CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
A GALE.
As soon as Captain Rover had left me, I hastened to Sir Thomas. Hereceived my information very calmly, and cross-questioned me as to allCaptain Rover had said. "I wished that you had stopped him," heobserved; "and yet I have no reason to doubt his information. I havealready received a warning to the same effect, but was in some doubts asto the truth of the account given me. None, however, now remains on mymind. I will, therefore, follow the only prudent course: I will take mytreasure and my family out of the country forthwith."
My patron was prompt in all his actions. Captain Davis was in theharbour. He instantly sent A'Dale on board to the captain, telling himto get his vessel in readiness for his reception, and desired him at thesame time to send a dozen stout hands, well-armed, for the protection ofsome goods which he proposed to ship forthwith. Litters were orderedfor Aveline and Richard. He, poor fellow, was unable to sit onhorseback; indeed, Sir Thomas could scarcely have been aware of hisdangerous condition, or he would not have attempted to move him,especially at night, when the damp air was so likely to increase hismalady. Master Clough was not unmindful of the threatened attack on thehouse, and secured several porters and other trusty men for itsprotection. A similar body was also prepared to conduct the litters andSir Thomas down to the water-side. The men had been summoned up one byone, and did not put on their harness till they were inside the house:thus no one was aware of the preparations we were making. The tidewould not serve till an hour after midnight: we therefore waited tillnearly twelve o'clock before we set out.
The horses were brought round for Sir Thomas, with four stoutmen-at-arms, who had been engaged as his guards. A'Dale and I went onfoot; he taking care of Richard, while I walked by the side of Aveline'slitter. With our swords drawn, and our pistols in our belts, ready forinstant use, we proceeded along the streets. Several persons passed us,but if they were robbers, they must have seen that we were too strong aparty to be attacked with impunity. Thus we reached the water-side insafety. We there found, much to our surprise, a number of people, allof them with boxes and bundles on their backs, or under their arms--quite a concourse they seemed in the gloom of night. As we entered ourboat, we saw that several other boats were ready, apparently for theirreception. There were old men and women and children, as well as manyyoung men. As the boats were filled, they rowed off down the river. Wecould judge by their exclamations that they were in great haste, andfearful of being overtaken. At length there was a cry, "The guard iscoming! the guard is coming!"
The men faced about and drew their weapons, while the remainder of thewomen and children were hurried into the boats. Then their protectorsslowly retreated. The soldiers rushed forward, as they saw the numberof the fugitives on shore decreasing. The latter defended themselvesbravely. We were, of course, shoved off forthwith, lest the soldiersmight fire on us, as we saw them doing upon the helpless people in theother boats. We judged, as we pulled down the river, from the flashesof fire-arms, that none of the fugitives were longer defendingthemselves on shore, but that either they had thrown themselves into thewater, or had escaped in the boats, unless they had been takenprisoners. From the number of people, and the boats which were rowingdown the river with us, we thought there must have been one hundred ormore fugitives escaping from the fearful persecution of the terribleInquisitor, Peter Titelmann. From what Captain Rover had told me, Iconcluded that these people were attempting to reach his ship. I prayedearnestly that they might do so in safety. We urged our boatmen to rowas fast as they could, for now numerous lights were seen on the shore,and we feared that the emissaries of the Inquisitors were getting boatsready in order to pursue the fugitives. I knew well the sort of manwith whom they would have to deal, if the latter were captured.
Aveline became as much interested as I was, when I explained what wastaking place.
"I wish that I could help the poor people," she exclaimed; "but I can,at all events, pray for them!"
She did not appear in any way to think of the dangerous position inwhich we ourselves were placed, for there was no doubt that, should webe overtaken, we should run a great risk of being cast into the prisonsof the Inquisitors. Although no building exclusively used for confiningthose accused of heresy had been erected in the Netherlands, theordinary prisons were so completely under the command of theInquisitors, that they answered every purpose of those fearful edificeswhich existed in Spain.
Sir Thomas sat calmly in the boat supporting Richard in his arms, andendeavouring with his cloak to protect him from the night air. As Icast my eyes back toward the town we were leaving, the number of lightsincreased, and some appeared to be close to the water, and movingtowards us. "If our pursuers have lights in their boats, it will be anadvantage to us," I thought, "as we shall be the better able to avoidthem." I did not, however, mention what I had observed to our crew, whowere already doing their utmost to reach the ship. At length, greatlyto our satisfaction, her signal lights were seen a short distance ahead,and soon her high sides appeared rising up close before us. Aveline,with her maiden and Richard, were soon lifted on board, followed by SirThomas. The treasure was quickly hoisted up, and, as the breeze wasfavourable, the ship was immediately got under weigh. Those only whoknew the river well could venture down it in the dark. Objects scarcelyvisible to landsmen's eyes were seen by her pilot, and thus we were ableto avoid any risk of striking.
