, and overtook the infantry that night.
+The next morning he broke up his little army into small detachments in
+order that they might march more rapidly, and, dividing the Miquelets
+among them as guides, ordered them to assemble at Fraiguesa, two leagues
+from San Matteo.
+
+The advance was admirably managed. Small parties of dragoons and
+Miquelets went on ahead along each of the roads to occupy the passes
+among the hills. When arrived at these points they had strict orders
+to let no one pass them until the troops appeared in sight, when the
+advance again pushed forward and secured another position for the same
+purpose.
+
+Thus no indication of his coming preceded him; and the troops arriving
+together with admirable punctuality before Fraiguesa, the place was
+taken by surprise, and guards were at once mounted on its gates, with
+orders to prevent any one from leaving the town on any excuse whatever.
+Thus while the English force were within two leagues of San Matteo,
+Las Torres remained in absolute ignorance that any hostile force was
+advancing against him. Graham and Jack were nearly worn out by the
+exertions which they had undergone with their indefatigable general.
+They had ridden for three days and nights almost without sleep, and on
+their arrival at Tortosa were engaged unceasingly in carrying out their
+chief's instructions, in making preparations for the advance, and in
+obtaining every possible information as to the country to be traversed.
+
+Both the young officers had now begun to speak Spanish. A residence of
+four months in the country, constant communication with the natives, and
+two months and a half steady work with an instructor had enabled them
+to make great progress, and they were now able to communicate without
+difficulty with the Spaniards with whom they came in contact.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX: THE ADVANCE INTO VALENCIA
+
+
+The Earl of Peterborough had not satisfied himself with depriving the
+enemy of all information as to his advance. He took steps to confuse and
+alarm them by false news. By means of large bribes he prevailed upon two
+peasants to carry each a copy of the same letter to Colonel Jones, who
+commanded in San Matteo. He took the further step of insuring their
+loyalty by arresting their families as hostages, and, moreover, took
+care that they should know nothing as to the real state of things that
+they could report if treacherously inclined.
+
+He arranged that one of them should go in first and, passing through the
+besiegers' lines, should arouse their suspicions, and should then, when
+arrested, give up the letter concealed upon him, and should also betray
+the route by which his companion was endeavoring to reach the city,
+so that the second messenger would also be captured and his letter be
+taken. The letters were as follows:
+
+"To COLONEL JONES: You will hardly believe yourself what this letter
+informs you of, if it come safe to you; and though I have taken the best
+precaution, it will do little prejudice if it falls into the enemy's
+hands, since they shall see and feel my troops almost as soon as they
+can receive intelligence, should it be betrayed to them. The end for
+which I venture it to you is that you may prepare to open the furthest
+gate toward Valencia, and have four thousand Miquelets ready, who
+will have the employment they love and are fit for, the pursuing and
+pillaging a flying enemy. The country is as one can wish for their
+entire destruction. Be sure, upon the first appearance of our troops and
+the first discharge of our artillery, you answer with an English halloo,
+and take to the mountains on the heights with all your men. The Conde
+de las Torres must take the plains, the hills on the left being almost
+impassable, and secured by five or six thousand of the country people.
+But what will gall him most will be the whole regiment of Nebot, which
+revolted to us near Valencia, is likewise among us.
+
+"I was eight days ago myself in Barcelona, and I believe the Conde de
+las Torres must have so good intelligence from thence that he cannot be
+ignorant of it. What belongs to my own troops and my own resolutions
+I can easily keep from them, though nothing else. You know the force I
+have, and the multitudes that are gathering from all parts against us,
+so I am forced to put the whole into this action, which must be decided
+to give any hopes to our desperate game. By nine or ten, within an hour
+after you can receive this, you will discover us on the tops of the
+hills, not two cannon shot from their camp.
+
+"The advantages of the sea are inconceivable, and have contributed to
+bring about what you could never expect to see, a force almost equal
+to the enemy in number, and you know that less would do our business.
+Besides, never men were so transported as to be brought in such secrecy
+so near an enemy. I have near six thousand men locked up this night
+within the walls of Traguera. I do not expect you will believe it till
+you see them.
+
+"You know we had a thousand foot and two hundred dragoons in Tortosa.
+Wills and a thousand foot English and Dutch came down the Ebro in boats,
+and I embarked a thousand more at Tarragona when I landed at Vinaroz,
+and the artillery from thence I brought in country carts. It was easy
+to assemble the horse. Zinzendorf and Moras are as good as our own,
+and with our English dragoons make up in all near two thousand. But the
+whole depends upon leaving them a retreat without interruption.
+
+"Dear Jones, prove a good dragoon, be diligent and alert, and preach the
+welcome doctrine to your Miquelets, plunder without danger.
+
+"Your friend, PETERBOROUGH."
+
+The two letters fell into the hands of Las Torres, and so artfully had
+the capture been contrived, that it never occurred to him to doubt the
+truth of these mendacious documents. Orders were instantly given to
+prepare for a march, and almost at the same time two events occurred in
+the siege works which caused confusion of the troops. Several mines had
+been unskillfully sunk and charged; one of these prematurely exploded
+and destroyed forty of the workmen. The remaining mines Colonel Jones
+contrived to swamp by turning the course of a brook into them, thus
+rendering them harmless. While the troops were confused with these
+disasters, the news of the contents of the intercepted letters spread
+through the camp, causing a general panic; and almost immediately
+afterward the advance guard of Peterborough's force were seen, according
+to the promise contained in the letters, on the crests of the hills.
+
+By able management the twelve hundred men were made to appear vastly
+more numerous than they were. The dragoons showed in various parties
+at different points of the hilltops, and, after pausing as if to
+reconnoiter the camp, galloped back as if to carry information to a main
+body behind; while the infantry availed themselves of the wooded and
+uneven ground to conceal their weakness. It seemed, indeed, to the enemy
+that the tops of all the hills and the avenues of approach were covered
+by advancing columns. Las Torres, unsuspicious of stratagem, was now
+convinced that his position was one of extreme danger, while confusion
+reigned in the camp. The tents were hastily struck, the guns spiked, and
+in a few minutes the Spanish army started along the Valencia road in a
+retreat which might almost be called a flight.
+
+Colonel Jones, seeing the confusion that reigned, instantly sallied from
+the town with his whole force in pursuit, and followed Las Torres for
+nearly two leagues to Penasol, inflicting a loss of nearly three hundred
+men upon the Spaniards; while Peterborough on the other side marched his
+force through the abandoned intrenchments and into the town. Scarcely
+halting, however, he made a show of pursuit as far as Albocazer, but
+always keeping to the hills with such caution that in case the enemy
+should learn his weakness, his retreat would still be secured. While on
+the march a courier overtook him with two dispatches--the one from
+King Charles, the other from the English resident with the court at
+Barcelona.
+
+The king told him that he would be obliged to countermand the
+reinforcements he had promised him for the relief of San Matteo, in
+consequence of the unfavorable state of affairs elsewhere. It,
+however, conveyed to Peterborough something which he valued more than
+reinforcements, namely, full power to act in accordance with his own
+discretion. The dispatch from the British resident told him that news
+had come that the Duke of Berwick, with the main army of France, freed
+by the retreat of Lord Galway from all trouble on the western side of
+Spain, was in full march for Catalonia.
+
+The Prince of Serclaes, with four thousand men, watched the small
+garrison at Lerida; the Duke of Noailles, with eight thousand French
+troops from Roussillon, threatened Catalonia on a third side; while
+Philip and Marshal Tesse had collected ten thousand men at Madrid. The
+letter concluded with the words: "There is nothing here but distrust,
+discontent, and despair."
+
+The responsibility left by the king's letter upon Peterborough was
+great indeed. On the one hand, if he did not return to the defense of
+Catalonia, the king might be exposed to imminent danger; and, on the
+other, if he repassed the Ebro he might be accused of having left
+Valencia and its loyal inhabitants to their fate, and would have
+forfeited all the advantages that his audacity and skill had already
+gained.
+
+His difficulties in any case were enormous. His infantry were marching
+almost barefooted; they were clothed in rags. The season was inclement,
+the country mountainous and rough, and the horses of the dragoons so
+exhausted that they could scarcely carry their riders. In obedience to
+his instructions, here, as at Tortosa, he assembled his officers in a
+council of war and asked their opinion. They were unanimous in saying
+that, with the small and exhausted force under his orders, no further
+operation could be undertaken for the conquest of Valencia, but that the
+little army should post itself in such a position as might afford the
+greatest facility for protecting the king.
+
+Peterborough had thus on one side not only the difficulty of the
+position, but the opinion of the council of war against a further
+advance; but on the other hand he knew the anxiety of the king that
+help should be given to the Valencians. He therefore announced to his
+officers a resolution as desperate as that ever formed by a sane man.
+He had listened gravely and in silence while the officers gave their
+opinion, and then ordered that the footsore infantry, with a few of
+the horse, should march back to Vinaroz, a little town on the seaside a
+day's journey from Tortosa, where in case of necessity they might embark
+in boats and be taken off to the ships. Then, to the stupefaction of
+his officers, he announced his intention of himself proceeding with the
+remaining dragoons, about a hundred and fifty in number, to conquer the
+province of Valencia!
+
+In vain the officers remonstrated, the earl was firm. The council
+then broke up, and the troops prepared for their march in opposite
+directions.
+
+The parting of Peterborough and his officers was very sad, for they
+doubted not it was a final one.
+
+"I will yet endeavor," he said, "however our circumstances seem
+desperate, to secure the kingdom of Valencia; and since the king has
+thought conquest possible in this present case, he cannot complain of my
+motions, however rash they might appear. I am resolved, therefore, never
+to repass the Ebro without positive orders from him."
+
+Before starting the earl wrote to Charles and explained fully his
+intentions. It is evident from the tone of his letter that Peterborough
+did not expect to survive this extraordinary expedition. The language
+is grave and firm, and, though respectful, full of stronger remonstrance
+and more homely advice than often reaches kings. It concluded:
+
+"I have had but little share in your councils. If our advance had
+been approved, if your majesty had trusted us... if your majesty had
+permitted me to march into the kingdom of Valencia, when I so earnestly
+desired it, without making me stay under pretense of the march of
+imaginary troops; if your majesty would have believed me on that
+occasion, your majesty would have had this time not only a viceroy of
+Valencia but the kingdom. With what force I have I am going to march
+straight to Valencia. I can take no other measures, leaving the rest to
+Providence. The time lost (so much against my inclination) exposes me to
+a sacrifice, at least I will perish with honor, and as a man deserving a
+better fate."
+
+The earl now again sent orders to one thousand Spanish foot and three
+hundred horse, which had before been nominally placed at his disposal,
+but had never moved from the town in which they were garrisoned, to
+follow him into Valencia; and at the same time he wrote to Colonel Wills
+to march immediately with a like number of English horse and foot to his
+assistance.
+
+The king, on the receipt of Peterborough's letter, issued positive and
+peremptory orders that the Spanish troops were at once to be set in
+motion. Colonel Wills wrote in reply that an important action had taken
+place at San Esteban de Litera on the 26th and 27th of January, between
+General Conyngham with his brigade and the Chevalier d'Asfeldt, in
+which, after a bloody contest, the French were driven from the field
+with a heavy loss of killed, wounded, and prisoners, the allies had
+also suffered serious loss, and General Conyngham had received a mortal
+wound. The command, therefore, had devolved upon himself.
+
+Having seen the infantry march off, Peterborough, attended only by his
+two aides de camp, took his place at the head of his handful of cavalry
+and proceeded on his desperate enterprise--an enterprise the most
+extraordinary that has ever taken place between enemies of an equal
+degree of civilization. It was a war of a general with a small escort,
+but literally without an army, against able officers with thousands of
+disciplined troops and numerous defensible towns and positions, against
+enormous difficulties of country, against want and fatigue in every
+shape, and above all, against hope itself.
+
+And yet no one who had witnessed that little body march off would
+have supposed that they were entering upon what seemed an impossible
+expedition--an expedition from which none could come back alive. Worn
+out and sorry as was the appearance of the horses, ragged and dirty that
+of their riders, the latter were in high spirits. The contagion of the
+extraordinary energy and audacity of their chief had spread among them;
+they had an absolute confidence in his genius, and they entered upon the
+romantic enterprise with the ardor of schoolboys.
+
+Not less was the spirit of the two young aides de camp. Before starting
+the earl had offered them the option of marching away with the infantry.
+
+"It is not that I doubt your courage, lads, for I marked you both under
+fire at Montjuich, but the fatigues will be terrible. You have already
+supported, in a manner which has surprised me, the work which you have
+undergone. You have already borne far more than your full share of the
+hardships of the campaign, and I have, in my dispatches, expressed a
+very strong opinion to the government as to the value of the services
+you have rendered. You are both very young, and I should be sorry to see
+your lives sacrificed in such an enterprise as that I am undertaking,
+and shall think no less of you if you elect now to have a period of
+rest."
+
+The young men had, however, so firmly and emphatically declined to leave
+him that the earl had accepted their continued service.
+
+The cavalry, instead of keeping in a compact body, were broken up into
+parties of ten, all of whom followed different roads, spreading, through
+every hamlet they passed, the news that a great army, of which they were
+the forerunners, was following hotly behind. So that should any peasants
+favorable to Philip's cause carry the news to Las Torres, that general
+would be forced to believe that he was being pursued by a veritable
+army. Many stragglers of the retreating force were picked up and handed
+over to the peasantry to be sent as prisoners into Catalonia.
+
+For the most part the little parties of cavalry were well received by
+the populace; the majority of Valencians were in favor of King Charles,
+and that night, when they halted, the weary horses obtained ample
+supplies of grain and forage, and the troopers were made welcome to the
+best the villages afforded.
+
+A few extra horses were purchased by Peterborough during the day, and
+it was well for his aides de camp that it was so, for scarcely had
+they finished their meal than Peterborough ordered them again into the
+saddle. They were to ride by crossroads right and left to the villages
+where the different detachments had been ordered to halt, and to
+tell them the routes marked out for them by which they would again
+concentrate at midday, so as to ride in comparatively strong force
+through a small town on the main road, whence news might, not
+improbably, be sent on to Las Torres. After that they were again to
+disperse and pervade the country.
+
+Jack and Graham carried out these orders, taking guides from each
+village through which they passed to the next, and it was near midnight
+before they had finished their work. At four in the morning every
+detachment was in motion, and at noon the troop was again concentrated.
+Here the earl learned that a detachment of the enemy had remained behind
+at Alcala, and, instead of carrying out his previous plan, he rode
+straight with the whole of his dragoons to that town. When he approached
+it he divided his force into three bodies, which entered the place
+simultaneously by different gates, and the Spanish detachment, two
+hundred strong, at once laid down their arms.
+
+Evening was now approaching, and as the horses and dragoons were utterly
+worn out, Peterborough halted for the night. He at once called together
+the principal inhabitants, and informed them that he required all the
+horses in the town, with such saddlery as they could obtain, to be
+collected and forwarded for his use to a point he named.
+
+The next morning the march was continued. Las Torres had continued his
+flight, and this was hastened when he heard of the capture of Alcala. He
+pushed through the town of Borriol and hastened on to Villa Real, a town
+strongly favorable to King Charles. It opened its gates, however, on
+the solemn promise of Las Torres to respect the life and property of the
+inhabitants; but no sooner had his troops entered than he gave the order
+for a general massacre and the sack of the town. This ferocious order
+was executed, and very few of the inhabitants escaped with their lives.
+
+The following day, on the news coming in from various points in his rear
+that the enemy were pressing after him, he marched his dispirited army
+to Nules, where the inhabitants were well affected. In answer to his
+appeal a thousand of the citizens enrolled themselves and undertook
+to defend the town till the last against the English. Having assured
+himself of their earnestness Las Torres inspected the muster, and,
+having viewed all the dispositions for defense, continued his
+flight. Nules was fortified by strong walls flanked with towers, the
+fortifications were in an excellent state of defense, and the town could
+have resisted a siege by a considerable army.
+
+On arriving at Villa Real the British were horrified at the hideous
+massacre which had taken place. They went from house to house and found
+everywhere the bodies of the slaughtered inhabitants, and the ardor of
+the dragoons was, if possible, heightened by the sight. They made but a
+short stay here and then galloped on to Nules. As they neared the town
+a fire of musketry was opened from the walls, but, wholly disregarding
+this, the earl at the head of his men dashed up to the gates and
+demanded, in an imperious tone, that the principal inhabitants should
+assemble and hold parley with him.
+
+The boldness of the earl's manner and the imperative tone in which he
+spoke so astonished the citizens on the walls that they ceased firing,
+and sent for their magistrates and priests. When these assembled on the
+wall Peterborough told them in an angry tone that he gave them only
+six minutes for deliberation, and that if they offered the slightest
+resistance he would repeat at Nules the massacre which Las Torres
+had carried out at Villa Real. He added that, unless they instantly
+surrendered, he would blow down their walls the moment his artillery and
+engineers arrived. The terror stricken magistrates at once summoned the
+town council, and, upon their repeating Peterborough's terrible threats,
+it was resolved at once to surrender, and the six minutes had scarcely
+elapsed when the gates fell back on their hinges, and Peterborough and
+his dragoons entered the town in triumph.
+
+Here the wearied band enjoyed a rest for some days, Peterborough
+spreading the alarm, which his presence excited, by giving orders that
+great quantities of provisions and forage should be brought in from
+all directions for the supply of the large army which he stated to be
+following at his heels. As it never occurred to any one that he could
+be pursuing an army of seven thousand men through a hostile country
+with only a handful of dragoons, his statements were not doubted. The
+requisitions were complied with, and provisions and stores poured into
+the town.
+
+Las Torres at Almenara, where he had again perpetrated a horrible
+massacre, heard the news of great preparations that Peterborough was
+making for the supply of his army, and considering his position to be
+unsafe again retreated hastily.
+
+At Nules two hundred horses were found and at once appropriated for the
+use of the army. With a portion of his force Peterborough rode out to
+Castillon de la Plana, an open town of some size, where the people were
+well affected to the Austrian cause. Here he secured four hundred more
+horses, at the same time assuring both friends and foes that his
+army was driving the enemy out of the kingdom. On entering Nules,
+Peterborough had sent orders for Lord Barrymore's regiment of British
+infantry, at that time under the command of Colonel Pierce, to march
+from Vinaroz, where they had been sent with the rest of the infantry
+from San Matteo to Oropesa, a town about nine miles from Castillon,
+where he had collected all the horses he had obtained during his march.
+
+When the news reached Nules of the arrival of this regiment at Oropesa,
+Lord Peterborough at once rode over. The regiment was formed up for his
+inspection; it had marched with the greatest speed, and the men were
+worn out and footsore with their long tramp over the stony hills. After
+inspecting them the earl paid them a high compliment upon their past
+achievements, and concluded by expressing his wish that they had but
+horses and accouterments to try whether a corps of so high a character
+would maintain their reputation in the novelty of mounted service.
+
+The joke of their eccentric general seemed but a poor one to the
+footsore and almost shoeless men, but they were astonished when Jack
+rode forward and presented to each of the officers a commission,
+which he had drawn out in the earl's name, as cavalry officers. Their
+astonishment was changed to delight when Peterborough marched them to
+the brow of the hill where they stood, and they saw eight bodies of
+horses drawn up in order ready for their eight companies. Among
+these were set apart three good chargers for each captain, two for
+lieutenants, and one for cornets. He ordered the regiment to mount, and,
+immensely amused at their sudden elevation to the cavalry service, the
+troops rode back to the town.
+
+From the moment when he started from San Matteo Peterborough had, in
+spite of his incessant exertions and multifarious cares, been quietly
+making preparations for this event. He had sent to Barcelona for the
+necessary accouterments for these men and for the dismounted British
+dragoons. The accouterments had been sent from Barcelona to the nearest
+port on the seacoast, and by continually urging on the local carriers
+the earl had, in nine days after leaving San Matteo, collected them in
+readiness at his depot at Castillon, and thus raised his little band
+of horse to nearly a thousand men. These he dispersed at once among the
+well affected towns of the neighborhood, whose walls would render them
+safe from the attack of an enemy unsupported by artillery, moving them
+constantly from place to place, partly to accustom them to their new
+duties, partly to confuse the enemy as to their numbers.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X: AN ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS
+
+
+"Mr. Stillwell," the earl said, a few days after his arrival at
+Castillon, "will you take twenty dragoons and ride out to the village of
+Estrella? The district round it is extremely hostile, and they prevent
+supplies being brought in from that direction. Get hold of the principal
+men in the place, and tell them that if I hear any more complaints of
+hostility in that neighborhood I will send out a regiment of horse,
+burn their village, and ravage all the country. I don't think you need
+apprehend any opposition; but of course you will keep a good lookout."
+
+"Am I to return tonight, sir?"
+
+"Let that depend upon your reception. If the inhabitants show a fairly
+good disposition, or if you see that at any rate there is a considerable
+section of the population well disposed to the cause, stay there for
+the night, and in the morning make a wide circuit through the district
+before returning. If you perceive a strong hostile feeling it were best
+not to sleep there; with so small a force you would be liable to a night
+attack."
+
+Twenty minutes later Jack rode off with his party, having first obtained
+directions from the natives as to the best road to Estrella. The village
+was but some fifteen miles off, and lay in the center of a fertile
+district on the other side of a range of lofty hills. The road they were
+traversing ran through the hills by a narrow and very steep valley.
+
+"This would be a nasty place to be attacked," Jack said to the sergeant,
+who was riding just behind him.
+
+"It would, indeed, sir; and if they were to set some of those stones
+arolling they would soon knock our horses off their legs."
+
+A mile or two further on the road again descended and the valley opened
+to a fertile country. Another half hour's sharp riding brought them into
+Estrella. Their coming had probably been signaled, for the inhabitants
+evinced no sudden alarm as the little troop rode along the principal
+street. The women stood at the doors of the houses to look at them, the
+men were gathered in little knots at the corners; but all were unarmed,
+and Jack saw at once that there was no intention of offering resistance.
+He alighted at the door of the village inn, and in a few minutes two or
+three of the chief men in the village presented themselves.
+
+"The English general," Jack said, "has heard that the people of your
+neighborhood are hostile, and that those who would pass through with
+animals and stores for the army are prevented from doing so. He bids me
+say that he does not wish to war with the people of this country so long
+as they are peaceful. Those who take up arms he will meet with arms; but
+so long as they interfere not with him he makes no inquiry as to whether
+their wishes are for King Charles or Philip of Anjou; but if they evince
+an active hostility he will be forced to punish them. You know how
+Marshal Tesse has massacred unarmed citizens whom he deemed hostile, and
+none could blame the English general did he carry out reprisals; but
+it will grieve him to have to do so. He has therefore sent me with this
+small troop to warn you that if the people of this village and district
+interfere in any way with his friends, or evince signs of active
+hostility, he will send a regiment of horse with orders to burn the
+village to the ground, and to lay all the district bare."
+
+"Your general has been misinformed," the principal man in the place
+said. "There are, it is true, some in the district who hold for Philip
+of Anjou; but the population are well disposed to King Charles, and this
+village is ready to furnish any supplies that the English may require.
+If your honor will give me a list of these I will do my best to have
+them in readiness by tomorrow morning, and I trust that you will honor
+us by stopping here till then."
+
+Jack hesitated; he did not much like the appearance of the man or the
+tone of humility in which he spoke; still, as he offered to furnish
+supplies, he thought it well to accept the same.
+
+"What horses could you let us have?" he asked.
+
+"We could supply ten horses," the man said, "fit for cavalry, four
+wagons of grain, and twenty barrels of wine."
+
+"Very well," Jack said; "if these are ready by tomorrow morning I will
+accept them as an earnest of your goodwill, and now I require food for
+my men."
+
+"That shall be ready for them in an hour," the man replied.
+
+Jack now gave orders to the sergeant that the girths to the saddles
+should be loosened, and the horses fastened in readiness for service in
+the street close to the inn. Four men were then posted as pickets at the
+distance of a quarter of a mile on each side of the village. Corn was
+brought for the horses. The women and children gathered round to gaze at
+the foreign soldiers, and Jack was convinced that there was at any rate
+no intention to effect a surprise while he remained in the village. In
+an hour the dinner was served, and there was no reason to complain of
+the quantity or quality of the provisions.
+
+An hour after dinner the troop again mounted and took a detour of some
+miles through the district, passing through several other villages, in
+none of which were the slightest signs of hostility met with.
+
+"Sergeant," Jack said, after they had returned to Estrella, "everything
+looks very quiet and peaceful; but, considering what we have heard
+of the feeling in this district, it seems to me that it is almost too
+peaceful. I can't help feeling somewhat uneasy. When it gets dark
+divide the troop into two parties; keep one constantly under arms; place
+sentries in pairs at each end of the village, and keep a most vigilant
+watch. Do not let the others scatter to the quarters the mayor has
+provided; but let all lie down here in the inn ready to turn out at a
+moment's notice. They are a treacherous lot, these Spaniards, and we
+cannot be too strictly on our guard."
+
+The night passed, however, without an incident, and in the morning, the
+five wagons with grain and wine, and eight horses, were brought in.
+
+Jack, rather ashamed of his suspicions on the previous night, thanked
+the mayor warmly. Eight of the troopers took each a led horse. The four
+countrymen in charge of the wagons shouted to their oxen, and the party
+moved out from Estrella.
+
+"There are very few men about the village, Mr. Stilwell," the sergeant
+said, as Jack reined back his horse to speak to him. "Did you notice
+that, sir?"
+
+"Yes," Jack said; "I did notice it; for except a few old men and boys,
+there were none but women and children gathered round or standing at
+their door. There were plenty of men about yesterday; but perhaps they
+have all gone up to work in the fields; however, we will keep our eyes
+open. You had best ride forward, sergeant, to the two men in front and
+tell them to keep a sharp lookout."
+
+They were proceeding only at a slow walk in order to keep pace with the
+wagons, and it was an hour and a half after leaving Estrella before they
+entered the hills.
+
+Jack noticed that although many women and girls could be seen working in
+the fields, not a man was in sight.
+
+"It is curious, sergeant, that there are no men about, and I can't help
+thinking that all is not right. Do you take four men with you and ride
+straight on through that nasty narrow valley we noticed as we came. Keep
+a sharp lookout on both sides, for there are rocks enough on those hills
+to hide an army."
+
+Jack halted the detachment when the scouting party went forward. In
+three quarters of an hour the sergeant returned with his men, saying
+that he had ridden right through the valley and could see no signs of
+life whatever.
+
+"Very well, sergeant, then we will proceed. But we will do so in groups.
+If we are to be attacked in that valley, we could make no fight of it
+were we ten times as many as we are; and if we must be caught, they
+shall have as few of us as possible; therefore, let a corporal with four
+men go on a good quarter of a mile ahead, so that he will be past the
+worst part before the next body enter. Then do you take ten men and go
+next. I will follow you at the same distance with the other five men and
+the wagons. Order the corporal if attacked to ride through if possible;
+if not, to fall back to you. Do you do the same. If you are nearly
+through the valley when you are attacked, dash straight forward. I shall
+see what is going on, and will turn and ride back with my party, and
+making a sweep round through the flat country find my way back by some
+other road. In that case by no possibility can they get more than a few
+of us."
