CHAPTER THREE.
The Portugal fleet, which the little English squadron was now rapidlyapproaching, looked formidable indeed, numbering as it did four times asmany tall ships as the latter, but not a heart among the stout men whoformed the crew of the Red Dragon, the Serpent, or the Lion, theSunshine or Moonshine, quailed with the thoughts of combating againstodds so great.
Good Master Walker, the minister of the Lion, went round among the crewas they stood at their quarters, reminding them that they were about tofight for their sovereign, their country, their honour, and theirreligion.
"And, dear lads," he added, "now is not the time to preach to you; but Ihave taught you all faithfully the truth, and would beseech all who havelistened to remember and adhere by it."
The admiral had formed his line of battle, and, passing by each ship onhis way to form the van, hailed through his speaking-trumpet,encouraging the crews to fight bravely for St. George and merry England,and promising them, if they gained the victory, the rich freights of allthe ships they could capture. It was a bold feat of the gallant admiralthus to sail into the very midst of his foes, who he knew must surroundhim.
The Portugals were formed, as has been said, in a semicircle, with theconcave side of their line turned toward the English, so that they mightquickly overlap them--in a land fight an important point to gain, but atsea of slight advantage. The English were formed as a wedge; the RedDragon led, the Serpent following, then came the two pinnaces, the Lionand Lion's Whelp bringing up the rear.
As the hostile fleets drew near, drums began to beat and trumpets tobray forth their discordant sounds, when, with a loud crashing roar, theartillery on both sides opened. The great guns sent forth their roundshots, and the culverins, sakers, falconets, and murtherers theirdeath-dealing showers of iron and lead, causing havoc and destructionwherever they fell. Ill pleased were the Portugals with thisproceeding. Numbers were falling on board every ship. In vain theycalled on their saints to improve their aim and strengthen theirpowder--the shot seemed to have no effect on the heretical Englishmen--the saints paid them no attention. They had found a Tartar, andsurrounded him, but were as disagreeably placed as if they had beendancing round an exploding magazine. Bravely plied the gallant Englishtheir guns. As long as any one of them had legs to stand on or arms towork with he refused to desert his quarters. If one stopped for amoment from working his gun, it was to help a messmate bind ahandkerchief round a wounded limb, or to tie one round his own leg orside. Officers and men vied with each other as to who should performdeeds most worthy of fame. The Portugals, on the contrary, though theirtrumpets brayed forth far louder than those of their foes, forgetful oftheir ancient renown, hastened below the instant they were wounded,however slight their hurts, crying out for the medico to come and helpthem; and some, when the English shots rattled on board, were seen torun away from their guns, even though unwounded. Still, numbers in soclose a fight gave a great advantage to the Portugals.
The admiral's ship, the Red Dragon, especially was hard pressed, theenemy seeming resolved to destroy her first, hoping thus to gain an easyvictory over the rest. But the brave Lancaster was not a man to bedaunted. As fresh foes pressed around him he kept shouting to hiscrew--
"The more the merrier, lads! the more the merrier! We've pills enoughon board to dose them all till they'll wish they'd come to some otherdoctor for their physic."
Captain Wood, too, was scarcely less hard pressed. He had sent theLion's Whelp ahead to the support of the Sunshine and Moonshine, whichseemed in danger of being altogether overwhelmed by the huge ships ofthe enemy which clustered around them, and thus the stout Lion had toencounter a whole host of foes by herself.
"Come one, come all!" shouted Captain Wood. "Brave lads, we are readyfor them!"
"Ay, ay! one and all!" echoed Antony Waymouth. "Hurrah for merryEngland! Give it them, lads! A few more doses like that and they'llcry peccavi and strike their flags."
"Peccavimus you should have said," remarked Raymond, whom Waymouth waspassing as he hurried from gun to gun to assure himself that all werebeing fought to the best advantage.
"Ay, marry, not one, but fifty, will sing that song to-day, coz," saidAntony, laughing.
