I must pass over some months, during which the _Triumph_, having
returned into port, we three friends paid a visit to Lyme, the admiral
promising to send for us when he should next go to sea. We had not long
to wait. It being reported that Prince Rupert and his brother had fled
to the Tagus, Admiral Blake was appointed to the command of a small
squadron, of which the _Tiger_ was his flag-ship, with orders to pursue
the pirates, and to seize, make prizes, fight with, and destroy all
their ships he could overtake, while he was to protect all lawful
traders in the exercise of their calling. The other ships were the
_John, Tenth, Whelp, Signet_, and _Constant Warwick_, carrying
altogether one hundred and fourteen guns.
We were glad to find that young Robert Blake was one of the lieutenants
of the _Tiger_, and equally rejoiced were we to see Martin Shobbrok
walking the deck with a chain and silver whistle round his neck doing
duty as boatswain. Although it was midwinter, no time was lost, and
with a fair breeze we stood down channel. The winds, and the necessity
of chasing every suspicious sail, prevented us from reaching our
destination--the month of the Tagus--until the approach of spring. To
our infinite satisfaction, we found that the Prince's squadron was at
anchor in the river, and forthwith the admiral despatched his nephew,
whom I had the honour of accompanying, with a message to King John of
Portugal, requesting permission to attack the ships of Prince Rupert,
belonging to the Commonwealth of England, and carried off by treachery.
I had never before been in a king's palace; I have not the power,
however, to describe the finely dressed ladies and gentlemen we saw, or
the forms and ceremonies we went through. The king, or rather one of
his ministers--who spoke for him--declared that he could permit no such
proceeding, that the princes were his guests, and that we must take our
departure without injuring them.
"The king sends us back, as he thinks, with a flea in our ears, but it
is a flea which will tickle his majesty before long," observed
Lieutenant Blake, who had something of his uncle's humour.
We returned on board the _Tiger_, and reported the result of our
mission, when the admiral immediately ordered a squadron of boats to
enter the river. I went in one of them. As we approached a white stone
castle shining brightly in the sun, near the mouth, a puff of smoke
issued from one of the embrasures. Another and another followed, the
shot splashing into the water close to us.
On this the commander of the expedition, according to the orders
received, returned to the squadron.
The admiral, curling his whiskers, sent to the castle to inquire why his
boats had been stopped. The officer replied that his orders were to
prevent any foreign ships sailing up the river. The admiral on this
despatched another embassy to King John, demanding the reason for his
conduct, but received as unsatisfactory a reply as before. The
Portuguese king was not aware with whom he had to deal, and fancied that
Blake would sail away without taking further notice of the affair.
In spite of the threats of the governor of Belim Castle, the _Tiger_
leading the way, the squadron sailed into the river, not a shot being
fired at us, and we brought up in Viera Bay.
Here some weeks passed, the crews fuming at the delay, and hoping every
day that we might be able to get at the corsairs and punish them as they
deserved. Our men were frequently on shore, when they constantly met
the sailors of the Prince's squadron, on friendly terms.
Occasionally, however, there were quarrels, when our men jeered at the
others, calling them pirates and robbers, and expressing a wonder that
they should be willing to serve under such leaders as Rupert and his
brother. Others of our people acted more wisely, and succeeded in
inducing a considerable number of the Prince's men to desert and come on
board our ships. This greatly enraged the Prince, who strung up several
poor fellows found making their way to us. Still, others came off, and
one of them told us that the _Swallow_, a ship of thirty-six guns, had
actually got under weigh and was on the point of escaping, when the
intention of her officers and crew being discovered, she was brought
back. Some time after this, three boats under command of Lieutenant
Blake were sent on shore to fill our casks at the fountain where we
usually obtained water; Lancelot and I accompanied him. As there was no
fear of our men deserting, we allowed some of those not required for the
work in hand to stroll a short distance inland, Lieutenant Blake going
with them, while I remained to superintend the watering party.
I was thus engaged when I heard some shots fired, and saw Lancelot, who
had gone a little way off, running towards me.
"What's the matter?" I inquired.
"Our shipmates have been attacked by a party of Cavaliers and Portuguese
hidalgoes, who have, I fear, got hold of Lieutenant Blake. If we bring
up the men quickly, we may rescue him before he is carried off," he
answered.
