CHAPTER II
COLONEL NICHOLAS FIRESTONE
NEARLY a score of boats of various sizes were moored to the quay,their outlines barely discernible against the placid surface of thedark water.
Handing my sword to my companion, I carefully lowered myself into thenearest boat, and made my way slowly from one to the other, till Ifound the one we sought.
Fortunately, the oars had been left on board, and, what was more, asmall sail rolled round a short mast lay on the thwarts. The craft,though barely fifteen feet in length, had plenty of beam, so that,although cumbersome to row, it would doubtless prove an able boatunder sail.
As I had had considerable experience in the art of managing a boat,having frequently made short voyages with the fishermen during theholidays, I had no misgivings as to the handling of this craft,although Granville did not regard my capabilities in the same lightas I did.
"Hasten," I whispered, fearful lest some belated passer-by mightoverhear us; "jump in, and cast off that rope."
It was the work of a few moments to stow the arms carefully away,unfasten the rope that held the boat to the side of the quay, and topush off. Then, by dint of slow and careful strokes, we urged theheavy craft towards the centre of the channel, and pointed its bow inthe direction of Cowes.
A few minutes' steady rowing sufficed to take us clear of thebuildings lining the quay, and, looking astern, our eyes becomingmore accustomed to the darkness, we could see the tower of St.Thomas' Church standing out against the blackness of the night.
Not a sound came from the town, save the occasional barking of a dog;but in the direction of Carisbrooke a subdued roar, like the distantsound of waves breaking on the shore, came faintly to our ears, andfrom the summit of the keep we could discern the flare of the woodfires as the garrison plied the cressets with more fuel.
"They lie thick around the castle," remarked Ralph. "And spare nottheir lungs though it seems that they have not yet opened theattack."
"No," I replied, "I can hear no sounds of ordnance. Perchance theyare afraid to attempt an escalade, for 'tis certain Colonel Brettwill not hesitate to fire on the rebels, should they draw nigh thewalls."
After all, it was better for us that fate, or, rather, the spin of acoin, decided against our throwing in our lot with the garrison ofCarisbrooke, for we afterwards learnt that there were but three days'provisions, and but four small barrels of powder within the fortress,the garrison of which was composed mostly of invalided and woundedsoldiers from the Scottish wars. So it came about that the valiantCountess of Portland appeared on the ramparts with a lighted match inher hand, and threatened to fire the first cannon on the rebels, andto hold the castle to the last extremity, unless she and the garrisonwere permitted to march out with all the honours of war. The rebels,little knowing the weakness of the defenders, and probably glad ofthe opportunity of foregoing the risk of combat, gladly agreed to theCountess' terms, and on the following day the garrison retired ingood order to Yarmouth.
The tide was now running out, yet, in spite of steady labouring atthe heavy oars, it was a matter of nearly two hours ere we reachedthe mouth of the river, where the two castles of Cowes kept watch andward, though whether for or against the King we knew not.
Mindful of the armourer's warning, we cast anchor close to the edgeof a mud-bank, and waited till the tide turned, for there was littleor no wind, so that 'twould have been a forlorn hope to attempt tostem the adverse current.
For over an hour, as it seemed (for we were unable to measure thetime), we lay thus, talking of the future, yet during that spaceneither did the tide show signs of slackening, nor did the dawncommence to show in the east.
Suddenly, through the darkness, came the flashes of muskets, fired inquick succession, and a babel of voices at no great distance, while abullet whistled above our heads, causing us to lie cowering under thefrail shelter of our boat's side.
Other shots came at intervals, till at length the firing ceased, andwe summoned sufficient courage to sit up and look around.
"What's amiss?" asked Granville.
"Nay, I cannot tell," I replied, "unless it be that one of thecastles has been attempted."
"The firing was too close for that," he rejoined. "Much too close tomy liking."
"And mine also."
We relapsed into silence, straining our ears for every sound.Presently we heard above the confused noise of men's voices thecreaking of tackle and the sound of oars being thrown into a boat.
"They are lowering a boat from some ship near at hand," I whispered."Quick, now! Get the fishing tackle, and cast the lines overboard,or we are undone."
Hastily we groped in the stern-locker for the lines; but, just as wewere about to make them ready, we heard a sullen splash in the waterclose to our craft.
The next instant a pair of hands grasped the gunwale, and thedripping head of a man appeared over the side.
