The fate of honest Martin hung in the balance; should I fail to strike
up the captain's arm, his death would be certain. Whether or no my
action had been observed I could not tell, for the appearance of the
stranger drew the captain's attention off from his victim, and in a
moment he seemed to have forgotten all about Martin.
The approaching ship fired a broadside which raked us fore and aft,
sending many of the roystering crew to their dread account. Still
undaunted, the captain ordered the starboard broadside to be fired in
return, and the _Constant Warwick_, in consequence of the loss of her
headsail, being unable to keep her position, we drew ahead of her; but
our fresh antagonist, with her yards and rigging uninjured, quickly came
up, and her guns, aimed at our masts, ere long brought down the fore and
main-yards; but the flag still flew out at the peak of the corsair, and
her guns on either side continued to belch forth their deadly missiles.
Though round shot and bullets from her antagonists came crashing on
board the ship, tearing up the decks, piercing the sides, carrying away
lanterns, boats, and spars, wounding her masts and plunging through her
bulwarks, the scuppers running with blood, her gallant captain, standing
still unharmed amid the dead and dying, refused to yield.
Malignant though he was, I could not help admiring his courage,
regretting that he was not fighting in a better cause. I heartily
wished that he would give in before more damage was done.
He seemed, however, in no way inclined to strike while there was a
chance of escaping.
I feared, indeed, that after all he would get off, but the two
Parliament ships plied him hard. Their commanders were as brave as he
was, and had no intention of letting him escape.
Of this the corsair's crew were at length convinced, and some, unwilling
to encounter certain destruction, cried out to strike the flag.
"Who dares to say that?" shouted Captain Blackleach. Then he cried out
to the boatswain, "Reeve a dozen ropes, and we'll show our enemies how
we treat traitors to our cause."
The boatswain, seizing one of the men who desired to strike, was
actually about to put the order into execution when Martin rushed to the
poor fellow's rescue.
"Avast, master boatswain!" he exclaimed, cutting the rope; "are you not
afraid of committing murder, when, at any moment, you may be sent to
stand before the Judge of all men?"
The boatswain, with an oath, again seized the man, and, aided by his
mates, was forming a noose at the end of a rope, when a shot striking
him on the breast sent his mangled body through a wide gap in the
bulwarks into the blood-stained ocean. Most of the superior officers
had by this time been killed or wounded, the latter being in the hands
of the surgeon below.
"What's to be done?" said Dick, as we were together making our way to
the magazine, being ordered down to fetch up more powder. "Surely the
captain won't hold out longer! If I didn't feel that it was cowardly, I
should like to stow myself away below till all is over."
"To go down with the ship and be drowned," I observed.
"No, no; let us remain on deck while we can, and take our chance," said
Lancelot. "If the captain fights on until the ship sinks, we may get
hold of a plank or spar. The Roundhead seamen will not let us drown,
even though they think we are Malignants."
"Stay for me!" said Dick, as he saw us lifting up our tubs to go on deck
again. To say the truth, I suspected that he had been in no hurry to
fill his.
Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in
our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and
scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but
happily none of us were hit. They were followed by the groans and
shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their
agony. Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence. We had
naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were,
we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our
ears, but it came from the other ships. I looked up at the peak. The
flag was no longer there. On the after-castle lay the captain; he had
fallen desperately wounded. Two officers alone remained on their feet,
while fore and aft a sickening sight met our view. The ship was a
perfect shambles; the dead and dying lay everywhere, the countenances of
many distorted with agony; the decks slippery with blood, and covered
with blocks, ropes, torn canvas, and shattered spars, while several guns
had been dismounted, and every boat knocked to pieces. The master of
the mariners, one of the surviving officers, was shouting to the crew to
shorten sail.
Throwing our tubs of powder on deck, we gladly ran to obey the order,
joined by Martin Shobbrok, who, amid the bloody strife, had escaped
unscathed.
Meantime the two victorious frigates had hove to and were lowering their
boats, ready to send on board and take possession of their prize.