In truth, even in the heat of battle both officers and men indulgedthemselves in cutting jokes whenever an occasion occurred. Not,however, that the fight was any joking matter, for never in those seashad a more desperate one taken place. The brave men on board the Lionwere falling thickly, some to rise no more, others to be carried belowand placed in the hands of the surgeon, and to these Master Walker wasrendering all the assistance in his power, and affording spiritualcounsel and consolation at the same time. It was a dark, close placedown in the depths of the ship, dimly lighted by two lanterns overhead,with a table in the centre and hammocks slung on either side, alreadyoccupied by wounded men. Others lay on the deck, beneath, and one poorfellow was on the table, the surgeon and his assistants standing overhim examining a dreadfully shattered limb. Master Walker was holdinghis hand and giving him some wine, of which, with vinegar and burntfeathers, the place was redolent, although they could not overcome thatindescribable odour, dreadful and sickening, found wherever wounded menare collected together.
"It must be done, lad," said Master Walker kindly. "There's no help forit; the leg must come off to save thy life."
"What! lose my leg! never again to dance a hornpipe on Deerbrook Greenamong the lassies of our village? No more to come the double-shuffleand hear the merry clapping of the old people's hands? I'd as lief losemy life! But let the surgeon do his worst," murmured the lad, who wasone of Waymouth's followers; "I'll bear it."
"Like a lion, I hope, lad," said the minister; "and pray to Heaven forstrength--that's where you'll get the most."
"Seldom I've ever gone there for any thing," answered the lad with asigh, and then, following the good minister, he endeavoured to utter aprayer. It soon broke into groans, for the surgeons were operating onhis limb, and these, in spite of his resolution, were succeeded byshrieks and cries, echoed by many of his poor shipmates who lay aroundhim in the same sad plight. Not even the roar of the cannon overheadand the crashing of timbers, the shouts of the combatants and the rattleof the small arms, and the braying of the trumpets and otherinstruments, could altogether overpower those sad cries. Yet the soundson deck grew louder and louder.
"There must be terrible work, I fear me, going on, Ap Reece," observedMaster Walker to the Welsh surgeon, who had come round to feel thepatient's wrist; "we've had no one brought down for the last fiveminutes."
The surgeon made no answer, but signed to the minister to pour somecordial down the young seaman's throat. "More--more! or he'll slipthrough our fingers," he whispered. The minister obeyed. The ladopened his eyes, and turning them towards him with an expression ofgratitude, gasped out--
"Tell mother I've not forgotten the--"
A convulsive shudder passed over his frame, the blood started frombeyond the tourniquet, and before the assistants could replace it theyouth was a corpse.
"Peace be with him," said the minister solemnly, as the body was quicklyremoved to give place to another yet breathing victim of battle. Suchis one of the many dark sides to the pictures of warfare. If this alonewere to be seen, few would be eager for the combat.
"No more coming," once more observed the minister. "Either we must behard pressed indeed, or have put the Portugals to flight."
"I fear me much the former," said Ap Reece. "I'd lief take a sword andgo help our brave fellows. If the foe gain the day, they'll not leaveone of us alive to tell the tale. What say you, Master Walker? will youcome?"
"Nay, Ap Reece, abide where you are. Every man at his proper work--youtending the hurt, I speaking the truth to the salvation of their souls.Thus should we be found even were the end of the world approaching."
The high-spirited Welshman returned to his post, and though he had nomore legs and arms to cut off, there was ample work
for his skill. Thedreadful uproar continued. It was evident that some of the enemy'sships had got alongside, and that the Lion's crew were engaged inrepelling the Portugals who were attempting to board. Who was gainingthe day it was impossible to say. It was a time truly of anxioussuspense. Ap Reece could at length endure it no longer.
"If you go not on deck to learn how it fares with our men, MasterWalker, I must go myself," he exclaimed; and, seeing that the ministerdid not move, he seized a sword which had been brought below by awounded man, and sprang up the ladder. The chaplain looked hesitatinglyin the same direction.
"No, no; my duty is with the suffering and dying, though I'd lief strikea blow as in days of yore for our reformed faith and merry England,"said he to himself, and again turned to attend to a sorely wounded manby whose side he had been sitting.