I doubt who was the more confused--we, at the sudden apparition, orthe swimmer at the sight of two figures in what he had reasonablythought to be an empty boat, for we had been both kneeling on thebottom boards engaged in clearing the lines.
"Hist!" he whispered. "If ye be true King's men, give me shelter."
"Right willingly," I replied in a low voice, and, leaning over theside so that the gunwale almost dipped, we seized the man's clothingand helped him on board.
"A sorry shelter, but one that doth not come amiss," he remarked,noticing that our craft was entirely open. "I see a sail rolled upyonder; cover me up, and, if ye bear any love for His Majesty, betrayme not. They will be looking for me here anon."
It was no time for questions or explanations. The fugitive creptunderneath the forward thwarts and curled himself into a smallcompass by the side of the mast, which we had already stepped inorder to lose no time when the tide changed.
Quickly I unfurled the sail, and, tossing it over the thwart, Inoticed with considerable satisfaction that it fell in apparent andnatural disorder over the place where the man lay huddled up.
Then, putting a brave face on the matter, we cast our lines andwaited.
Before long we heard the sound of oars, and, rowing aimlessly hitherand thither, there came a large boat. In the bows stood a man holdinga lantern, which cast long reflections on the rippling waters, and nodoubt dazzled more than served him.
"He's gone, sure enow, Baldwin," exclaimed a voice. "That firstvolley must have settled him."
"I was nearer than that at Newburn, and a whole platoon missed me,"was the scornful reply. "Pull more this way, I pray you."
"Even if we had missed him," answered the other, "he had hisjack-boots on when he jumped overboard. Against the tide he can donothing."
"Pull this way, I say again," interrupted the man with the lantern."I see a boat."
In another moment the pursuers' craft rubbed alongside our boat, andthe light was flashed in our faces.
"Who be you, young masters?" exclaimed the holder of the lanternroughly. "And what are ye doing at this time o' night?"
"Fishing, sir. We be come from Newport," I replied, imitating as wellas I could the tongue of the fisher-folk, though my heart was in mymouth.
"Didst see a man swimming?"
"Nay," I replied truthfully enough, for the fugitive had finishedswimming the moment he had grasped the gunwale. "But we were soreafraid of the shots."
"What hast got under that sail?" he demanded suspiciously, holdingthe lantern above his head and shortening a small pike which he heldin his right hand.
"Shame on thee, Baldwin," exclaimed another man. "Wouldst spoil anhonest fisher-folk's sail with a pike thrust? Come on, let's away; weare but losing time."
The men released their hold of our gunwale, and their boat, driftingrapidly with the tide, disappeared in the darkness, only the faintglimmer of the lantern betraying their whereabouts.
"They're gone," I whispered to the fugitive.
"Yes, I know it," he replied; "but, with all due respect to you, I'lltarry here long
er, for I am in no mood to take to the waters again.Canst put me ashore in a little while?"
"Where would you land?"
"It matters little, though I have a preference for the Hamptonshirecoast, if gold can work the oracle."
"'Tis not a matter for payment," I replied with as much dignity as Icould command. "And if you're for the King, we'll gladly place you onthe nether shore, for, as fate would have it, we ourselves purposejourneying to Portsmouth."
"I perceive by your manner of speech that you are not fisher-folk,"he continued, "though I cannot judge by your appearance.Nevertheless, I shall be heartily glad to stretch my cramped limbsonce more, and then we'll talk further on the matter."
"Be careful that you do not raise your voice," I continued. "Thesound travels afar on the water, especially on a quiet night."
"Ay," he assented, throwing off the sail and stretching his hugelegs, which were still encased in jack-boots, under the thwarts. "NowI feel more at ease. Did I have but a pipe of stinging tobacco and ajugful of strong waters I'd be content. But why do you wait here atanchor?"
"Till the tide turns."
"Then a murrain on the tide, say I. Twice hath the tide treated mescurvily. Once as we left the port of Cherbourg, and again off HurstCastle, where but for the force of the current I could easily haveswum ashore. Knowing that you have not betrayed me, I'll tell mymission. Hast ever heard of Nick Firestone?"
"I remember my father speaking highly of one Nicholas Firestone, whogained great and honourable distinction in the Low Countries."