"What shall we do now?" asked Dick, as the boats were coming alongside.
"Our friends will look upon us as deserters, and perhaps string us up at
the yard-arm."
"Not much fear of that," said Lancelot. "We can tell who we are and how
we came to be on board."
"But will they believe us?" asked Dick. "The rest of the crew will
prove that we have been helping the gunners to load their pieces by
bringing powder from the magazine."
"Just trust in God, young masters," said Martin, who had overheard them.
We had not much time for talking before the crews of the three boats
which had been sent sprang on board. The officer in command at once
ordered the whole of the "rovers" to muster aft. Of well-nigh two
hundred men who had commenced the action, one half were dead or wounded.
The survivors stood with downcast looks, expecting no gentle treatment.
"You have taken up arms without lawful authority against the Parliament,
and you must be prepared for the punishment due to you, unless the
admiral thinks fit to remit it," explained the officer, casting his eye
over the men. "Have you anything to say for yourselves?"
There was no reply until Lancelot stepped aft, followed by Martin, Dick,
and me.
"We were on board against our will, sir," he said, "and acknowledge the
Parliament as the supreme authority in the realm." He then described
how we had been rescued by the _Charles_ when on our way from Dartmouth
to Lyme.
"A likely story, young master," said the officer; "but I will talk to
you more anon. The rest of you tumble into the boats and go peaceably
on board the ships to which they will convey you."
Nearly half the men had already taken their seats in the three boats
which had shoved off, when the cry arose, "The ship is sinking!"
The carpenter and his mates were among those who remained, and the
officer ordering some of his own men to assist them in stopping the
leaks, directed them to man the pumps. The rovers obeyed with alacrity,
for they had no wish to drown.
We four assisted them, and as the pumps clanged loudly the water spread
over the decks, partly cleansing them from their bloody stains.
It was an anxious time, for I feared that the ship would go down before
the boats could return. We pumped, and pumped away with might and main,
while the carpenters stopped the most dangerous shot holes between wind
and water.
It was a great relief at length to see the boats come back. They
brought more men, and among them some carpenters from the frigates to
assist in repairing the damages. The remaining prisoners having
laboured so well, had the choice given them of continuing on board, and
they gladly accepted the offer, promising faithfully to serve the
Parliament.
Evening was drawing on, and the two frigates lay still hove to close to
the prize, when, looking to windward, I saw the upper sails of several
ships, which I deemed to be of size, rising above the horizon. I
pointed them out to Martin, and asked if he thought they were Prince
Rupert's squadron.
"No fear of that," he answered; "they must have been seen some time ago
from the frigate, and they show no intention of trying to escape."
During this time everyone on board was working away with a will, for
there was much to be done both below and aloft, while the wounded men
had to be looked after.
The captain had been taken to his cabin, where the surgeon had dressed
his wound. Dick, who had been ordered to watch him, came rushing out
after some time, looking greatly terrified, and declared that the
captain was raving and swearing that he would rise and blow up the ship
rather than yield to the Roundheads.
Fortunately we found the surgeon, who sent two men to watch over him,
and Dick was relieved from his trying duty. A boat now came alongside
with orders to remove more of the prisoners, and among them Martin and
my two friends and I were ordered to get into her. In a short time we
were conveyed on board the _Constant Warwick_, and found ourselves
standing on her deck together with the other prisoners.
"Now is our time," I exclaimed to Lancelot. "Let us go boldly aft and
tell the captain who we are, or we shall be sent below and placed in
irons with the rest."
Lancelot took my advice. We stepped aft, followed by Dick and Martin.
"What have you to say, lads?" asked the captain, looking greatly
astonished at our audacity.
We gave him the same account of ourselves that we had to the officer who
had come on board the _Charles_.
"You are ready enough now to declare yourselves Roundheads," answered
the captain, "but you were found on board an enemy's ship, and must be
treated like the rest."
"They are brave little fighting-cocks, Cavaliers to the backbone,"
shouted one of the men from the group of prisoners, not wishing that we
should receive more favour than themselves.