Ap Reece soon gained the deck; he had been in many a fight, but never ina more desperate one. The Lion was closely surrounded by a forest ofmasts, with shattered spars, and burning sails, and severed ropes andblocks swinging to and fro, and splinters rattling from aloft, whileround shots and bullets were flying thickly about, and from every sidethe loud clashing of steel showed that the combatants were striving handto hand. The Portugals were attempting to board on every side of theLion, but no sooner did they reach her deck than they were driven backwith loss, and often followed on board their own ships. A new combatanthad just come up on the Lion's quarter, and was pouring his crew onboard. Waymouth caught sight of what was occurring, and with a handfulof men sprang to repel the boarders. Hard pressed by the leader of thePortugals, he was well-nigh being driven back at the moment Ap Reecereached the deck. The surgeon saw at a glance where his services wouldbe of most use, and shouting at the top of his voice a Welsh war-cry, herushed to the lieutenant's assistance. Down before his sturdy bladewent foe after foe till he reached Waymouth's side.
"A rescue! a rescue!" he shouted, and cleaving to the chin the head ofone of the lieutenant's many assailants, the rest sprang hastily back,some into their own vessel, and some, missing their footing, overboard."On, on!" shouted Waymouth. "On, on, and the enemy's ours!" cried ApReece; and following the retreating boarders they drove them across thedeck of their ship, cutting down many, till the remainder cried out forquarter, when their flag was hauled down and the capture was complete.
"We have more prizes to make before the day is over, lads," criedWaymouth, and at that instant another large Portugal ship drivingagainst the prize, he, with the brave Ap Reece and a number offollowers, threw himself on her deck. So fierce was this onslaught thatthe enemy did not stand a moment, but tumbling below one over the other,or in their fright jumping overboard, or casting down their weapons,they allowed speedy possession to be taken of their ship. Waymouth andhis companions then lashed the two prizes together, and not withoutdifficulty regained the Lion, on the other side of which more of theenemy were congregated. Of one Captain Wood had taken possession.Waymouth and Ap Reece now sprang on board another about midships, when,dividing their forces, one swept forward and the other aft, drivingtheir loudly vociferating foes before them till the Portugal's flag washauled down.
"Hurrah! hurrah! my brave boys," shouted Waymouth. "Four prizes in theLion's maw--the fattest in all the fleet, too, I have a notion--onemore--yonder she comes. Strike fast, and strike home."
Thus shouting, he seized the helm of the prize, and steered her so as tofall foul of yet another big Portugal ship.
"Shall we once more tempt fortune?" cried Waymouth to the fightingsurgeon. "What say you, Ap Reece? There must be ducats not a fewaboard our tall friend here."
"But one answer to that question. On, on!" exclaimed the Welshman.
And no sooner did the sides of the two ships grind together thanWaymouth lashed them by the shrouds, and then sprang on board thenew-comer. She was full of men who showed every intention to defendher; but undaunted by numbers, the Englishmen threw themselves amongthem, with their sharp swords flashing rapidly, and soon hewed a lanefor themselves from one side to the other. They had begun to cut asecond when the Portugals, dreading the result, hauled down their ownflag, and yielded. By this time such of the Portugal ships as were in acondition to escape were making the best of their way under all sail tothe northward, leaving the rest in the hands of the English, who were inno condition to follow. The victors had indeed suffered severely,though it was some time before Waymouth, and those with him, couldascertain the true state of affairs. At length he brought hislast-captured prize up to the Lion, where the rest were collected, andhaving secured his prisoners, and left a few men on board to watch them,he returned to his own ship. The Lion with her torn sails, shatteredspars, and ropes hanging in disordered festoons, looked any thing butlike a victor, yet she was in a better plight than her consorts. Farahead lay the admiral with three of the enemy's ships he had captured,but his masts were tottering, and it was evident that he had sufferedseverely in the fight. The Serpent, though she had taken a couple ofprizes, was even in a worse condition, while of the three smaller shipsthe poor little Moonshine had disappeared altogether, the Lion's Whelplay a dismasted hulk on the waters, and the Sunshine appeared in asinking condition. Three prizes, proofs of their prowess, lay nearthem, and it was to be hoped that some of the crew of the Moonshine hadfound safety on board them.
