CHAPTER XIV.
THE GALLEYS AND THE FRIGATE.
_I.--The Frigate._
The _Merry Maid_ had left the Texel by the narrow gut calledDe Witt's Diep, with her convoy following in line and inadmirable order. The breeze was fair for England. A full roundmoon rose over the sandbanks behind them as Captain Barker sent thepilots ashore and stood easily out to sea, for the most of hismerchant-ships were sluggish sailers, and not a few overladen.So clear was the night that, as he paced the quarter-deck with thedew falling steadily around him, he could not only count theirthirty-six lanterns, but even discern their piled canvas glimmeringas they stole like ghosts in his wake.
That night he left his watch for an hour only, when shortly beforedawn Captain Runacles came to relieve him, threatening mutiny unlesshe retired to snatch a little slumber. But the sun was scarce upbefore the little man reappeared. The pride of his old professionwas working like yeast within him. His breast swelled and his chinlifted as he found the convoy still sailing in close order, obeyinghis signals smoothly and intelligently as a trained pack obeys itshuntsman. He was delighted with the frigate and her crew, who wereEnglish to a man. To be sure there was a fair sprinkling of Dutchmenamong the soldiers; but his heart had begun to warm somewhat towardsthat nation. As he shambled to and fro, jerking out from time totime some necessary orders, he saw that he had the respect of allthese fellows, even while they smiled at him. They felt that thisdistorted little framework held a man. He divined this with thequick sensibility that marks all deformed people. His green eyeskindled. In the pride of his soul he had almost forgotten Tristram.
The sight of the English coast, dim and purple beneath the decliningsun, brought it back to him with a pang. After all, Tristram wasstill lost, and his journey to Holland had been a failure therefore.With a sudden contempt for all that a moment before he had beenenjoying, he turned to his friend and asked him to take charge for awhile.
Nothing more was said, but Captain Runacles guessed what drove thelittle man below like a wounded beast, and began to pace the deckgloomily.
"He'll never take it up again," he muttered. "It's all very well,and he thinks he's getting comfort out of it. But it won't do."
He paused for a moment, contemplated the distant coast and resumedhis tread, repeating: "It won't do, Jack; it won't do a bit, my boy."
Captain Barker sat in his cabin alone, staring at a knot of wood onthe table before him. There were traces of tears on his cheeks.
Somebody tapped at the door.
"What is it?"
"The devil," answered Captain Runacles' voice, coolly. "Six galleysto the south, between us and the Thames!"
Captain Barker sprang up and hurried up on deck.
"So those are the craft I've heard so much about," he remarked,taking down the glass through which he had been eyeing them for acouple of minutes.
"What do you propose, Jack?"
"Propose? Why, propose to do what I'm here for--to save the convoy."
"That's very pretty. But do you know how fast those sharks canmove?"
"No, I don't. But I know they can outpace us. Nevertheless, I'llsave the convoy."
"How?"
"There's only one way."
"And that is--"
"By losing the frigate."
Captain Runacles looked at him for a second, and then placed a handon his shoulder. This simple gesture expressed all his heart.Captain Barker turned briskly.
"Signal the convoy," he shouted, "to make all sail and run for theThames!"
_II--The Galleys._
M. de la Pailletine was in some respects a weak man. He wasimpatient. Up to this moment his behaviour in an extremely gallingposition had been perfect. He had been content to bide his time andhad furthered every order issued by his rival with the cheerfullestalacrity.
But when the man at the masthead announced the advance of themerchant fleet, he allowed himself to be tempted and turned toCaptain Salt who stood beside him.
"You will follow them, of course?"
"Of course I shall do nothing of the sort. On the contrary, I intendto steer to the south, out of their sight."
"You will fling away this splendid prize?"
"Let me remind you, monsieur, that we are bound for Harwich."
"But this is folly, Captain Salt! Harwich will remain where it is,and we can ravage it at any time. Never again may we have so fine anopportunity of capturing thirty-six merchantmen and a British frigatealmost without a blow."
"Excuse me, M. de la Pailletine, but I do not allow my orders to becriticised."
"Then listen to me, sir," retorted the Commodore, his face red withfury, as he drew from his coat the orders which the King hadaddressed to him. "You see this paper? Very well; I destroy it."He tore it into shreds, and let the pieces flutter over the galley'sside.