I had observed a young officer standing close to the captain. I looked
at his countenance, and the thought flashed across me that I had seen
him before.
"Captain Stayner," he said, "allow me to say that I believe the account
these young gentlemen give of themselves. I was at Lyme with my uncle,
the admiral;" then turning to us he inquired our names.
"I thought so," he said, putting out his hand; "I remember them all
well. One is the son of Mr Kerridge, the mayor, who fought so bravely
for the good cause; the father of the other, who served under my
grandfather, was killed during the siege; and this one," he added,
taking Dick by the hand, "is the son of Mr Harvey, who expended his
means in aiding in the defence of Lyme."
While the young officer was speaking, I recognised him as the nephew of
Colonel Blake. "I truly rejoice to see you," he continued, turning to
us, "for, putting into Lyme some weeks ago, I found your relatives and
friends in great sorrow at your supposed loss. We will take the
earliest opportunity of sending them news of your safety."
Thus were our anxieties brought to an end. Instead of being treated as
prisoners, we were received as guests by the officers, who insisted on
supplying us with clothes and other necessaries, of which we stood much
in want. Great was our surprise to hear that the admiral of the ships
in sight astern was no other than Colonel Blake, who had been placed in
command of the fleets of England by the Parliament in conjunction with
Colonels Deane and Popham.
Admiral Blake was now in chase of Prince Rupert's squadron, which it was
his intention, should he fail to overtake it at sea, to shut up in
Kinsale harbour. This, to me especially, was satisfactory news, for I
had not forgotten the remark made by Colonel Blake to my father, that he
should like to have me with him, and I felt very sure that he was a man
who would fulfil his intentions.
I mentioned this to Mr Robert Blake, who promised on the first
opportunity to take me on board the flag-ship and introduce me to the
admiral.
"Not that you will require an introduction," he answered; "my uncle
never forgets those he has once known, and, though grown, you are not
altered much from the little fellow I remember at Lyme."
I felt bound to put in a word for my two friends, as also for Martin,
whose brave conduct on board the _Charles_ I described, when he refused
to fire at the _Constant Warwick_.
"It would not become me to make promises to you," he replied, "but you
may depend upon it that the admiral will not overlook such conduct, and
as Shobbrok is an experienced seaman, he will gladly place him in some
position of trust on board."
The other frigate which had assisted in the capture of the _Charles_
was, I should have said, the _Seaford_. The breeze freshening, we had
no opportunity of going on board the _Triumph_, Admiral Blake's
flag-ship, as he was pressing on under all sail in chase of the
corsairs. The frigates led the way, and the next morning, from the
mast-head of the _Constant Warwick_, we caught sight of well-nigh a
score of ships right ahead. That they were those of Prince Rupert we
had no doubt; but they must have seen us coming, and having no stomach
to engage in fight--for they knew by this time who commanded the English
fleet--they pressed on before us.
We continued in chase under every stitch of canvas we could carry,
hoping to come up with one or more of the rearmost ships and to bring
them to action, so as to keep them employed till the rest of the fleet
should arrive and compel them to strike. The breeze freshened, and the
_Constant Warwick_, followed closely by two other frigates, tore through
the water, as if eager to overtake her foes.
"Hold on, good sticks!" cried the captain, looking aloft. "Time enough
to go overboard when we have grappled the enemy."
The topgallant masts bent like willow wands, and I expected every moment
to see them fall, but though the lofty sails tugged and tugged, yet they
held fast, and we hoped that we should yet be in time to stop some of
the corsairs before they could get into harbour. The _Triumph_ was
still far away astern, followed by the rest of the fleet, our captain
doing his best to drive his ship through the water. The corsairs did
not gain upon us, and we well knew that for a good hour or more we
should have them to ourselves, should we overtake them. Captain Stayner
walked the deck, now casting his eye ahead at the enemy, now aloft at
the straining canvas, and now astern, to judge, by the way the sails of
the _Triumph_ were blowing out, how the wind was holding in that
direction. Presently the lofty canvas was seen to hang down against the
masts, then slowly to blow out again. In a short time our own royals
and topgallant sails followed their bad example. The captain gave a
stamp of impatience on the deck. The breeze was falling, even the
topsails and courses no longer bellied out as before. Still, the
frigates glided on, but the sluggish eddies astern showed how greatly
their speed had decreased.