And now the surgeon, Ap Reece, his fiery blood beginning to cool,bethought him that he ought to go and look after his patients below,while Waymouth began to make inquiries as to who had been killed and whowounded among his shipmates. His grief was sincere when he heard of hisyoung follower's death. He looked round, also, anxiously for Raymond.He was nowhere to be seen. Was he on board any of the prizes? No; suchand such officers had charge of them. He sprang below. Master Walkercould give him no tidings of his friend. He inquired eagerly of all thesurviving officers. It was remembered that he had headed a party whohad repulsed the boarders from a large Portugal ship, which hadafterwards sheered off. Several men were missing who could not beaccounted for, and it was supposed possible that he, with them, had goneon board the enemy, and that they had been carried off as prisoners.Waymouth hoped such might be the case, as it was the only chance ofagain seeing his friend, but, attached though he was to him, he had notime just then to mourn his loss.
Fearful had been the slaughter on board the Lion and the injuries shehad received, while so many of her people had been taken off to man theprizes that not enough remained to repair the damages which she hadreceived. The energies of every one on board unwounded were taxed tothe utmost, nor could assistance be expected from the other ships, whichhad enough to do to look after their own prizes. The ships now closedup with each other, and the Lion was able to hail the admiral's ship.
"Sad news--sad news," was the answer. "Captain Lancaster was slain atthe beginning of the fight, and though we have gained the victory wehave bought it with the loss of half our men."
The loss on board the Serpent was also very great, though she hadsuffered less than the admiral's ship; but the Lion's Whelp and theSunshine had lost, in proportion to their crews, as many men as thelatter; while of the unfortunate Moonshine scarcely a third had escapedon board the prizes: all her wounded had gone down in her. The captainof the Serpent was also desperately wounded, and Captain Wood sentWaymouth on board to see him and receive his orders, as he was now chiefin command. Waymouth, finding his way among the dying and wounded,reached the cockpit where Captain Nicholas Parker lay. He was groaningwith anguish, which the surgeon, who stood by his side, was endeavouringto alleviate with a cordial. In vain. The groans continued, but grewfainter. The surgeon felt the captain's pulse. Waymouth stepped up.
"I have come to receive orders from the admiral, for such he now is,since Captain Lancaster has been killed," he said.
"Our brave captain will never give orders more," answered the surgeonwith much feeling. "Your captain, Master Waymouth, will be admiral eremany minutes are over. We've gained victory at heavy cost."
/> Before Waymouth left the ship Captain Parker had breathed his last, andhe pulled hastily back to announce the sad event to Captain Wood, whohad now become commander-in-chief, but seemed but little elated with thecircumstance. Master Walker was pacing the deck to recover from theeffects of the close atmosphere he had endured below, and the harrowingscenes he had witnessed.
"This is what men call glory, and what young men sigh after and long toengage in," he observed, while Waymouth stood quiet for a few secondsdiscussing some food which had been brought to him, for he had no timeto go below. "Look there; see what man's avarice and rage and follyhave brought about in a few short hours."
He pointed with a melancholy glance at a number of slain arranged aroundthe mainmast, and to several wounded who had been mercifully brought ondeck to breathe a purer atmosphere than that to be found below; then tothe Lion's shattered masts and bulwarks; and, lastly, moving his handround to their almost dismasted, and yet more shattered, consorts andprizes, from one of which, taken by the Serpent, at that instant flameswere seen to burst forth. The Lion had but one boat which could float,and into her an officer and crew jumped and pulled away to theassistance of the burning vessel, the men being urged to speed, notimpossibly, in the hope of obtaining some of the plunder on board.
The Serpent had sent off two of her boats, and the Red Dragon another,but the Portugals either would not go to the assistance of theircountrymen or their boats were knocked to pieces, or the officers incharge of the prizes would not let them go, for no assistance was sent,though several were near the burning vessel. The boats pulled rapidlythrough the water; and good cause they had so to do, for the flames rosehigher and higher, bursting out from all the ports from stem to sterntill there appeared not a spot on which a human being could standunscorched by the fire. Busily as all on board the Lion were employed,they stopped to gaze on the scene. Even amid the flames they could seethe unhappy men rushing here and there, seeking in vain for safety: somewere casting themselves into the sea; others, unable probably to swim,waited anxiously for the boats. In vain! in vain! Ere the boatsreached them the burning masts and spars rose gradually up from thehull--up, up, they shot into the air; the deck followed, the flamesincreasing with tenfold fury, a loud report announcing that the magazinehad exploded, and that the rich argosy, with all still living on board,had been hurried to destruction. Those in the boats pulled back,endeavouring to avoid the burning fragments of spars and wreck whichcame hissing in a thick shower around them. Then recollecting that somemight yet be floating near where the wreck had been, like true Britishtars they again dashed on, in the hope of rescuing them. So rapidly hadthe catastrophe occurred after the first outbreak of the fire, thatWaymouth had not moved from the minister's side.
