Mr Harvey looked so astonished when Dick and I were introduced, that he
almost betrayed us. Quickly, however, recovering himself, he opened his
arms and embraced us affectionately. The other prisoners, gentlemen
well acquainted with him, seeing that he wished to be alone, retired to
the farther end of the room, when Dick lost no time in whispering into
his ear the plan we had arranged for his liberation.
He listened with a thoughtful brow, and Dick continued to press its
adoption, but I much feared that he would not agree.
"I will try it," he said at last; "but you, my children, must hasten
from the camp; it is no place for young persons, and should I fail to
escape, you will be made to suffer."
Though Dick begged hard to remain, his father was firm, and told us to
return by the way we had come, hoping that we might get free without
further questions being asked us.
Having taken an affectionate farewell of Mr Harvey, we set out, Dick
cleverly replying to all the questions put to us, and, with much less
difficulty than we had expected, we gained the outskirts of the camp.
Instead of returning to Lyme, we kept on towards Charmouth, to a spot
where we had agreed to meet Lancelot. To our infinite satisfaction we
found that he had obtained a horse and left if in Charmouth Wood as
arranged, under charge of a lad who had been directed to stay there
until Mr Harvey appeared, being supplied with food for himself and corn
for the animal.
We would gladly have remained to see the success of our undertaking, but
Lancelot was impatient to get back to relieve the anxiety which his
father and mother would feel when his absence was discovered. We
therefore set off to return to the shore, keeping a look-out to
ascertain that we were not watched.
We had reached the top of the cliffs, and were about to descend, when we
caught sight in the distance of a party of horse galloping towards us.
"They are out on a foraging expedition, probably," observed Lancelot.
"We must get away before they come here, or they will be apt to inquire
our business."
Whether we had been seen or not, it was impossible to say. We, however,
made the best of our way down the cliff; on reaching the bottom we found
Tom waiting for us, and forthwith set to work to launch the boat. We
had scarcely got her into the water when some of the men we had before
seen appeared at the top of the cliffs. They hailed us, and ordered us
to come back.
"Very likely," said Lancelot. "Shove away, Tom. Let them halloo as
long as they like."
We had got out the oars, and the boat was soon in deep water. Dick took
the helm while the rest of us rowed, as there was not wind enough to
fill the sail had we hoisted it.
A voice from the top of the cliff again ordered us to come back, and
presently several shots pattered into the water close alongside.
"Cowards!" exclaimed Lancelot. "Even though they fancy they see a girl
steering, they make no scruple of trying to hit us." The shot only made
us pull the harder. Presently we saw some of the men descending the
cliff, and making towards a boat which lay hauled up on the beach at
some distance.
"They suspect something, and intend to pursue us," observed Lancelot.
"Nevertheless, we have a good start of them, and when we get farther
out, we shall feel the breeze and be able to make sail."
"And maybe the other boat hasn't any oars in her, and if so we can laugh
at them," said Tom.
Lancelot told Dick to steer right out to sea. "They won't be inclined
to follow us far away from the land," he observed; "and if we make for
Lyme, they will guess where we come from."
We saw the men reach the boat, and presently they began to launch her.
By this time we had got well beyond the range of their firearms.
"Hurrah!" cried Dick, who had been looking to the eastward. "I see a
sail coming up from Portland. She's more likely to be a friend than an
enemy, and if we can get on board her we may defy our pursuers."
This announcement encouraged us. We had need, however, to exert
ourselves, for the soldiers had almost launched the boat, which showed
us that they had found oars, or they would not have taken the trouble of
putting her into the water. We could only just see what they were
about, but we made out that four or five fellows had got into her.
Directly afterwards, her head being turned towards us, they gave way.
Though the boat was heavy, four stout hands were more than a match for
us, for though Tom pulled a strong oar, Lancelot and I were scarcely
equal in strength to one man.
Dick kept looking eastward. Again he cried out, "There's another sail,
and another; a whole fleet of them!"
"If they are Parliament ships, they'll soon make the fellows in the boat
astern put about," exclaimed Tom; but we were pulling too hard to turn
our heads even for a moment. Our pursuers still kept on, but they were
not near enough to allow them to fire with any chance of hitting us.