We continued on till morning at length broke, when no boats were insight; but a short distance from us appeared a large vessel, which I hadlittle doubt was the _Falcon_, as, having watched her earnestly when Ihad before crossed to England, I well remembered her appearance.
It was satisfactory, I thought, to have her near us, in case we mightmeet an enemy, as she was, I knew, well-armed; and I was very certainthat Captain Rover would do his best to support us. I had more ofAveline's society than I had enjoyed for some time, for Sir Thomas wasgreatly taken up with his son. Poor Richard was evidently the worse forbeing out on the river at night, and his father, I think, now for thefirst time saw his very great danger. Aveline watched the tall shipwhich followed us with great interest, when I told her about the poorpeople who, I believed, were on board, and gave her an account of thesingular man who commanded the vessel.
At length we were at sea, but the wind was so light that we made butlittle way. The night was very dark, and during it we lost sight of the_Falcon_. After Aveline had retired to her cabin, I observed that thecaptain called all the crew on deck, and ordered them to take in some ofthe sails and to furl the rest. I inquired why he did this.
"Because I don't like the look of the weather, Master Verner," heanswered. "I may be mistaken, and we may not have a breath of wind allnight, and if so, our sails will do us no good; whereas, if the galecomes down upon us, it will be well they are all snugly furled."
I agreed with him; and, with the expectation of what might occur, Icould not bring myself to lie down in my cabin. I consequentlycontinued walking the deck with him. Now he stopped and looked out overthe ship's side, peering, as it were, into the darkness; now, withoutmaking any remark, he continued his walk. He was at no time verycommunicative, being a man rather of action than of words. He was,however, brave and true-hearted, and I felt satisfied that in no saferhands could our lives be placed. We had not taken many turns when Ifelt a strong, damp wind in my face, which rapidly increased. In ashort time the dark water was lighted up with the foam-crested seas,which rose out of its hitherto mirror-like surface. The wind howled andwhistled through the rigging, the yards creaked, stray ropes lashedabout, and the foam began to fly over the decks.
The vessel, like a horse to which the spur has been given, dashedonwards, plunging and leaping, as it were, over the fast rising waves.The noise I have described increased as the vessel began to plunge moreand more furiously. At first, only masses of spray broke over her; butnow the seas themselves dashed upwards and washed over our deck. I hadgone down below to pu
t on my sea-coat, when I heard Sir Thomas's voiceinquiring what was occurring. Aveline also asked timidly if anythingserious was the matter. I could only reply that a gale had commenced,which I hoped our stout ship would without difficulty ride out. Evenduring the short time I had been below a change for the worse had takenplace. The wind howled more furiously; the water in greater volumesburst over the vessel, and she seemed to pitch and roll more desperatelythan before. The captain advised me to go below, urging that the seamight wash over the deck, and perchance carry me overboard; but I beggedto remain on deck, saying that I could hold on to the rigging as well asthe crew. Few words were spoken; only occasionally the captain issuedsome orders to the helmsman or to the rest of the crew, which werequickly obeyed. At length, several heavy seas struck the ship; one cameroaring up, and carried away part of her bulwarks, and a breach havingthus been made, those which broke on board committed yet further damage.After a time, I heard the captain order the carpenter to sound thewell. He spoke a few ominous words, on his return, to the captain. Theship had sprung a leak. Orders were given to man the pumps. And nowthe crew began working away with might and main. However bad the leak,they might hope to keep the water under till the ship could reach aport. Thus the night passed away. I begged that I might take my part,and laboured with the rest. I was thankful indeed to see the grey dawnslowly break upon the world of waters. On every side the dark greenseas were rolling and leaping up, thickly crested with masses of foam,which flew off their tops, and danced from sea to sea. No other vesselwas in sight. The dark clouds hung down, as it were, covering the oceanwith a thick canopy. The leak would allow of no rest to the crew. Assoon as one party of men grew tired, others took their places. Severaltimes I threw myself down on the deck to regain my strength.