+
+These orders, which were well calculated to puzzle a concealed enemy,
+were carried out. The corporal's party were just disappearing round
+a turn at the upper end of the valley when the main body under the
+sergeant entered it. Jack was not quite so far behind, and halted as he
+entered the valley to allow those who preceded him to get through before
+he proceeded. They were still some two hundred yards from the further
+end when a shot was heard, and in an instant men appeared from behind
+every rock, and the hillside was obscured with smoke as upward of two
+hundred guns were fired almost simultaneously. Then there was a deep
+rumbling noise, and the rocks came bounding down from above.
+
+The sergeant carried out Jack's orders. At the flash of the first gun
+he set off with his men at a gallop; and so quick and sudden was the
+movement that but few of the bullets touched them, and the rocks for
+the most part thundered down in their rear. Two or three horses and men
+were, however, struck down and crushed by the massive rocks; but the
+rest of the party got through the pass in safety and joined their
+comrades who had preceded them. They rode on for a short distance
+further, and then there was a halt, and wounds were examined and
+bandaged.
+
+"It is well that we came as we did," the sergeant said to his corporal;
+"if we had been all together, with the wagons blocking up the road, not
+a man Jack of us would have escaped alive. What an escape it has been!
+the whole hillside seemed coming down on us."
+
+"What will Mr. Stilwell do, sergeant?"
+
+"He said he should ride back into the plain and take some other way
+round," the sergeant replied; "but I fear he won't find it so easy.
+Fellows who would lay such an ambush as that are pretty sure to have
+taken steps to cut off the retreat of any who might escape and ride
+back. I am sure I hope he will get out of it, for he is a good officer,
+and as pleasant a young fellow as one can want to serve under; besides,
+there are five of our chaps with him."
+
+Jack had halted his men the instant the first shot was fired. "Shall I
+shoot these fellows, sir?" one of the troopers asked, drawing his pistol
+and pointing it at the head of one of the peasants leading a yoke of
+oxen.
+
+"No," Jack said; "they are unarmed; besides, they are plucky fellows for
+risking their lives on such a venture. There! the sergeant's troop have
+got through; but there are two or three of them down. Come along, lads,
+we must ride back, and there is no time to lose. Keep well together, and
+in readiness to charge if I give the word. It is likely enough our turn
+may come next."
+
+They rode on without interruption at full gallop till they neared the
+lower end of the valley. Then Jack drew up his horse. Across the road
+and the ground on each side extended a dozen carts, the oxen being taken
+out, and the carts placed end to end so as to form a barricade. A number
+of men were standing behind them.
+
+"I expected something of this sort," muttered Jack. He looked at the
+hills on either side, but they were too steep to ride up on horseback;
+and as to abandoning the animals and taking to the hills on foot, it
+was not to be thought of, for the active peasants would easily overtake
+them.
+
+"We must ride straight forward," he said; "there is no other way out of
+it. There is level ground enough for a horse to pass round the left of
+the wagons. Ride for that point as hard as you can, and when you are
+through keep straight forward for a quarter of a mile till we are
+together again. Now!"
+
+Giving his horse the spur, Jack dashed off at full speed, followed
+closely by the troopers. As they approached the line guns flashed out
+from the wagons, and the bullets sang thickly round them; but they were
+going too fast to be an easy mark, and the peasants, after firing their
+guns, seeing the point for which they were making, ran in a body to
+oppose them, armed with pitch forks and ox goads; few of them had,
+however, reached the spot when Jack and his troopers dashed up. There
+was a short sharp struggle, and then, leaving five or six of the
+peasants dead on the ground, the troopers burst through and rode
+forward. One man only had been lost in the passage, shot through the
+head as he approached the gap.
+
+"So far we are safe," Jack said, "and as I expect every man in the
+country round was engaged in that ambush, we need not hurry for the
+present. The question is, Which way to go?"
+
+This was indeed a difficult point to settle, for Jack was wholly
+ignorant of the country. He had made inquiries as to the way to
+Estrella, but knew nothing of any other roads leading from that village,
+and indeed, for aught he knew, the road by which he had come might be
+the only one leading to the south through the range of hills.
+
+"We will turn west," he said, after a moment's thought, "and keep along
+near the foot of the hills till we come to another road crossing them."
+
+So saying, he set forward at an easy trot across the fields of maize and
+wheat stubble, vineyards, and occasionally orchards. For upward of two
+hours Jack led the way, but they saw no signs of a road, and he observed
+with uneasiness that the plain was narrowing fast and the hills on the
+left trending to meet those on the right and form an apparently unbroken
+line ahead.
+
+The horses were showing signs of fatigue, and Jack drew rein on somewhat
+rising ground and looked anxiously round. If, as it seemed, there was no
+break in the bills ahead, it would be necessary to retrace their steps,
+and long ere this the defenders of the ravine would have returned to
+their homes, and learned from the men at the carts that a small party
+had escaped. As the women in the fields would be able to point out the
+way they had taken, the whole population would be out in pursuit of
+them. Looking round Jack saw among some trees to his right what appeared
+to be a large mansion, and resolved at once to go there.
+
+"The horses must have food and a rest," he said, "before we set out
+again; and though it's hardly probable, as the peasants are so hostile,
+that the owner of this place is friendly, I would even at the worst
+rather fall into the hands of a gentleman than into those of these
+peasants, who would certainly murder us in cold blood."
+
+Thus saying, he rode toward the mansion, whose owner must, he thought as
+he approached it, be a man of importance, for it was one of the finest
+country residences he had seen in Spain. He rode up to the front door
+and dismounted and rang at the bell. A man opened the door, and looked
+with surprise and alarm at the English uniforms. He would have shut the
+door again, but Jack put his shoulder to it and pushed it open.
+
+"What means this insolence?" he said sternly, drawing his pistol. "Is
+your master in?"
+
+"No, senor," the man stammered, "the count is from home."
+
+"Is your mistress in?"
+
+The man hesitated.
+
+"I will see," he said.
+
+"Look here, sir," Jack said. "Your mistress is in, and unless you lead
+me straight to her I will put a bullet through your head."
+
+Several other men servants had now come up, but the four troopers had
+also entered. The Spaniards looked at each other irresolutely.
+
+"Now, sirrah," Jack said, raising his pistol, "are you going to obey
+me?"
+
+The Spaniard, seeing Jack would execute his threat unless obeyed, turned
+sullenly and led the way to a door. He opened it and entered.
+
+"Madam the countess," he said, "an English officer insists on seeing
+you."
+
+Jack followed him in. A lady had just risen from her seat.
+
+"I must apologize, madam," he began, and then stopped in surprise, while
+at the same moment a cry of astonishment broke from the lady.
+
+"Senor Stilwell!" she cried. "Oh! how glad I am to see you! but--but--"
+And she stopped.
+
+"But how do I come here, countess, you would ask? I come here by
+accident, and had certainly no idea that I should find you, or that this
+mansion belonged to your husband. You told me when I saw you last, a
+fortnight before I left Barcelona, that you were going away to your seat
+in the country. You told me its name, too, and were good enough to say
+that you hoped when this war was over that I would come and visit you;
+but, in truth, as this is not a time for visiting, I had put the matter
+out of my mind."
+
+"And do you belong, then," the countess asked, "to the party who we
+heard yesterday had arrived at Estrella? If so--" And she stopped again.
+
+"If so, how have I escaped, you would ask? By good fortune and the speed
+of my horse."
+
+"What will the count say?" the countess exclaimed. "How will he ever
+forgive himself? Had he known that our preserver was with that party he
+would have cut off his right hand before he would have--"
+
+"Led his tenants to attack us. He could not tell, countess, and now
+I hope that you will give your retainers orders to treat my men with
+hospitality. At present my four troopers and your men are glowering
+at each other in the hall like wolves and dogs ready to spring at each
+other's throats."
+
+The countess at once went out into the hall. The servants had now armed
+themselves, and, led by the majordomo, were standing in readiness to
+attack the dragoons on the termination of the colloquy between the
+officer and their mistress.
+
+"Lay aside your arms, men," the countess said imperiously. "These men
+are the count's guests. Enrico, do you not recognize this gentleman?"
+
+The majordomo turned, and, at once dropping his musket, ran across, and,
+falling on his knees, pressed Jack's hand to his lips. The servants, who
+had at first stood in irresolute astonishment at their mistress' order,
+no longer hesitated, but placed their arms against the wall.
+
+"This," the majordomo said to them, rising to his feet, "is the noble
+English lord who saved the lives of the count and countess and my young
+master from the mob at Barcelona, as I have often told you."
+
+This explained the mystery. The servants saluted Jack with profound
+respect, for all were deeply attached to the count and countess, and had
+often thrilled with fury and excitement over the majordomo's relation of
+that terrible scene at Barcelona.
+
+Jack in a few words explained to the troopers the reason of the change
+in their position. The dragoons put up their swords, and were soon on
+the best terms with the retainers in the great kitchen, while Jack and
+the countess chatted over the events which had happened since they last
+parted.
+
+"I shall always tremble when I think of today," the countess said. "What
+a feeling mine would have been all my life had our preserver been killed
+by my servants! I should never have recovered it. It is true it
+would have been an accident, and yet the possibility should have been
+foreseen. The count knew you were with the Earl of Peterborough, and the
+whole English army should have been sacred in his eyes for your sake;
+but I suppose he never thought of it any more than I did. Of course
+every one knows that we belong to Philip's party. It was for that, that
+the mob at Barcelona would have killed us; but my husband does not talk
+much, and when he left Barcelona no objection was raised. He did not
+intend to take part in the war, and he little thought at that time that
+an enemy would ever come so far from Barcelona; but yesterday, when a
+message came that a small party of the enemy had entered the valley, and
+that the peasants had prepared an ambuscade for them on their return,
+and that they hoped that the count their master would himself come
+and lead them to annihilate the heretics, the simple man agreed, never
+thinking that you might be among them. What will his feelings be when,
+he learns it!"
+
+Late in the afternoon the count arrived. One of the servants who had
+been on the lookout informed the countess of his approach.
+
+"I will go myself to meet him," she said. "Do you stay here, senor,
+where you can hear."
+
+The count rode up at full speed, and as the door opened ran hastily in.
+
+"What has happened, Nina?" he exclaimed anxiously. "I have had a great
+fright. We have been following a small party of the enemy who escaped
+us from Estrella, and just now a woman returning from work in the fields
+told us she had seen five strange soldiers ride up here and enter."
+
+"They are here," the countess answered complacently. "They are at
+present our guests."
+
+"Our guests!" the count exclaimed, astonished "What are you saying,
+Nina? The enemies of our country our guests! In what a position have you
+placed me! I have two hundred armed men just behind. I left them to ride
+on when I heard the news, being too anxious to go at their pace, and now
+you tell me that these men of whom they are in search are our guests!
+What am I to say or do? You amaze me altogether."
+
+"What would you have me do?" the countess said. "Could I refuse
+hospitality to wearied men who asked it, Juan?" she continued, changing
+her tone. "You have to thank Providence indeed that those men came to
+our door instead of falling into the hands of your peasants."
+
+"To thank Providence!" the count repeated, astonished.
+
+"Come with me and you will see why."
+
+She led the way into the room, her husband following her. The count gave
+a cry as his eye fell upon Jack, and every vestige of color left his
+face.
+
+"Mary, mother of heaven!" he said in a broken voice, "I thank thee that
+I have been saved from a crime which would have imbittered all my life.
+Oh, senor, is it thus we meet, thus, when I have been hunting blindly
+for the blood of the man to whom I owe so much?"
+
+"Happily there is no harm done, count," Jack said, advancing with
+outstretched hand; "you were doing what you believed to be your duty,
+attacking the enemy of your country. Had you killed me you would have
+been no more to blame than I should, did a chance shot of mine slay you
+when fighting in the ranks of the soldiers of Philip."
+
+The count was some time before he could respond to Jack's greeting,
+so great was his emotion at the thought of the escape he had had from
+slaying the preserver of his wife and child. As soon as he recovered
+himself he hurried out to meet the peasants, whose shouts could be heard
+as they approached the castle. He soon returned and bade his servants
+take a cask of wine into the courtyard behind the house, with what bread
+and meat there might be in the larder.
+
+"You had no trouble with them, I hope?" Jack asked.
+
+"None whatever," the count said. "As soon as I told them the
+circumstances under which you saved the life of the countess, my boy,
+and myself, their only wish was to see you and express their gratitude;
+they are simple fellows, these peasants, and if fairly treated greatly
+attached to their lords."
+
+"It's a pity their treatment of the prisoners is so savage," Jack said
+dryly.
+
+"They are savage," the count said, "but you must remember that the
+history of Spain is one long story of war and bloodshed. They draw
+knives on each other on the slightest provocation, and in their
+amusements, as you know, there is nothing that in their eyes can rival
+a bullfight; it is little wonder, then, that in war they are savage and,
+as you would say, even bloodthirsty. This is not so in regular warfare.
+Whatever may have been the conduct of some of our irregulars, none have
+ever alleged that Spanish troops are less inclined to give quarter to
+conquered foes than others; but in this rough irregular warfare each
+peasant fights on his own account as against a personal enemy, and as
+he would expect and would meet with little mercy if he fell into the
+enemy's hands, so he grants no mercy to those who fall into his. Indeed,
+after the brutal treatment which Marshal Tesse has, I am ashamed to say,
+dealt out to those who opposed him, you can scarcely blame peasants for
+acting as they see civilized soldiers do."
+
+A short time afterward Jack went out with the count into the courtyard,
+and was received with the most hearty and cordial greeting by the men
+who were an hour before thirsting for his blood. Among them was the
+village mayor.
+
+"Ah, sir," he said, "why did you not tell us that you had saved the
+life of our lord and lady? You should have had all the horses in the
+district, and as many wagons of wine and grain as we could collect. We
+are all in despair that we should have attacked our lord's preserver."
+
+"I could not tell you," Jack said, "because I was in ignorance that the
+Count de Minas was your lord; had I known it I should have assuredly
+gone straight to him."
+
+"We shall never forgive ourselves," the man said, "for having killed
+four of your honor's soldiers."
+
+"I am sorry that it was so," Jack said, "but I cannot blame you; and I
+am sorry that we on our part must have killed as many of yours."
+
+"Six," the mayor replied. "Yes, poor fellows, but the count will see to
+their widows and orphans, he has promised us as much. I drink to your
+health, senor," and all present joined in the shout, "Long live the
+preserver of the count and countess!"
+
+Jack and the count now returned to the house, and the next morning,
+after a cordial adieu to the host and hostess, he rode back with his men
+to Castillon.
+
+"Welcome back, Mr. Stilwell," the general said as he entered; "I have
+been very uneasy about you. Your men returned at noon yesterday and told
+me of the ambush in which they had been beset. Your arrangements were
+excellent except for your own safety. How did you manage to get out?
+By the way, I was astonished by the arrival here an hour since of the
+horses and wagons. The men who brought them could give me no account of
+it, except that the Mayor of Estrella returned late yesterday evening
+and ordered them to set out before daybreak. It seemed to me a perfect
+mystery. I suspected at first that the wine was poisoned, and ordered
+the men who brought it to drink some at once, but as they did so without
+hesitation or sign of fear, I concluded that I was mistaken. However, I
+have kept them captive pending news from you to enlighten me."
+
+"I am not surprised you were astonished, sir, but the matter was simple
+enough;" and then Jack related the circumstances which had befallen
+them.
+
+"Bravo!" the earl said; "for once, Mr. Stilwell, a good action has had
+its reward, which, so far as my experience goes, is an exception."
+
+The earl at once called in a sergeant and ordered the release of the men
+who had brought the horses and wagons, and gave ten gold pieces to be
+distributed among them. Jack also went out and begged them to give his
+compliments and thanks to the mayor.
+
+"I am heartily glad the adventure ended as it did," the earl said when
+he returned, "for, putting aside the regret I should have felt at your
+loss, it would have been a difficult business for me to undertake, with
+my present force, to chastise the men who attacked you, who must be bold
+and determined fellows, and capable of realizing the advantages of this
+mountainous country. If all Spaniards would do as much it would tax the
+power of the greatest military nation to subdue them; and yet I could
+hardly have suffered such a check without endeavoring to avenge it; so
+altogether, Mr. Stilwell, we must congratulate ourselves that the affair
+ended as it did. In any case you would have been in no way to blame, for
+your dispositions throughout appear to have been excellent, and marked
+alike with prudence and boldness."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI: VALENCIA
+
+
+While occupied in preparing for his advance, the general sent letter
+after letter to Valencia, bidding the citizens to keep up their courage,
+and promising to hasten to the relief of that city. Ordering Jack to
+continue the correspondence in his name, so as to delude both friends
+and foes that he was still at Castillon, he took post secretly and
+hurried away back to Tortosa to see after reinforcements. He still
+doubted whether the Spanish troops, which the king had promised should
+be at his disposal for the campaign in Valencia, had got into motion,
+and in case they had not done so he determined to post to Colonel Wills
+and bring up that officer with his brigade.
+
+At Vinaroz he found that the Spanish troops had already entered
+Valencia, and that some of the militia of that province and of Catalonia
+were also in motion to join him. He therefore concentrated his little
+force at Castillon, to which place he returned as rapidly as he had
+left it. When it was assembled it consisted of a thousand horse and two
+thousand infantry, being one English and three Spanish battalions of
+regulars. Besides these were about three hundred armed peasants, whom
+the earl thought it better not to join with his army, and therefore
+quartered them at Almenara.
+
+Although he had accomplished marvels, there was yet much to do. The Duke
+of Arcos had succeeded the Conde de las Torres in the chief command, the
+latter having been superseded after his signal failures. The duke had
+ten thousand men placed under his orders, of whom some thirty-five
+hundred were in possession of the strong town of Murviedro, which
+covered the approach to Valencia, while with the main body he marched
+upon Valencia and commenced the siege of that city. The magistrates,
+knowing that they could expect but little mercy should the town be
+taken, made vigorous preparations for defense, and dispatched some
+messengers to Peterborough imploring him to come to their assistance. He
+was now in readiness to do so, and on the 1st of February marched from
+Castillon with his army.
+
+Having unlimited powers, the earl, before starting, presented to his two
+aides de camp commissions as captains, as a reward for the services they
+had rendered.
+
+Although so inferior in numbers the little army advanced toward Valencia
+with an absolute confidence of victory. The successes gained by their
+leader with a handful of cavalry over an army of seven thousand men had
+been so astounding that his troops believed him capable of effecting
+anything that he undertook. They had seen him ride off from San Matteo
+with his little body of horse upon what seemed an impossible enterprise;
+they had met him again after having conquered half a province; and if he
+had accomplished this with such scanty means, what was not possible now
+when he had three thousand men at his disposal?
+
+But the earl trusted fully as much to his talents in the way of
+deceiving the enemy as to his power of defeating them by open force
+in the field. His eccentric genius appeared to revel in the mendacious
+statements by which he deceived and puzzled both friend and foe; and
+although the spreading of a certain amount of false news for the purpose
+of deceiving an enemy has always been considered as a legitimate means
+of warfare, Peterborough altogether exceeded the usual limits, and
+appeared to delight in inventing the most complicated falsehoods from
+the mere love of mischief. At times Jack was completely bewildered
+by his general, so rapid were the changes of plans, so changeable his
+purposes, so fantastic and eccentric his bearing and utterances. That
+his military genius was astonishing no one can for a moment question,
+but it was the genius rather of a knight errant than of the commander of
+great armies.
+
+As a partisan leader Peterborough is without a rival in history. Whether
+he would have succeeded equally well as the commander of great armies he
+had never an opportunity of proving, but it is more than doubtful. Rapid
+changes of plan, shifting and uncertain movements, may lead to wonderful
+successes when but a small body of troops have to be set in motion, but
+would cause endless confusion and embarrassment with a large army, which
+can only move in accordance with settled plans and deliberate purpose.
+
+It must be said, however, that this most eccentric of generals proved
+upon many occasions, as at the siege of Barcelona, that he was capable
+of adapting himself to circumstances, and it is possible that had he
+ever been placed in command of a great army he would have laid aside his
+flightiness and eccentricity, his love for theatrical strokes and hair
+breadth adventures, and would have exhibited a steadfast military genius
+which would have placed his name in the annals of British history on a
+par with those of Wellington and Marlborough. Never did he exhibit
+his faculty for ingenious falsehood more remarkably than at Murviedro,
+where, indeed, a great proportion of his inventions appear to have been
+prompted rather by a spirit of malice than by any military necessity.
+
+Murviedro was the Saguntum of the Romans, one of the strongest cities
+in Spain. The force there was commanded by Brigadier General Mahony, an
+officer of Irish descent. He had under him five hundred regular cavalry
+and a battalion of eight hundred trained infantry; the rest of his force
+consisted of Spanish militia. The town itself was fairly strong and
+contained a large population. It was separated from a wide plain by a
+river, on the banks of which redoubts mounted with artillery had been
+thrown up.
+
+Here the Valencian road wound through a pass, above which, on the
+crest of a lofty overhanging hill, were the ruins of ancient Saguntum.
+Peterborough had no artillery save a few Spanish field guns; the enemy's
+position was formidable both by formation and art, and his force was
+altogether inadequate for an attack upon it. So hopeless did the attempt
+appear to be that Peterborough's officers were unanimous in the opinion
+that it would be better to make a wide circuit and avoid the place, and
+to march directly upon Valencia and give battle to the Duke of Arcos
+under its walls. Peterborough, however, simply told them to wait and see
+what would come of it, and in the mean time he continued to bewilder his
+foes by the most surprising romances.
+
+His agents were for the most part a few sharp witted dragoons, and some
+peasants whose fidelity was secured by their families being held as
+hostages. He had already contrived to bewilder the division of Las
+Torres before it reached the main body under the Duke of Arcos. A spy
+in his pay had informed the Spanish general that the British were close
+upon him, and he had accordingly at once broken up his camp and marched
+all night.
+
+In the morning the spy again presented himself and stated that the
+British were pushing on over the mountains to his left to occupy an
+important point and to cut off his retreat to the Valencian plains. As
+it seemed absolutely impossible that they could have pressed forward
+so quickly, Las Torres refused to credit the story. The spy, as if
+indignant at his truth being doubted, pledged himself at the hazard of
+his life to give proof of the assertion to any officer who might be sent
+to ascertain it.
+
+Two officers in plain clothes were accordingly sent with him in the
+direction where he stated the English to be; but when they stopped for
+refreshment at a village on the way they were suddenly pounced upon by
+a picket of English dragoons, who had been sent there for the purpose.
+After a time the spy pretended to the two officers that he had made the
+guard drunk and that they could now make their escape, and leading them
+stealthily to the stable showed them two of the dragoons lying in an
+apparently drunken sleep. Three horses were quietly led out of the
+stable, and the three men rode off, some of the dragoons making a show
+of pursuit.
+
+This incident, of course, established the credit of the spy. Las Torres
+was convinced that his retreat was really threatened, and hurried on
+again with all speed, while all this time the English army was really
+many miles away near Murviedro. Other dragoons were induced to feign
+desertion, while some permitted themselves to be taken prisoners, and as
+each vied with the others in the extravagance of his false information,
+the Spanish generals were utterly bewildered by the contradictory nature
+of the lies that reached them.
+
+While Las Torres was hastening away at full speed to join the Duke of
+Arcos, Peterborough was occupied in fooling Mahony. That officer was a
+distant relation of Lady Peterborough, and the earl sent to demand an
+interview with him, naming a small hill near the town for the purpose.
+When the time for the interview approached the earl disposed his army
+so as to magnify their numbers as much as possible. Some were posted
+as near the town as they could venture along the pass; others were kept
+marching on the lower slopes of the hills, their numbers increased in
+appearance by masses of the armed peasantry being mingled with them.
+
+Mahony having received the earl's word for his safety rode out to the
+appointed place to meet him, accompanied by several of the principal
+Spanish officers. Peterborough first used every persuasion to induce
+Mahony to enter the service of King Charles, but the Irish officer
+refused to entertain the tempting offers which he made. Peterborough
+then changed his tone, and said with an air of kindly frankness:
+
+"The Spaniards have used such severities and cruelties at Villa Real as
+to oblige me to retaliate. I am willing to spare a town if under your
+protection. I know that you cannot pretend to defend it with the horse
+you have, which will be so much more useful in another place if joined
+with the troops of Arcos to obstruct my passing the plains of Valencia.
+I am confident that you will soon quit Murviedro, which I can as little
+prevent as you can hinder me from taking the town. The inhabitants
+there must be exposed to the most abject miseries, and I can in no way
+preserve it but by being bound in a capitulation, which I am willing to
+give you if I have the assurance of the immediate surrender of the place
+this very night. Some cases are so apparent that I need not dissemble.
+I know you will immediately send to the Duke of Arcos to march to the
+Carthusian convent and meet him there with the body of horse under your
+command."
+
+The earl further offered, in the same apparent spirit of frankness, to
+show Mahony all his troops and artillery, as well as the large resources
+he had upon the sea, which was only six miles off. Mahony was entirely
+deceived by the manner of the man he regarded as a relative, and
+laughingly acknowledged that he had, in case of necessity, intended to
+fall back with his cavalry upon the Duke of Arcos. The interview ended
+by Mahony retiring to the town, agreeing to send back an answer in half
+an hour. At the end of that time he sent out a capitulation by a Spanish
+officer.
+
+Had Peterborough's scheme ended here he would not have exceeded the
+bounds of what is regarded as a fair method of deceiving an enemy,
+but his subsequent proceedings were absolutely indefensible, and are,
+indeed, almost incredible on the part of the man who in some respects
+carried the point of honor almost to an extreme. His notion, no doubt,
+was to paralyze the action of the enemy by exciting suspicions of
+treachery among their leaders, but the means which he took to do so were
+base and unworthy in the extreme.
+
+He began with the Spanish officer who had brought the capitulation,
+giving him a garbled account of his interview with Mahony, and then
+endeavoring to bribe him to desert to the Austrian cause, insinuating
+that he had succeeded by this means with Mahony. As the earl expected,
+he failed to induce the Spaniard to desert, but he succeeded in his
+purpose of filling his mind with suspicions of treachery on the part of
+Mahony.
+
+Mahony had conducted the negotiations in a manner worthy of a loyal
+and skillful officer; he had stipulated not to leave the town till one
+o'clock in the morning, and that Peterborough should not pass the river
+until that hour.
+
+This he had arranged in order to allow the Duke of Arcos time to reach
+the plains, where he was to be joined by the horse from Murviedro. But
+Peterborough's machinations had been effectual; the Spanish officer, on
+his return, informed his countrymen that Mahony had betrayed them, and
+the troops and populace became enraged against the unfortunate Irishman
+and threatened his life. Peterborough, who, in spite of his perverted
+notions of honor, would not on any account have passed the river before
+the time stipulated, heard the neighing of horses in the town and
+supposed that some of the troops were leaving it. In order, therefore,
+to create suspicion and confusion among the enemy, he ordered a body
+of men near the river to fire straggling shots as if small parties were
+engaged at the outposts.
+
+Mahony hearing these sounds sent word that whatever collision might have
+occurred it was the result of no breach of the terms of capitulation
+on his part, and that, depending implicitly on the honor of an English
+general, he could not believe that any foul play could take place.
+Peterborough sent back his compliments by the officer who brought the
+message, with expressions of gratification at the good understanding
+which prevailed between them, and at the same time he proposed that
+Mahony, for the security of the inhabitants of Murviedro, and to prevent
+his troops being molested as they retired from the town, should permit
+a regiment of English dragoons to cross the river and to form a guard
+at the gates, offering at the same time to deliver up a number of his
+officers as hostages to the Spanish for the loyal fulfillment of the
+terms.