"There, there--!" continued the latter, "surely such work as that is theinvention of Satan--that roaring lion who is ever going about seekingwhom he may devour. What mad folly in men thus to yield to him, and todestroy each other at his will and beck!"
"What you say, Master Walker, may be true--all very true; but we are infor it, and must carry through our enterprise, or perish," exclaimedWaymouth, with rather more impatience than he was wont to address theminister. "We have taken prizes enough to make every man of us wealthyfor the rest of our lives; but our loss of brave fellows has been heavy,I grant you, and I'd give up every ducat that falls to my share for thesake of knowing what has become of Edward Raymond, and all the gold Imay ever possess to get him back safe aboard here."
"He was a worthy gentleman, and I pray that he may still be reckonedamong the living," said the chaplain, and he was about to commence anexhortation to his young friend when Waymouth was called away to attendto one of the numberless duties which, in consequence of the loss ofmany of his messmates, now fell to his lot.
As soon as shot-holes had been plugged, the wounded masts and sparsstrengthened, the shrouds set up, and damaged rigging repaired, anexamination of the prizes commenced. The wealth they containedsurpassed even the expectation of the adventurers. Besides gold andsilver in bars, there were cases of diamonds and pearls and otherprecious stones, and casks and cases of rich spices, and strange andrich silks, and a variety of other articles from India. In truth, thereappeared to be more than enough to enrich even the commonest seaman ofthe squadron, although by far the largest share would go to theofficers.
Fortunately, the weather remained calm, or more of the ships would havegone to the bottom. Every one exerted himself to the utmost, and goodreason he had so to do, for a storm might arise, or the enemy returnwith greater force, and all the treasure gained by so much toil andbloodshed might be lost.
Before the day was over, the signal was made from the Serpent thatCaptain Parker had ceased to breathe. Captain Wood therefore assumedthe chief command, and ordered the Red Dragon to come near that he mightgo on board her, leaving Waymouth in command of the Lion.
A consultation of all the chief officers was now held, and it wasdetermined to abandon and destroy the Sunshine and Lion's Whelp, toshift their crews on board the two largest and least injured of thePortugal ships, to select a third on board which to put all theprisoners, and to burn the remainder. The plan was at once put intoexecution, and the wealth of all her prizes was carried on board theLion. Not, however, till two days had passed were the prizessufficiently gutted of their stores and provisions to be abandoned. Ashort time before nightfall they were set on fire; and it was a sadthough a fine sight to see eight tall ships burning away together.Master Walker again had reason to shake his head.
"Another example of man's folly," he exclaimed. "See yon beautifulfabrics, on which so much thought, time, and labour was expended, beingdestroyed in a few short minutes!"
"But you would not have us tow the useless hulls round the world, MasterWalker, would you?" asked Waymouth, with some little hastiness not to bewondered at.
"No, Captain Waymouth, but I would that the hulls were not useless, andstill freighted with honest merchandise, that we and the Portugals wereat peace, as Christian men should be, and each pursuing our own courseas gentlemen adventurers for our own profit and advantage and that ofour respective countries. When I joined the expedition I understoodsuch was to be the case. We were to be armed to resist attack, as islawful--not to attack others, which is wrong. But all these doings ofblood and destruction have opened my eyes, and made me wish that I hadremained quiet at home, even though my stipend was small and precarious.I love you right well, as you of a surety do know, Captain Waymouth,and I tell you that no good can come of these doings."
"I see not the strength of your reasoning, Master Walker," saidWaymouth. "We all knew when we left Old England that we were embarkingin an adventure in which we should meet with hard blows as well as richprizes. We are in no wise worse than Drake, and see what honours havebeen heaped on him."