At length, on the larboard bow, the old head of Kinsale appeared in
sight, with Prince Rupert's ships passing round it. Still, they too
might get becalmed and a change of wind enable us to approach them. Our
hopes, however, were doomed to be disappointed. Though the wind was
light, they moved as fast as we did, and the lighter vessels getting out
their sweeps, they ere long disappeared, shrouded by the gloom of
evening, and by the time we came off the mouth of the harbour not a sail
was to be discerned.
"Though they have escaped us this time, we have shut the rats up in
their hole, and they will find it a hard matter to get out again to seek
for prey," observed the captain.
"Can't we go in and destroy them?" inquired Lancelot of Mr Blake.
"From the information we have received, we judge that it would be a
hazardous undertaking," he answered. "There are castles on either side
of the harbour, and the corsairs have thrown up earthworks, armed with
heavy guns, for the protection of their ships, so that they would blow
us out of the water should we attempt to enter. We must content
ourselves with blockading them."
Such, I afterwards found, was the plan adopted. We stood on and off the
land to watch the entrance. The next morning the whole fleet arrived,
forming a line from the old head of Kinsale northward, which Prince
Rupert, daring as he was, would not, it was believed, attempt to break
through. It was somewhat trying work. Night and day a vigilant watch
was kept, great care being required so that each ship should maintain
her proper position, and that one should not run foul of the other.
According to his promise, Mr Blake took Lancelot, Dick, and me, with
Martin Shobbrok, on board the _Triumph_. The admiral recognised me
immediately, and remembered also what he had said to my father.
"Would you wish to remain with me?" he asked. "Should such be your
desire, you shall become my cabin boy, and when you have gained a
knowledge of navigation and seamanship, you shall, without delay, be
made an officer."
"Such I desire above all things," I answered, "and I am deeply grateful
for the offer."
"And your friends here," he continued, looking at Lancelot and Dick.
"Were they with us at the siege of Lyme?"
"They were, sir, and we all three worked together to throw up the
embankments," I answered.
"Good! they appear likely lads, and I will watch over their interests,
if the Lord spares my life."
Lancelot and Dick made proper acknowledgment of the admiral's intended
kindness. I then bethought me that now was the time to speak a word for
Martin, and told the admiral how he had behaved on board the _Charles_,
being ready to lose his own life rather than fire at the Parliamentary
ships.
"Brave fellow! I remember him when he served with your father and
mine," he observed. "He shall have a post on board such as his merit
deserves. I will see to it."
Several captains from other ships coming on board, we retired, following
young Robert Blake, who took us into the gun room, where he introduced
us to such of the officers of the ship as were below.
I had long been wishing to hear from Lieutenant Blake how his uncle had
become an admiral, and I now took the opportunity of asking him.
"Simply because he is one of the most worthy men the Parliament could
find," he answered. "His great talents, his undaunted bravery, are
well-known, and although he had not before been to sea, the Government
felt sure that he would be able to fill the post, and seeing him as we
do now at the head of naval affairs, no one would suppose that he was
fifty years of age before he set his foot on the deck of a ship as
commander, taking precedence of such men as Captains Penn, Jordan,
Ascue, Stayner, and Lawson, while Admirals Deane and Popham, though of
the same rank, yield to his judgment."
For the benefit of those who may not be acquainted with the history of
one of the most famous of England's sea commanders, I may here note that
Admiral Blake, eldest son of a highly-esteemed merchant, Humphrey Blake,
trading with Spain and other foreign parts, was born at Bridgwater in
the year of grace 1598, and that he had many brothers and sisters.