+
+In an evil hour for himself Mahony consented to the proposal. When
+the Spaniards saw Peterborough's dragoons advancing without opposition
+through the difficult pass, and up to the very gates of the town, their
+suspicions of the treachery of their leader became a certainty. The
+Spanish officers each got his company or troop together as quickly as
+possible and hurried across the plain to the camp of the duke, where
+they spread a vague but general panic. The officers accused Mahony
+of treachery to the Spanish general, and the national jealousy of
+foreigners made their tale easily believed; but Peterborough had taken
+another step to secure the success of his diabolical plan against the
+honor of his wife's relative.
+
+He made choice of two Irish dragoons, and persuaded them by bribes
+and promises of promotion to undertake the dangerous part of false
+deserters, and to tell the tale with which he furnished them. They
+accordingly set out and rode straight to the camp of the Duke of Arcos
+and gave themselves up to the outposts, by whom they were led before
+the Spanish general. Questioned by him, they repeated the story they had
+been taught.
+
+The statement was that they had been sitting drinking wine together
+under some rocks on the hillside, close to where the conference was
+held, and that Peterborough and Mahony, walking apart from the others,
+came near to where they were sitting, but did not notice them, and that
+they saw the earl deliver five thousand pistoles to Mahony, and heard
+him promise to make him a major general in the English army, and to give
+him the command of ten thousand Irish Catholics which were being raised
+for the service of King Charles. They said that they were content to
+receive no reward, but to be shot as spies if Mahony himself did not
+give proof of treachery by carrying out his arrangements with the earl,
+by sending a messenger requesting the duke to march that night across
+the plain toward Murviedro to the Carthusian convent, where everything
+would be arranged for their destruction by a strong ambush of British
+troops.
+
+Scarcely had the men finished their story when an aide de camp galloped
+in from Mahony with the very proposition which they had reported that
+he would make. Arcos had now no doubt whatever of Mahony's treason,
+and instead of complying with his request, which was obviously the best
+course to have been pursued, as the junction of the two armies would
+thereby have been completed, the duke broke up his camp without delay
+and fell back in exactly the opposite direction.
+
+This was exactly what Peterborough had been scheming to bring about.
+Mahony, with his cavalry, having delivered over the town, marched to the
+Carthusian convent, and there, finding themselves unsupported, rode on
+to the spot where the duke had been encamped, and finding that his army
+was gone, followed it. On overtaking it Mahony was instantly arrested
+and sent a prisoner to Madrid.
+
+It is satisfactory to know that he succeeded in clearing himself from
+the charge of treachery, was promoted to the rank of major general, and
+was sent back with Las Torres, who was ordered to supersede the Duke of
+Arcos.
+
+The success of the earl's stratagem had been complete. Without the loss
+of a single man he had obtained possession of Murviedro, and had spread
+such confusion and doubt into the enemy's army that, although more than
+three times his own force, it was marching away in all haste, having
+abandoned the siege of Valencia, which city he could now enter with his
+troops. The success was a wonderful one; but it is sad to think that
+it was gained by such a treacherous and dastardly maneuver, which might
+have cost a gallant officer--who was, moreover, a countryman and distant
+connection of the earl--his honor and his life.
+
+The next day the earl entered the city of Valencia in triumph. The whole
+population crowded into the streets. The houses were decorated with
+flags and hangings. The church bells pealed out their welcome, and amid
+the shouts of the people below and the waving of handkerchiefs from the
+ladies at the balconies, he rode through the streets to the town hall,
+where all the principal personages were assembled, followed by the
+little army with which he had performed what appeared to have been an
+impossible undertaking.
+
+After their incessant labors during the past two months, the rest at
+Valencia was most grateful to the troops. The city is celebrated as
+being one of the gayest and most delightful in all Spain. Its situation
+is lovely, standing within a mile and a half of the sea, in a rich plain
+covered with vines, olives, and other fruit trees, while beyond the
+plains rise the mountains, range after range, with the higher summits
+covered with snow. The people, at all times pleasure loving, gave
+themselves up to fetes and rejoicings for some time after the entrance
+of the army that had saved them from such imminent danger, and all vied
+in hospitality to the earl and his officers.
+
+King Charles, astonished and delighted at Peterborough's success,
+appointed him captain general of all his forces, and gave him the power
+of appointing and removing all governors and other public servants, as
+he might consider necessary for the good of the cause, while from London
+the earl received a dispatch appointing him plenipotentiary at the court
+of King Charles.
+
+Here as at Barcelona the earl entered with almost boyish animation into
+the gayety of which he was the center. With the priests and ladies he
+was an especial favorite, having won the former by the outward respect
+which he paid to their religion, and by the deference he exhibited
+toward themselves.
+
+Valencia prided itself on being one of the holiest cities in Spain, and
+no other town could boast of the connection of so many saints or
+the possession of so many relics. The priesthood were numerous and
+influential. Religious processions were constantly passing through
+the streets, and in the churches the services were conducted with the
+greatest pomp and magnificence.
+
+Peterborough, knowing the value of the alliance and assistance of
+the priests, spared no pains to stand well with the Church, revenging
+himself for the outward deference he paid to it by the bitterest sarcasm
+and jeers in his letters to his friends at home. Believing nothing
+himself, the gross superstition which he saw prevailing round him was
+an argument in favor of his own disbelief in holy things, and he did not
+fail to turn it to advantage.
+
+With the ladies his romantic adventures, his extraordinary bravery,
+his energy and endurance, his brilliant wit, his polished manner, his
+courtesy and devotion, rendered him an almost mythical hero; and the
+fair Valencians were to a woman his devoted admirers and adherents.
+
+But, while apparently absorbed in pleasure, Peterborough's energy never
+slumbered for a moment. His position was still one of extreme danger.
+The force of Las Torres, seven thousand strong, recovering from their
+panic, had, a day or two after he entered the town, returned and taken
+post on some hills near it, preparatory to recommencing the siege. Four
+thousand Castilians were marching to their support by the road leading
+through Fuente de la Higuera, while at Madrid, within an easy distance,
+lay the overwhelming forces of the main army under Marshal Tesse.. To
+cope with these forces he had but his little army in the town, amounting
+to but three thousand men, deficient in artillery, ammunition, and
+stores of all kinds.
+
+Had Marshal Tesse marched at once to join Las Torres Peterborough's
+little force must have been crushed; but the court of King Philip
+decided to dispatch the marshal against Barcelona. Fortunately
+Peterborough was well informed by the country people of everything that
+was passing, for in every town and village there were men or women who
+sent him news of all that was going on in their neighborhood.
+
+It was but a week after they entered Valencia that the earl, happening
+to pass close by Jack Stilwell at a brilliant ball, paused for a moment
+and said:
+
+"Get away from this in half an hour, find Graham, and bring him with you
+to my quarters. Before you go find Colonel Zinzendorf and tell him
+to have two hundred men ready to mount at half past one. He is here
+somewhere. If you find he has left you must go round to the barracks.
+Tell him the matter is to be kept an absolute secret. I know," the earl
+said gallantly to the lady on his arm and to Jack's partner, "we can
+trust you two ladies to say nothing of what you have heard. It is indeed
+grief and pain to myself and Captain Stilwell to tear ourselves away
+from such society, and you may be sure that none but the most pressing
+necessity could induce me to do it."
+
+Jack at once led his partner to a seat and set out on the search for
+Graham and the colonel of dragoons. He was some time finding them both,
+and it was already past one when the three issued together from the
+palace where the fete was held, and hurried off, the two young officers
+to Peterborough's quarters, the colonel to his barracks.
+
+The earl was already in his chamber. He had slipped away unobserved from
+the ball, and had climbed the wall of the garden, to avoid being noticed
+passing out of the entrance. His great wig and court uniform were thrown
+aside, and he was putting on the plain uniform which he used on service
+when his aides de camp entered.
+
+"Get rid of that finery and gold lace," he said as they entered. "You
+have to do a forty mile ride before morning. I have received glorious
+news. One of my partners told me that she had, just as she was starting
+for the ball, received a message from a cousin saying that a vessel had
+come into port from Genoa with sixteen brass twenty-four pounder
+guns, and a quantity of ammunition and stores, to enable Las Torres to
+commence the siege. The stores were landed yesterday, and carts were
+collected from the country round in readiness for a start at daybreak
+this morning. As these things will be even more useful to us than to
+the Spaniards, I mean to have them now. Be as quick as you can. I have
+already ordered your horses to be brought round with mine."
+
+In five minutes they were in the saddle and rode quickly to the cavalry
+barracks. The streets were still full of people; but the earl in his
+simple uniform passed unnoticed through them. The dragoons were already
+mounted when they reached the barracks.
+
+"We will go out at the back gate, colonel," the earl said. "Take the
+most quiet streets by the way, and make for the west gate. Break your
+troop up into four parties, and let them go by different routes, so that
+any they meet will suppose they are merely small bodies going out to
+relieve the outposts. If it was suspected that I was with you, and that
+an expedition was on foot, the Spaniards would hear it in an hour. Loyal
+as the population are here, there must be many adherents of Philip among
+them, and Las Torres no doubt has his spies as well as we have."
+
+The earl's orders were carried out, and half an hour later the four
+parties again assembled at a short distance outside the city gates.
+Peterborough placed himself at their head and rode directly for the sea.
+
+"The Spaniards are sure to have outposts placed on all the roads leading
+inland," he said to Colonel Zinzendorf, "and the Spanish irregulars will
+be scattered all over the country; but I do not suppose they will have
+any down as far as the seashore."
+
+When they reached the coast they followed a small road running along its
+margin. Two or three miles further they turned off and rode inland till
+they struck a main road, so as to avoid following all the windings of
+the coast. They now pushed on at a sharp trot, and just at four o'clock
+came down upon the little port.
+
+Its streets were cumbered with country carts, and as the dragoons dashed
+into the place a few shots were fired by some Spanish soldiers belonging
+to a small detachment which had been sent by Las Torres to act as a
+convoy for the guns and stores, and who were sleeping on the pavement
+or scattered among the houses in readiness for a start at daybreak.
+The resistance soon ceased. Before entering the place Peterborough had
+placed a cordon of dragoons in a semicircle round it to prevent any one
+passing out.
+
+No time was lost; the carts were already loaded, and a troop of cavalry
+horses stood picketed by the guns. These were soon harnessed up, and the
+few other horses in the place were seized to prevent any one riding off
+with the news. The order was given to the peasants to start their carts,
+and in ten minutes after their entering the place the convoy was on its
+way with its long row of carts laden with ammunition and its sixteen
+guns.
+
+The cordon of dragoons was still left round the town, the officer in
+command being ordered to allow no one to pass for an hour and a half,
+after which time he was to gallop on with his men to overtake the
+convoy, as by that time it would be no longer possible for any one to
+carry the news to Las Torres in time for him to put his troops into
+motion to cut off the convoy from Valencia. The journey back took much
+longer than the advance, for the carts, drawn for the most part by
+bullocks, made but slow progress. Three hours after the convoy started
+the dragoons left behind overtook them. When within three miles of the
+town, they were met by a small party of the enemy's Spanish militia; but
+these were at once scattered by a charge of the dragoons, and the convoy
+proceeded without further molestation until just at noon it entered the
+gates of Valencia, where the astonishment and delight of the inhabitants
+at its appearance were unbounded.
+
+In a few hours the cannon were all mounted in position on the ramparts,
+adding very much to the defensive power of the town, which was now safe
+for a time from any attempt at a siege by Las Torres, whose plans would
+be entirely frustrated by the capture of the artillery intended for the
+siege.
+
+But Peterborough was not yet contented. The junction of the four
+thousand Castilians, of whose approach he had heard, with Las Torres
+would raise the force under that general to a point which would enable
+him to blockade the town pending the arrival of artillery for siege
+works; and no sooner had the earl returned to his quarters, after seeing
+the cannon placed upon the walls, than he began his preparations for
+another expedition. He ordered Colonel Zinzendorf to march quietly out
+of the city at eight o'clock with four hundred of his dragoons, and four
+hundred British and as many Spanish infantry were to join him outside
+the walls. The colonels of these three bodies were ordered to say
+nothing of their intended movement, and to issue no orders until within
+half an hour of the time named. At the same hour the rest of the troops
+were to march to the walls and form a close cordon round them, so as to
+prevent any one from letting himself down by a rope and taking the news
+that an expedition was afoot to Las Torres.
+
+At a few minutes past eight, eight hundred foot and four hundred horse
+assembled outside the gates, and Peterborough took the command. His
+object was to crush the Castilians before they could effect a junction
+with Las Torres. In order to do this it would be necessary to pass close
+by the Spanish camp, which covered the road by which the reinforcements
+were advancing to join them.
+
+In perfect silence the party moved forward and marched to a ford
+across the river Xucar, a short distance only below the Spanish camp.
+Peterborough rode at their head, having by his side a Spanish gentleman
+acquainted with every foot of the country. They forded the river without
+being observed, and then, making as wide a circuit as possible round the
+camp, came down upon the road without the alarm being given; then they
+pushed forward, and after three hours' march came upon the Castilians at
+Fuente de la Higuera. The surprise was complete. The Spaniards, knowing
+that the Spanish army lay between them and the town, had taken no
+precautions, and the British were in possession of the place before they
+were aware of their danger.
+
+There was no attempt at resistance beyond a few hasty shots. The
+Castilians were sleeping wrapped up in their cloaks around the place,
+and on the alarm they leaped up and fled wildly in all directions.
+In the darkness great numbers got away, but six hundred were taken
+prisoners. An hour was spent in collecting and breaking the arms left
+behind by the fugitives, and the force, with their prisoners in their
+midst, then started back on their return march. The circuit of the
+Spanish camp was made, and the ford passed as successfully as before,
+and just as daylight was breaking the little army marched into Valencia.
+
+The news rapidly spread, and the inhabitants hurried into the streets,
+unable at first to credit the news that the Castilian army, whose
+approach menaced the safety of the town, was destroyed. The movement of
+the troops on the previous night to the ramparts and the absence of the
+greater part of the officers from the festivities had occasioned
+some comment; but as none knew that an expedition had set out, it was
+supposed that the earl had received news from his spies that Las Torres
+intended to attempt a sudden night attack, and the people would have
+doubted the astonishing news they now received had it not been for the
+presence of the six hundred Castilian prisoners.
+
+These two serious misadventures caused Las Torres to despair of success
+against a town defended by so energetic and enterprising a commander as
+Peterborough, and he now turned his thoughts toward the small towns of
+Sueca and Alcira. Below these towns and commanded by their guns was the
+important bridge of Cullera, by which by far the greater portion of
+the supplies for the town was brought in from the country. Las Torres
+therefore determined to seize these places, which were distant about
+fifteen miles from his camp, and so to straiten the town for provisions.
+
+As usual, Peterborough's spies brought him early intelligence of the
+intended movement, and the orders issued by Las Torres were known to the
+earl a few hours later. It needed all his activity to be in time. Five
+hundred English and six hundred Spanish infantry, and four hundred
+horse, were ordered to march with all speed to the threatened towns;
+and, pushing on without a halt, the troops reached them half an hour
+before the Spanish force appeared on the spot. On finding the two towns
+strongly occupied by the British, Las Torres abandoned his intention and
+drew off his troops.
+
+A portion of the Spanish army were cantoned in a village only some
+two miles from Alcira, and a few days later Peterborough determined to
+surprise it, and for that purpose marched out at night from Valencia
+with an English force of a thousand men, and reached the spot intended
+at daybreak as he had arranged. The Spanish garrison of Alcira, also
+about a thousand strong, had orders to sally out and attack the village
+at the same hour. The Spaniards also arrived punctually, but just as
+they were preparing to burst upon the unconscious enemy, who were four
+thousand strong, they happened to come upon a picket of twenty horse. An
+unaccountable panic seized them; they broke their ranks and fled in such
+utter confusion that many of the terror stricken soldiers killed each
+other. The picket aroused the enemy, who quickly fell into their ranks,
+and Peterborough, seeing that it would be madness to attack them with
+his wearied and unsupported force, reluctantly ordered a retreat, which
+he conducted in perfect order and without the loss of a man.
+
+This was Peterborough's only failure; with this exception every one of
+his plans had proved successful, and he only failed here from trusting
+for once to the cooperation of his wholly unreliable Spanish allies.
+After this nothing was done on either side for several weeks.
+
+The campaign had been one of the most extraordinary ever accomplished,
+and its success was due in no degree to chance, but solely to the
+ability of Peterborough himself. Wild as many of his schemes appeared,
+they were always planned with the greatest care. He calculated upon
+almost every possible contingency, and prepared for it. He never
+intrusted to others that which he could do himself, and he personally
+commanded every expedition even of the most petty kind.
+
+His extraordinary physical powers of endurance enabled him to support
+fatigue and to carry out adventure, which would have prostrated most
+other men. The highest praise, too, is due to the troops, who proved
+themselves worthy of such a leader. Their confidence in their chief
+inspired them with a valor equal to his own. They bore uncomplainingly
+the greatest hardships and fatigues, and engaged unquestioningly
+in adventures and exploits against odds which made success appear
+absolutely hopeless. The hundred and fifty dragoons who followed the
+Earl of Peterborough to the conquest of Valencia deserve a place side by
+side with the greatest heroes of antiquity.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII: IRREGULAR WARFARE
+
+
+From the moment that the news of the loss of Barcelona had reached
+Madrid, Philip of Anjou had labored strenuously to collect a force
+sufficient to overwhelm his enemies. He had, moreover, written urgently
+to Louis XIV for assistance, and although France was at the moment
+obliged to make strenuous efforts to show a front to Marlborough and his
+allies, who had already at Blenheim inflicted a disastrous defeat
+upon her, Louis responded to the appeal. Formidable French armies were
+assembled at Saragossa and Roussillon, while a fleet of twelve ships of
+the line, under the command of the Count of Toulouse, sailed to blockade
+Barcelona, and the Duke of Berwick, one of the ablest generals of the
+day, was sent to head the southern army.
+
+In January the French army of Catalonia, under Marshal Tesse, reached
+Saragossa, where the arrogance and brutality of the marshal soon excited
+a storm of hatred among the Aragonese. The towns resisted desperately
+the entry of the French troops; assassinations of officers and men were
+matters of daily occurrence, and the savage reprisals adopted by the
+marshal, instead of subduing, excited the Spaniards to still fiercer
+resistance. But savage and cruel as was the marshal, he was in no haste
+to meet the enemy in the field, and Philip, who was with him, had the
+greatest difficulty in getting him to move forward.
+
+It was in the last week of February that the news reached the Earl of
+Peterborough that Marshal Tesse had left Saragossa, and was marching
+toward Lerida. This was two days after the unsuccessful attempt to
+surprise the enemy's camp near Alcira; and, menaced as Valencia was by a
+force greatly superior to his own, he could not leave the city, which in
+his absence would speedily have succumbed to the attack of Las Torres.
+He walked quickly up and down his room for some minutes and then said:
+
+"Captain Stilwell, I cannot leave here myself, but I will send you
+to the Marquis of Cifuentes. You have shown the greatest activity and
+energy with me, and I do not doubt that you will do equally well when
+acting independently. I will give you a letter to the marquis, saying
+that you are one of my most trusted and valued officers, and begging him
+to avail himself to the fullest of your energy and skill. I shall
+tell him that at present I am tied here, but that when the enemy reach
+Barcelona, I shall at all hazards march hence and take post in their
+rear and do what I can to prevent their carrying on the siege. In the
+mean time I beg him to throw every obstacle in the way of their advance,
+to hold every pass to the last, to hang on their rear, attack baggage
+trains, and cut off stragglers. He cannot hope to defeat Tesse, but he
+may wear out and dispirit his men by constant attacks. You speak Spanish
+fluently enough now, and will be able to advise and suggest. Remember,
+every day that Tesse is delayed gives so much time to the king to put
+Barcelona in a state of defense. With my little force I cannot do much
+even when I come. The sole hope of Barcelona is to hold out until a
+fleet arrives from England. If the king would take my advice I will
+guarantee that he shall be crowned in Madrid in two months; but those
+pig headed Germans who surround him set him against every proposition I
+make. You had better start tonight as soon as it gets dark, and take a
+mounted guide with you who knows the country thoroughly.
+
+"It will be a change for you, from the pleasures of Valencia to a
+guerrilla warfare in the mountains in this inclement season, Stilwell,"
+Graham said as they left the general. "I don't think I should care about
+your mission. I own I have enjoyed myself in Valencia, and I have lost
+my heart a dozen times since we arrived."
+
+"I have not lost mine at all," Jack said laughing, "and I am sick of all
+these balls and festivities. I was not brought up to it, you know, and
+rough as the work may be I shall prefer it to a long stay here."
+
+"Yes," Graham agreed, "I should not care for a long stay, but you may be
+quite certain the earl will not remain inactive here many weeks. He is
+waiting to see how things go, and the moment the game is fairly opened
+you may be sure he will be on the move."
+
+"Yes, I don't suppose you will be very long after me," Jack said;
+"still, I am not sorry to go."
+
+At seven o'clock in the evening Jack set out, taking with him two
+dragoons as orderlies, the earl having suggested that he should do so.
+
+"Always do a thing yourself if it is possible, Captain Stilwell; but
+there are times when you must be doing something else, and it is as well
+to have some one that you can rely upon; besides, the orderlies will
+give you additional importance in the eyes of the peasants. Most of the
+men have picked up some Spanish, but you had better pick out two of my
+orderlies who are best up in it."
+
+Jack had spent the afternoon in making a round of calls at the houses
+where he had been entertained, and after the exchange of adieus,
+ceremonial speeches, and compliments, he was heartily glad when the
+gates closed behind him and he set out on his journey. As the road
+did not pass anywhere near the Spanish camp there was little fear of
+interruption in the way. The guide led them by little frequented tracks
+across the hills, and by morning they were far on their road.
+
+They were frequently obliged to make detours to avoid towns and villages
+favorable to King Philip. Why one town or village should take one side,
+and the next the other, was inexplicable to Jack, but it was so, and
+throughout the country this singular anomaly existed. It could be
+accounted for by a variety of causes. A popular mayor or a powerful
+landed proprietor, whose sympathies were strong with one side or the
+other, would probably be followed by the townspeople or peasants. The
+influence of the priests, too, was great, and this also was divided.
+However it was, the fact remained that, as with Villa Real and Nules,
+neighboring towns were frequently enthusiastically in favor of opposite
+parties. As Jack had seen all the dispatches and letters which poured
+in to the earl, he knew what were the circumstances which prevailed in
+every town and village. He knew to what residences of large proprietors
+he could ride up with an assurance of welcome, and those which must be
+carefully avoided.
+
+In some parts of the journey, where the general feeling was hostile,
+Jack adopted the tactics of his general, riding boldly into the village
+with his two dragoons clattering behind him, summoning the head men
+before him, and peremptorily ordering that provisions and forage should
+be got together for the five hundred horsemen who might be expected to
+come in half an hour. The terror caused by Peterborough's raids was
+so great that the mere sight of the English uniform was sufficient to
+insure obedience, and without any adventure of importance Jack and his
+companions rode on, until, on the third day after leaving Valencia,
+they approached Lerida. Groups of armed peasants hurrying in the same
+direction were now overtaken. These saluted Jack with shouts of welcome,
+and he learned that, on the previous day, Marshal Tesse with his army
+had crossed from Arragon into Catalonia, and that the alarm bells had
+been rung throughout the district.
+
+From the peasants Jack learned where the Count of Cifuentes would be
+found. It was in a village among the hills, to the left of the line
+by which the enemy were advancing. It was toward this place that the
+peasants were hastening. Jack had frequently met the count at the siege
+of Barcelona, and had taken a strong liking for the gallant and dashing
+Spanish nobleman. The village was crowded with peasants armed with all
+sorts of weapons--rough, hardy, resolute men, determined to defend their
+country to the last against the invaders. A shout of satisfaction arose
+as Jack and his two troopers rode in, and at the sound the count himself
+appeared at the door of the principal house in the village.
+
+"Ah, Senor Stilwell," he said, "this in an unexpected pleasure. I
+thought that you were with the earl in Valencia."
+
+"So I have been, count, but he has sent me hither with a dispatch for
+you, and, as you will see by its contents, places me for awhile at your
+disposal."
+
+"I am pleased indeed to hear it," the count said; "but pray, senor--"
+
+"Captain, count," Jack said with a smile, "for to such rank the earl has
+been pleased to promote me as a recognition for such services as I was
+able to perform in his campaign against Valencia."
+
+"Ah," the count said, "you earned it well. Every man in that wonderful
+force deserved promotion. It was an almost miraculous adventure, and
+recalled the feats of the Cid. Truly the days of chivalry are not
+passed; your great earl has proved the contrary."
+
+They had now entered the house, and, after pouring out a cup of wine
+for Jack after the fatigue of his ride, the count opened the dispatch of
+which Jack was the bearer.
+
+"It is well." he said when he had read it. "As you see for yourself I am
+already preparing to carry out the first part, for the alarm bells have
+been ringing out from every church tower in this part of Catalonia, and
+in another twenty-four hours I expect six thousand peasants will be
+out. But, as the earl says, I have no hope with such levies as these of
+offering any effectual opposition to the advance of the enemy.
+
+"The Miquelets cannot stand against disciplined troops. They have
+no confidence in themselves, and a thousand Frenchmen could rout six
+thousand of them; but as irregulars they can be trusted to fight. You
+shall give me the advantage of your experience and wide knowledge, and
+we will dispute every pass, cut off their convoys, and harass them. I
+warrant that they will have to move as a body, for it will go hard with
+any party who may be detached from the rest."
+
+"I fear, count, you must not rely in any way upon my knowledge," Jack
+said. "I am a very young officer, though I have had the good fortune to
+be promoted to the rank of captain."
+
+"Age goes for nothing in this warfare," the count said. "The man of
+seventy and the boy of fifteen who can aim straight from behind a rock
+are equally welcome. It is not a deep knowledge of military science that
+will be of any use to us here. What is wanted is a quick eye, a keen
+spirit, and courage. These I know that you have, or you would never have
+won the approbation of the Earl of Peterborough, who is, of all men,
+the best judge on such matters. Now I will order supper to be got ready
+soon, as it must, I am sure, be long since you had food. While it is
+being prepared I will, with your permission, go out and inspect the
+new arrivals. Fortunately, ten days ago, foreseeing that Tesse would
+probably advance by this line, I sent several wagon loads of provisions
+to this village, and a store of ammunition."
+
+Jack accompanied the count into the street of the village. The latter
+went about among the peasants with a kindly word of welcome to each,
+giving them the cheering news that though the great English general was
+occupied in Valencia, he had promised that, when the time came, he would
+come with all haste to the defense of Barcelona, and in the mean time
+he had sent an officer of his own staff to assist him to lead the noble
+Catalans in the defense of their country. On the steps of the church the
+priest, with half a dozen willing assistants, was distributing food from
+the wagons to the peasants.
+
+"Don't open the ammunition wagon tonight," the count said. "The men must
+not take as much as they like, but the ammunition must be served out
+regularly, for a Catalan will never believe that he has too much powder,
+and if left alone the first comers would load themselves with it, and
+the supply would run short before all are provided."
+
+The count then entered the church, where a party of men were occupied
+in putting down a thick layer of straw. Here as many as could find room
+were to sleep, the others sheltering in the houses and barns, for the
+nights were still very cold among the hills. Having seen that all was
+going on well, the count returned to his quarters, where a room had been
+assigned to Jack's two dragoons, and the sound of loud laughter from
+within showed that they were making themselves at home with the inmates.