"I say nothing against the powers that be; and her gracious majesty mayhave had her reasons for honouring Sir Francis; but there are personswho consider his expedition round the world as worthy only of asea-rover of old or of a downright pirate," observed the minister.
"Let be, let be, Master Walker," exclaimed Waymouth petulantly; "I canbrook more from you than from any man alive, but I have heard enough."
The minister was too wise to proceed, but he shook his head mournfully.
The prisoners were now all collected on board one ship. Among the wildspirits found among the English crews some were not wanting whosuggested that they should be sent adrift without compass, guns, orprovisions; some even hinted that to bore holes in the ship's bottomwould be the surest way of disposing of them; others considered that itwould be wise to keep them as prisoners, and to insure their keepingwith the fleet they should only be furnished day by day with thenecessary provisions, and that two ships should be appointed especiallyto watch them. More generous counsels, however, prevailed.
"No, no, by my halidom!" exclaimed Captain Wood; "Portugals though theyare, they have fought bravely, and like honest gentlemen shall
betreated. We'll give them arms to defend their lives, and provisions tofill their insides, and a compass to find their way to some one of theirown ports or factories on the coast of the Indies, and all we'll demandof them is that if they find any Englishmen in the same plight as theyare themselves that they treat them in the same way as they are treatedby us."
Waymouth warmly seconded the admiral's proposal; so did several of thesuperior officers, though others grumbled at letting the prisoners offwithout a ransom, or trusting to their honour to return the favour theywere to receive.
Away sailed the Portugal ship with all the prisoners on board; not,however, without Waymouth having extracted a promise from all theofficers to make inquiries for his friend Raymond, and to let him know,if alive, where he was to be found. Waymouth hoped that among them someat least would do their utmost to redeem their promise.
Once more the English fleet was sailing proudly over the seas, but sadlydiminished in the number of their men. The wealth collected seemedprodigious in the eyes of the crews, and little short of that obtainedby Drake of the Spaniards. Still their success only made them greedyfor more, and the seamen especially expressed their aversion to thetrading part of the enterprise, and loudly proclaimed their desire tocruise against any enemy to be found--Dutch, if Portugals could not befound, or Spaniards if they could be fallen in with. Waymouth,especially, found that he had a very mutinously inclined crew to dealwith. Who was the chief instigator he determined to discover, in thehope that by punishing him he might bring the rest under betterdiscipline.
The officer next in command to him was Miles Carlingford, an honest,straight-forward seaman, on whom he knew that he could depend as well ashe could on Master Walker and the surgeon Ap Reece as to faithfulness;but Master Walker was a non-combatant, and would be averse to anystringent measures; and Ap Reece, from his hot-headed impetuosity, wouldbe likely to betray any counsel with which he was intrusted.
Captain Wood had brought two cabin-boys with him--or, as they would nowbe called, midshipmen--and these he had left under Waymouth's especialcare. Poor fellows! early indeed were they to be initiated into thestern realities of life. It would have been difficult to find astronger contrast than between the two lads, and yet they were greatfriends. The eldest, Alfred Stanhope, was of high birth, of which hewas fully conscious. He was refined in appearance and manners, and waslight-hearted and gay in the extreme. He was never out of spirits orout of humour, and was utterly indifferent to danger. His talents,however, were not great, and the knowledge he did possess was verysuperficial. His father was a spendthrift and a ruined man, and hadallowed him to come to sea in the hope of his being provided for in oneway or another.
His companion, Oliver Marston, was the son of a stout English yeoman towhom Captain Wood's family was under some obligations, and, as a way ofrepaying him, he had offered to take Oliver, one of ten sons, on anadventure through which he would be certain to secure his fortune. Thelad, though he had never seen a ship except worked on tapestry, had noobjection to go to sea. He was a short, stout, strongly-built littlefellow, able to hold his own with all competitors. While poor AlfredStanhope had been nurtured in the lap of luxury, Oliver had been broughtup in the roughest style, and was therefore much better able than hiscompanion to buffet with the storms of life they were doomed toencounter. He had much more sense and shrewdness in his round littlehead than might have been supposed, while all about him was sterlingstuff of the toughest nature, except his heart, in one respect, and thatwas as soft and gentle as that of a true sailor is said to be. Oliverwas a favourite with Waymouth, who, though he did not spoil him,encouraged him to speak more openly to him than he allowed any one elseto do except Master Walker.