When a boy he studied navigation and the routine of sea duties from his
father and some of his captains who had come to live on shore, but at
that time his own taste made him wish to obtain a knowledge of
literature, and at sixteen he entered as an undergraduate at Saint
Alban's Hall, Oxford, whence he removed to Wadham College. Here he
remained several years, until his father being reduced in circumstances
from the failure of many of his enterprises, he returned home to watch
over the interests of his family. He had, I should have said, offered
himself as a candidate for a scholarship then vacant at Merton, but Sir
Henry Saville, the warden, who delighted in tall men, objecting to him
on account of his height which fell below his standard of manly
perfection, refused to admit him, and the admiral, after he had been
summoned to the death-bed of his father, did not again return to Oxford.
For some years he remained at Bridgwater, chiefly occupied with the care
of his mother and brothers and sisters. At the same time he was a keen
observer of passing events. His indignation was aroused by the
persecutions of Bishop Laud and his attempt to impose the Papal system
on his country. When the King, after a lapse of many years, summoned a
parliament, the admiral, then Mr Blake, went up as member for
Bridgwater. Soon afterwards came the outbreak in Ireland, when forty
thousand Protestants were murdered by the Papists, who asserted that the
King sanctioned their bloody acts. Although this might not have been
the case, the Parliament demanded that a fleet and army should be placed
at their disposal to quell the rebels. Soon afterwards the King,
leaving London, raised his standard at Northampton, and declared war
against the Parliament and those who sided with it. Mr Blake was among
the first gentlemen who took up arms in the south of England in defence
of the people's right, his first military achievement being the gallant
defence of Prior's Hill, Bristol. The rest of his career up to the time
of which I am speaking I have already mentioned, and I may truly say
that he had never been defeated. He had, for some time before I was
received on board his flag-ship, been engaged in reforming the navy,
into which numerous corruptions had crept. His great object was to see
that the men were duly paid and well fed, that hospitals were provided
for the wounded, and that stout seaworthy ships were alone employed. He
perseveringly engaged even in the most minute details, to add to the
comfort of his men, and already they had learned to trust and revere
him. His fame had spread even among the Royalists, numbers of whom,
escaping when opportunities occurred, eagerly came on board our ships to
serve under his flag. That flag was now a red-cross on a white ground,
and that banner was destined soon to claim the respect of England's
foes, wherever it was seen waving at the peak.
While we were watching Kinsale harbour to prevent the escape of Prince
Rupert's cruisers, General Cromwell, who had gone over to the north of
Ireland with an army, was righting his way to the southward.
Blockading was no pleasant duty, for often heavy gales from the eastward
compelled us to keep an offing from the shore, or when they blew from an
opposite direction we had to beat backwards and forwards under
close-reefed sails to maintain our position, and several times we had to
run for Milford Haven, to escape the danger of shipwreck. We young
seamen, however, thereby gained much practical experience in nautical
affairs, as did undoubtedly our superiors, who had hitherto been more
accustomed to the command of regiments of foot and horse than to the
management of ships.
By the first bag of letters despatched after we got on board the
_Triumph_, we wrote an account of our adventures to our friends at Lyme.
In due course we received others in return, with expressions of
thankfulness that we had escaped the perils to which we had been
exposed.
Audrey and Cicely especially gave us an account of all that had occurred
since we left home, praying that we might soon return.
October came, and with it a furious gale, which once more scattered the
blockading squadron. In vain the _Triumph_ endeavoured to maintain her
station. Still she kept the sea in spite of the furious blasts which
laid her over and threatened to carry away her masts and spars, and hurl
her, a helpless wreck, on the rocky coast. A few other captains
imitated the example of their dauntless commander, but it was impossible
to remain in sight of Kinsale. At length, the weather moderating, we
once more came off the old headland, and, by degrees the ships
assembling, the frigates were sent in towards the harbour's mouth to
inspect the squadron of Prince Rupert. They returned with the
intelligence that the corsair prince, with, several of his ships, had
escaped, leaving behind, however, a considerable number, which fell into
our hands.