+
+A well cooked repast was soon on the table, and to this Jack and his
+host did full justice.
+
+"This wine is excellent; surely it does not grow on these hills!"
+
+"No," the count said, laughing. "I am ready to run the risk of being
+killed, but I do not want to be poisoned, so I sent up a score or two
+of flasks from my own cellars. The vineyards of Cifuentes are reckoned
+among the first in this part of Spain. And now," he said, when they had
+finished and the table had been cleared, "we will take a look at the map
+and talk over our plans. The enemy leave Lerida tomorrow. I have already
+ordered that the whole country along their line of march shall be
+wasted, that all stores of corn, wine, and forage which cannot be
+carried off shall be destroyed, and that every horse and every head
+of cattle shall be driven away. I have also ordered the wells to be
+poisoned."
+
+Jack looked grave. "I own that I don't like that," he said.
+
+"I do not like it myself," the count replied; "but if an enemy invades
+your country you must oppose him by all means. Water is one of the
+necessaries of life, and as one can't carry off the wells one must
+render them useless; but I don't wish to kill in this way, and have
+given strict orders that in every case where poison is used, a placard,
+with a notice that it has been done, shall be affixed to the wells."
+
+"In that case," Jack said, "I quite approve of what you have done,
+count; the wells then simply cease to exist as sources of supply."
+
+"I wish I could poison all the running streams too," the count said;
+"but unfortunately they are beyond us, and there are so many little
+streams caused by the melting snow on the hills that I fear we shall not
+be able greatly to straiten the enemy. At daybreak tomorrow I will mount
+with you, and we will ride some twenty miles along the road and select
+the spots where a sturdy resistance can best be made. By the time we get
+back here most of the peasants who are coming will have assembled. These
+we will form into bands, some to hold the passes and to dispute the
+advance, others to hang upon the skirts and annoy them incessantly, some
+to close in behind, cut off wagons that break down or lag by the way,
+and to prevent, if possible, any convoys from the rear from joining
+them."
+
+This programme was carried out. Several spots were settled on where an
+irregular force could oppose a stout resistance to trained troops, and
+points were fixed upon where breastworks should be thrown up, walls
+utilized, and houses loopholed and placed in a state of defense.
+
+It was late in the afternoon before they rode again into the village.
+The gathering of peasants was now very largely increased, and extended
+over the fields for some distance round the place. The count at once
+gave orders that all should form up in regular order according to the
+villages from which they came. When this was done he divided them into
+four groups.
+
+The first, two thousand strong, was intended to hold the passes; two
+others, each one thousand strong, were to operate upon the flanks of the
+enemy; and a fourth, of the same strength, to act in its rear.
+
+"Now, Captain Stilwell," he said, "will you take the command of
+whichever of these bodies you choose?"
+
+"I thank you, count, for the offer," Jack said, "but I will take no
+command whatever. In the first place, your Catalans would very strongly
+object to being led by a foreigner, especially by one so young and
+unknown as myself. In the second place, I would rather, with your
+permission, remain by your side. You will naturally command the force
+that opposes the direct attack, and, as the bulk of the fighting
+will fall on them, I should prefer being there. I will act as your
+lieutenant."
+
+"Well, since you choose it, perhaps it is best so," the count said.
+"These peasants fight best their own way. They are given to sudden
+retreats, but they rally quickly and return again to the fight, and they
+will probably fight better under their own local leaders than under a
+stranger. You will see they have no idea of fighting in a body; the men
+of each village will fight together and act independently of the rest.
+Many of them, you see, are headed by priests, not a few of whom have
+brought rifles with them. These will generally lead their own villagers,
+and their authority is far greater than that which any layman could
+obtain over them. I must appoint a leader to each body to direct their
+general movements; the village chiefs will do the rest."
+
+While the count had been absent several other gentlemen of good family
+had arrived in the village, some marching in with the peasants on their
+estates. Three of these were appointed to lead the three bands destined
+for the flank and rear attacks. The next three hours were devoted to the
+distribution of provisions and ammunition, each man taking four days'
+supply of the former, and receiving sufficient powder and bullets for
+forty rounds of the latter. All were ordered to be in readiness to march
+two hours before daybreak.
+
+The count then retired to his quarters, and there pointed out on the map
+to the three divisional leaders the spots where he intended to make a
+stand, and gave them instructions as to their respective shares of the
+operations. Their orders were very general. They were to post their men
+on the side hills, and as much behind cover as possible, to keep up a
+galling fire at the column, occasionally to show in threatening masses
+as if about to charge down, so as to cause as much alarm and confusion
+as possible, and, should at any point the nature of the ground favor
+it, they were to dash down upon the baggage train and to hamstring the
+horses, smash the wheels, and create as much damage as they could, and
+to fall back upon the approach of a strong body of the enemy. Those in
+the rear were to press closely up so as to necessitate a strong force
+being kept there to oppose them. But their principal duties were to hold
+the passes, and to prevent any convoys, unless very strongly guarded,
+from reaching the enemy from his base at Saragossa.
+
+After these instructions had been given supper was spread, and some
+fifteen or twenty of the principal persons who had joined were invited
+by the count, and a pleasant evening was spent.
+
+It was interesting to Jack to observe the difference between this
+gathering and that which had taken place in the Earl of Peterborough's
+quarters on the evening before the attack on San Matteo. There, although
+many considered that the prospects of success on the following day were
+slight indeed, all was merriment and mirth. The whole party were in the
+highest spirits, and the brilliant wit of the earl, and his reckless
+spirit of fun, had kept the party in continual laughter.
+
+The tone on the contrary at the present gathering was quiet and almost
+stiff. These grave Catalan nobles, fresh from their country estates,
+contrasted strongly with the more lively and joyous inhabitants of
+Valencia. Each addressed the other with ceremony, and listened with
+grave attention to the remarks of each speaker in turn.
+
+During the whole evening nothing approaching to a joke was made, there
+was scarcely a smile upon the countenance of any present; and yet the
+tone of courtliness and deference to the opinions of each other, the
+grave politeness, the pride with which each spoke of his country, their
+enthusiasm in the cause, and the hatred with which they spoke of the
+enemy, impressed Jack very favorably; and though, as he said to himself
+when thinking it over, the evening had certainly not been a lively one,
+it had by no means been unpleasant.
+
+Two hours before daybreak the bell of the church gave the signal. As
+the men had only to rise to their feet, shake themselves, take up their
+arms, and sling their bags of provisions round their necks, it was but a
+few minutes before they were formed up in order. The count saw the three
+divisions file off silently in the darkness, and then, placing himself
+at the head of the main body, led the way toward the spot which he and
+Jack had selected for opposing the march of Tesse's invading column.
+
+Daylight was just breaking when they reached it, and the count ordered
+the men to pile their arms and at once to set to work. The road, which
+had been winding along in a valley, here mounted a sharp rise, on the
+very brow of which stood a hamlet of some twenty houses. It had already
+been deserted by the inhabitants, and the houses were taken possession
+of by the workers. Those facing the brow of the hill were loopholed,
+as were the walls along the same line. Men were set to work to build a
+great barricade across the road, and to run breastworks of stones right
+and left from the points where the walls ended along the brow. Other
+parties loopholed the houses and walls of the village, and formed
+another barricade across the road at the other end. With two thousand
+men at work these tasks were soon carried out; and the count then led
+the men down the hill, whose face was covered with loose stones, and set
+them to work piling these in lines one above another.
+
+At ten o'clock in the morning the work was complete. The count told
+the men off by parties, each of which were to hold one of the lines of
+stones; each party was, as the French charged, to retire up the hill and
+join that at the line above, so that their resistance would become more
+and more obstinate till the village itself was reached. Here a stand was
+to be made as long as possible. If the column advanced only by the road,
+every house was to be held; if they spread out in line so as to overlap
+the village on both sides, a rapid retreat was to be made when the
+bugler by the count's side gave the signal.
+
+The men sat down to breakfast in their allotted places, quiet, grave,
+and stern; and again the contrast with the laughter and high spirits
+which prevail among English soldiers, when fighting is expected, struck
+Jack very forcibly.
+
+"They would make grand soldiers if properly trained, these grave,
+earnest looking men," he said to himself. "They look as if they could
+endure any amount of fatigue and hardship; and although they don't take
+things in the same cheerful light our men do, no one can doubt their
+courage. I can quite understand now the fact that the Spanish infantry
+was once considered the finest in Europe. If they only had leaders and
+discipline Spain would not want any foreign aid; her own people would be
+more than a match for any army the French could send across the northern
+frontier."
+
+The meal was scarcely finished when, at the end of the valley, some
+three miles away, a cloud of dust was seen to rise with the sparkle of
+the sun on arms and accouterments.
+
+"There are Tesse's cavalry!" the count exclaimed. "Another half hour
+will cause a transformation in this quiet valley."
+
+The head of the column came on but slowly, the cavalry regiment forming
+it accommodating their pace to that of the infantry and baggage wagons
+in the rear. Slowly they moved on, until the bottom of the valley
+appeared covered with a moving mass extending from the end, three
+miles away, to within half a mile of the foot of the hill on which the
+Spaniards were posted. Suddenly from the hillsides on the left puffs of
+smoke darted out, and instantly a similar fire was opened on the right.
+
+"They are at work at last," Jack exclaimed as the rattle of musketry
+sounded loud and continuous. "I wondered when they were going to begin."
+
+"I told them to let the column pass nearly to the head of the valley
+before they opened fire," the count said. "Had they begun soon after the
+enemy entered the valley, they would have left all their baggage behind
+under a guard, and the infantry would have been free to attack the hills
+at once. Now they are all crowded up in the valley--horse, foot, and
+baggage. The wounded horses will become unmanageable, and there is sure
+to be confusion, though perhaps not panic. See, they are answering our
+fire! They might as well save their powder, for they are only throwing
+away ammunition by firing away at the hillside."
+
+This indeed was the case; for Jack, although in the course of the
+morning he had frequently watched the hillside for signs of the other
+parties, had not made out the slightest movement, so completely were the
+men hidden behind rocks and bushes.
+
+Strong bodies of infantry were thrown out by Tesse on both flanks,
+and these began to climb the hills, keeping up a heavy fire at their
+concealed foe, while the main column continued its way.
+
+Not a shot was fired by the Spanish until the head of the column was
+within a hundred yards of the foot of the rise, and then from the whole
+face of the hill a heavy fire was opened. The enemy recoiled, and for a
+time there was great confusion near the head of the column; an officer
+of high rank dashed up, and the troops formed out into a line across the
+whole width of the valley and then moved forward steadily; so heavy were
+their losses, however, that they presently came to a standstill. But
+reinforcements coming up, they again pressed forward, firing as they
+went.
+
+Not until they were within twenty yards did the Miquelets lining the
+lower wall of rocks leave their post, and, covered by the smoke, gain
+with little loss the line next above them. Slowly the enemy won their
+way uphill, suffering heavily as they did so, and continually being
+reinforced from the rear. At the last wall the peasants, gathered now
+together, maintained a long resistance; and it was not until fully four
+thousand of the enemy were brought up that the position was seriously
+threatened. Then their leader, seeing that they would sustain very heavy
+loss if the enemy carried the wall by assault, ordered his trumpeter to
+sound the retreat. It was at once obeyed, and by the time the French had
+crossed the wall the peasants had already passed out at the other end of
+the village.
+
+As the French cavalry had not been able to pass the lower walls there
+was no pursuit. The peasants rallied after a rapid flight of a mile.
+Their loss had been small, while that of the French had been very
+considerable; and the marshal halted his troops round the village for
+the day.
+
+The result of the fighting added to the resolution of the peasants,
+and as soon as the French continued their route the next morning the
+fighting began again. It was a repetition of that of the preceding day.
+The enemy had to contest every foot of the ground, and were exposed to
+a galling fire along the whole line of their march. Many times they made
+desperate efforts to drive the peasants from the hillsides; sometimes
+they were beaten back with heavy loss, and when they succeeded it was
+only to find the positions they attacked deserted and their active
+defenders already beyond musket fire. At night they had no respite; the
+enemy swarmed round their camp, shot down the sentries, and attacked
+with such boldness that the marshal was obliged to keep a large number
+of his men constantly under arms.
+
+At last, worn out by fatigue and fighting, the weary army emerged from
+the hills into the wide valleys, where their cavalry were able to act,
+and the ground no longer offered favorable positions of defense to
+the peasantry. Seeing the uselessness of further attacks, the Count of
+Cifuentes drew off his peasants; and Tesse marched on to Barcelona and
+effected a junction with the troops from Roussillon under the Duke de
+Noailles, who had come down by the way of Gerona. The town was at once
+invested on the land side; while the Count of Toulouse, with thirty
+French ships, blockaded it from the sea.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII: THE FRENCH CONVOY
+
+
+A report having arrived at the camp of the Count of Cifuentes that the
+peasants around Saragossa had risen in insurrection, Jack thought that
+he should be doing more good by discovering the truth of the rumor, and
+by keeping the earl informed of the state of things in the enemy's rear,
+than by remaining with the count. He hesitated whether he should take
+his two orderlies with him, but as they were well mounted he decided
+that they should accompany him, as they would add to his authority, and
+would, in case of need, enable him the better to assume the position of
+an officer riding in advance of a considerable force.
+
+After a hearty adieu from the Count of Cifuentes, he started soon after
+daybreak. After riding for some hours, just as he reached the top of a
+rise, up which he had walked his horse, one of the orderlies, who were
+riding a few paces behind him, rode up.
+
+"I think, Captain Stilwell," he said, "I hear the sound of firing. Brown
+thinks he hears it too."
+
+Jack reined in his horse.
+
+"I hear nothing," he said, after a pause of a minute.
+
+"I don't hear it now, sir," the man said. "I think it came down on a
+puff of wind.. If you wait a minute or two I think you will hear it."
+
+Jack waited another two minutes, and then was about to resume his
+journey, when suddenly a faint sound came upon the wind.
+
+"You are right, Thompson," he exclaimed, "that's firing, sure enough. It
+must be a convoy attacked by peasants."
+
+He touched his horse with the spur and galloped forward. Two miles
+further on, crossing the brow, they saw, half a mile ahead of them in
+the dip of the valley, a number of wagons huddled together. On either
+side of the road men were lying, and the spurts of smoke that rose from
+these, as well as from the wagons, proved that they were still stoutly
+defending themselves. A light smoke rose from every bush and rock on the
+hillsides around, showing how numerous were the assailants. Leaving
+the road, Jack galloped toward the hill. Presently several balls came
+singing round them.
+
+"They think we are French, sir," one of the troopers said. "I guess they
+don't know much about uniforms."
+
+Jack drew out a white handkerchief and waved it as he rode forward,
+shouting as he did, "English, English." The fire ceased, and the little
+party soon reached the spot where the peasants were lying thickly in
+their ambushes.
+
+"I am an English officer," Jack said as he leaped from his horse. "Where
+is your leader?"
+
+"There is one of them," a peasant said, pointing to a priest, who, with
+a long musket in his hand, rose from behind a log.
+
+"Reverend father," Jack said, "I have come from the Earl of Peterborough
+with a mission to understand how matters go in Arragon, and to ascertain
+what force would be likely to join him in this province against the
+invader."
+
+"You see for yourself how things go," the priest said. "I am glad to
+see an officer of the great Earl of Peterborough, whose exploits
+have excited the admiration of all Spain. To whom have I the honor of
+speaking?"
+
+"I am Captain Stilwell, one of the earl's aides de camp; and you,
+father?"
+
+"I am Ignacio Bravos, the humble padre of the village of San Aldephonso.
+And now, Captain Stilwell, if you will excuse me till we make an end of
+these accursed Frenchmen, afterward I will be at your service."
+
+For another two hour's the conflict continued. Jack saw that the fire
+of the defenders of the wagons was decreasing, and he was not surprised
+when a white handkerchief was raised on the top of a bayonet and waved
+in the air in token of desire to parley. A shout of exultation rose from
+the Spaniards. The priest showed himself on the hillside.
+
+"Do you surrender?" he shouted.
+
+"We surrender the wagons," an officer called back, "on condition that we
+are allowed to march off with our arms without molestation."
+
+A shout of refusal rose from the peasants, and the firing was instantly
+renewed. Jack went and sat down by the side of the priest.
+
+"Father," he said, "it were best to give these men the terms they ask.
+War is not massacre."
+
+"Quite so, my son," the priest replied coolly. "That is what you should
+have told Marshal Tesse. It is he who has chosen to make it massacre.
+Why, man, he has shot and hung hundreds in cold blood in and around
+Saragossa, has burned numerous villages in the neighborhood, and put
+man, woman, and child to the sword."
+
+"Then, if this be so, father, I should say, by all means hang Marshal
+Tesse when you catch him, but do not punish the innocent for the guilty.
+You must remember that these men have been taken away from their
+homes in France, and forced to fight in quarrels in which they have no
+concern. Like yourself, they are Catholics. Above all, remember how many
+scores of villages are at present at the mercy of the French. If the
+news comes to the marshal that you have refused quarter to his soldiers,
+he will have a fair excuse for taking vengeance on such of your
+countrymen as may be in his power."
+
+"There is something in that," the priest said. "For myself I have no
+pity, not a scrap of it, for these Frenchmen, nor would you have, had
+you seen as much of their doings as I have, nor do I think that any
+retribution that we might deal out to the men could increase Tesse's
+hatred and ferocity toward us."
+
+"Still, it might serve as an excuse," Jack urged. "Remember the eyes
+of Europe are upon this struggle, and that the report of wholesale
+slaughter of your enemies will not influence public opinion in your
+favor."
+
+"Public opinion goes for nothing," the priest said shortly.
+
+"Pardon me, father," Jack replied. "The English and Dutch and the Duke
+of Savoy are all fighting in your favor, and we may even boast that had
+it not been for the Earl of Peterborough and the allies the chains of
+France would be riveted firmly round your necks. You will tell me, no
+doubt, that they are fighting for their own political ends, and from no
+true love for the Spanish people. That may be so, but you must remember
+that although governments begin wars it is the people who carry them on.
+Let the people of England and Holland hear, as they will hear, of the
+brutal ferocity of the French marshal on a defenseless people, and their
+sympathies will be strongly with you. They will urge their governments
+to action, and vote willingly the necessary sums for carrying on the
+war. Let them hear that with you too war is massacre, that you take no
+prisoners, and kill all that fall into your hands, and, believe me, the
+public will soon grow sick of the war carried on with such cruelty on
+both sides."
+
+"You are right, my son," the priest said frankly. "Young as you are, you
+have seen more of the world than I, who, since I left the University of
+Salamanca, have never been ten miles from my native village. I will do
+what I can to put a stop to this matter. But I am not solely in command
+here. I lead my own village, but there are the men of a score of
+villages lying on these hills. But I will summon all the chiefs to a
+council now."
+
+The priest called half a dozen of the peasants to him, and dispatched
+them with orders to bring all the other leaders to take part in a
+council with an English officer who had arrived from the great Earl of
+Peterborough.
+
+In half an hour some twenty men were assembled in a little hollow on the
+hillside, where they were sheltered from the fire of the French. Four
+or five of these were priests. There were two or three innkeepers. The
+remainder were small landed proprietors. Father Ignacio first addressed
+them. He stated that the English officer had come on a mission from the
+earl, and had arrived accidentally while the fight was going on, and
+that he was of opinion that the French offer of surrender should be
+accepted. A murmur of dissent went round the circle.
+
+"I was at first of your opinion," the priest said, "but the reasons
+which this English officer has given me in support of his advice have
+brought me round to his way of thinking. I will leave him to state them
+to you."
+
+Jack now rose to his feet, and repeated the arguments which he had used
+to the priest. He gathered from the faces of his hearers that, although
+some were convinced that mercy would be the best policy, others were
+still bent upon revenge. Father Ignacio then, in language which he
+thought best suited to touch his hearers, repeated Jack's arguments,
+urging very strongly the vengeance which the French marshal would be
+sure to take upon the Spanish population of the country through which he
+was passing when he heard the news.
+
+"Besides," Jack said, when he had finished, "you must remember you have
+not conquered the enemy yet. I see the officer has withdrawn all his men
+among the wagons, where their shelter will be nearly as good as yours.
+They have, doubtless, abundant stores of ammunition in those wagons,
+together with food and wine, and if you force them to fight to the last
+man they can hold out for a very long time, and will inflict a heavy
+loss upon your men before they are overcome."
+
+"But why should they take their weapons with them?" one of the men said;
+"they will be useful to us. Why should we let them carry them away to
+kill more Spaniards?"
+
+"The reason why I would let them take their arms is this," Jack said.
+"Unless they march away armed you will not be able to restrain your
+followers, who will be likely to break any convention you may make and
+to massacre them without mercy. As to the arms being used again against
+you, I will put the officers under their parole that they and their men
+shall not take any further part in the war until they are exchanged for
+an equal number of prisoners taken by the French."
+
+"Who would trust to a Frenchman's word?" a man asked scoffingly.
+
+"I would trust to a French officer's word as much as to that of an
+English officer," Jack replied. "You would expect them to trust to your
+word that they should be safe if they laid down their arms; and yet, as
+you know, you might not be able to keep it. Better a thousand times
+that a handful of French officers and men should be allowed to join the
+enemy's ranks than that the national honor of Spain should be soiled by
+a massacre perpetrated just after a surrender."
+
+"The Englishman is right," Father Ignacio said positively. "Let us waste
+no further words on it. Besides, I have a reason of my own. I started
+before daybreak without breakfast and have got nothing but a piece of
+dry bread with me. If we don't accept these fellows' surrender we may
+be on the hillside all night, and I told my servant that I should have
+a larded capon and a flask of my best wine for dinner. That is an
+argument, my sons, which I am sure comes home to you all; and remember,
+if we accept the surrender we shall soon quench our thirst on the good
+wine which, I doubt not, is contained in some of the barrels I see down
+yonder."
+
+There was a hearty laugh and the question was settled; and it was
+arranged at once that Father Ignacio, one of the other leaders, and Jack
+should treat with the enemy. The other leaders hurried away to their
+respective sections to order them to cease firing when a white flag was
+raised; and, having given them twenty minutes to get to their several
+posts, a white handkerchief was waved in the air. The Spanish fire
+ceased at once, and as soon as the French perceived the flag they also
+stopped firing.
+
+"We are coming down, three of us, to discuss matters with you," Father
+Ignacio shouted out.
+
+The three accordingly descended the hill, and when within a short
+distance of the wagons were met by the officer in command of the convoy
+and two others.
+
+"We have come to discuss the terms of your surrender," Jack said. "I am
+Captain Stilwell, one of Lord Peterborough's aides de camp. You see your
+position is desperate."
+
+"Not quite desperate," the French officer replied; "we have plenty of
+ammunition and abundance of provisions, and can hold out for a long
+time, till rescue comes."
+
+"There is little chance of rescue," Jack said. "Your marshal has his
+hands full where he is; and even did he hear of your situation and
+detach a force back to your rescue, neither of which he is likely to do,
+that force would have to fight every foot of its way, and assuredly not
+arrive in time. Nor is there any more chance of your receiving succor
+from the rear. You have made a gallant defense, sir, and might perhaps
+hold out for many hours yet; but of what use is it sacrificing the lives
+of your men in a vain resistance?"
+
+"What is your proposal?" the officer asked.
+
+"We propose," Jack said, "to allow you to march out with your arms and
+five rounds of ammunition to each man, on you and your officers giving
+me your parole to consider yourselves and your men as prisoners of war,
+and not to serve again until exchanged."
+
+The terms were far better than the French officer had looked for.
+
+"I may tell you," Father Ignacio said, "that for these terms you are
+indebted solely to this English officer. Had it depended upon us only,
+rest assured that no one of you would have gone away alive."
+
+"You will understand," Jack said, "that you will be allowed to take your
+arms solely as a protection against the peasants, who have been justly
+enraged by the brutal atrocities of your general. You know well that
+even could their leaders here obtain from their followers a respect for
+the terms of surrender, your men would be massacred in the first village
+through which they passed were they deprived of their arms. My friends
+here are desirous that no stigma of massacre shall rest upon the Spanish
+honor, and they have therefore agreed to allow your men to keep their
+arms for purposes of defense on their return march."
+
+After a few words with his fellow officers the commander of the convoy
+agreed to the terms. "You will, however," he said, "permit me to
+take with me one or more wagons, as may be required, to carry off my
+wounded?"
+
+This was at once agreed to, and in ten minutes the two companies of
+French infantry were in readiness to march. There were forty wounded
+in the wagons, and twenty-seven dead were left behind them. The French
+officer in command, before marching off, thanked Jack very heartily for
+his interference on their behalf.
+
+"I tell you frankly, Captain Stilwell," he said, "that I had no hopes
+whatever that I or any of my men would leave the ground alive, for these
+Spaniards invariably massacre prisoners who fall into their hands. I
+could not have left my wounded behind me; and even if I had resolved
+to do so, the chances of our fighting our way back in safety would have
+been small indeed. We owe you our lives, sir; and should it ever be in
+the power of Major Ferre to repay the debt, you may rely upon me."
+
+"I trust that the fortune of war may never place me in a position when I
+may need to recall your promise," Jack said, smiling; "but should it do
+so, I will not fail to remind you if I get a chance."
+
+All was now ready for the march. Two wagons which had been hastily
+emptied were, with the wounded men, placed in the center, and the
+French, numbering now less than a hundred, started on their march. The
+Spanish peasants remained in their places on the hillside till they had
+departed, as the leaders had agreed that it was better they should be
+kept away from the vicinity of the French, as a quarrel would be
+certain to take place did they come to close quarters. The peasants
+were indignant at what they deemed the escape of their enemies; but the
+desire of plunder soon overcame other considerations, and as soon as the
+French had marched off they poured down from the hills. Their leaders,
+however, restrained them from indiscriminate plundering. There were in
+all eighty-seven wagons loaded with wine, corn, flour, and provisions
+for the use of the army.
+
+An equal division was made of these among the various bands of peasants
+in proportion to their strength. A few casks of wine were broached. The
+peasants then buried their own dead--who were very few in number, so
+securely had they been sheltered in their hiding places--and then the
+force broke up, each party marching with its proportion of wagons back
+to its village.
+
+"Now, Signor Capitano," Father Ignacio said, "I trust that you will come
+home with me. My village is six miles away, and I will do my best to
+make you comfortable. Hitherto you have seen me only as a man of war. I
+can assure you that I am much more estimable in my proper character as a
+man of peace. And let me tell you, my cook is excellent; the wine of
+the village is famous in the province, and I have some in my cellars ten
+years old."
+
+"I cannot resist such a number of good arguments," Jack said, smiling,
+"and till tomorrow morning I am at your service; but I warn you that
+my appetite just at present is ravenous, and that my two dragoons
+are likely to make a serious inroad upon the larders of your village,
+however well supplied."
+
+"They will be welcome," the priest said, "and I guarantee the larders
+will prove sufficiently well stocked. Fortunately, although nearly every
+village in the neighborhood has been raided by the French, owing to our
+good fortune and the interposition of the blessed San Aldephonso our
+village has escaped a visit."
+
+The party under Father Ignacio soon turned off from the main road, and,
+with the six wagons which fell to their share, journeyed along a. rough
+country road until they reached the village. Father Ignacio sat on the
+leading wagon, and Jack rode alongside chatting with him. The priest was
+a stout built man, with a good humored countenance and merry twinkle of
+the eye, and Jack wondered what could have been the special wrong that
+induced him to take up a musket and lead his flock to the attack of a
+French convoy.