They had undoubtedly seen the ships, and thought we were going out to
carry them information. This probably made them more anxious to catch
us. At length the breeze, as we expected it would, freshened.
"I'll step the mast; you, Master Lancelot, go to the helm. Stand by to
hoist the sail, Master Ben," cried Tom; and in half a minute we had the
mast stepped, the sail hoisted, and the sheet hauled aft, when, again
getting out the oars, we glided rapidly through the water. We saw that
our pursuers had no sail, or they would have hoisted it. This was
satisfactory, though they were pulling harder than ever.
Should the wind hold, we had good hope that they would soon be left
behind, still it would be folly to relax our efforts.
"Hurrah! we are distancing them," cried Tom.
As he spoke, our pursuers fired two shots at us, but the bullets fell
into the water astern.
"Blaze away as fast as you like!" cried Lancelot; "every shot you fire
will help us to get ahead of you."
The men in the boat had to throw in their oars to fire, while they lost
some time in reloading.
The ships were still a long way off, and it was very probable that, as
evening came on, the wind would fail before we could reach them. There
was, however, one frigate ahead, which, propelled by oars as well as
sails, was making good way. We steered for her.
"All right, boys," cried Tom; "I see the Parliamentary flag flying from
her peak, and if those fellows come near us they'll have to rue it."
Notwithstanding, our pursuers, finding that they could not reach us with
their muskets, again took to their oars and pulled away with might and
main, trusting probably to the chances of the wind falling. Still, as
we were already well ahead, we determined to maintain our advantage.
The frigate meantime was coming on at good speed, carrying every stitch
of canvas she could set. At length both we and the boat in chase were
seen, but should the frigate fire at the latter, we might run a chance
of being hit. We kept on therefore. As we got nearer, Tom stood up and
waved as a signal that we wished to get on board.
On perceiving this, our pursuers knew that their game was up, and, to
our regret, putting about, pulled away towards the shore as fast as they
had come. The frigate, to allow us to get on board, now clewed up her
sails and drew in her sweeps.
We were welcomed on board by her commander, who inquired where we had
come from and what we had been about. We frankly told him, when, to our
joy, he informed us that the fleet was that of the Earl of Warwick, sent
by the Parliament to the relief of Lyme.
"You have come opportunely, sir," said Lancelot, "for we lack both
ammunition, food, and clothing, and had you not arrived, we might in a
short time have been compelled to yield to the foe."
_The Mermaid_, the frigate we had so fortunately reached, again making
sail, continued her course towards Lyme. Darkness, however, quickly
came on, but Tom piloted her up to a berth close in with the harbour,
where none of the enemy's shot could reach her. We then accompanied
Captain Ray, her commander, on shore, to convey the joyful intelligence
of the approach of the Earl of Warwick's fleet.
The news spread through the town quickly, but Colonel Blake issued
orders that no demonstration should be made. My father, when he had
heard of our expedition, did not blame me for having taken part in it.
"Ben," he said, "you should have trusted me; and, my boy, let me urge
you never to undertake anything for which you cannot ask the blessing of
your Father in heaven as well as your earthly parent. Now go to rest.
Before to-morrow evening important events may have occurred."
On rising the next morning, I saw a goodly array of ships at anchor
before the town. Soon after I had left home I met my friend Lancelot,
and we hurried down to have a look at them.
While standing on the quay, Colonel Blake with two other officers came
down, about to embark to hold a consultation with the Earl.
"Would you like to accompany us and see the big ships?" he asked,
looking kindly at Lancelot and me.
We doffed our hats, and answered that it was the very thing we wished.
"Come, then!" he said; and we followed him and his companions into the
boat. We pulled away for the _Vanguard_, one of the largest ships, on
the deck of which the Earl stood ready to receive Colonel Blake.
Briefly exchanging greetings, they went to work on business at once,
while Lancelot and I were allowed to go round the ship to see the big
guns, the huge lanterns, the stores of pikes, and the tops high up the
lofty masts, each capable of holding a score of men.
"Have you a mind to sail with us, youngsters?" asked one of the
officers. "You are likely boys, and will become prime seamen in time."