I was thus lying down near the companion-hatch, when I saw a figurestanding close to me. It was Aveline. She gazed about her with a lookof astonishment and awe, but when her eyes fell on me, her countenanceexhibited an expression of consternation. "Oh! Ernst Verner, what hashappened? are you hurt?" she exclaimed.
I rose as she spoke, assuring her that I had suffered no harm, and atthe same time entreating her to return to the cabin, lest one of thefurious seas which ever and anon swept over the deck might carry herinto the raging ocean.
"But the same fate might befall you," she said. "Oh, Ernst, howfearful!"
I showed her that I was holding on to a ring-bolt in the deck, and thatthe risk I ran when thus lying down was not so great as she hadsupposed. As I was speaking, I saw a sea rising high above the bows ofthe vessel. I had just time to grasp her in my arms, and to springunder shelter of the companion-hatch, before it broke on board, andrushed as others had done along our deck. Not without difficulty Isaved her from injury, and, descending the ladder, placed her in thecabin, where her maiden was sitting crying bitterly with alarm. On theother side was Sir Thomas, supporting poor Richard. He himself had beentoo often at sea not to have been placed before in a like position,though he seemed scarcely aware how furious was the gale then blowing,nor had he been told, I found, how serious was the leak the vessel hadsprung. The crew continued working energetically at the pumps; and Ijudged by the way the captain and mates urged them to persevere,themselves working like the rest, that the water in the hold had in noway been got under. The captain and his officers were brave men; buttheir countenances grew pale with anxiety, and I saw them lookingconstantly round the horizon in search of some vessel which might cometo our assistance. At length I asked Captain Davis what he thought ofour condition.
"To be frank with you, I think very bad of it, Master Verner," he said."If the gale abates, the ship may be kept afloat; but if not, all ourefforts will be unavailing; and then, unless some vessel comes to ourassistance, drowning must be our lot!"
My heart sank at these words, for I had not before realised our danger.Should I go and tell those below to be prepared for death? I had notthe heart to do it. At that instant my post at the pumps was left byanother man. I rushed frantically at it, and worked away with might andmain. As long as I was in action, I could keep off the painful thoughtswhich pressed on me. Was I prepared for death? Yes, I had settled thatmatter as every man ought to settle it; if he does not, wretched is hiscondition when the hour of trial arrives; but I thought of others,--mykind patron, of his gentle son, but, more than all, of Aveline, soyoung, so fair, thus to be summoned out of the world. Yet, surely theremust be hope. I looked at the boats.
"We can be saved in them, captain," I said.
"They would not live a moment in such a sea as this," he answered.
"Then we can construct some rafts?"
He shook his head.
"The strongest man would quickly be washed off them. No, Ernst Verner,we are in God's hands. If He orders the storm and seas, they will obeyHim. I know thus much about religion. We will make another effort toget at the leak, but not for a moment can we desert the pumps. Alreadythe ship labours heavily, and a few more feet of water in her hold willcarry her to the bottom."
The captain was as good as his word. A sail was got over the bows, andhauled by ropes under the ship, where the leak was supposed to be. Thisdone, a party of men descended with bedding and clothes, and such loosestuff as could be found, in order to ram it into the leak. It seemedthat these efforts were not altogether unavailing, for though the waterstill increased, it did so less rapidly than before. Hour after hourpassed by, and I judged from the looks of the captain, and the way hespoke, that he was still very anxious.
"We can but prolong our lives," he remarked at length. "The men are nowalmost worn-out, and cannot, I see, continue much longer at work." Evenas he spoke, several of the crew left their posts, and, throwingthemselves on the deck, declared that they could do no more. Othersmurmured out that the ship was sinking. Some begged that spirits mightbe given to them.
At this juncture, as I was gazing round the horizon, my eye fell on awhite spot rising above the dancing seas. At first I thought it was buta sea-gull's wing, or it might be the crest of a wave higher than thosenear us. I called the attention of one of the mates, who was standingnear me, to it. He looked at it anxiously for some time. At length heshouted, "A sail! a sail! Cheer up, lads!"
The cry was taken up by the men. Those who had thrown themselves on thedeck leaped to their feet, and once more seized the handles of thepumps. Nearer and nearer drew the ship. The wind too, I thought, wasalso abating.