+
+"Katherine!" he shouted as the wagon stopped in front of his house and
+a buxom serving woman appeared at the door, "dinner as quickly as
+possible, for we are starving; and let it be not only quick, but
+plentiful. Lay a cover for this gentleman, who will dine with me; and
+prepare an ample supply of food in the kitchen for these two English
+soldiers, who have come across the sea to fight for the good cause.
+
+"And now," he said to Jack, "while dinner is preparing I must distribute
+the spoil."
+
+The wagons were unloaded and their contents divided among the men who
+had take a part in the expedition, his flock insisting upon the padre
+taking a bountiful share.
+
+The mules and bullocks in the wagons were similarly divided, in this
+case one being given to each family; for there were but thirty animals,
+while the fighting contingent from the village had numbered nearly
+eighty men. There were five or six animals over when the division had
+been made, and these were given, in addition to their proper share, to
+the families of three men who had been killed in the fight.
+
+"Now, my sons," the padre said when all was done, "take your axes and
+fall upon the wagons. A wagon is a thing to swear by. Every man knows
+his own goods; and should the French ever visit our village again these
+wagons might cost us dear. Therefore let them be made into firewood as
+quickly as possible, and let them all be consumed before other fuel is
+touched. And now, capitano, I think that Katherine will be ready for
+us."
+
+So saying he led the way back into his house. A capital meal was
+provided, and Jack found that the priest had by no means over praised
+either his cook or his cellar. After the meal was over and the two had
+drawn their chairs up to the hearth, on which was blazing brightly some
+wood which Jack recognized as forming part of one of the wagons, and the
+priest had placed on a small table close at hand a large flask which he
+had himself gone into the cellar to fetch, Jack said:
+
+"How is it, father, that, as you told me, you have seen such acts
+of brutality on the part of the French as to cause you to wage a war
+without mercy against them, when, as you say, they have never penetrated
+to your village? Your reasons must be strong, for your profession is a
+peaceful one. You do not look like a man who would rush into deeds of
+violence for their own sake, and your cook and your cellar offer you
+strong inducements to remain at home."
+
+"That is so, my son," the priest said with a laugh. "I am, as you may
+see, an easygoing man, well contented with my lot, and envy not the
+Bishop of Toledo; but you know it is said that even a worm will turn,
+and so you have seen the peaceful priest enacting the part of the
+bloodthirsty captain. But, my son,"--and his face grew grave now--"you
+can little imagine the deeds which the ferocious Tesse has enacted
+here in Arragon. When warring with you English the French behave like
+a civilized nation; when warring with us Spanish peasants, who have no
+means of making our wrongs known to the world, they behave worse than
+a horde of brutal savages. But I will tell you the circumstances which
+have driven me to place myself at the head of my parishioners, to wage a
+war of extermination with the French, and to deny mercy to every one of
+that accursed nation who may fall into my hands. I have a brother--or
+rather I should say I had one--a well to do farmer who lived at a
+village some six miles from Saragossa. He had an only daughter, who was
+to be married to the son of a neighboring proprietor. A handsome, high
+spirited lad he was, and devoted to Nina. They were to have been married
+some three months ago, and they wrote to me to go over to perform the
+ceremony.
+
+"I went; the wedding day arrived, and all was ready. It was a holiday in
+the village, for both were favorites. The bride was dressed; the village
+maidens and men were all in their best; the procession was about to set
+out, when a troop of dragoons rode suddenly in from Saragossa. A shot
+or two had been fired at them as they rode through a wood. When they
+arrived they dismounted, and the commander ordered the principal men
+of the village to be brought to him. My brother and the father of the
+bridegroom were among them.
+
+"'My troops have been fired at,' the Frenchman said, 'and I hold you
+responsible.'
+
+"'It was no one from this village,' my brother said; 'we have a wedding
+here, and not a soul is absent.'
+
+"'I care not,' the officer said; 'we have been fired at, and we shall
+give the people of this district a lesson.'
+
+"So without another word he turned to his soldiers and ordered them to
+fire the village from end to end.
+
+"'It is outrageous,' my brother said, and the others joined him in the
+cry. I, too, implored him to pause before having such an order carried
+into execution. His only reply was to give the order to his men.
+
+"The six principal men were seized at once, were set with their backs
+against the wall of a house, and shot."
+
+"You cannot mean it!" Jack exclaimed indignantly. "Surely such an
+outrage could never be perpetrated by civilized soldiers?"
+
+"I saw it done," the priest said bitterly. "I tried to throw myself
+between the victims and their murderers, but I was held back by force
+by the soldiers. Imagine the scene if you can--the screaming women, the
+outburst of vain fury among the men, The bridegroom, in his despair
+at seeing his father murdered, seized a stick and rushed at the French
+officer; but he, drawing a pistol, shot him dead, and the soldiers
+poured a volley into his companions, killing some eight or ten others.
+Resistance was hopeless. Those who were unwounded fled; those who fell
+were bayoneted on the spot. I took my niece's arm and led her quietly
+away. Even the French soldiers drew back before us. You should have seen
+her face. Madre de Dios! I see it now--I see it always. She died that
+night. Not one word passed her lips from the moment when her father and
+her affianced husband fell dead before her eyes. An hour later the troop
+rode off, and the people stole back to bury their dead among the ashes
+of what had been their homes. I went to Saragossa after reading the
+funeral service over them. I saw Tesse and told him of the scene I
+had witnessed, and demanded vengeance. He laughed in my face. Senor, I
+persisted, and he got angry and told me that, were it not for my cloth,
+he would hang me from the steeple. I called down Heaven's curse upon
+him, and left him and came home. Do you wonder, senor, that I found it
+hard to spare those Frenchmen for whom you pleaded? Do you wonder that
+I, a man of peace, lead out my villagers to slaughter our enemy?"
+
+"I do not, indeed!" Jack exclaimed warmly. "Such acts as these would
+stir the blood of the coldest into fire; and, priest or no priest, a man
+would be less than a man who did not try to take vengeance for so foul a
+deed. Have many massacres of this sort been perpetrated?"
+
+"Many," the priest replied, "and in no case has any redress been
+obtained by the relatives of the victims."
+
+"And throughout all Arragon, does the same hatred of the French
+prevail?"
+
+"Everywhere," the priest said.
+
+"Then King Charles would meet with an enthusiastic welcome here!"
+
+"I do not say that," the priest answered. "He would be well received,
+doubtless, simply because he is the enemy of the French; but for
+himself, no. We Arragonese cannot for the life of us see why we should
+be ruled over by a foreigner; and in some respects a German king is even
+less to be desired than a French one. The connection between the two
+Latin nations is naturally closer than between us and the Germans, and
+a French king would more readily adapt himself to our ways than would a
+stiff and thick headed German.
+
+"Apart from the recent doings of the French army Arragon would have
+preferred Philip to Charles. Moreover, Charles is looked upon as the
+choice of the Catalans and Valencians, and why should the men of Arragon
+take the king others have chosen? No, King Charles will doubtless be
+received well because he appears as the enemy of the French; but you
+will not find that the people of Arragon will make any great sacrifices
+in his behalf. Let a French army enter our province again, every man
+will rise in arms against it; but there will be little disposition to
+raise troops to follow King Charles beyond the limits of the province.
+Castile is strong for Philip; the jealousy there of the Catalans is even
+greater than here, and the fact that Arragon will go with Catalonia and
+Valencia will only render the Castilians more earnest in the cause of
+Philip. There have been several skirmishes already between bands of our
+Miquelets and those of Castile, and the whole country along the border
+is greatly disturbed."
+
+"It is a pity that Spaniards cannot agree among themselves as to who
+shall be king."
+
+"Ah, my son, but it will be very long yet before. Spaniards agree upon
+any point. It is a mistake to think of us as one nation. We are half
+a dozen nations under one king. If you are asked your nationality,
+you reply an Englishman. If you ask a Spaniard, he will reply, I am
+a Castilian or a Catalan, an Arragonese or Biscayan--never I am a
+Spaniard. We hate each other as you Scotchmen and Englishmen hated each
+other a hundred years back, and even now regard yourselves as different
+peoples. What connection is there between the hardy mountaineer of the
+northern provinces and the easygoing peasant of Valencia or Andalusia?
+Nothing. Consequently, if one part of Spain declares for one man as a
+king, you may be sure that the other will declare against him.
+
+"As long as we had great men, Spaniards, for our kings--and the descent
+went in the regular way from father to son--things went smoothly,
+because no pretender could have a shadow of claim. As between two
+foreign princes, each man has a right to choose for himself. Were there
+any Spaniard with a shadow of claim, all parties would rally round him;
+but, unfortunately, this is not so; and I foresee an epoch of war and
+trouble before the matter is settled. For myself, I tell you I would not
+give that flask of wine were I able to put the crown upon the head of
+one or other of these foreigners. Let whoever gets the crown govern well
+and strongly, tax my villagers lightly, and interfere in no way with our
+privileges, and I shall be well content, and such you will find is the
+opinion of most men in Spain. And now, tell me if there is aught that I
+can do for you. You say you must be on your way by daybreak. Tell me
+in which direction you journey, and it will be hard if I cannot find
+a friend there with whom my introduction will insure you a hearty
+welcome."
+
+"If you can tell me where are the largest gatherings of Miquelets, I
+can tell you which way I shall ride," Jack replied. "My mission is to
+ascertain what aid the king can rely upon in this province."
+
+"Three days ago there were many thousands of men under arms," the priest
+replied; "by tonight there will be less than as many hundreds. The day
+Tesse crossed the frontier with his army the greater portion of the
+bands went to their homes, and their arms will be laid aside until the
+news comes that the French army is on its return from Barcelona. I
+fancy there is but little chance of our seeing King Charles among us.
+In another day or two Tesse will be before Barcelona; and joined, as he
+will be there, by the French army marching down from Roussillon, he will
+make quick work of that town, and King Charles will have the choice of
+going to Valencia to be hunted shortly thence, or of sailing away again
+from the country in your ships."
+
+"It would seem like it," Jack agreed; "but you are reckoning without the
+Earl of Peterborough."
+
+"Your English general must be a wonder," the priest said, "a marvel; but
+he cannot accomplish impossibilities. What can he do with two or
+three thousand trained troops against twenty thousand veteran French
+soldiers?"
+
+"I cannot tell what he will do," Jack laughed; "but you may rely upon
+it that he will do something, and I would take fair odds that he will
+somehow or other save Barcelona and rid Catalonia of its invaders."
+
+"That I judge to be altogether impossible," the priest replied.
+"Anything that man could do I am ready to admit that your general
+is capable of; but I do not judge this to be within the range of
+possibilities. If you will take my advice, my son, you will not linger
+here, but will ride for Valencia and embark on board your ships with him
+when the time comes."
+
+"We shall see," Jack said, laughing. "I have faith in the improbable. It
+may not be so very long before I drop in again to drink another flask
+of your wine on my way through Arragon with King Charles on his march
+toward Madrid."
+
+"If you do, my son, I will produce a bottle of wine to which this is
+but ditch water. I have three or four stored away in my cellar which I
+preserve for great occasions. They are the remains of the cellar of my
+predecessor, as good a judge of wine as ever lived. It is forty years
+since he laid them by, and they were, he said, the best vintage he had
+ever come across. Had the good old man died ten years earlier, what
+a heritage would have been mine! but in his later years he was not so
+saving as it behooves a good man to be, and indulged in them on minor
+occasions; consequently, but two dozen remained when I succeeded to the
+charge twenty years ago. I, too, was not sufficiently chary of them to
+begin with, and all but six bottles were drunk in the first ten years.
+Since then I have been as stingy as a miser, and but two bottles have
+been opened."
+
+"I hope, father, that you have laid in a similar supply for whomsoever
+may come after you."
+
+"Surely I have, my son. Fifteen years ago I had a hogshead of the
+finest vintage in the neighborhood bricked up in my cellar. I had an
+inscription placed on the wall by which, should I be taken suddenly, my
+successor may know of the store that awaits him. At present you would
+not find the inscription did you search for it; for when those troubles
+began I filled up the letters in the stone with mortar, and gave the
+wall two or three coats of whitewash. I did not choose to run any risk
+of my grand wine going down the throats of thirsty French soldiers. It
+would be an act of sacrilege. When matters are settled, and we are at
+peace again, I will pick out the mortar from the letters; but not till
+then. I have often reflected since how short sighted it was not to have
+stowed away another hogshead for my own consumption. It would have been
+something to have looked forward to in my declining years."
+
+"Ah, father, who knows what may happen before that? The wall may fall
+down, and then naturally you would wish to see whether the wine is in
+as good a condition as it should be. Besides, you will say to yourself,
+why, when my successor left me but a miserable two dozen of that grand
+wine of his, should I bequeath a whole hogshead to him who may come
+after me, and who, moreover, may be so bad a judge of wine that he will
+value my treasure no more than an equal quantity of the rough country
+vintage?"
+
+"Avaunt, tempter!" the priest said, laughing. "But," he added more
+seriously, "you have frightened me. I never thought of that. I have
+always pictured my successor as a man who would appreciate good wine
+as I do myself. Truly, it would be a terrible misfortune did he not
+do so--a veritable throwing of pearls before swine. Now that you have
+presented this dreadful idea it will be ever in my mind. I shall no
+longer think of my hogshead with unmixed satisfaction."
+
+"The idea is a terrible one, truly," Jack said gravely, "and to prevent
+it I would advise you when the time of peace arrives to open your
+cave, to bottle off your wine, and to secure its being appreciated by
+indulging in it yourself on special occasions and holidays, taking care
+always to leave a store equal to, or even superior to, that which you
+yourself inherited."
+
+"I will think it over, my son, and it may be that I shall take your
+advice. Such a misfortune as that which you have suggested is too
+terrible to think of."
+
+"It is so, father, terrible indeed; and I feel confident that you will
+do the best in your power to prevent the possibility of its occurrence.
+Besides, you know, wine may be kept even too long. I judge you not to be
+more than forty-five now; with so good a cook and so good a cellar you
+may reasonably expect to live to the age of eighty; there is, therefore,
+plenty of time for you to lay in another hogshead to mature for your
+successor."
+
+The priest burst into a roar of laughter, in which Jack joined him.
+
+"Your reasoning powers are admirable," he said when he recovered his
+gravity, "and you have completely convinced me. An hour ago if it had
+been suggested to me that I should open that cellar I should have viewed
+the proposal with horror; now it seems to me that it is the very best
+thing that could be done for all parties, including the wine itself."
+
+There was some further chat as to the course which Jack would follow in
+the morning, and he decided finally to ride to the borders of Castile
+in order that he might learn as much as possible as to the feeling
+of people in that province. Father Ignacio gave him a letter of
+introduction to the priest in charge of a village a mile or two within
+the border of Arragon, and the next morning Jack started at daybreak,
+after a hearty adieu from his host, who insisted on rising to see him
+off.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV: A PRISONER
+
+
+Jack, with his two troopers, rode away from the hospitable cottage of
+the priest in high spirits. He determined to avoid Saragossa, as he
+was not charged with any direct mission from the earl, and wished,
+therefore, to avoid any official intercourse with the leaders of the
+province. As soon as the marshal had marched, the people there had
+risen, had driven out the small French garrison left, and had resumed
+the management of their own affairs. Jack learned, however, that the
+city had not formally declared for King Charles. As the priest had told
+him would be the case, Jack encountered no bodies of armed men during
+the day; the country had a peaceful aspect, the peasants were working
+in the fields, and at the villages through which he passed the English
+uniforms excited a feeling of curiosity rather than of interest. He
+stopped at several of these and entered into conversation with the
+inhabitants. He found everywhere an intense hatred of the French
+prevailing, while but little interest was evinced in the respective
+claims of Charles and Philip.
+
+After a very long ride he arrived, at nightfall, near the spot to which
+he was bound. In this neighborhood he observed a greater amount of
+watchfulness and preparation than had prevailed elsewhere. The men, for
+the most part, remained in their villages, and went about armed. Jack
+learned that an inroad by the Miquelets of Castile was deemed probable,
+and that it was thought possible that another French force might follow
+Tesse from Madrid to Barcelona.
+
+It was late in the evening before Jack reached his destination, where,
+on his presenting his letter of introduction, he was most heartily
+received by the priest.
+
+"Father Ignacio tells me," he said when he had read it, "that you are
+not only to be welcomed as an officer of the great English general, but
+that you are in every way deserving of friendship; he adds, too, that
+you are a first rate judge of wine, and that you can be trusted as an
+adviser upon knotty and difficult matters."
+
+Jack laughed. "I only gave the good father my advice upon two points,"
+he said; "the first was the admitting to terms of surrender of a body
+of French troops with whom he was engaged in battle when I arrived; the
+second was upon the important question of broaching or not broaching a
+hogshead of particularly good wine."
+
+"If you advised that the hogshead should be broached," the priest said,
+smiling, "I can warrant that my good brother Ignacio followed your
+advice, and can well understand the respect in which he seems to hold
+your judgment. But do not let us stand talking here.
+
+"Your men will find a stable behind the house where they can stand the
+horses. Alas! it is uninhabited at present, for my mule, the gentlest
+and best in the province, was requisitioned--which is another word for
+stolen--by the French as they passed through. My faithful beast! I miss
+her every hour of the day, and I doubt not that she misses me still
+more sorely. Tell me, senor, my brother Ignacio writes me that he has
+captured many animals from the French--was Margaretta among them? She
+was a large mule, and in good condition; indeed, there was some flesh on
+her bones. She was a dark chestnut with a white star on the forehead,
+a little white on her fore feet, and white below the hocks on the hind
+legs; she had a soft eye, and a peculiar twist in jerking her tail."
+
+The manner of the priest was so earnest that Jack repressed a smile with
+difficulty.
+
+"I did notice among the mules in one of the wagons one marked somewhat
+similarly to your description, and, if I mistake not, it, with another,
+fell to the share of the good priest; but I cannot say that it had much
+flesh upon its bones; indeed, it was in very poor case. Nor did I notice
+that its eyes were particularly soft, or that there was any peculiarity
+in the twitching of its tail."
+
+"It may be Margaretta," the priest said with some excitement; "the poor
+beast would naturally lose flesh in the hands of the French, while as to
+the switch in the tail, it was a sign of welcome which she gave me when
+I took an apple or a piece of bread into her stable, and she would
+not be likely so to greet strangers. I will lose no time in writing to
+Ignacio to inquire further into the matter. Verily, it seems to me as if
+the saint had sent you specially here as a bearer of this good news."
+
+Jack spent a pleasant evening with the priest, and learned much as
+to the state of things upon the frontier. The priest represented the
+Castilians as bitterly opposed to the claims of Charles; they had no
+grievances against the French, who had behaved with strict discipline in
+that province, and had only commenced their excesses upon crossing
+the frontier into Arragon. This they regarded, though wrongfully, as a
+hostile country; for, previous to their arrival, the people there had
+taken no part either way in the struggle, but the overbearing manner
+of Tesse, and the lax discipline of his troops, had speedily caused an
+intense feeling of irritation. Resistance had been offered to foraging
+parties of the French army, and the terrible vengeance which had been
+taken by Tesse for these acts had roused the whole province in a flame
+of insurrection.
+
+"There are several bodies of French cavalry across the frontier," the
+priest said; "occasionally they make flying raids into Arragon, but, as
+you see, the people are armed, and prepared, and ready to give them a
+hot reception. The Castilians are like ourselves; if at any time an army
+should march in this direction against Madrid, the Miquelets will oppose
+them just as we should oppose the French, but they will not leave their
+homes to interfere with us, for they know well enough that did they
+do so we also should cross the line, and fire and destruction would
+be carried through all the villages on both sides of the border. So
+at present there is nothing to fear from Castile, but if your English
+general were to drive the French out of the country, he would have hard
+work ere he overcame the resistance of that province."
+
+Just as day was breaking the next morning Jack was aroused by shouts in
+the streets, followed by the heavy trampling of horse. He sprang from
+the bed and threw on his cloak; as he was buckling on his sword one of
+the dragoons rushed into his room.
+
+"We are surrounded, sir! I have just looked out, and there are French
+cavalry all round the house."
+
+As he spoke there was a tremendous knocking at the door. The priest ran
+into the room. "We are betrayed," he said; "some one must have carried
+away the news last night of your arrival here, and it has come to the
+ears of the French cavalry on the other side. I ordered some men out
+last night to watch the road across the border, but the enemy must have
+ridden too fast for them to get here first."
+
+"It cannot be helped," Jack said; "you had best open the door, or they
+will break it in in another minute. Make no resistance, lads," he said
+to the dragoons, for the second orderly had now joined them; "lay your
+swords down on the bed; we are caught this time, and must make our
+escape when we can. It is better, anyhow, to have fallen into the hands
+of the French than of the Spanish."
+
+The sound of the knocking had ceased now, and there was a trampling and
+clamor of voices as the French soldiers poured into the house. Steps
+were heard ascending the stairs, the door opened, and the priest,
+accompanied by a French officer and followed by a number of soldiers,
+entered the room.
+
+"You are my prisoner, sir," the French officer said.
+
+"I am afraid there is no doubt of that," Jack said, speaking in Spanish;
+"here is my sword, sir. These two men are my orderlies, and, of course,
+also surrender. You will observe that we are all in uniform, that we are
+taken on the soil of Arragon, and that I am here in pursuance of my duty
+as an officer of the English army."
+
+"You are alone?" the officer asked.
+
+"Yes," Jack said; "there are, so far as I know, no other British but
+ourselves in Arragon."
+
+"Then we were misinformed," the officer said; "the news was received
+last night that the Earl of Peterborough was himself here; and although
+it was but in the afternoon that we had heard that your general was at
+Valencia, his movements are so swift and erratic that, if we heard of
+him in Portugal one hour we should not be surprised to find him here the
+next." He stopped as shots were heard fired in the streets.
+
+"You must excuse ceremony, sir," he said, "and mount at once with your
+men and accompany me. In ten minutes we shall have the whole country
+buzzing round us like wasps; and now that the object of my ride is
+accomplished, I don't wish to throw away my men's lives."
+
+The horses were saddled without loss of time, and in two or three
+minutes Jack was trotting down the village in the midst of the French
+cavalry amid a scathing fire from behind the houses and walls.
+
+The French officer rode at the head of his troop till well beyond the
+village, then reining in his horse, joined his prisoner.
+
+"And now," he asked, "whom have I the honor of capturing?"
+
+"I am Captain Stilwell," Jack replied, "one of the Earl of
+Peterborough's aides de camp."
+
+"I am Captain de Courcy," the French officer said; "happily, although
+the French and English have taken opposite sides on this question, we
+can esteem and honor each other as brave and civilized adversaries. As
+for these Spanish scoundrels, they are no better than banditti; they
+murder us in our beds, they poison our wine, they as often as not burn
+us alive if we fall into their hands; they are savages, neither more nor
+less; and why Philip of Anjou, who could have had all the pleasures of
+life as a prince of the blood at Versailles, should covet the kingship
+of this country, passes my understanding. And now tell me about that
+paladin, your general. Peste, what a man! And you are one of his aides
+de camp? Why, if he drags you about everywhere with him, you must lead
+the life of a dog."
+
+"When I last heard of the general he was at Valencia," Jack said. "But
+that was ten days since."
+
+"Ten days!" the Frenchman said; "then by now he may be in London, or in
+Rome, or at Paris."
+
+"With the wind favoring him he might be at Rome, but he could scarcely
+have arrived at either London or Paris."
+
+"There is no saying," the French officer laughed. "Has he not three
+leagued boots, and can he not step from mountain to mountain? Does he
+not fly through a storm on a broomstick? Can he not put on a cap and
+make himself invisible? For I can tell you that our soldiers credit him
+with all these powers. Can he not, by waving his hand, multiply three
+hundred men into an army, spread them over a wide extent of country, and
+then cause them to sink into the ground and disappear? Our soldiers are
+convinced that he is in league with the evil one, even if he be not the
+gentlemen in black himself."
+
+Jack joined in the laugh. "He is a wonderful man," he said, "though he
+cannot do all you credit him with. But he is absolutely tireless, and
+can do without sleep for any time; and yet to look at him no one would
+think that he was in any way a strong man. He is small, thin, and worn
+looking--in fact, almost insignificant in appearance, were it not for
+his keen eye and a certain lofty expression of face. My post is no
+sinecure, I can assure you, for the general expects all to be able to
+do as well as himself. But with a chief who never spares himself all are
+willing to do their best. Extreme as has been the labor of the troops,
+severe as have been their hardships, you will never hear a grumble; the
+men have most implicit confidence in him, and are ready to go anywhere
+and do anything he orders them."
+
+"He is a marvel," the French officer said. "The way he took Barcelona,
+and then, with a handful of men, hunted our armies out of Catalonia and
+Valencia, was wonderful; and though it was at our cost, and not a little
+to our discredit, there is not an officer in the army but admires your
+general. Fortunately I was not in Barcelona when you laid siege to it,
+but I was with Las Torres afterward when you were driving us about like
+sheep. I shall never forget that time. We never knew when to expect an
+attack, what force was opposed to us, or from what direction you would
+come. I laugh now, but it was no joke then."
+
+Three hours' riding took them into the little town from which the French
+cavalry had started in the middle of the night. On arriving there the
+French officer at once sent off a trooper to Madrid, reporting the
+prisoners he had taken, and forty-eight hours later he received orders
+to himself conduct his prisoners to Madrid.
+
+Upon arriving there Jack was at once taken before the Duke of Berwick,
+who received him courteously, and asked him many questions concerning
+the force under the earl, the intentions of Barcelona to resist the
+two French armies now hurrying before it. To these questions Jack gave
+cautious answers. As to matters concerning which he was sure that the
+French must have accurate information, he replied frankly. Fortunately
+he was, as he truly said, in entire ignorance as to the plans of the
+earl, and as to Barcelona, he knew nothing whatever of what had taken
+place there from the day when he suddenly left with Peterborough.
+
+"I would place you on your parole with pleasure," the duke said, "but I
+tell you frankly that in the present excited state of public feeling
+I do not think it will be safe for you to move through the streets
+unprotected. So many of our officers have been murdered in Saragossa
+and other places that the lower class of Spaniards would think it a
+meritorious action to take vengeance on an English officer. Of course I
+am well aware that the English have nothing to do with these atrocities,
+but the people in general are not able to draw nice distinctions. I
+shall send you to France on the first opportunity, to remain there till
+exchanged."
+
+"Thank you, sir," Jack said; "I should prefer not being put on my
+parole, for I shall certainly escape if I have the opportunity. I should
+tell you, sir, that I have ridden through Arragon, and though I do not
+wish to excuse the murders perpetrated by the Spaniards, I must tell
+you that I cannot blame them; for, horrible as are their deeds, they are
+simply acts of retaliation for the abominable atrocities which
+Marshal Tesse allows and encourages his troops to perpetrate upon the
+population. I have the highest respect, sir, for the French nation,
+but if I were the Earl of Peterborough, and Marshal Tesse fell into my
+hands, I would hand him over to the Spaniards to be torn in pieces as he
+deserves."
+
+"You speak boldly, sir," the duke said sternly.
+
+"I feel what I say, sir," Jack replied. "I think it well that you,
+a general high in command under the French king, should know the
+atrocities perpetrated in his name by this man upon defenseless people.