"Great, I admit, but I must needs cavil at the honourable, though'twas only when hard pressed that I had to think of a whole skinbefore honour. And who is thy father?"
"Sir Reginald Markham, of Ashley, in the county of Hamptonshire."
"As good and brave a knight that ever set hand on hilt. And I'llwarrant his eye is as keen and his arm as strong as it was when heand I fought side by side in the retreat from Rhe. Certes! A dozensuch as he and things would have gone far different in that miserableaffair."
"And what of your mission?" I asked, curious to know whatcircumstances had caused him to swim off to our boat.
"I'll tell you. Upon my person, sealed, and proof against water, Ibear despatches in cipher from the King of France, to be delivered atall costs to His Majesty, the purport being unknown to me, though Iknow it is of inestimable value. Another trusted messenger, bearing aduplicate, has left for Dover, and a third has sailed from Cherbourgto Fowey. The last has the better chance, seeing that Cornwall isever devoted to His Majesty."
"True, true, Master Firestone," exclaimed Granville, speaking to himfor the first time.
"Then I take it you are of Cornish stock? I rejoice to hear it,though I know not your name; but, at the same time, I would informyou that I am Colonel, and not Master, Firestone."
"And he is named Ralph Granville," I informed him. "But concerningyour perilous voyage?"
"I left Cherbourg four days agone in the barque _Endeavour_, ofLymington, and the first intimation of the inevitable rupture 'twixtthe King and his rebellious Parliament occurred in a rude fashion bythe Endeavour being boarded when off the Needles by the ship_Bonaventure_, lately held by His Majesty, but recently seized by therebels, and forming part of the fleet that lay against Portsmouth."
"Though we carried naught that might be reckoned as munitions of war,some of the officers of the _Bonaventure_ recognised me, and,thinking rightly that I was on the service of the King, they detainedme, searching my baggage and person for any documents. Therein theywere foiled, but how I'll explain anon. Finding nothing, they clappedme in a close and dirty cabin on the _Bonaventure's_ main deck,allowing me to take the air on deck every four hours."
"At yester-midday the vessel came up under all sail through theSolent Channel, and stood over so close to Hurst Castle that I hopedto seize the chance of jumping overboard and swimming ashore; but sostrong flowed the tide, surpassing the trotting pace of a horse, thatthe _Bonaventure_ was swept back and compelled to anchor in one ofthe bays on the island shore."
"With the turn of the tide we made the harbour of Cowes, and againanchored for the night. Here I feigned sickness, and asked to bebrought up on deck, and, fortune favouring me, I sprang into the sea,followed by a volley from the muskets of the soldiers on board, for,to give the men credit, they stood more quickly to their pieces thanI expected."
"It was a narrow escape, for one of the bullets grazed my hand, andseveral splashed up the water all around; but, thanks to Providence,I found myself swimming straight for your boat, and the rest you arewell acquainted with. But now, Master Markham, I perceive that thetide runs but weakly, and the breeze is springing up. Actions, notwords, must prevail, for in another half an hour day will bebreaking."
We immediately set about getting the boat under way, and, pulling upthe anchor, shipping the rudder, and hoisting sail, we slippedquietly out of the harbour, and shaped a course in the directionwhich we supposed Portsmouth to lie.
While these preparations were going on, the dawn began to glimmer inthe east, and I could now see what our new companion was like, thoughhe still sprawled on the bottom boards, fearful lest he should beseen from the _Bonaventure_, which we could dimly make out awaytowards the western side of the harbour.
Colonel Nicholas Firestone was now revealed in the person of a talland wiry-looking man, yet possessing a massive frame, which carriedlittle beyond bone and muscle.
His face was thin, while a mass of deep wrinkles covered his cheeksand forehead, which a short dark brown pointed beard, upturnedmoustachios, shaggy eyebrows, and a thick crop of grizzled hair allbut concealed. He was soberly dressed, so that his apparel, which,being wet, clung to his frame, gave no indication as to whether hewas for or against the Crown.
_"I sprang into the sea."_]
As far as we could judge, he was unarmed, but, strangely enough, hisfeet were still encased in heavy riding boots and spurs.
As we rounded the Castle Point the sun rose above the horizon a deepred ball of fire, while the wind, which hitherto had been light, nowincreased, causing the little craft to plunge and stagger as shebreasted the short, steep waves.