"Cheer up, lads! cheer up!" shouted the captain ever and anon, as themen appeared to be relaxing their efforts at the pumps. "You will seeyour homes again, never fear, if you keep moving smartly!" Still,although the crew worked on bravely, the water continued pouring in, andrising higher and higher. It needed not now for any one to tell SirThomas Gresham or his companions in the cabin of the danger we were in,for already the water was rising to their feet. They now rushed withscared looks on deck; Sir Thomas supporting his son in his arms,followed by Aveline and her maiden.
Seeing the way in which the men were working at the pumps, Sir Thomas,placing Richard under shelter within the companion-hatch, seized ahandle, and began himself working away like the rest.
"You should have told me of this before," he observed. "I had no rightto be excused labouring with others."
His example had the effect of encouraging the crew, who even now hadbegun to relax somewhat in their efforts.
A signal of distress had been hoisted. It was seen by the approachingvessel. I judged from her appearance that she was the _Falcon_, andCaptain Davis told me I was right. Night, however, was approaching, andthe difficulty of reaching her would be greatly increased by thedarkness. On she came, and by this time the sea had so much gone down,that boats could be lowered from her without difficulty. Two were seenlet into the water, and, propelled by sturdy crews, they approached ourship. Sir Thomas at that time thought little of the wealth on board the_Diamond_. His desire was to save the lives of his son and those withhim, but
Richard seemed to engross almost all his thoughts. He scarcelyregarded himself, so it seemed to me. Even though the boats wereapproaching, the captain urged the crew to keep to the pumps.
"Lads," he exclaimed, "it would be a base thing to let this fine shipsink beneath our feet, if any exertion of ours can keep her afloat!"
"Think not of the wealth on board, but rather run no risk of losing yourown life and that of your companions, Master Davis," said Sir Thomas.
By this time the boats had come alongside.
The first who leaped out of them on to the deck of the sinking ship wasCaptain Rover. A glance showed him our condition, and he seemed torecognise Sir Thomas, though he did not address him by name.
"We will convey you safely on board my ship, sir," he said, "with thosewho cannot work; but I never let a stout ship sink under me if I cankeep her afloat; and perchance a few fresh hands will help her to dothat, if my friend here, Captain Davis, will accept their services."
Captain Davis's countenance brightened, and cordially thanking hisbrother captain, he accepted his offer.
"You shall have half a dozen of my men for those who are already knockedup," said Captain Rover.
Meantime Aveline and her maiden had been carefully lowered into one ofthe boats. Sir Thomas and Richard followed.
"Can I desert my charge?" I said to myself. "No; that were a disgracewhile I have strength. If Captain Davis remains, so will I."
I did not forget Aveline when I came to this resolution. It was inspite of the strong wish I had to accompany her. Yet she would be insafety on board the _Falcon_, and I trusted that the _Diamond_ would yetswim, and enter port at last. I therefore bade Sir Thomas farewell,telling him that I would remain by the ship and her cargo, of which Ihad charge.
"You do well, Ernst," he exclaimed; "and your service shall not beforgotten."
I fancied, but it might have been vanity, that Aveline looked up at meanxiously, as if she wished that I had accompanied her; but my resolvewas taken, I was doing my duty, and prepared for the consequences.
Captain Rover, with our worn-out men and passengers, returned to the_Falcon_; while we, once more making sail, stood on our course towardsthe mouth of the Thames. The six fresh hands which had been left withus soon reduced the depth of water in the hold. Yet as night came onour anxiety returned. Though the wind had fallen, the sea was stillsomewhat rough, and the night was dark, and we could with difficultykeep the _Falcon_ in sight. As the wind fell, a fog came on, and atlast completely shut her out. Thus we were all alone on the dark ocean.Now and then the men at the pumps would cheer and pass jokes to eachother, but those who had knocked off lay without speaking, resting fromtheir toil. The only other sound was the creaking of the yards againstthe masts, and the splashing of the sea against the vessel's bows. Ihad had no rest the previous night; at length, overcome with fatigue, Idescended to the cabin, and threw myself into my berth. I had scarcelytime to offer up a prayer before my eyelids closed in sleep. And yet,while I asked for my own safety, more fervently did I petition for thatof Aveline. The cabin, and many of the articles which she had leftabout in the hurried departure from the ship, brought her vividly to mymind. Yet surely I did not require any visible things to recall her. Iknew full well that there were still many dangers to be encountered.Another gale might arise. Even the _Falcon_ might spring a leak, or bedriven on rocks or quicksands, while there were many pirates cruisingabout, some French and others Flemish, on the look-out for merchantmensailing without a convoy of men-of-war.