"Are you aware of what that action means?" Captain Salt was white tothe lips.
"I am, sir."
"It is treason."
"You think so, perhaps. But a Frenchman should best know what is dueto the King of France. Nevertheless, I shall summon the captains toconfirm my action. Will you attend them in my cabin?"
"Thank you; no, sir. I am quite sure that they will support you.It remains to see what his Majesty will say when I report yourcontempt of his orders."
"That is for the future to decide. Meanwhile be good enough torecollect that I command the squadron from this moment. Should youchoose to volunteer, well and good. If not, my cabin is at yourdisposal as soon as the captains have left it."
He bowed and turned away to summon the captains.
They came in haste, and were, of course, unanimous; though it isdifficult to say how far they were influenced by sound argument andhow far by pique and a desire to thwart the Englishman. While theysat, Captain Salt remained on deck cursing quietly and examining theapproaching enemy with no pleasant stare.
Orders were issued to all the six galleys to attack the fleet.Four were told off against the merchantmen and commanded to make allspeed to get between them and the Thames; while _L'Heureuse_ herselfand _La Merveille_ (commanded by the Chevalier de Sainte-Croix) wereto attack and take possession of the frigate.
Immediately they began to make all possible haste with sails andoars. Captain Salt withdrew to the cabin in dudgeon and M. de laPailletine took his place. From their benches below the slaves heardhis voice shouting out orders right and left, and at once they had tocatch up their oars and row. The English fleet when first spied wascoming right across their course, and still held on its way when itperceived the Frenchman's intent. In pursuance of this intent thefour galleys made off with all speed to place themselves between themerchantmen and the coast, while the Commodore and the Chevalier deSainte-Croix bore down on the frigate, straight as an arrow.
And now began a hard time for Tristram and his companions below.They tugged and sweated, and presently _L'Heureuse_ began to leapthrough the water. Above the swish of the long sweeps rose a tumultof oaths, imprecations, outcries, sobs, as the overseers plied theirwhips, not caring where they struck. Overhead they heard the gunsrunning out, the rolling of shot and trampling of feet, the shoutsand replies of officers and men. They could see nothing of thefrigate for which they were bound, but from the confusion and hurryexpected every moment to feel the shock as the galley's beak droveinto her.
Then for a second or two all the noise ceased.
The reason was this. For some little while the frigate held onher course for the mouth of the Thames. Not a sail more did shecarry than when she first came in sight. It almost seemed asif her captain had not seen the enemy sweeping to destroy him.For thirty-five minutes she held quietly on beside her convoy.And then the helm was shifted, and she came down straight into theFrenchman's teeth.
It was a gallant stroke, and a subtle--so subtle that M. de laPailletine mistook its meaning and gave a great shout of joy.He fancied he saw the English delivered into his hand. But hisrejoicing was
premature.
To begin with, he perceived the next moment that the frigate, byhastening the attack, had caught his galley alone. Into thistrap he had been led partly by the excellence of his crew.Not only was his the fleetest vessel of the six, but he had alwaysbeen jealous to choose the strongest _forcats_ to man it.Moreover, M. de Sainte-Croix had been slow in starting, and by thistime _La Merveille_ was a league or more behind her consort.
Still the Commodore was in no way disturbed. He admitted to hislieutenant beside him that the frigate was showing desperategallantry; but he never doubted for a moment that his galley alone,with two hundred fighting-men aboard, would be more than a match forher.
Down came the _Merry Maid_, closer and closer, her red-crossed flagfluttering bravely at the peak; and on rushed the galley, until thetwo were within cannon-shot. M. de la Pailletine gave the order, andsent a shot to meet her from one of the four guns in the prow.As the thunder of it died away and the smoke cleared, he waited forthe Englishman's reply. There was none. The frigate held on hercourse, silent as death.
_III.--The Frigate._
The two English captains stood on the quarterdeck, side by side,the tall man and the dwarf. Beyond issuing an order or two, neitherhad spoken a word for twenty minutes. Once Captain Barker glancedover his shoulder to see how the merchantmen were faring, andcalculated that within half an hour their enemies would interceptthem. Then he looked down on his men, who stood ready by the guns,motionless, with lips set, repressing the fury of battle; and beyondthem to the galley as she came, churning the sea, her oars rising andfalling like the strong wings of a bird.
"My God!" he said softly, "if only Tristram were here to see!"