I answered that it was the desire of my heart, but that I must be guided
by my father's wishes, for that he, being himself a master mariner, well
knew the nature of the calling. The officer laughed at my reply, and I
was about to ask him why he laughed, when Lancelot and I were summoned
to return with Colonel Blake to the shore.
From the conversation I overheard I found that the Earl had brought, by
order of Parliament, some provisions and military stores, of which we
stood greatly in need. Indeed, by this time we wanted nearly
everything. One third of our men had no shoes or stockings, and large
numbers were but scantily clothed, while famine had made the faces of
the stoutest look pale and thin.
So shocked were the brave seamen with the appearance of the garrison,
that they made collections of food and clothing on board their ships,
while they gave a fourth of their daily allowance of bread for a month
to supply our wants. Colonel Blake had also arranged with the Earl a
plan by which it was hoped the Prince would be more signally defeated
than before, should he again attack the town.
Scarcely, however, had we landed, and before the plan could be carried
out, than the Cavaliers in great force once more approached our lines to
attempt taking the town by assault; but Colonel Blake, hurrying to the
front, placed himself at the head of a chosen band, and sallying forth
drove them back. The battle lasted little more than an hour, and during
that time Colonel Weir was killed, as were many other officers, and
Colonel Blake himself was wounded badly in the foot, while many
Cavaliers, several of them of note, lost their lives.
The next day, while the funeral of Colonel Weir was taking place,
another equally sanguinary attack was made with the same result.
That night, according to a plan before arranged, three hundred seamen
came on shore, and were concealed in the houses. In the morning the
fleet was seen under weigh, standing towards Charmouth, now approaching
the shore as if about to land some men, now firing at the Cavaliers who
appeared on the cliffs.
This made the Prince fancy that part of the garrison had gone away in
order to land and attack him in the rear, and that the town was even
less prepared for resistance than before.
It was still early in the evening when we saw the Cavaliers in three
solid columns approaching, and at the same time the big guns opened fire
upon us with redoubled fury. Instead of being diminished, our little
garrison had been increased by the seamen landed from the ships, so that
we now mustered twelve hundred men.
As the enemy approached, the whole of our force springing into view,
opened so withering a fire, that the front ranks of the foe fell into
confusion. The next column coming on was treated in the same manner as
the first. The big guns meanwhile battered at our earthworks, knocking
down walls, and sent their shot through the roofs of the houses, many of
which being set on fire were blazing up brightly.
The second column driven back as the first had been, the last advanced
shouting fiercely, hoping to retrieve the day, but our brave commander
was prepared for them. While he pressed them in front, his best
officers appeared on their flanks, and the seamen rushing forward leaped
on them furiously with their hangers.
In vain the gentlemen Cavaliers urged on their men. Beaten back at
every point, the soldiers took to flight, and at length, when that
summer's day closed, five hundred Cavalier corpses strewed the ground in
front of the lines.
In wanton rage at his defeat, Prince Maurice fired red-hot balls and
bars of twisted lead into the town; but no farther attempt was made to
capture it, and the following day his army was in full retreat, he
having heard that the Earl of Essex with a large force was marching to
the westward. Altogether upwards of two thousand Cavaliers lost their
lives in front of our earthworks.
To us that last day was the saddest of all. By our father's desire,
Audrey and Margaret had taken up their abode in the house of Mr
Kerridge, as our own was greatly exposed. Lancelot and I had been
endeavouring to ascertain what was taking place, when he saw bright
flames ascending from the direction of my father's house.
We hastened toward it. Our worst fears were realised. Already every
part was burning, while red-hot shot and cannon balls kept ever and anon
plunging into the midst of it, preventing the possibility of
extinguishing the flames. So dangerous was the position, that Lancelot
dragged me away, and accompanied me in search of my father, to whom I
wished to give the intelligence.
As the firing in front had ceased, we went on, hoping every now and then
to meet him. It was by this time getting so dusk that we could hardly
distinguish one person from another. As we approached the part of the
lines where my father was generally posted, we met a person hurrying
towards us. He was Martin Shobbrok.
"Alack, alack! young gentlemen, I have bad news to give you," he said.
"I am hastening for a stretcher on which to carry the captain home,
though I fear much it will be but his lifeless body."