It was night. Waymouth was seated in his cabin. A lamp hung from thebeam above, the light of which fell on a chart he was anxiouslyscanning. Unwonted cares oppressed even his buoyant spirit. His shiphad suffered much; he had a large amount of wealth on board; his crewwas much weakened, some were disaffected, and he was about to enter seasdifficult of navigation, and where typhoons might be expected. Hemourned, too, his friend Raymond's loss, though he did not believe thathe was dead, but that he had been carried off a prisoner by the enemy.Still, how could he hear of him, and how rescue him if he was aprisoner? He fell into a reverie. He was aroused by the sentry at theannouncement that an officer wished to see him.
"Let him come," was the answer; and Oliver Marston stood before him.
"What now, Oliver?" asked the captain.
"You know, Captain Waymouth, that I am not a tale-bearer; but I've justheard some matters which I bethought me I ought to convey to you withoutdelay," answered Marston. "There's mutiny in the ship, sir, or what maycome to worse."
"Ah! how come you to know that, boy?" asked the captain anxiously, forthe announcement somewhat confirmed his own suspicions.
The youngster answered promptly--"It is my first watch, sir, and as Ihad no fancy for turning in for a short time, I lay down for a snooze ona chest outside the boatswain's cabin. I was afraid of oversleepingmyself, so quickly awoke, and was about to jump up, when I heard voicesnear me. The words were spoken in an undertone, as if the speakersdesired not to be overheard. Who the speakers were, I am not certain;they talked of the wealth that was on board, and how you and the othercaptains would get the lion's share, but that if they acted with spiritand stuck together they might have the whole of it."
"And you heard the whole of this, and were not dreaming, boy?"
"Every word, sir, and I was wide awake," answered Oliver.
"You have done well to come to me at once," said the captain. "Speak tono one of what you have heard, and appear even to your messmates as ifall were going on right. To-morrow morning I will communicate with theadmiral, and we will soon have these would-be mutineers in limbo. Haveyou no idea who were the speakers?"
"I like not, sir, to bring an accusation against any man without perfectcertainty, but to the best of my belief there were Peter Hagger, theboatswain, and John Moss, his mate, among the chief speakers," answeredOliver. "As to the rest I might be mistaken, but I think not of thosetwo. I recognised also Dick Soper's voice, and he is not likely to beleft out if such work is proposed."
"He'll swing ere long at the yard-arm, an' I mistake not; but enoughnow, lad," said the captain. "Keep counsel and your eyes about you, andwe'll defeat the rebels. They'll attempt nothing while we are with theadmiral; they know him, and I thought they knew me too. Who has thefirst watch?"
"Mr Carlingford, sir," said Marston.
"Tell him to keep close up with the admiral, as I want to speak him atdawn," said Waymouth; "and call me should the weather give signs ofchange. You have acted most commendably."
The lad took his leave well pleased with the praise bestowed on him byhis captain, and very indifferent to the danger to which he as well asall the officers on board were exposed.
The young captain sat for some time meditating on the matter. He couldnot tell how many of the crew might be engaged in the plot, and on whatsupport the conspirators depended. He might discover who were theringleaders, but find that the greater part of the crew sided with them.Caution, courage, and decision would be required--he trusted he shouldnot be wanting in either of the three. The last few days had been atime of unusual exertion and care. He required rest to restore hiswell-nigh exhausted energies. Examining his fire-arms with more carethan usual, and placing his sword by his side ready for instant use,though he firmly believed that no attempt would be made by themutineers, he threw himself on his bed. He had resolved to take theLion next morning under the guns of the Red Dragon, and having informedCaptain Wood of what he knew, call out the three men whose voices youngMarston recognised, and send them on board the flagship for punishment.He soon, however, forgot his anxieties in a sound sleep. He was awokenby the voice of Oliver Marston loudly calling him.
"What is it?" he asked, starting up with his sword grasped in his hand.