+I could tell you, sir, a score of stories which I heard in Arragon,
+although I was but two days there, of massacre and murder which would
+make your blood run cold. I confess that personally I have no greater
+interest in King Charles than in King Philip. I have seen so much of
+the Austrian and his advisers that I believe that if the Earl of
+Peterborough were to seat him on his throne here tomorrow, he would be
+driven from the country a fugitive before many weeks were over; but in
+the same way I am convinced that Philip of Anjou will never be accepted
+by the Spanish as their king if his cause be stained by such atrocities
+as those carried out by Marshal Tesse in his name."
+
+The duke then asked Jack if he had any objections to state the
+particular object for which he was sent into Arragon by his general; and
+Jack was glad to be able to say truthfully that the earl knew nothing
+of his being there, he having sent him simply to assist the Count of
+Cifuentes in barring the advance of the French army into Catalonia, and
+that when he had carried out that order he had ridden into Arragon on
+his own account, in order that he might, on his return to the earl, be
+able to give him an accurate description of the state of affairs in that
+province.
+
+"Then so far as you know, Captain Stilwell, the Earl of Peterborough
+is still at Valencia, and has no intention of leaving that province at
+present."
+
+"I can say truly, sir, that so far as I know the general had no
+intention of leaving Valencia; but as his decisions are generally taken
+instantaneously, and are a surprise to all about him, I should be sorry
+to assert that the earl remained in Valencia a quarter of an hour after
+I quitted the city."
+
+"It matters little," the duke said, "the affair is rapidly approaching
+an end. Barcelona must surrender as soon as Tesse and the Duke de
+Noailles appear before it; the breaches are open, and there are not
+a thousand men in garrison. Barcelona once fallen, the cause of the
+Austrian is lost. Your general is already watched by an army four times
+as strong as his own, and the twenty thousand men under the marshal will
+compel him to take to his ships, and will stamp out the last embers
+of the insurrection. You agree with me, do you not?" he asked as Jack
+remained silent.
+
+"Well, sir, it seems that it must be as you say, and I have only to
+reply that you have not reckoned upon the Earl of Peterborough. What he
+will do I do not pretend to say, but knowing him as I do, I can say that
+he will give you trouble. I don't think that anything can be considered
+as a certainty in which you have the Earl of Peterborough to reckon
+with."
+
+"He is a great man," the duke said--"a great man, and has performed
+marvels; but there is a limit to the possibilities which one man can
+perform, and here that limit is passed. I shall give orders, Captain
+Stilwell, that your imprisonment is made as little disagreeable as
+possible, and that you have everything you require."
+
+Jack expressed his thanks and retired. On leaving the room he was again
+taken charge of by Captain do Courcy and four of his troopers, and was
+conducted by him to the citadel.
+
+The quarters assigned to Jack were by no means uncomfortable. A good
+meal was placed before him, and after he had finished it the governor
+of the citadel called upon him and told him that he was at liberty to go
+where he would within the walls, and that any wishes he might express
+he would do his best to comply with. Jack at once availed himself of his
+liberty by going out into the courtyard and thence on to the walls of
+the citadel. It was a strongly fortified and gloomy building, which has
+now ceased to exist. It covered a considerable portion of ground, and
+had at one time been a royal residence; the walls were strong and high,
+and sentries were placed on them at short intervals.
+
+Jack saw at once there was little possibility of escape thence, and
+decided that he might as well abandon any idea of evasion for the
+present, and would trust to luck in escaping from his escort on the road
+to the frontier, or, if no opportunity then presented itself, from his
+prison in France. A week after his arrival he was surprised by being
+told that an officer wished to see him, and a minute later Major Ferre
+entered the apartment.
+
+"I only arrived an hour ago," he said, "and learned that you were
+prisoner here. Who would have thought when we parted last, and you
+gave me my liberty, that on my arrival here I should find that you had
+already been a week a prisoner? Horses' legs move faster than men's, you
+see."
+
+"It is the fortune of war," Jack said, smiling. "I am glad to see that
+you got out of Arragon safely."
+
+"It was thanks to your seeing that we were provided with ammunition,"
+the major said. "The peasants swarmed round us hotly more than once, and
+it was the fact that we had our arms and were ready to use them, quite
+as much as my assurances that we were prisoners on parole, and had
+promised not to serve in Spain until exchanged, that kept them from
+making an attack upon us; as it was we nearly came to blows several
+times. I marched that day till the men were ready to drop, and camped at
+a distance from a road in a lonely place. I dared not scatter my men
+in a village. The next day we kept steadily on and crossed the frontier
+into Castile, pretty well worn out, just at nightfall. I had to give my
+men two days' halt before we could go further, and we have since come by
+easy stages, which accounts for your being here so long before us. And
+now, is there anything that I can do for you? If there is, command my
+service to the utmost. I shall see the duke this afternoon, and shall
+tell him that I and my party are indebted to you for our lives. It is
+well for me that he is in command here instead of the marshal; he is a
+gentleman, and will respect the parole I gave for myself and my men;
+if it had been Tesse I might have had trouble, for as likely as not he
+would have scoffed at my promise, and ordered me and my men back to the
+front again, and then I should have been placed in a nice fix."
+
+"The best thing you could do for me," Jack said, "would be to suggest
+to the marshal that he should exchange me against you. If he will let
+me take my two troopers I would throw in all your men. There will be no
+occasion to arrange it with our general; you gave your word to me, and
+I can give it you back again. As I am of no use to him, and you are, I
+should think he would consent."
+
+"I should think so too," Major Ferre said, "and should be delighted, on
+both our accounts, if it could be managed."
+
+Three hours later the major returned in high spirits.
+
+"I have arranged the matter," he said, "and we are both free men. You
+can't stir out of here at present, because it would not be safe for
+you to go about Madrid; but I have orders to march tomorrow morning,
+in command of a convoy, to join Las Torres outside Valencia, so you can
+ride with me till we get near the town, and then join your people."
+
+Jack was delighted, and the next morning set out with the convoy. His
+appearance, as he rode by the side of Major Ferre with his two orderlies
+behind him, excited the greatest surprise and curiosity in the various
+towns and villages through which they passed. The journey was a pleasant
+one, Major Ferre exerting himself in every way to make it as pleasant
+as possible. After four days' journey the convoy arrived within sight
+of Valencia. When they came to a place where the roads forked the major
+said:
+
+"That is your way, my dear Stilwell. I hope that some day the fortunes
+of war will throw us together again, in some pleasant position where
+we can renew our friendship. Two miles on is a ford across the river,
+where, as the peasants tell me, two of your vedettes are posted; another
+hour's ride will take you to Valencia."
+
+With a hearty goodby on both sides, Jack and his two dragoons rode off,
+and soon astonished the English vedettes by their appearance on the
+opposite bank of the river. A few words in English convinced the
+soldiers that it was no trick that was being played with them, and Jack
+rode across the ford and then galloped on to Valencia.
+
+"Well, Captain Stilwell," the earl said as Jack entered his apartment,
+"what news do you bring me from Barcelona? I hear that Tesse has
+invested the town."
+
+"My last news is from Madrid, general," Jack said; "I have had to stay a
+week in that city."
+
+And he then proceeded to relate the series of events which had happened
+from the time he joined the Count of Cifuentes.
+
+"I know I exceeded my duty, general," he said when he finished, "in
+going up into Arragon without orders; but I felt that I was of little
+use with the count, who handles the Miquelets well, and I thought that
+you would be glad of trustworthy information of the state of feeling in
+Arragon, and perhaps of Castile."
+
+"You were quite right," the earl said, "and have done exceedingly
+well. Yours has been an adventure after my own heart, and you have just
+arrived here in time, for I am on the point of starting to do what I can
+to harass the besiegers of Barcelona."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV: THE RELIEF OF BARCELONA
+
+
+Although for months it was evident that the French were preparing to
+make a great effort to recapture Barcelona, Charles and his German
+advisers had done nothing whatever to place the city in the position to
+resist a siege. The fortifications remained just as they had been when
+Peterborough had captured the city. The breaches which had been made by
+the English cannon were still open, and even that in the all important
+citadel of Montjuich remained as it had been left by the explosion of
+the magazine.
+
+Not until Tesse was pressing down from Lerida and de Noailles from
+Roussillon did the king awake to his danger. Orders were sent out to
+recall all the troops who were within reach, the country people were set
+to work collecting provisions, and the king made an urgent appeal to
+the citizens to aid in repairing the fortifications. The appeal was
+responded to; the whole male population took up arms, even priests and
+friars enrolling themselves in the ranks. The women and children were
+formed into companies, and all Barcelona labored in carrying materials
+and in repairing the breaches. The king had received a letter from
+Peterborough proposing the plan of which he had spoken to his aides de
+camp, and which, had it been carried out, would have changed the fate
+of Spain. His suggestion was that Charles should at once make his way by
+sea to Portugal, which, as the blockade had not then commenced, he could
+have easily done, there to put himself at the head of the allied army,
+twenty-six thousand strong, and march straight upon Madrid. This could
+have been done with a certainty of success, for the west of Spain and
+the capital had been denuded of troops for the invasion of Catalonia and
+Valencia, and no more than two thousand men could have been collected to
+oppose the invaders.
+
+"If your majesty will undertake to do this," wrote the earl, "I will
+undertake to maintain the province here, and perhaps to open a way to
+Madrid."
+
+But now, as before, this bold but really safe counsel was overruled by
+Charles' German courtiers and he resolved to remain in Barcelona and
+wait a siege.
+
+As soon as Peterborough received the answer, he left a small garrison in
+Valencia, and marched away with all the force he could collect, which,
+however, numbered only two thousand foot and six hundred horse, while
+de Noailles had no less than twenty thousand gathered round Barcelona.
+Peterborough moved rapidly across the country, pushing forward at
+the utmost speed of the troops till he arrived within two leagues of
+Barcelona, and took up a strong position among the mountains, where he
+was at once joined by the Count of Cifuentes and his peasant army.
+
+"Ah, count," the earl said as he rode into his camp, "I am glad to see
+you again. You did not succeed in stopping Tesse, but by all accounts
+you mauled him handsomely. And now, what are our prospects?"
+
+"Indeed, sir, they are not over bright, and I do not see that we can
+effect much to aid the king. My men will fight well enough, as Captain
+Stilwell has witnessed, when they choose their position and shoot behind
+shelter, but they would be of no use whatever in a regular action; and
+as to advancing into the plain to give battle with you against twenty
+thousand regular troops, they would not attempt it, even if you were to
+join your orders to mine."
+
+"We will not ask them, count," Peterborough said. "I know the Miquelets
+by this time. They are admirable for irregular war, but worse than
+useless for anything else. All we will ask of them, count, is to scatter
+in strong bodies over the hills, to guard every road, and cut off any
+parties of the enemy who may venture to go out to gather provisions or
+forage. If they can manage occasionally to threaten an attack upon the
+French camp, so much the better."
+
+The next morning a strong body of the French took post round Montjuich,
+and at nine o'clock a force of infantry, supported by two squadrons of
+horse, attempted to carry the western outworks by storm. This was the
+weakest part of the citadel, and was manned by only a hundred men of
+Colonel Hamilton's regiment, who had arrived the night before, having in
+two days ridden seventy miles on mules.
+
+As the French advanced they received them with great determination,
+and poured in so sharp a fire that the assailants speedily retired with
+considerable loss. As they fell back the English threw up their caps and
+raised loud shouts, which so exasperated the enemy that they reformed
+and returned several times to the assault, but only to be repulsed as
+on their first attempt. This was a sharp check to the French, who had
+expected to find the place guarded only by the usual garrison of forty
+Spaniards.
+
+When the sound of firing was heard in the town the whole garrison turned
+out and marched to support Montjuich, only twelve men being left behind
+for a guard to the king. This repulse of the first attempt of the enemy
+raised the spirits of the townsmen, and bands of them ventured beyond
+the walls, and, sheltering in the gardens and groves, maintained a
+strong fire upon the French.
+
+Finding that Barcelona was not to be taken as easily as they had
+expected, the French generals extended their camp so as to completely
+surround the town. On their side the citizens were not inactive, and,
+sallying out, managed to cut off and drive in a flock of seven hundred
+of the enemy's sheep and twelve of their mules.
+
+The following night the besieged sustained a severe loss by the
+treacherous surrender, by its commander, of Fort Redonda, which stood
+on the seashore and commanded the landing. The enemy at once profited by
+this advantage and began landing their provisions, guns, and ammunition.
+This misfortune was, however, balanced by the enterprise of Brigadier
+Generals Lord Donegal and Sentiman, with two English and two newly
+raised Catalan battalions. They received the king's orders to return
+to Barcelona too late to reach the town before its investment, but now
+managed, under cover of night, to elude the enemy and enter the city in
+safety.
+
+When the enemy received news of the success of this attempt they closed
+in their left wing to the eastward, in hopes of preventing further
+reinforcements from entering the town. But they had not reckoned upon
+the Earl of Peterborough, who had received news that the garrison of
+Gerona, after evacuating that town on the approach of the army of the
+Duke de Noailles, had embarked in small boats and were about to attempt
+a landing near Barcelona, on the north side. On the receipt of the
+news he started as night fell with his whole force from his camp in the
+mountains, and having, after a march of nearly twenty miles, arrived at
+the spot named for the debarkation just as the boats were nearing the
+shore, and having escorted the Gerona men past the enemy's outpost
+and into the town, without the loss of a man, he again retired to the
+mountains. These accessions of strength raised the force of troops in
+the besieged town to upward of three thousand.
+
+The next day a case of treason was discovered among the Spaniards in the
+garrison of Montjuich. A boy confessed that he had been hired by one
+of these men to put out all the gun matches, and to throw the priming
+powder out of the matchlocks that night. He was told to do this on the
+weakest side of the works, where the attack would probably be made.
+
+The discovery of this intended treason, following so closely on that at
+Fort Redonda, excited suspicions of the loyalty of the Spanish Governor
+of Montjuich, and he was superseded and the Earl of Donegal appointed to
+the command. For the next six days the French continued to raise battery
+after battery around Montjuich. Lord Donegal made some gallant sallies
+and several times drove the besiegers from their works, but in each case
+they returned in such overwhelming force that he was obliged to abandon
+the positions he had won and to fall back into the citadel.
+
+The Miquelets, of whom there were many in the town, aided the besieged
+by harassing the French. Every night they stole into their camp,
+murdered officers in their tents, carried off horses, slew sentries, and
+kept the enemy in a perpetual state of watchfulness.
+
+At eight o'clock on the morning of the 15th of April the besiegers made
+a furious attack on the western outwork of Montjuich, having ascertained
+that it was defended only by a party of one of the newly raised Spanish
+regiments. They captured the post without difficulty, the Spaniards
+flying at the first assault, but on the inner ramparts they were met by
+Donegal and his grenadiers, and a desperate struggle took place which
+lasted for two hours.
+
+The English fought with the greatest obstinacy, and frequently flung
+back among their assailants the grenades which the latter showered among
+them, before they had time to explode, Lord Donegal himself setting the
+men the example. But though able to prevent the French from advancing
+further, the English could not recover the outpost which the Spaniards
+had abandoned, and the French formed intrenchments and mounted a battery
+upon it.
+
+In spite of the continued fire which the besiegers now poured in upon
+it from all sides, Lord Donegal held out bravely. The little force under
+his command was much reduced in numbers, and so worn out by constant
+exertion and loss of sleep that men frequently fell asleep while under
+arms under the heaviest fire. The besiegers were not idle in other
+directions. Several mortar vessels moved close in shore and threw shells
+into the town, while the batteries poured in red hot shot. This spread
+great alarm throughout the town. The people could be hardly induced to
+continue working on the defenses, and many took refuge in cellars or
+in the churches. Ammunition began to fail, and despair was taking
+possession of the defenders, when, at two o'clock in the morning of the
+21st, a galley ran safely into the harbor bearing a supply of powder and
+encouraging messages from Lord Peterborough.
+
+Three days later he managed to throw a body of Neapolitan troops into
+the town, embarking them in boats at Matero, a small port a few miles to
+the northeast of the town. He sent them close along the shore in order
+to pass the enemy's fleet, if possible, unobserved. They found, however,
+that a line of boats had been drawn across the harbor to blockade the
+entrance. They attacked the boats, and after a sharp fight, which lasted
+over an hour, four hundred men succeeded in forcing their way through,
+and the rest returned to Matero in safety.
+
+Peterborough now determined to endeavor to relieve the town by the
+desperate expedient of attacking the enemy's camp with his little force.
+In order to do this with any prospect of success it was necessary to
+warn the king of his intentions, so that the garrison of the town could
+issue out and attack the enemy at the same moment from their side. He
+committed the dispatch to Captain Graham, who succeeded in making his
+way through the enemy's lines to the city. The king agreed to join in a
+combined attack, and, having arranged all his plans, gave the dispatch
+to Graham to carry back to the earl.
+
+On the way out he was less successful than he had been in entering. He
+was seized upon by a body of French before he could destroy the paper.
+Tesse was accordingly warned of the earl's plans, and at the hour
+appointed for the attack drew up his army in order of battle.
+Peterborough was ready to advance, and the besieged were all in arms on
+the ramparts, but seeing that the enemy were fully prepared the project
+was abandoned, and the troops returned to their quarters.
+
+But the fall of Montjuich was at hand. The besiegers secretly massed
+a large force in the trenches. At midday on the 22d a salvo of four
+mortars gave the signal. The French rushed in with loud shouts and
+effected a complete surprise. Before the troops could get under arms two
+bastions were captured.
+
+So sudden was the affair that many of the English officers, hearing the
+firing, ran out from the keep, and seeing some foreign troops drawn up
+in the works joined them, concluding that they were Dutch, and were
+only undeceived by finding themselves taken prisoners. The men were so
+confused by the loss of many of the officers that, had the French pushed
+in at once, they would have been able to carry the main body of the
+works with but little resistance. They halted, however, in the bastions
+they had won. The next morning the people of Barcelona, headed by their
+priests, sallied out to effect the relief of Montjuich, but were easily
+driven back by the besiegers. The little garrison of the castle sallied
+out to meet their friends, but when these retreated to the town they had
+to fight their way back to the castle, which they regained with great
+difficulty, the gallant Earl of Donegal and many of his officers being
+killed.
+
+Finding that their position was now desperate, the remnant of the
+British troops abandoned the castle they had so stoutly defended, and
+succeeded in making their way safely into the city. Tesse now pushed on
+the siege of the town with vigor. Batteries of heavy guns were raised
+opposite the newly mended breaches, and so close did he plant his guns
+to the walls that the artillery of the besieged could not be depressed
+sufficiently to play upon them, while so heavy a fire of infantry
+was kept up upon the walls that their defenders were unable to reply
+effectively with their musketry.
+
+The walls crumbled rapidly, and the defenders busied themselves
+in raising inner defenses behind the breaches. Had the French been
+commanded by an enterprising general there is little doubt that they
+could have carried the town by assault, but Tesse, in his over caution,
+waited until success was a certainty. The alarm in Barcelona was great,
+and the king sent messenger after messenger to Peterborough to urge him
+to come to his relief; but, daring as was the earl when he considered
+success to be possible, he would not venture his little force upon
+an enterprise which was, he felt, hopeless, and he knew that the only
+possible relief for the city was the arrival of the English fleet.
+
+Early in March Admiral Sir John Leake and Baron Wassenaer had sailed
+from Lisbon with the combined fleet in accordance with Peterborough's
+orders; but the wind was contrary, and it was fully six weeks after
+starting that they reached the Straits, where they were joined by
+Captain Price with a small squadron, on board of which were two English
+regiments. It was not until the 24th of April that they sailed from
+Gibraltar.
+
+On reaching Altea they received news that another squadron had sailed
+from Lisbon to join them, and in spite of the warm remonstrances of
+General Stanhope, who commanded the troops on board, the Dutch and
+English admirals determined to await the arrival of the reinforcements
+before sailing to give battle to the fleet of the Count of Toulouse
+before Barcelona.
+
+On the 3d of April Sir George Byng arrived at Altea with some ships
+from Ireland, and the next day Commodore Walker, with the squadron from
+Lisbon, also arrived; but the wind was now contrary, and although the
+fleet set sail, for three days they made no progress whatever, and each
+hour so wasted rendered the position of the besieged at Barcelona more
+and more desperate. While lying at Altea General Stanhope had sent a
+message to Lord Peterborough telling him that he would use every means
+in his power to hasten Sir John Leake's movements, and that he would
+give him timely notice of the approach of the fleet.
+
+He said that as it was of the utmost importance that the enemy should
+remain in ignorance of the approaching succors, his messenger should
+carry only a half sheet of blank paper, so that if he were taken by the
+enemy they would learn nothing from his dispatch. When the fleet
+sailed he sent off a second messenger, who got safely to the earl, and
+delivered his blank dispatch. With the exception of his aide de camp,
+who was always in his confidence, he told no one the meaning of this
+blank dispatch, and his officers were surprised when orders were issued
+for the little army at once to prepare for a night march. Officers
+and men had, however, most implicit confidence in their general, and,
+doubting not that some daring enterprise was at hand, they started in
+high spirits.
+
+All through the night they marched in a southwesterly direction over the
+hills, and at daybreak reached the little seaport of Sitjes, some seven
+leagues from Barcelona. Ordering the wearied soldiers to encamp behind
+some low hills, the indefatigable general rode with Jack Stilwell into
+the little port, and at once, by offering large rewards, set the sailors
+and fishermen at work to collect the boats, barges, and fishing smacks
+along the neighboring coast, and to bring them to Sitjes.
+
+In two days he had succeeded in collecting a sufficient number to carry
+the whole force. The news of the work upon which the general was engaged
+soon spread among the force and caused the greatest astonishment. Jack
+Stilwell was overwhelmed with questions as to the intentions of the
+general.
+
+"What on earth are we going to do next, Stilwell?" one of the colonels
+said to him. "We are all ready, you know, to do anything that the chief
+bids us, but for the life of us no one can make this business out. The
+only possible thing seems to be that the chief intends to attack the
+French fleet, and desperate as many of his exploits have been, they
+would be as nothing to that. Even the earl could surely not expect that
+fifteen hundred men in fishing boats and barges could attack a fleet of
+some thirty men of war. The idea seems preposterous, and yet one does
+not see what else he can have got in his head."
+
+"Of course, colonel," Jack said, laughing, "you do not expect me to tell
+you what are the general's plans. You may be quite sure that, whatever
+they are, there is nothing absolutely impossible about them, for you
+know that although the general may undertake desperate things, he never
+attempts anything that has not at least a possibility of success; in
+fact, as you know, he has never yet failed in any enterprise that he has
+undertaken."
+
+"That is true enough," the colonel said; "and yet for the life of me
+I cannot make out what else he can be thinking of. Certainly to attack
+Toulouse would be madness, and yet there is no one else to attack."
+
+"Well, colonel, I can only say that time will show, and I don't think
+you will have to wait very long before you know as much about it as I
+do."
+
+Jack was right in this, for on the night of the second day the earl
+called his officers together, and informed them that he was waiting
+to join the English fleet, which might at any moment come in sight. As
+hitherto nothing had been known about the arrival of reinforcements, the
+news excited the greatest joy. The earl had hoped that at daybreak the
+fleet would be in sight, and as soon as it was light he mounted a hill
+which gave him a wide view over the sea, but to his deep disappointment
+not a sail appeared above the horizon. Knowing the desperate state of
+the garrison at Barcelona, and that at any hour he might receive
+news that an assault had been delivered and the city captured,
+his disappointment at the delay in the appearance of the fleet was
+unbounded.
+
+The roar of the distant guns around Barcelona came distinctly to his
+ears, and he was almost wild with impatience and anxiety. On reaching
+the shore again he found that a fast sailing felucca had just come in
+from Barcelona. She had managed to evade the blockading fleet, and bore
+an urgent letter from the king, praying Peterborough to come to his
+assistance. The earl did not hesitate a moment, but determined to set
+sail at once to find the fleet, and to bring it on to Barcelona with all
+speed.
+
+The astonishment and dismay of his officers at the news that their
+general was about to leave them and embark on such an enterprise were
+very great, but the earl explained to the leaders the reasons for his
+anxiety to gain the fleet. His commission appointed him to the command
+at sea as well as on land, and on joining the fleet he would be its
+admiral in chief. He feared that at the sight of so powerful an armament
+the Count of Toulouse would at once decline battle and make for France.
+He determined, therefore, to advance only with a force considerably
+inferior to that of the French, in which case Toulouse, rather than
+abandon the siege of Barcelona just when success seemed assured, would
+sail out and give battle.
+
+Should he do so the earl, however inferior his force, had no doubts as
+to obtaining victory. Accompanied only by Jack Stillwell and by Captain
+Humphrey, who had taken the place of Graham, he embarked on board the
+little felucca and put to sea. The weather was cold and stormy, and the
+master of the boat did not like putting out far from shore; but the earl
+was peremptory, and the felucca stood well out to sea. Night came on
+without any signs of the fleet being discovered. The hours of darkness
+passed slowly, for the boat was undecked and afforded no shelter, and
+the heavy seas which broke over her kept all on board wetted to the
+skin.
+
+At daybreak, to their great joy, they perceived a British man of war
+approaching. They at once made for her, and found she was the Leopard,
+commanded by Captain Price. The astonishment of that officer, and of all
+on board, was unbounded at being boarded at break of day almost out of
+sight of land from an open boat by the admiral of all the fleets. The
+earl's stay on board was but a short one. As soon as he had learned the
+whereabout of the rest of the fleet, and given instructions to Captain
+Price, he again embarked in the felucca, and sailed for Sitjes.
+
+The joy of the troops was great at the return of their general, for the
+night had been so stormy that there were great fears for his safety; but
+he was not to remain with them long, for, having given orders that the
+whole disposable force, about fourteen hundred men, should embark in the
+boats before daybreak next morning, and follow the fleet to Barcelona,
+he again with his aides de camp took his place in the felucca and sailed
+for the fleet.
+
+In the middle of the night he came across them, and boarding the Prince
+George, hoisted his flag as admiral of the fleet on the maintop, and
+took the command. He then sent a boat to Sir John Leake to acquaint
+him with his orders and intentions, and another boat to advise General
+Stanhope of his arrival; but the darkness delayed the delivery of these
+messages till nearly morning, and when day appeared the whole fleet was
+amazed at seeing the flag of the admiral in chief flying on the Prince
+George. The wind was strong and favorable, and the fleet crowded on
+all sail; but when within about eighteen miles of Barcelona one of
+the French lookout ships sighted them, and made a signal to a consort
+further along. She in turn passed on the news until it reached the
+Count of Toulouse, who, without waiting to ascertain the strength of
+the approaching squadron, at once signaled to his fleet to weigh anchor,
+and, putting to sea, sailed for France.
+
+The disappointment of the earl was great, as he had fully calculated
+upon gaining a great naval battle in sight of the city he had come to
+relieve. On the afternoon of the 8th of May the leading vessels anchored
+off Barcelona, and preparations were at once made for the landing of the
+troops. The first to set foot on shore were the earl's veteran troops,
+who had according to his orders accompanied the fleet from Sitjes. The
+succor was welcome, indeed; the breaches were no longer defensible, and
+an assault was hourly expected. The king himself came down to receive
+the earl and his army; the city went wild with joy.
+
+For a few days the French made a show of carrying on the siege. They
+were still enormously superior in force; but the energy and skill of
+Peterborough counterbalanced the inequality. He worked day and night
+in superintending the works of defense, and in placing the troops in
+readiness for the expected assault. Philip and many of his officers
+were still in favor of an attack upon the city; but Tesse as usual was
+opposed to anything like vigorous measures, and his views were adopted
+by a council of war.