"Where is he?" I asked, in an agony of sorrow. "Take me to him."
"I remained with him where he fell till a surgeon camp to bind up his
wounds, but from what he said I fear the worst," answered Martin.
Hurrying on, I soon reached the spot where my dear father lay, as Martin
had told us, attended by a surgeon.
He knew my voice, but his eyes were already growing dim. Pressing my
hand, he whispered--
"Ben, I am about to be taken from you, but I have fallen in a righteous
cause; may you never fight for another. And remember, my boy, do your
duty in the sight of God, and never fear what your fellow man may say or
do to you."
"I will, father," I answered, bursting into tears. "Is there no hope?"
I asked, finding that my father did not again speak. The surgeon shook
his head. Ere many minutes had passed, my kind, brave father breathed
his last. "Poor dear Audrey will break her heart," I cried, while
Lancelot raised me from the ground.
We followed the litter on which some men, who had been sent to collect
the dead, had placed my father's body. He received a soldier's funeral,
with several other brave men who had fallen on that day, so glorious to
the national cause.
We were orphans, but not friendless, for Mr Kerridge invited Audrey and
me, with Margaret, to take up our abode at his house until arrangements
were made for our future disposal. Dick had all this time received no
new of his father, and he, as were all who valued Mr Harvey, was in
great anxiety as to his fate. Had he been unable to make his escape,
Prince Maurice would not have scrupled to hang him, as he had other
Roundheads who had fallen into his power, when he found himself
defeated.
Dick, Lancelot, and I were going along the lines picking up bullets and
searching for arms and any valuables which might have been left by the
Cavaliers, when we saw a horseman spurring at full speed towards the
town. Dick gazed eagerly at him.
"That's my father!" he exclaimed. "I know his way of riding. Heaven be
praised!"
Dick was right. In a short time Mr Harvey, having thrown himself from
his horse, was embracing his son. Owing to the arrangements we had
made, he had effected his escape, though he had nearly been caught
afterwards by Prince Maurice's troops as they advanced eastward. He
came to inform Colonel Blake of the road they were taking, and of their
probable plans for the future. He brought also news of the near
approach of the Parliamentary army under the Earl of Essex and of the
recapture of Weymouth.
The result of this information was that Colonel Blake marched out of
Lyme with his now veteran troops, and, joined by other Roundhead forces,
captured Taunton without a blow. His heroic defence of that town, when
it was soon afterwards surrounded by the Cavaliers, I cannot describe.
For a year the brave garrison held out against all the assaults of some
of the bravest of the Cavalier leaders, including Lord Goring and his
ruffian crew.
Although their clothes were reduced to rags, their ammunition had run
short, and they were almost starved, they maintained it until relieved
by General Fairfax.
In the meantime Lyme was unmolested, and Audrey and I continued to
reside with our kind friend Mr Kerridge and his family. A young
minister undertook to superintend our studies, but all my leisure time
was spent with Lancelot and Dick, as had been our wont before the siege,
on the water.
Sometimes we extended our excursions westward as far as the Teign, and
even to Dartmouth, at other times along the coast to the west of
Portland Bill, but as there were no safe harbours to run to, we seldom
ventured in that direction.
Colonel Blake, we heard, remained Governor of Taunton, and I much feared
that I should never see him more, as he was not likely again to come to
Lyme.
The battle of Naseby had been fought, and the Parliament had gained the
upper hand through the length and breadth of England and Scotland,
though the Royalists still held Jersey and Guernsey and Scilly, and the
greater part of Ireland.
News now reached us but rarely; indeed, our little town, which had
lately been so famous, seemed almost forgotten. Audrey and I, having
recovered from the grief caused by the loss of our father, were very
happy in our new home.
Mr Kerridge and Mr Harvey had arranged our affairs, so that we were
not dependent upon others. At the same time it was necessary that I
should have a profession. My inclinations prompted me to follow that of
my father, but my friends found it difficult to settle with whom I
should be sent to sea. Both Lancelot and Dick declared that they would
go with me, though their fathers were not very willing that they should
engage in so dangerous a calling. One day, the weather being fine,
Lancelot proposed that we should make a trip to Dartmouth, taking Martin
Shobbrok, now our constant companion, with us. Storing our boat with
provisions for the voyage, we made sail.
