CHAPTER NINE.
The English and French fleets lay in Sole Bay, a brave sight, with flagsflying and trumpets sounding from the different ships. Just as daybroke on the 28th of May, numerous sail were seen dotting the horizon.On they came. There was no doubt that they were the ships of the Dutchfleet. The Duke of York threw out the signal for action; and the shipssetting sail, some of them cutting their cables in their eagerness,stood out of the bay. The French, who were on the outside, were nearestto the Dutch. From the deck of the _Royal James_, no less thanseventy-five large ships were discovered, and forty frigates. The fleetwas commanded, as was well known, by the brave Admirals de Ruyter,Banquert, and Van Ghent. The French were first attacked by AdmiralBanquert. And now the guns on both sides sent forth their missiles ofdeath,--round shot and chain shot, the latter cutting to pieces therigging and spars of their antagonists.
"See, Wenlock, those Frenchmen fight well," exclaimed Christison. "Wemust acquit ourselves in a like gallant way." This was said as the_Royal James_ was standing into action, approaching a large Dutch shipcalled the _Great Holland_. "But see! what are they about? They arebeating a retreat. Two or three of their ships remain in the enemy'shands. They have no stomach for the fight, that is clear; or, from whatI hear, they are playing the game they have long done. It is the oldstory. They wish the Dutch and us to tear ourselves to pieces, and thenthey will come in and pick up the fragments."
Meantime, the Duke of York in the _Saint Michael_ was engaged withAdmiral de Ruyter, his ship being so severely handled that he had toleave her, and hoist his flag on board the _Loyal London_.
"Ah! we have enemies enough coming down upon us," exclaimed Christison,as the _Royal James_, at the head of the blue squadron, became almostsurrounded by Dutch ships. The _Great Holland_ was the first to lay heralongside, the Dutchmen, however, in vain endeavouring to board.Admiral Van Ghent next attacked her with a squadron of fire-ships. Thebrave Earl of Sandwich encouraged his men to resist, in spite of thenumerous foes round him. Again and again the Dutchmen from the deck ofthe _Great Holland_ attempted to carry the _Royal James_. Each timethey were beaten back. Sometimes the earl put himself at the head ofhis men; at others Christison and his son repelling the boarders. Allthis time the other Dutch ships kept up a terrific fire on the _RoyalJames_. More than once the earl turned his eyes towards the remainderof the English fleet, but none of the ships seemed prepared to come tohis assistance. The Englishmen were falling thickly; already manyhundreds strewed the deck.
"When a man's destruction has been resolved on, it is easy to bring itabout," observed the earl to his captain, Sir Richard Haddock, who stoodby his side. "However, neither friends nor foes shall say that EdwardMontagu failed in his duty to his country, or ceased to fight till thelast." Saying this, he again cheered his men. Never did a crew fightwith more fierce desperation than did that of the _Royal James_. Eventhe wounded refused to quit their guns, till they dropped at theirquarters. A cheer at length arose from their decks. The _GreatHolland_ had been beaten off, and was retiring in a disabled state. DeRuyter, his person conspicuous on the deck of his ship, still assailedher however. At length a shot was seen to strike him, and he sank,apparently slain, to the deck.
For a short time the hard-pressed ship of the gallant admiral enjoyed arespite; but by this time she was reduced almost to a wreck, while sixhundred of her brave crew lay dead or dying about her decks, with manyof her officers, and several gallant gentlemen who had volunteered onboard. Night was coming on, the constant flashes from the guns,however, showing the fury with which the fight was continued. Still theearl refused to retire from the combat. Christison and his son hadhitherto escaped. "I have seen many fierce battles, Wenlock, but neverone like this," said the old officer; "and our fighting is not overto-day. See here come more foes!" As he spoke, several ships were seenbearing down upon the _Royal James_, and now, opening their fire, theysurrounded her with smoke. The four hundred survivors of her crewfought their guns with the same desperation as at first; but in themidst of the smoke a ship, approaching unperceived, grappled closelywith her. Directly afterwards there was a cry of fire!
Flames were seen bursting forth from the enemy, now, when too late,known to be a fire-ship. In vain the crew endeavoured to freethemselves from her, but the Dutch sent such showers of shot among themthat many were killed in the attempt. Wenlock had been keeping near hisfather, who, for the first time since the commencement of the fight,acknowledged that they were in desperate circumstances. Scarcely had hespoken, when Wenlock heard a sharp cry by his side, and turning round,he saw his father falling to the deck. He lifted him up; but as hegazed in his countenance, he saw that those eyes which had always lookedat him with affection were glazing in death.
"Father! father! speak to me," said Wenlock; but there was no answer.He laid him down on the deck. And now on every side the flames werebursting forth through the ports. Already the fore part of the ship wasa mass of fire. Just then the brave Sir Richard Haddock received a shotin the thigh. He fell, but again raised himself to his feet: "Lower theboats, lads!" he shouted. "Ere a few minutes are over, no one will beable to live on board our stout ship. Where is the earl?"
"He went to his cabin," answered some one.
"Christison, come with me; we must get him into a boat. I fear he iswounded." Wenlock was obeying his commander, when just at that momenthe felt a severe pang, and was conscious that a missile of some sort hadpassed through his side. In spite of his wound, however, he followedthe captain. The earl was seated at the table, with a handkerchief overhis eyes.
"My lord, a boat is in readiness, and we have come to conduct you toit," said Sir Richard.
"No, friend, no," answered the earl. "I cannot brook some bitter wordsspoken to me yesterday by the Duke of York. If my ship is to perish, Iwill perish with her."
In vain Sir Richard and Wenlock tried to persuade the brave earl tolisten to reason. Already the crackling sounds of the flames wereheard, and wreaths of smoke came driving into the cabin. Then came aterrific sound. Wenlock scarcely knew what had happened, when he foundhimself plunged into the water. He was a strong swimmer, and struck outfor life. Near him was another man whose features, lighted up by theflames from the burning ship, he recognised as those of Sir RichardHaddock. He swam towards him.
"Leave me, Christison," he said; "I am desperately wounded, and cannotsurvive this night. You too I saw were wounded, and will have enough todo to save yourself."
"No, no, sir," answered Wenlock; "I see close to us a spar. It willsupport us till some help arrives. I will tow you towards it if youwill float quietly."
Sir Richard did as he was advised, and in a short space of time Wenlockhad placed him on the spar. It was not, however, sufficient to supportboth of them.
Another was seen at a little distance. Securing the captain to thefirst, Wenlock swam to the other. He had wished to remain by hiscaptain, but by some means he perceived that they were graduallyreceding from each other. In vain he shouted to the ships nearest tohim. The din of battle drowned his voice. First one tall ship, thenanother, went down. The whole ocean around seemed covered withfragments of wrecks and struggling men. Of the latter, one after theother, however, sunk below the surface. At length he saw several shipsapproaching him. Again he shouted. It seemed to him that one was aboutto run over him, and courageous as he was, he gave himself up for lost.Leaving the spar, he swam off, hoping thus to avoid her. She must havebeen hotly engaged, for her topmasts and all their rigging were hangingover the side. As the ship passed by, he caught hold of the rigging,and drawing himself up, found a firm footing. Though his wound painedhim considerably, he still had sufficient strength to climb on board,not knowing as he did so whether he was to find himself among friends orfoes.