+
+At one o'clock on the morning of the 11th of May the besiegers broke
+up their camp, and in great confusion made their way toward the French
+frontier, for Tesse preferred even the ignominy of falling back into
+France with his unsuccessful and dispirited army to retracing his steps
+toward Saragossa, where his devastations and cruelty had caused the
+whole population to rise in insurrection as soon as his army had passed
+into Catalonia. Besides which, he had received news that Peterborough
+had caused every pass and town on his way to the west to be fortified
+and held by the Miquelets. Philip accompanied the retreating army to
+Roussillon. The downfall of his hopes had been utter and complete. But
+a few weeks before it had seemed that Spain was his, and that the forces
+at his disposal were ample to crush out the insurrection in Barcelona,
+and to sweep into the sea the handful of the invaders. But all his plans
+had been baffled, all his hopes brought to naught by the genius and
+energy of one man, in spite of that man being thwarted at every turn by
+the imbecile German coterie who surrounded the king, and by the jealousy
+and ill will of his fellow generals.
+
+Bad news met the fugitive at Roussillon. There he heard that his
+countrymen had suffered a disastrous defeat at Ramillies; that nearly
+all the Netherlands had been wrested from France; that a heavy defeat
+had been inflicted upon her at Turin, and that Italy was well nigh lost.
+It needed, indeed, but the smallest amount of unanimity, enterprise, and
+confidence on the part of the advisers and generals of King Charles to
+have placed him securely and permanently upon the throne of Spain.
+
+When the flight of the besieging army was discovered after daybreak by
+the besieged, they poured out from Barcelona into the deserted camp. All
+the ordnance and stores of the French had been abandoned. Two hundred
+heavy brass guns, thirty mortars, and a vast quantity of shot, shells,
+and intrenching tools, three thousand barrels of powder, ten thousand
+sacks of corn, and a vast quantity of provisions and stores were found
+left behind in the camp. Tesse had left, too, all his sick and wounded
+with a letter to the Earl of Peterborough begging him to see that they
+were well cared for.
+
+The news of the hasty retreat of Marshal Tesse from before Barcelona
+caused a shock of surprise throughout Europe. In France it had never
+been doubted that Barcelona would fall, and as to the insurrection, it
+was believed that it could be trampled out without difficulty by
+the twenty-five thousand French veterans whom the marshal had at
+his disposal. As to the handful of British troops whose exploits had
+occasioned such astonishment, none had supposed for a moment that they
+would be able to effect anything when opposed to so overwhelming a force
+of the disciplined troops of France.
+
+Peterborough himself had hardly hoped to save Barcelona, but, unlike
+his enemies, he had not considered that the fall of that city would
+necessarily entail the final defeat of the cause for which he fought.
+While busying himself with the marches and achievements of the troops
+under his command, he had never ceased to take measures to provide for
+the future. His marches and counter marches had made him thoroughly
+acquainted with the country, and he had won the entire confidence of the
+people.
+
+He had, therefore, taken measures that even if Barcelona fell Philip
+should not march back again to his capital. From the day Tesse advanced
+he had had thousands of the country people at work, under the direction
+of a few of his own officers, rendering each of the three roads by which
+the French army could march from Barcelona to Madrid impracticable.
+Gorges were blocked with vast masses of rock rolled down from the
+mountain side at spots where the road wound along on the face of
+precipices; and where it had only been made by blasting, it was by
+similar means entirely destroyed. Bridges were broken down, every castle
+and town on the lines of retreat placed in a state of defense, and the
+cattle and provisions driven off to places of safety.
+
+Thus while the earl was himself engaged in the most perilous adventures,
+he neglected nothing that the most prudent and cautious general could
+have suggested to insure the success of his plans. Even when affairs
+looked most unpromising in Barcelona the earl wrote cheerfully to the
+Duke of Savoy, saying that the circumstances were much better than
+were generally supposed; and that the French officers, ignorant of the
+situation of the country, would be astonished at the difficulties that
+would be opposed to them on advancing even after success; and that if
+the siege were raised they would be forced to abandon Spain, while all
+the western frontier would be clear for the progress of Lord Galway and
+Das Minas to Madrid.
+
+A few days after the retreat of Marshal Tesse, to Jack's great pleasure
+Graham came into Barcelona. He had, in the confusion of the retreat, had
+little difficulty in slipping away from his captors. His only danger had
+been from the peasantry, at whose hands he had narrowly escaped death,
+as they took him for a French officer; but, upon being convinced by his
+assurances that he was an Englishman and an aide de camp of the Earl of
+Peterborough, they had provided him with a horse to make his way back to
+Barcelona.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI: INGRATITUDE
+
+
+Barcelona rescued, Peterborough at once urged the king to march upon
+Madrid and have himself proclaimed king in his capital. There was no
+force which could oppose his advance, and Lord Galway and the Portuguese
+could move unresisted from the west and meet him there. But it was a
+long time before Charles and his counselors would listen to his advice;
+and although at last they agreed to follow it, their resolution was
+short. In the first place, they determined to leave so large a force
+to garrison Catalonia that the army available for the advance on Madrid
+would be very seriously weakened--fifteen hundred English and eleven
+hundred Spaniards were to be left at Barcelona, sixteen hundred English
+and Dutch and fifteen hundred Spanish at Gerona, eight hundred and fifty
+Spanish and Dutch at Lerida, and five hundred Spanish at Tortosa.
+
+This left but sixty-five hundred men available for service in the field,
+and even this number was subsequently diminished by the vacillating
+Charles to forty-five hundred.
+
+As Peterborough wrote to Lord Halifax: "We have saved kingdoms in spite
+of the king, who would abandon them, and we have waged more dangerous
+war with ministers than with enemies. Lord Galway and the Portuguese
+generals pass all understanding."
+
+No wonder the earl was astounded by the incompetence of Lord Galway and
+the Portuguese generals. They had twenty thousand men, while to oppose
+them there were but five thousand under the Duke of Berwick; and yet
+after entering Spain they fell back, without doing anything, into
+Portugal--their retreat beginning on the 11th of May, the day on which
+Philip retreated from Barcelona. So that on the opposite side of Spain
+two large armies simultaneously retired before others vastly weaker than
+themselves. When the news of Tesse's retreat to France reached Portugal
+they again advanced. Berwick was too weak to oppose them, and on the
+25th of June the advance guard of the allies occupied Madrid, and there
+proclaimed Charles as king.
+
+Had Galway and his colleagues now shown the slightest energy, and moved
+against Berwick's little force, with which was Philip himself, they
+could have driven them across the frontier without striking a blow,
+and the French cause would have been lost in Spain; but, having reached
+Madrid, they remained there doing absolutely nothing--leaving ample
+time to Philip to repair his misfortunes, receive aid from France, and
+recommence the campaign with vigor. As Peterborough wrote indignantly to
+General Stanhope: "Their halt is as fatal as was Hannibal's at Capua."
+
+As soon as the movement upon Madrid had been decided upon, Peterborough
+sailed with the English and Dutch infantry to Valencia, where he was
+received with enthusiasm by the inhabitants. He at once set to work to
+raise a regiment of dragoons, and organized them in three weeks. The
+very day they were mounted he marched them upon Castile. During this
+time not only had Lord Galway made no movement, but he had joined in
+the German intrigue by which Charles was induced to abandon the plan of
+marching to his capital under the escort of Peterborough.
+
+The allied generals at Madrid were indeed basely jealous of the
+brilliant conqueror of Catalonia and Valencia. His deeds had thrown
+theirs entirely into the shade. With utterly insufficient means he had
+done everything; with ample means they had effected nothing, and had
+only been enabled to enter Madrid by the fact that he had drawn off the
+army which had successfully opposed them.
+
+After incessant labor in organizing his force, the earl sent two
+thousand men, under the command of Lieutenant General Wyndham, to
+besiege the towns of Requena and Cuenca--two places of some strength
+which blocked the road between Valencia and Madrid.
+
+Wyndham easily accomplished the task; and the road being thus secured,
+Peterborough wrote to Charles that "nothing remained to hinder him
+from entering Madrid with even a small escort of horse." The earl had
+everything prepared along the road for the passage of the king; but
+although he wrote over and over again urging him not to delay, Charles
+refused to stir, and told General Stanhope (who backed Peterborough's
+entreaties) that he had "no becoming equipment with which to enter his
+capital."
+
+"Sire," the English general exclaimed in indignant astonishment, "our
+William the Third entered London in a hackney, with a cloak bag behind
+it, and was made king not many weeks after."
+
+A month after the date originally settled Charles set out and proceeded
+to Taragona, but then, to the astonishment of the English general and
+envoy, they learned he had altered his mind and taken the route to
+Saragossa. When he heard the news, Peterborough sent couriers day after
+day with urgent letters to the king. He prevailed upon a deputation of
+the Valencian nobility to follow with the same purpose, and transmitted
+the opinion of a council of war, which was unanimous in entreating
+the king to stay his steps. The king again hesitated, and was about to
+follow Peterborough's advice, when a French officer in the Portuguese
+service arrived from Galway and Das Minas, again urging him to move by
+the route which they had suggested.
+
+Charles again hesitated, the Count of Cifuentes (who was with him) gave
+his advice in favor of the Saragossa route, and the king decided on that
+line.
+
+On the 26th of July the earl summoned a council of war, including the
+Governor of Valencia, two Spanish generals, and his own officers. They
+agreed unanimously that Peterborough should march his army to Madrid or
+join the army in Portugal, as circumstances might require. Just before
+they started letters came in from the king desiring that Peterborough
+should send the forces under his command either to relieve the Duke of
+Savoy or to capture the Balearic Isles.
+
+The earl declined to follow this ungrateful suggestion, which was
+manifestly intended by Charles and his advisers, English, Portuguese,
+and German, to send away from his kingdom the man who had won it for
+him. Being fortunately independent of orders, Peterborough marched for
+Castile, as he and the council of war had previously determined.
+
+Charles was not long in regretting that he had not followed Lord
+Peterborough's advice. Instead of the triumphant procession from
+Saragossa to Madrid, which he had been promised, he was met with the
+most determined opposition.
+
+Every town and village in the center and south of Spain rose against
+him; Salamanca and Toledo declared for Philip, and Andalusia raised
+eighteen thousand men. The troops of Las Torres from Valencia, and
+those who had retreated under Tesse to Roussillon, had joined Berwick at
+Xadraque, and Philip had placed himself at the head of this formidable
+army. Charles was obliged to send in the utmost haste to ask the Earl of
+Peterborough to extricate him from the position in which he had placed
+himself by neglecting his advice.
+
+The earl instantly complied with the request, and marching with all
+speed overtook the king on the 4th of August at Pastrina, and thence
+on the following day escorted him in safety to the army of Portugal at
+Guadalaxara.
+
+The total strength of the united allied army was eighteen thousand
+men--a force inferior, indeed, to that with which Berwick confronted
+them; and that portion brought by Lord Galway and the Portuguese General
+Das Minas was not to be relied upon, having fallen into a state of great
+indiscipline owing to the tedious delays, the frequent retreats, and the
+long inactivity to which it had been subjected by the incompetence of
+its leaders. That this was so was evident by the fact that the day after
+the king's arrival the French made a partial attack, and many of the
+allied battalions at once fell into complete confusion. But this was not
+the greatest drawback to the efficiency of the allied army; they were
+paralyzed by the dissensions of their commanders--Galway, Das Minas,
+and the Dutch Count de Noyelles. Each and all declined to acknowledge
+Peterborough as commander in chief. The earl then offered to waive his
+own rights entirely and to fight as a simple volunteer, and that Das
+Minas, Lord Galway, and the Dutch general should each command their own
+forces, receiving their orders from the king.
+
+This offer was, however, refused by the three generals. The partisans
+of the various leaders shared their animosity. The English troops of
+Peterborough claiming, and justly, that Catalonia and Valencia had been
+gained and won by him, and that to him alone the king owed his crown,
+were furious that those who had shown naught but incapacity from
+the commencement of the campaign should now refuse to recognize his
+authority. While the disputes continued Berwick had nearly succeeded in
+surprising Galway, and a disastrous defeat had only been prevented
+by the gallant defense made by Lord Tyrawley of an outpost which he
+commanded, and which he held for two hours against all the efforts of
+the French, and so gave time for the army to make a hasty retreat.
+
+The army was, moreover, straitened by want of provisions; Lord Galway
+and his colleagues had made no arrangements whatever for its supply.
+Day and night the German favorites of the king, who had ruined their
+master's cause by dissuading him from following the advice of Lord
+Peterborough, now labored with the king still further to destroy his
+confidence in Peterborough; and finding himself treated coldly by the
+ungrateful monarch, who owed everything to him, opposed at every turn by
+the other generals, and seeing that his presence was worse than useless,
+Peterborough announced his intention of obeying the orders from Queen
+Anne, dated the 12th of June, and repeated on the 17th, to proceed to
+the assistance of the Duke of Savoy.
+
+On the same evening a council of war was held. The king formally laid
+Peterborough's announcement before the generals, who, delighted to get
+rid of their rival, unanimously recommended that he should depart.
+
+On the 11th of August, full of mortification and disgust at the
+treatment that he had experienced and the base ingratitude of the king,
+Peterborough rode from the camp at Guadalaxara. As if to humiliate him
+as far as possible, he was given only an escort of eighty dragoons,
+although there were serious difficulties to be encountered on the road
+to Valencia. His two favorite aides de camp, Stilwell and Graham, were
+the only officers who accompanied him. It is satisfactory to know that
+from the moment of the earl's departure misfortune and disaster fell
+upon the fortunes of King Charles, and that the crown which he had
+received from the English earl was wrested from his unworthy grasp.
+Peterborough had gone but a short distance when he heard that all his
+baggage, consisting of eight wagon loads and of the value of eight
+thousand pounds sterling, had fallen into the hands of the enemy. When
+he left Valencia to extricate the king from his difficulties he had
+ordered it to be sent after him to Guadalaxara. When it arrived at
+Cuenca, General Wyndham, who commanded there, forwarded it with a small
+escort; but it was attacked while passing through the town of Huete by a
+party of the Duke of Berwick's troopers.
+
+The earl was furious at the news. Not only were all his personal
+effects, jewels, and uniforms lost, but his spare horses, carriages,
+and mules. Upon making inquiry he found that the troopers of Berwick had
+been aided by the inhabitants of Huete, who had given information to the
+troopers and shared in the plunder. His first impulse was to burn
+the town to the ground, and as when he arrived there he was joined by
+Wyndham's force, he had ample power to do so.
+
+He immediately summoned the magistrates and clergy to meet him, and told
+them in decided terms that they must find his baggage and the rogues
+that had stolen it. After making a search in the town they were able
+to find but a small portion of it. They then offered to pay him ten
+thousand pistoles for his loss, or any other sum which he might choose
+to name; but the earl, with that singular generosity which formed so
+marked a part of his character, declined the offer, and said:
+
+"I see you are honest gentlemen; for my part I will sit content with my
+loss if you will bring all the corn of the district to the army."
+
+The townspeople were delighted at this clemency, as corn was much more
+easy to procure than money, and it was accordingly sent to Lord Galway's
+camp, where it sufficed to supply the whole army for six weeks.
+
+This was an act of almost unparalleled magnanimity and generosity to the
+generals whose jealousy and machinations had driven him from the army;
+but the earl was so satisfied at thus heaping coals of fire upon the
+heads of his rivals that he continued his journey in the highest state
+of good humor in spite of the loss which he had suffered, and which, as
+he was by no means rich, was a very considerable one. He took with him
+Killigrew's dragoons and sent on Wyndham's brigade to join Lord Galway.
+On the way he encountered several adventures.
+
+One night when he arrived at the little town of Campillo, he heard of a
+barbarous massacre that had that day been perpetrated in a neighboring
+village upon a small detachment of English soldiers, who had just been
+discharged from the hospital at Cuenca, and were proceeding under the
+command of an officer to join Wyndham's battalion of the guards, to
+which they belonged. They had slept at the village, and were marching
+out unconscious of danger, when a shot in the back killed their officer,
+and the peasants at once rushed in upon the men and killed several of
+them, together with their wives who had accompanied them. The rest were
+dragged up a hill near the village, and then one by one thrown down a
+deep pit.
+
+No sooner did the earl hear of the outrage than he ordered the trumpets
+to sound to horse. The dragoons, who, weary with their long march, had
+just unsaddled, turned out wondering at the order; but when they heard
+what had happened, they mounted with an impatience for vengeance equal
+to that of their general. Arriving at the village they found, to their
+great disappointment, that the murderers had fled, and that hardly any
+of the inhabitants remained. They found, however, hidden in the church,
+the clothes of some of the murdered guardsmen. The sacristan of the
+church was alleged by the inhabitants, who were narrowly examined, to
+have taken an active part in the slaughter, and the earl ordered him to
+be hung up at once to the knocker of his own door. The troops then rode
+up to the top of the hill, and the earl and his aides de camp dismounted
+at the edge of the pit. They had procured a rope at the village,
+although the inhabitants insisted that no one could be found alive, as
+the pit, which was a disused one, was of vast depth.
+
+"Is any one alive down there?" the earl shouted.
+
+"Yes, yes," a voice cried a short distance below them. "Thank God
+friends have come; but help me quickly, for I cannot hold on much
+longer."
+
+Jack seized the rope and twisted one end round his body. Several of the
+soldiers lowered him down, and some twenty feet below the edge he came
+upon the man who had spoken. As he fell he had caught some bushes which
+grew in the side of the old pit, and having managed to find a ledge
+on which to place his feet, had maintained his grasp in this perilous
+position the whole day. As the rope was amply strong enough to hold two,
+Jack clasped his arms around the man's body and called to those above to
+haul up. They were soon at the surface.
+
+The soldier, who had fainted when he found himself in safety, was laid
+down and brandy poured down his throat, and Jack, to his astonishment
+and satisfaction, recognized in him his old friend Sergeant Edwards. He
+did not wait, however, for him to recover sensibility, but at once told
+the troopers to lower him again to the end of the rope. This they did,
+and Jack then shouted several times, but received no answer. He then
+dropped a small stone he had brought down with him, but no sound came
+back in return, and, satisfied that none of the soldiers could have
+survived the fall, for he was already more than sixty feet below the
+surface, he shouted to those above to draw him up. He found that Edwards
+had now recovered his senses, and was giving to the earl a detailed
+account of the massacre, which so exasperated him that he gave orders
+that the village should be burned to the ground, a command which
+was willingly carried out by the troopers. Edwards was delighted at
+recognizing Jack, and when, after the destruction of the village, the
+party rode back to Campillo for the night, the two old friends had a
+long chat as to the events which had happened since they last parted at
+Barcelona.
+
+"Is it true, sir, that the general has resigned his command?"
+
+"Quite true, Edwards."
+
+"And is he going home, sir?"
+
+"No; he will sail to aid the Duke of Savoy; at least that is the present
+intention; but I should not be surprised if he is in England ere many
+months are over."
+
+"Well, sir, I should like to get my discharge and go home too; being
+chucked down that pit has given me a regular sickness of campaigning
+among these savages. Talk about pirates, Captain Stilwell, why, I
+had rather fall among pirates any day than among these bloodthirsty
+wretches. Calls themselves Christians too! The pirates wasn't
+hypocrites, in that way, anyhow; they didn't bow down on their knees
+before every little trumpery doll stuck up by the wayside, and then go
+and cut a man's throat afterward--it was all fair and square with them.
+Anyways, it don't matter to me, as I see, whether they has King Charles
+or King Philip to rule over them; I wishes him joy of the job, whichever
+it may be; but I don't see no call to be risking my life in being shot,
+or chucked down pits, or stabbed in my bed, for such a lot of varmint
+any longer. I have served my full time, and can take my pension;
+besides, I have got something like a thousand pounds stowed away in a
+snug hiding place near Barcelona."
+
+"You have, Edwards? I am glad to hear it; I had no idea you were such a
+rich man."
+
+"It's prize money, sir, lawful earned prize money, though I don't know
+between ourselves as the colonel would have approved of it; so I stowed
+it away and says nothing till I gets a chance to lift it before I set
+sail. It's been rather worrying me in case we should be ordered to take
+ship at some other port."
+
+"Well, but how did you get it, Edwards?"
+
+"Well, sir, I know that I can tell you, 'cause I am sure it won't go no
+further. Just afore the French came down to besiege Barcelona I was
+up with the brigade at Lerida. The people were pretty much divided up
+there, but the news as the French was coming to drive us into the sea
+made the folks as was against us very bold. The sentries had to be
+doubled at night, for lots of our men were found stabbed, and it was
+dangerous to go about outside the town except in parties. Well, sir,
+Sergeant Adams of ours, as smart a soldier as ever wore pigtail, had
+fallen in love with the daughter of an innkeeper at a place four miles
+from Lerida.
+
+"It wasn't much of a village, but there was a big convent close by, one
+of the richest in Spain, they said. The girl was fond of Adams, and had
+agreed, so he told me, to cut and run when the regiment marched away,
+and to be spliced to him. I rather tried to dissuade him from the
+affair, for, as I pointed out, how would a Spanish woman get on in
+barracks with the other sergeants' wives, specially if she was as pretty
+as the whole lot put together? However, of course, he wouldn't listen to
+that--no chap ever does when he's downright in love; so he asked me
+one afternoon if I would go out with him and Sergeant Saunders to the
+village, so that while we were having our glass he could manage to get a
+few words with the girl to arrange about her joining him, for the French
+were only two or three marches away, and we might have to fall back any
+day.
+
+"I didn't much like the job, for it was a risky business three of us
+going so far; but he pointed out that we needn't start till it got dark,
+so nobody would see us till we got to the village, and we needn't stay
+there above a quarter of an hour, and could be off before any one who
+meant mischief could find out that we were alone; besides, hitherto
+the people there had always been friendly, for, being just the right
+distance for a walk, and the wine there being good, our fellows went
+over there a good deal: so the long and short of it was we went.
+
+"We got there all right, and walked into the wine shop as usual and sat
+down and called for wine. There were half a dozen fellows sitting there
+drinking. They were talking aloud when we entered, but stopped at once
+as we came in, and looked as men do when you come across them just as
+they are saying something as is no good about you. We passed the word as
+usual, and were soon chatting with them. They didn't seem very free and
+friendly, and asked several questions about the French army, and whether
+we had any troops coming up to help us hold Lerida. I said we expected
+five or six thousand in a day or two, which seemed rather to take them
+by surprise.
+
+"Well, presently Adams got up quietly and went out of the door, and I
+knew he was going round to the back to meet his girl. I had seen a look
+pass atween them when she brought in our wine. We went on talking quiet
+for some time; four or five other men dropped in, and some of them got
+talking together in low tones, and I began to wish we were well out of
+it, and to wonder how much longer Adams was going to be before he came
+back. Suddenly we heard a loud scream, and Manola--that was the girl's
+name--came rushing in from behind. 'He's killed him,' she screamed, and
+she fell down as if she had been killed too. As I heard afterward, her
+old rascal of a father had for some time suspected something was up
+between her and Adams, and when he missed him had stolen out behind and
+came upon them just as he was kissing her and saying goodby. Then he
+whipped his knife out, and before Adams had time to turn round, stabbed
+him in the back, and the sergeant fell dead without a word.
+
+"Close behind the girl rushed in the innkeeper, swearing and cursing and
+calling us heretics, and dogs, and robbers, and every other bad kind of
+name. The men got up and began to stamp and shout, and seeing that it
+was no time for argument I said to Saunders, 'We had best make a bolt of
+it, Bill.' So we out swords and made a dash for the inner door, for they
+had closed in at the other with their knives out. We got safely through
+the house. Just outside the back door we came upon the body of Adams. We
+stopped a moment and turned him over to see if he was dead, but it was
+all up with him.
+
+"It didn't take a moment to look; but, before it was done, they were
+upon us, both from behind and running round from the front of the house.
+We cut and slashed for a moment and then bolted with them at our heels.
+We got separated in a minute. I turned in among some bushes and lost
+Saunders. I heard afterward he was killed before he had run fifty yards.
+Luckily they missed me for the moment, and I lay down among the bushes
+and thought it over. The whole village was up by this time, as I could
+hear by the shouts; and after thinking it over I concluded that there
+was no chance of my making my way back to Lerida, and that my best plan
+would be to go up to the convent and ask for shelter there. I knew well
+enough that once inside I should be safe from the peasants.
+
+"Well, I crawled along for some distance. Half a dozen times they
+was nigh stumbling over me as they searched about in the gardens and
+vineyards; but at last I made my way safe up to the convent and rang
+at the bell. Presently the little window in the door opened, and a monk
+said, 'Who is there?' I kept out of his sight and said in Spanish: 'A
+fugitive who seeks sanctuary.' Thinking I was only somebody who had
+stabbed three or four men in a row, the monk opened the door. He gave
+an exclamation when he saw my uniform when I entered, and would have
+slammed the door in my face; but I pushed in. Then he gave a shout,
+and five or six other monks came running up and set up a jabbering, and
+stood staring at me as if I had been a wild beast. Then they wanted to
+turn me out; but I wouldn't budge, and as I had my sword still in my
+hand they didn't know what to do.
+
+"At last some chap in authority came down. He talked to me and tried to
+persuade me to leave; but I said, 'No, I claim sanctuary;' and as they
+were ready to give sanctuary to the worst of murderers, I didn't see as
+they could deny it to me who had committed no crime whatever. He went
+away and came back again after some time, and then told me to sheath my
+sword and follow him. This I did, and he led the way to a sort of cell
+where there were some rushes laid on a stone bed, and told me that I
+could remain there.
+
+"Thinking it was all right I lay down and went to sleep, but was
+presently woke by half a dozen monks, who were tying my hands and feet
+with cords. It was no use struggling, so I lay quiet; and when they
+had done, they carried me away, took me some distance, and went down a
+flight of stairs; a door was unlocked, and then I was pitched down
+on the ground as if I had been a log of wood. I didn't move much that
+night.
+
+"In the morning there was just enough light came through a little slit
+high up in the wall to show me that I was in a place about six feet
+square. It was perfectly bare, without as much as a bit of straw to
+lie on. Presently two monks came in. One of them untied the cords which
+fastened my hands. They placed some black bread and a jug of water by
+me, and then went out again. There they kept me for six days. At the
+end of that time they told me to come along with them. I had, of course,
+taken the cords off my legs when I had got my hands free, and I followed
+them, wondering what was to come next. I was taken to the door of the
+convent, and there I saw a party of French troopers, to whom the monks
+handed me over. I mounted behind one of them, and was taken to Marshal
+Tesse's camp near Lerida, and a couple of days afterward sent back to
+Saragossa.
+
+"I didn't stop long in the prison there, for the next day the people
+rose, turned the French from the citadel, and opened the prison doors
+and let out all the prisoners. They made a good deal of me, as I was
+the only Englishman there, supplied me with money and clean clothes, and
+provided me with a guide and a mule to take me by round about byroads
+so that I should avoid the French army. I put my regimentals in a bag,
+which I carried behind me, and at last got down to Barcelona the very
+day before the French arrived there.
+
+"I found my regiment already there. I got a rare blowing up from the
+colonel for having gone out from Lerida without leave; but as he said he
+thought I had been punished enough already, and bore a good character,
+he overlooked it, of which I was glad enough, I can tell you, for I
+expected nothing less than reduction to the ranks.