We had a fine run to that beautiful little harbour, and having gone on
shore, we spent more time than we had intended in purchasing various
articles which were not to be procured at Lyme.
It was somewhat late in the evening when we stood out again, but as
there was a moon we expected no difficulty in finding our way back;
scarcely, however, had we got well out of the harbour than the wind
shifted to the eastward, but as the tide was in our favour we agreed
that by making a long leg to the southward we should fetch Lyme on the
next tack.
To our disappointment, just as we were going about, the wind veered
three points to the northward, and we found it blowing directly in our
teeth. Unwilling to be defeated, we continued standing out to sea,
expecting that when we went about we should be almost abreast of Lyme.
In a short time, however, the sky became covered with thick clouds, the
wind came in fitful gusts, and the hitherto calm ocean was broken into
foam-covered waves.
We reduced our sail as much as possible, and Martin, as the most
experienced, took the helm. The night became darker and darker. We had
no compass, and no land could be seen. Still, supposing that the wind
was now remaining steady, we stood on, our stout boat riding buoyantly
over the increasing seas. Martin at length expressed his fear that the
wind had gone back to its old quarter, and judging by the heavy
foam-crested seas which came rolling on, that we were no longer under
shelter of the land.
We kept up our spirits, though I guessed by the tone of Martin's voice
that he was far from happy at our position. The tide, too, we knew by
this time must have turned, and we should be unable to fetch Lyme.
We might, we agreed, run back to Dartmouth, but the attempt to find the
entrance of the harbour in the darkness of the night would be difficult,
if not dangerous.
Though Martin steered as well as the best of seamen, the rising seas
came washing over our bows, and we all had to turn to and bale out the
boat. This prevented us from thinking of the danger we were in.
At length, not without risk, putting an oar out, we got the boat round,
and stood, as we supposed, towards the shore. By this time we were wet
through to the skin, and in spite of our exertions our teeth were
chattering with cold.
"I hope Mistress Margaret will have some bowls of hot porridge ready for
us when we get in," said Lancelot.
"Oh, don't talk of that," observed Dick. "Let us get in first. Shall
we ever reach the shore, Martin, do you think?"
"That's as God wills, Master Dick," answered Martin. "It's our business
to do our best."
Just then a sudden blast almost laid the boat over. Martin saved her by
luffing-up. Scarcely had he done so than we saw a dark object away on
the starboard hand.
"That's a ship; she's standing directly down upon us," cried Martin.
"Shout, lads, shout at the tops of your voices."
We all shrieked out, joining Martin's deep bass, which rose above the
howling of the storm. The next instant there came a crash, our boat had
been run down, but before she sank, having been happily struck by the
bow, and not by the stern of the ship, we found ourselves alongside,
when Martin, seizing me by the arm and catching hold of the fore-chains,
hauled me up as the boat disappeared beneath our feet. We hung there
for a few seconds before we were discovered, though I caught sight of
several figures leaning over the side. I uttered a cry of sorrow as I
thought that my two friends were lost. In vain I looked down for them.
The next instant several willing hands assisted Martin and me on board.
"Oh, save Dick and Lancelot," I cried out. "Lower a boat; pick them up;
don't let them perish."
My heart bounded with joy when I heard Lancelot's voice.
"Here I am, safe and sound," he cried out, running forward and shaking
me by the hand, "thanks to our friends here, who hove me a rope just as
I was sinking."
"And Dick, where is Dick?" I said.
"The youngster is on board, but he got a knock on the head. He's coming
round though," said a voice from the afterpart of the ship.
Martin, Lancelot, and I hurried aft, where we found Dick lying on the
deck, supported by a seaman, who seemed as wet as he was. We were told
that the gallant fellow had fastened a rope round his waist, plunged
overboard and picked up Dick just as he was being washed by astern.
Dick quickly came to.
"Where is the boat!" he asked, lifting up his head.
"She's gone to the bottom," answered Lancelot.
"Where are we?"
"On board a ship."
"What ship, what ship?" asked Dick, still confused.
"That's more than I can say," answered Lancelot, "We shall soon know,
however."