Glancing astern, we saw the _Bonaventure_ still at anchor, though hersails were shaken loose, ready to get under way.
"'Twill be a good half-hour before she can follow, and, should thebreeze hold, as I think it will, we'll be well over to the oppositeshore ere then," remarked Colonel Firestone, raising himself slowly,as if cramped by the long confinement, and awkwardly making his wayaft to the stern-sheets. "So it matters little whether they see us ornot, though, I doubt not, they have a perspective-glass or twobearing this way."
"There are several ships of war ahead," I exclaimed, pointing in thedirection of a number of dark objects standing out clearly againstthe light almost on the skyline.
"We must hug the shore closely and take our chance. A small craftlike this might escape notice."
Even as Colonel Firestone spoke a cloud of smoke, followed by amuffled report, sprang from one of the ships, and immediately thefiring became general. The attack upon the town of Portsmouth hadbeen renewed.
From where we were the fortress was invisible, being hidden by along, low tongue of shingly beach, surmounted by a thick belt offurze; but, judging by the direction of the sounds, we concluded thatGoring was offering a stubborn resistance.
At length, with wind and tide, we rounded the intervening shore, andthe town came into full view. I knew the place but slightly, havingonly passed through it on my journeys 'twist Ashley and Newport, butFirestone showed that he was no stranger to the fortress.
"The rebels press closely on all sides save the eastern," heexclaimed. "Look, they have thrown up batteries on Gosport shore,and by the smoke I perceive the northern side is assailed also. Seethe Royalist batteries on the Platform--they are not backward, andthe Round Tower holds its own. Canst make out the tower of the church?Is it afire, or have they mounted cannon therein?"
"I ca
nnot tell," I replied. "The smoke lies over all like a cloud,though 'tis certain the town is afire in more places than one."
"Ay, it is not to be expected that the town comes off scatheless.Dost see that stone fortalice to the east of the town? 'Tis SouthseaCastle, which in truth is the key of the position. Betwixt it and thePlatform is a stretch of beach, whence, if we can effect a landing,'tis but an easy matter to gain the postern."
"Before so doing we must run the gauntlet of the rebel ships."
"Ay, but perchance they'll be too busy to mind us."
Bidding us lie down, the colonel took the helm, and, standing boldlyover towards the beach, we passed between the ships and the townbatteries, the shot flying thickly overhead, though, fortunately, asboth sides were firing at long range, the cannon-balls attained thehighest point in their trajectory above our heads, save a few that,either by accident or design, fell unpleasantly close to us.
We had arrived within half a mile or so of the beach when we saw thatthe nearest warship had lowered a couple of boats, which started inclose pursuit of us.
Without a moment's hesitation Nick Firestone called upon me to takethe tiller, and, grasping the heavy oars, he rowed strongly towardsthe shore, the boat, under oars and sail, making a long wake astern.
"They gain on us," he muttered. "Hast weapons on board?"
"A brace of pistols apiece," I replied, telling Granville to producethem from the stern-locker.
"Handy enough at twenty paces," was his contemptuous remark, "thoughthey may serve to gain our end. Load all four, Master Granville, andplace them by my side."
A stern chase is ever a long one, yet the two pursuing boats came onapace, each urged by twelve rowers, whose efforts were encouraged bytheir officers.
Meanwhile the batteries ashore, seeing that something untoward washappening, began to fire at our pursuers, though their aim was wild,and bid fair to harm us as well as our foes.
Suddenly a bullet struck our light mast, and, cutting through thehalyards, brought the sail down with a run.
Uttering a fierce exclamation, Firestone tore away the folds of thecanvas that enveloped him, and, calling on me to keep the boat on hercourse, resumed rowing, though I imagined it to be a forlorn hope,for, glancing over my shoulder, I saw one of the rebels' boats wasbut six lengths astern.
Even as I looked a huge column of water sprang into the air, and fellin a shower of spray to the accompaniment of a crashing and rendingof wood and shrieks and shouts of surprise and terror. A chance shotfrom the batteries had wrought havoc with the leading boat, and hercrew were struggling in the water.
The second boat made to the rescue, and at the same moment we saw atroop of dragoons riding furiously along the shore from theCastle--yet, though within easy range, they forbore to fire on theirdiscomfited foes.
Another twenty strokes and our craft's forefoot grounded on thebeach.
We were safe within the lines of the beleaguered fortress.