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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bravest of the Brave, by G. A. Henty
+#20 in our series by G. A. Henty
+
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+Title: The Bravest of the Brave
+       or, with Peterborough in Spain
+
+Author: G. A. Henty
+
+Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7318]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on April 11, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE ***
+
+
+
+
+This eBook was 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 ho 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; bat 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 he 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, yon 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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