+
+"Well, after Lord Peterborough arrived with the fleet, and the French
+bolted as hard as they could to France, Wyndham's brigade went up again
+to Lerida. I got chatting the affair over with Jack Thompson, who was
+General Wyndham's servant, and we agreed between us that we would give
+those monks a fright, and perhaps get some compensation out of them. So
+we got hold of four of Killigrew's dragoons, who, when they heard what
+was wanted, was ready enough for the spree. So one day when General
+Wyndham had gone off with a party for the day, Thompson borrowed his hat
+and plumes and his cloak, and hiding them up, went out of camp with me
+to a place a quarter of a mile away, where the four troopers with two
+spare horses were waiting for us. Thompson put on the general's hat and
+cloak, and mounted one horse, while I got on the other, and away we rode
+out to the village.
+
+"First of all we went to the inn and seized the innkeeper. Manola wasn't
+there, and I never heard what became of her--whether her father had sent
+her to a convent or killed her, I don't know. However, we held a court
+regular. Thompson he was the judge, and I gave evidence as to the
+innkeeper having murdered poor Adams, and Thompson sentenced him to
+death, and we hung him up over his door. When we had set that job right
+we went to the convent and rang the bell. They opened quick enough this
+time.
+
+"'Tell the prior,' Thompson said, 'that the Earl of Peterborough is
+here, and desires to see him instantly.'
+
+"Mighty frightened the monk looked, I can tell you, as he went off to
+give the message, and came back in a minute, asking Thompson to follow
+him. We all dismounted. Two of the troopers stopped to look after the
+horses, and the others with drawn swords followed Thompson and me. We
+were shown into the prior's room, which was fit for a prince. The prior
+looked mighty pale, and so did two or three other chaps who were with
+him.
+
+"'Look here,' Thompson said in an angry tone of voice, 'I am the Earl of
+Peterborough, and I hear from this man, Sergeant Edwards, of the king's
+regiment of grenadiers, that he was basely and treacherously made a
+prisoner by you; that he was confined in an underground cell and fed
+with bread and water for a week, and then handed over to the French.
+Now, sir, I give you an hour to clear out with all your gang from this
+convent, which I intend to destroy. You will remain in the courtyard as
+prisoners. You will then be tried for this treacherous act against one
+of the King of England's guards, and all found to have had a hand in the
+proceeding will be hung.'
+
+"Well, sir, you may just guess the fright they were in. They knew that
+the earl was just the sort of man to carry his threat into execution,
+and they thought their last day was come. You never saw such a set of
+cowardly wretches in your life. I am blessed if they didn't go down on
+their knees and howl. At last Thompson began to think he had worked them
+up enough, and he said stern:
+
+"'Well, I am disposed to have mercy, and if in half an hour you pay down
+the sum of five thousand pounds as a ransom for the convent and your
+wretched lives I will be merciful.'
+
+"Then there was a fresh howling. They swore by all the saints that such
+a sum as five thousand pounds was never heard of. Thompson gradually
+dropped his demands to three thousand; still they swore they hadn't got
+it, and he said sternly to one of the troopers:
+
+"'Ride back and fetch up the regiment which is a mile outside the
+village.'
+
+"Then there was more howling, and at last they offered to give seven
+hundred pounds, which was all the money which they had in the treasury,
+and to make it up in precious stones. After a deal of haggling Thompson
+consented, and I believe if he had stood out for three times as much
+he would have got it, for the convent was rich in relics, and no end of
+precious offerings were stored away in their chests; however, he didn't
+wish to push matters too far, and in half an hour they brought the
+money, and a handful of diamonds and rubies, and things they had picked
+out of their settings in the vases and crucifixes and vestments, and
+what not.
+
+"We didn't know if they were real or not; but Thompson told them he
+should give them to a jeweler to value, and if he found they had cheated
+him by giving him false stones he would come back and hang the lot of
+them. So off we rode again.
+
+"When we got back to Lerida we took two or three of the stones to a
+jeweler and found that they were all right. Then we divided the swag
+into three parts as we had agreed. Thompson took one, I took another,
+and the other was divided among the four troopers, who were not running
+such a risk as we were. I never heard anything more about the matter,
+as far as I was concerned, though there was a row. The prior heard that
+Peterborough had never been near Lerida, and came over and saw General
+Wyndham.
+
+"Killigrew's dragoons were paraded, but the prior couldn't spot any
+of them. We had chosen four fair fellows, and they had all darkened
+themselves a bit before they went. Luckily the prior did not say
+anything about me. I expect he was afraid that when Wyndham heard how
+I had been treated there he might have inflicted a fresh fine on the
+convent; however, I was not there at the time, for I had a touch of
+fever the day after the affair, and made myself out a bit worse than I
+was, and so got sent down to Barcelona, where I buried my share of the
+plunder four or five inches deep in a corner of the hospital yard. As
+to Thompson, there wasn't any reason why suspicion should fall upon him.
+Soon after I got back to my regiment I got ill again and was left in a
+hospital at Cuenca, and had a narrow escape of it this morning."
+
+"It was a risky business," Jack said, "and it would have gone very hard
+with you and Thompson if you had been found out."
+
+"So it would, sir. I knew that; but you see, it was only right and just
+those fellows should pay for their treatment of me. If I had laid the
+case before General Wyndham, no doubt he would have punished them
+just as severe as I did, only the fine would have gone into the army
+treasury, instead of going to the right person."
+
+"I am afraid, Edwards, that you have not got rid of those loose notions
+of morality you picked up among the pirates," Jack said, smiling.
+
+"Perhaps not, Captain Stilwell. You see, bad habits stick to a man; but
+I have done with them now. When I get back to England I shall buy a snug
+public house at Dover, and with that and my pension I shall be in clover
+for the rest of my life."
+
+It was not until the voyage home that Jack, after obtaining a promise of
+secrecy, related to the earl the liberty which had been taken with
+his name. It was just a freak after Peterborough's heart, and he was
+immensely amused.
+
+"The rascals!" he said, "they deserved hanging, every one of them; but
+the story is a capital one, and I should like to have been there myself
+to have seen the fright of the prior and his assistants. They richly
+deserved what befell them and more for betraying sanctuary. If it had
+been a scoundrel who had cut his wife's throat, and stabbed half a dozen
+men, they would have refused to give him up to the civil power, and
+would have stood on the rights of sanctuary of the Church. I think they
+were let off very easily. Let me see, is not that the same fellow that
+I exchanged into the grenadiers at Gibraltar at your request, for his
+conduct in that business of the mutiny on board your ship?"
+
+"The same man, sir. He has led a queer life. He was a sailor originally,
+and was taken by pirates and forced to join them, and had a narrow
+escape of being hung when the vessel he sailed in was captured by an
+English cruiser; but his life was spared, and he was drafted into the
+army, and he is a willing and faithful soldier of the queen, and really
+a worthy fellow."
+
+"He is evidently an arrant old scamp, Stilwell. Still, as long as
+we recruit our army as we do, we cannot look for morality as well as
+bravery, and I dare say your fellow is no worse than the rest. If you
+ever run against him in London you must bring him to me, and I will hear
+his story from his own lips."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII: HOME
+
+
+Upon the arrival of the Earl of Peterborough at Valencia he was received
+with the profoundest sympathy and respect by the people, who were filled
+with indignation at the treatment which the man whose daring and genius
+had freed Catalonia and Valencia of the French had received at the hands
+of their ungrateful monarch. Finding that a portion of the fleet had
+been ordered to the West Indies, the earl was obliged to abandon his
+project of capturing Minorca and then carrying substantial aid to the
+Duke of Savoy. He, however, went to Genoa, and there borrowed a hundred
+thousand pounds, which he brought back to Valencia and sent to the king
+for the use of the army.
+
+The cause of Charles was already well nigh desperate. Castile was lost,
+and the enemy were pressing forward to recover Catalonia and Valencia.
+Affairs were in the utmost state of confusion. Peterborough's rivals
+having got rid of him now quarreled among themselves, or their only bond
+of union was their mutual hatred of the earl.
+
+The king himself, while he pretended to flatter him, wrote letters
+behind his back to England bringing all sorts of accusations against
+him, and succeeded in obtaining an order for his return. Before leaving
+he implored the king and his generals to avoid a battle, which would
+probably be disastrous, and to content themselves with a defensive war
+until Eugene of Savoy and the Duke of Marlborough broke the power of
+France elsewhere. His opinion was overruled, and the result was the
+disastrous battle of Almanza, in which the hopes of Charles of Austria
+of obtaining the crown of Spain were finally crushed.
+
+Peterborough embarked on the 14th of May on board the Resolution, man of
+war, commanded by his second son Henry.
+
+The Resolution was accompanied by two frigates, the Enterprise and the
+Milford Haven. The King of Spain's envoy to the court of Savoy also
+sailed in the Resolution. The earl took with him his two aides de camp,
+who were both too indignant at the treatment which their chief had
+received to desire to remain with the army in Spain. The little squadron
+sailed first for Barcelona, where it only remained a few hours, and then
+set sail for Italy.
+
+On the fifth day at sea they fell in with a French fleet of six men
+of war. Two carried eighty guns, two seventy, one sixty-eight, and the
+other fifty-eight. The Resolution was a slow sailer, and the French, who
+at once gave chase, gained rapidly upon her. As resistance against such
+overwhelming odds seemed hopeless, Peterborough determined to go with
+the Spanish envoy and the state papers on board the Enterprise. There
+was little time for reflection. A small boat was lowered, and the earl,
+with a hasty adieu to his son, Jack, and Graham, descended the ship's
+side with the Spanish envoy and rowed away to the Enterprise.
+
+"We are fated to see the inside of a French prison, after all," Jack
+said to Graham.
+
+"I don't know, Stilwell. We have both been in their hands once, and
+did not stay there long. I can hardly believe that our luck's going to
+desert us at last."
+
+"I don't see much chance of our escape this time, Graham. Six ships
+against one are too great odds even for English sailors. The smallest of
+them carries as many guns as we do, and once a prisoner on board a ship
+there is no slipping away."
+
+"We are not prisoners yet, Jack, and I don't think that Mordaunt will
+strike his flag without a struggle, though they are six to one. He is
+just his father over again as far as courage goes."
+
+"Well, I hope, anyhow, the earl will get away," Jack said. "If it hadn't
+been for all those state papers he is burdened with I am sure he would
+have stuck to the Resolution and fought it out. It would be just
+the kind of desperate adventure to suit him. See, he has reached the
+Enterprise, and she and the Milford Haven are spreading every sail; but
+although they will leave us behind I question whether they will outsail
+the French. They are coming up fast."
+
+"It will soon be dark," Graham said, "and they may be able to slip away.
+You may be sure the French will attend to us first, as being the most
+valuable prize."
+
+"Well, gentlemen," Captain Mordaunt said, coming up to them, "you are
+going to have a piece of new experience. I know you have been through
+some apparently hopeless conflicts on land with my father, but I don't
+think you have ever seen a sea fight."
+
+"Are you going to fight them all, sir?" Jack asked.
+
+"I am going to try," the captain said. "My orders were to go to Leghorn,
+and to Leghorn I mean to go if the ship floats; but I tell you honestly
+I do not think there is much chance of our getting there. Still, as long
+as the ship floats, the British flag will float over her."
+
+"Is there anything we can do, sir?" Jack asked. "We shall be happy
+to serve as volunteers in any capacity in which you think we may be
+useful."
+
+"Until it comes to boarding I fear that you cannot help," the
+captain said, "except by walking about between decks and cheering and
+inspiriting the men. The presence of officers looking cool and confident
+among them always does good. If the enemy try to board us you shall
+fight by my side."
+
+The two fastest sailing French vessels were so close when night fell
+that it was hopeless to try to evade them either by changing the ship's
+course or by lowering the sails. At ten o'clock they were less than a
+mile astern, one on either quarter. The ship had long since been ready
+for action, and the men were now called to the guns; but the enemy did
+not open fire, but could, by the night glasses, be seen somewhat
+to shorten sail so as to keep about the same distance behind the
+Resolution.
+
+"Cowardly dogs," the young captain said, "they do not mean to fight
+until the whole of their consorts come up. However, we ought not to
+grumble, as every hour takes us so much nearer port."
+
+He then ordered the men to lie down by the guns and get what sleep they
+could until the enemy opened fire. Jack and Graham, finding that there
+was nothing to be done, threw themselves into their hammocks, and slept
+till five o'clock in the morning. They were then aroused, and went on
+deck. The six French ships had now all come up, and were coming on in a
+body.
+
+"Good morning, gentlemen," the young captain said gayly. "We have a fine
+morning for our amusement. I wish the wind would freshen a little more
+so as to take this lubberly old ship faster through the water."
+
+At six o'clock the leading vessel of the French squadron opened fire,
+and at the signal her consorts all followed her example. Some of them
+were now almost abreast of the Resolution, and the iron shower tore
+through her sails and cut her rigging. She answered with a broadside
+from both sides, and the battle commenced in earnest.
+
+In all the annals of British seamanship there is no more heroic story
+than that of the fight between the Resolution and the six French men of
+war. From six in the morning until half past three in the afternoon she
+maintained the unequal contest, still keeping on under full sail toward
+her port, only yawing occasionally to pour a broadside into one or other
+of her foes. They were now running along the coast, and the peasants on
+the distant hills must have watched with astonishment the unequal fight
+as the vessels pressed on past them. By half past three the Resolution
+was little more than a wreck. Her sails were riddled with holes, many
+of her spars shot away, her sides ragged and torn, and many of her
+crew killed, but the remainder of the crew still fought their guns
+unflinchingly.
+
+"We can do no more," Captain Mordaunt said to Jack. "The carpenter has
+just reported that the mainmast is so seriously injured that at any
+moment it may go over the side. It is impossible to hope any longer to
+reach Leghorn, but my ship I am determined they shall not have."
+
+So saying, he gave orders to the first lieutenant, and the vessel's head
+was suddenly turned straight toward the shore. The French, astonished at
+so desperate a course, did not venture to follow her, and the Resolution
+threaded her way through the dangerous reefs till at last she brought up
+with a sudden crash which sent her tottering mainmast over the side.
+
+The French advanced cautiously until nearing the reefs, and then opened
+a distant fire, which the Resolution did not return. The captain ordered
+the exhausted crew from their guns, a strong allowance of grog was
+served out, and after a meal the men felt again ready for work. Jack
+and his companion were at dinner with the captain, when the officer in
+charge of the deck reported that the French ships were lowering their
+boats.
+
+"Let the men rest as long as possible, Mr. Darwin, but when you see the
+boats fairly on their way toward us beat to quarters."
+
+A few minutes later the roll of the drums was heard. "Now, gentlemen, we
+will go on deck," the captain said, "since they will not let us alone.
+But if their ships could not take us I do not think that their boats
+will have much chance."
+
+Dusk was closing in when they went on deck and saw all the boats of the
+six French men of war, crowded with men, rowing in a line toward them.
+The captain gave the order for the men to load with grape. As soon as
+the French flotilla came well within range the word was given, and a
+storm of balls swept their line.
+
+Several of the boats were sunk at once, the others paused to pick up
+their comrades from the water, and then again dashed forward; but by
+this time the guns were again loaded, and the hail of iron again crashed
+into them. With splendid bravery the French still advanced until close
+to the ship. Then Captain Mordaunt ordered all the lower deck guns to
+be run in and the ports closed, and the crew to come on deck. While some
+worked the upper guns, others kept up a heavy fire of musketry upon the
+boats, which swarmed round the ship.
+
+Again and again the French made determined efforts to board, but they
+were unable to climb the lofty sides of the ship. At length, after
+suffering terrible loss, the French sailors gave up the attempt and
+rowed sullenly off to their ships, covered by the darkness from the
+English fire. Captain Mordaunt took off his cap and gave the signal,
+and a hearty cheer arose from the crew. The night passed quietly,
+the terribly diminished crew lay down as they stood by the guns, in
+readiness to repel another attack, should it be attempted. The next
+morning one of the French eighty gun ships got under way, and, with
+merely a rag of canvas shown, and her boats rowing ahead and sounding
+to find a channel through the reefs, gradually made her way toward the
+Resolution.
+
+"Well, gentlemen," the captain said, "I think you will agree with me
+that nothing further can be done. The ship is already half full of
+water, the magazine is flooded, and the whole of the powder wetted.
+The ship is a wreck, and I should be only throwing away the men's lives
+uselessly by attempting further resistance."
+
+The officers thoroughly agreed, and with the greatest coolness the
+captain gave his orders for the abandonment of the vessel. Although the
+French man of war had now opened fire, all the wounded, the whole of
+the crew, the flags, papers, and everything of value were placed in the
+boats, and the vessel was then set on fire in a dozen places.
+
+After superintending everything personally, and making sure that the
+fire had obtained such a hold that it could not be extinguished, Captain
+Mordaunt ordered the officers to descend into the boats. Just as he
+was about to leave the deck himself, the last man on board the ship,
+a cannon shot from the French man of war struck him in the leg. The
+officers ran back and raised him from the deck.
+
+"It might have been worse," he said cheerfully. "Now, gentlemen, will
+you carry me down and place me in my gig, and then take your boats as
+arranged? Be careful, as you row toward shore, to keep the Resolution
+between you and the Frenchman's guns."
+
+Everything was done steadily and in order, and the survivors of the crew
+of the Resolution reached the shore without further loss. The Resolution
+was now in a blaze from end to end, and by eleven o'clock she was burned
+to the water's edge. Mordaunt and his crew were kindly received by the
+people of the country. As the captain himself would not be able to move
+for some time, Jack and Graham said adieu to him and posted to Turin,
+where the earl had told them that he should go direct from Leghorn.
+
+They arrived before him, but twenty-four hours after they had reached
+the capital of Savoy the earl arrived. He had already heard rumors of
+the desperate fight between the Resolution and the enemy, and that his
+son had been wounded. His aides de camp were now able to assure him
+that, although serious, Captain Mordaunt's wounds were not likely to be
+fatal, and Peterborough was delighted with the narrative of the gallant
+achievement of his son. Shortly afterward an imperative order for his
+return reaching the earl, he set out for England through Germany with
+his two aides de camp. Peterborough was suffering from illness caused by
+the immense exertions he had made through the campaign, and traveled but
+slowly. He visited many of the German courts, and went for a few days to
+the camp of Charles of Sweden in Saxony.
+
+After this, by special invitation, he journeyed to the camp of the Duke
+of Marlborough at Genappes, where he was received with much honor by the
+great commander. He presented to him his two aides de camp.
+
+"They have, my lord duke," he said, "been my faithful friends throughout
+the whole campaign in Spain, they have shared all my dangers, and any
+credit I may have gained is due in no small degree to their zeal and
+activity. It is unlikely that I shall again command an army in the
+field, and therefore I would recommend them to you. They will accompany
+me to England, for they, too, need a rest, after their exertions; after
+that I trust that they may be sent out to fight under your orders, and
+I trust that you will keep them in your eye, and will give them the
+advantage of your protection and favor."
+
+The duke promised to do so, and, after a few days' stay in the camp, the
+earl with his two followers started for England, where he arrived on the
+20th of August, 1707, nearly two years to a day from the date when he
+had appeared, with a force under his command, before Barcelona. But
+the campaign itself, so far as he was concerned, had lasted less than
+a year, as it was in August, 1706, that he rode into Valencia, after
+having been deprived of his command.
+
+In that year he exhibited military qualities which have never been
+surpassed. Daring to the point of extreme rashness where there was a
+possibility of success, he was prudent and cautious in the extreme when
+prudence was more necessary than daring. With absurdly insufficient
+means he all but conquered Spain for Charles of Austria, and would have
+succeeded in doing so altogether had he not, from first to last,
+been thwarted and hampered by jealousy, malignity, stupidity, and
+irresolution on the part of the king, his courtiers, and the generals
+who should have been the earl's assistants, but who were his rivals,
+detractors, and enemies.
+
+It must be owned that Peterborough owed this opposition in some degree
+to himself. He was impatient of fools, and took no pains to conceal his
+contempt and dislike for those whose intellects were inferior to his
+own. His independence of spirit and eccentricity of manner set the
+formal German and Spanish advisers of the king against him, and although
+adored by the officers and men who served under him, he made almost
+every man of rank approaching his own who came in contact with him his
+personal enemy. Among the bulk of the Spanish people of the provinces in
+which he warred he was beloved as well as admired, and even to this day
+legends of the brilliant and indefatigable English general are still
+current among the people of Catalonia and Valencia. No man ever served
+the cause to which he devoted himself with greater zeal and sincerity.
+He was lavish of his own private means in its interest, and, even when
+his advice and opinion were most slighted, he was ready to sacrifice
+himself, his rank, and dignity to the good of the cause. Had he had
+the good fortune to command an army of his own countrymen unfettered by
+others, it is probable that he would have gained a renown equal to that
+of the greatest commanders the world has known.
+
+The great services which he had rendered were warmly felt and
+acknowledged by the people of England on his return, and the attempts
+of his enemies to undermine his reputation were confuted by the
+papers which he brought back with him. For a time Peterborough took a
+considerable part in politics, and his acrimony in debate so enraged
+his enemies that his conduct during the war in Spain was called into
+question. A debate on the subject took place. In this he successfully
+defended himself from the attacks made against him, and a formal vote of
+thanks to him was passed.
+
+Some years afterward he retired altogether from public life, and
+privately married Miss Anastasia Robinson, his first wife having died
+many years before. Miss Robinson was a singer of the highest repute, of
+the most amiable character, and kindest disposition. There was no reason
+why the match should not have been publicly acknowledged, as the lady
+was held in universal esteem; but, with his usual eccentricity, the earl
+insisted on the marriage being kept a secret, and did not announce it
+until on his death bed in the year 1735. Lady Peterborough lived in
+profound retirement, universally beloved and honored, to the age of
+eighty-eight.
+
+Upon arriving in London Jack stayed for a few days with his friend
+Graham, whose family lived there. The earl had told the young officer
+that he would introduce them to the queen, but, on their calling by
+appointment on him at his hotel on the third day after their arrival in
+town, Peterborough said:
+
+"You had best go about your own business for a time; the queen is out of
+temper. The ears of ministers have been poisoned by lying letters from
+my enemies in Spain, but it will all come right in time. As you know, I
+have papers which will clear me of every charge that their malignity may
+invent. When I am in favor again I will let you know, and will present
+you to the queen and minister of war; at any rate, you will like a rest
+at home before you set out for the Netherlands, so there will be plenty
+of time."
+
+The next day Jack took his place on the coach for Southampton. He
+arrived there after fourteen hours' journey, and put up at a hotel for
+the night. The next morning he dressed himself with greater care than
+usual, and started for the well remembered shop in the High Street. He
+knocked at the private door, and inquired if Mistress Anthony were in.
+
+"Will you say that a gentleman whom she knows wishes to speak to her?"
+
+Jack was shown into the parlor, and in a minute or two Mrs. Anthony
+appeared, looking a little flustered at hearing that a grand looking
+officer wished to see her. Jack advanced toward her with a smile.
+
+"Why, Jack!" she exclaimed with a scream of delight, "is it you?" and
+the good woman threw her arms round his neck and kissed him as if he had
+been her own son.
+
+"Of course we got your letters," she said, "telling us how you had been
+made an officer and then a captain. The last letter we had from you was
+from Italy; telling us about that great sea fight, and that you were
+coming home, but that's eight months ago. We knew you were with my
+Lord Peterborough, and we saw in the Intelligencer about his being in
+Germany, and last week they said he had come home. We were talking about
+you only yesterday, and wondering whether you would come down to see us,
+and whether you would know us now you had grown such a fine gentleman,
+and being written about in Lord Peterborough's dispatches, and
+accustomed to all sorts of grand society."
+
+"You knew I would," Jack said; "why, where should I go if not here? And
+Alice is quite well, I hope, and grown quite a woman."
+
+"Not quite a woman yet, Jack, but getting on." She opened the door and
+called Alice, and in a minute the girl ran down. Her mother saw that she
+had guessed who the caller was, for she had smoothed her hair and put on
+a bright ribbon which her mother had not seen for three years, and which
+Jack himself had given her. She paused a moment shyly at the door, for
+this young officer, in all the glories of the staff uniform, was a very
+grand figure in her eyes.
+
+"How do you do, Cousin Jack?" she said, coming forward, with a bright
+color and outstretched hand.
+
+"How are you, Cousin Alice?" Jack said, mimicking her tone; "why, you
+little goose," he exclaimed, catching her in his arms and kissing her,
+"you don't suppose I am going to be satisfied with shaking your hand
+after being nearly three years away."
+
+"Oh, but you are so big, Jack, and so grand, it seems different
+altogether."
+
+"You are bigger than you were, Alice, but it does not seem in the least
+different to me."
+
+"Well, I thought you would be quite changed, Jack, and quite different,
+now you are a captain, and famous, and all that, and you have seen so
+many grand ladies in all the countries you have traveled that--that--"
+And she hesitated.
+
+"Well, go on," Jack said gravely.
+
+"Well, then, that you would have forgotten all about me."
+
+"Then you are a very bad little girl, Alice, and not half so good as I
+thought you were, for you must have a very bad opinion of me, indeed, if
+you thought all that of me."
+
+"I don't think I quite thought so, Jack. Well, I told myself it was only
+natural it should be so."
+
+"We will argue that out presently," Jack said; "and now, where is Mr.
+Anthony?"
+
+"I will call him, Jack," Mrs. Anthony said. "You have no ill feeling, I
+hope, toward him, for you know he really has been very sorry about the
+part he took in getting you away, and has blamed himself over and over
+again."
+
+"I never have had," Jack said; "it has been the best thing that ever
+happened to me. If I had had my own way I should still be working before
+the mast instead of being a captain in the army."
+
+Mr. Anthony was soon called in from the store. At first he was a little
+awkward and shy, but Jack's heartiness soon put him at his ease.
+
+Jack stayed a fortnight at Southampton, and then, on the receipt of
+a letter from the Earl of Peterborough, went up to town, where he was
+presented to the queen and afterward to the minister of war by the earl.
+
+A week later he and Graham sailed for the Netherlands and joined the
+army of the Duke of Marlborough, and served under that great commander
+until, three years later, the war was brought to a conclusion. They were
+attached to the staff of one of the generals of division.
+
+The duke kept his promise to the Earl of Peterborough, and kept his eye
+on the young officers. Both distinguished themselves in the hard fought
+battles in Belgium, and the end of the war found them both colonels.
+There being no prospect of further wars the army was greatly reduced,
+and Jack was retired on half pay, and as soon as matters were arranged
+in London he again made his way down to Southampton, and at once asked
+Mr. Anthony's permission to pay his addresses to his daughter.
+
+The ex mayor consented with delight, and, as Alice herself offered
+no objection, matters were speedily arranged. Jack's half pay was
+sufficient for them to live on comfortably, and Mr. Anthony, in his
+gratification at a marriage which he considered did him great honor,
+presented her with a handsome sum at her wedding, and the young couple
+settled down in a pretty house a short distance out of Southampton.
+
+Jack was never called out again for active service, and lived in the
+neighborhood of Southampton until the end of his long life, buying a
+small estate there, when, at the death of Mr. Anthony, the handsome
+fortune which the cloth merchant had made came to his daughter, subject
+to an annuity to Mrs. Anthony, who took up her abode for the rest of
+her life with her son-in-law, her daughter, and their children. For many
+years Colonel Stilwell sat in parliament as member for Southampton, and
+maintained a warm friendship with his ancient commander until the death
+of the latter, in 1735.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bravest of the Brave, by G. A. Henty
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