Calling our people together, some of whom were rolling the casks down to
the boats, Lancelot and I led them in the direction we had heard the
shots. We had not gone far when we caught sight of our party warmly
engaged with a number of persons in hunting dresses, some being English,
others Portuguese, among whom we distinguished our lieutenant, held by
two Portuguese, while others were pointing their swords at his breast.
Almost before they discovered us, uttering a loud shout we were upon
them. The lieutenant on seeing us, shaking off the grasp of the two men
who held him, knocked up the blade of another, and seizing the sword of
a fourth, sprang towards us. At that moment, however, a strong
reinforcement arriving we had to retreat, with our faces to the foe.
Several of our men fell dead, and others were wounded. An attack also
was made on six of our people who had been separated from us, when, with
the exception of one who cut his way out from among those surrounding
the party, the rest were made prisoners. We showed so bold a front
that, notwithstanding our heavy losses, the Cavaliers and their allies
did not venture to follow us, though they fired a volley which killed
one more of our men and wounded another. We at length reached the
boats, and taking the casks on board, pulled away to communicate the
circumstance to the admiral. Lieutenant Blake told him that he had
recognised Prince Maurice as well as two or three of his officers, and
that the other leaders of our assailants were Portuguese grandees.
The admiral was highly indignant, but how to punish our dastardly foes
as they deserved was a difficult matter to determine. The King of
Portugal would certainly refuse to deliver up the offenders, and we were
not as yet in a position to compel him.
We had therefore to bide our time.
That evening, as I was walking the deck with Lancelot, we saw a small
boat coming off from the shore. She had but one man in her. He hailed
as he got alongside, and asked if he might be permitted to come on
board, as he had a communication to make to the admiral.
Permission was at once given, and after remaining a short time in the
cabin, the stranger took his departure, when the admiral came on deck
and ordered the ports to be closed.
Soon after this another boat was seen coming off, containing a person
dressed as a Portuguese tradesman, and rowed by two negroes. The boat
also carried a large cask. After coming up under the stern, she pulled
round on the starboard side. The seeming Portuguese then handed up a
letter, which one of the officers took. It purported to come from a
merchant on shore, stating that he had sent off a cask of oil for the
use of the crew. The white man was still seated in the boat, when the
boatswain and two other men came aft and informed the admiral that they
were very sure he was no Portuguese, but one of the persons belonging to
Prince Rupert's ship whom they frequently met on shore.
"Let the cask remain in the boat, and order the man up the side," said
the admiral.
The Portuguese, on receiving the order, showed a great disinclination to
obey, and said something to the negroes, who were getting out their oars
to shove off when three of our men jumped into the boat, and having
secured her, the white man and two blacks were brought on deck. The
admiral now turning to the boatswain ordered him to reeve a rope to the
yard-arm.
"So my friend," he said, turning to the white prisoner, "you intended to
blow up this ship and all on board. If that cask is full of oil my
information is incorrect, but if not, be prepared for the consequences."
On this the man fell on his knees, and pleading for mercy, offered to
reveal the plot he had been engaged to carry out.
"You deserve death, but your life shall be spared if you speak the
truth," said the admiral.
The man then confessed that he had been employed by the Cavaliers to
destroy the admiral and his flag-ship; that the cask was double-headed,
and that the interior was filled with gunpowder and missiles of all
sorts; that between the two heads there was a lock so contrived that on
being opened it would fire a quick match and cause the whole to explode.
"As you understand its mechanism, you shall be employed in extracting
its contents," said the admiral.
The man on hearing this looked greatly disconcerted, but was forced to
obey. The carpenter having provided him with tools, he descended into
the boat, when she was towed some distance from the ship, where she was
anchored, and the oars being removed, he was left to operate alone on
the cask.
He was watched with great interest as he cut a hole through the bottom.
This done, he took out the contents and hove them overboard, when he
hailed to say that the cask was empty.
The admiral then ordered him and the two blacks to depart with a message
for the Prince, informing him of the miscarriage of his enterprise.
The Prince afterwards, we heard, spread a report that he and his
brother, while out hunting, had been attacked by a party of men from
Admiral Blake's fleet, and that he had in consequence allowed the
attempt to be made to blow up the flag-ship. I should here say that on
board the Prince's fleet were many Republicans, who sent the admiral
information of all his intentions. We now heard that, fearing lest the
King of Portugal should no longer be willing to afford him protection,
Prince Rupert proposed putting to sea, and seeking his fortune in
another direction.
On this, a calm coming on, our ships were towed down to the mouth of the
river, where we lay ready to intercept him, and so the Prince's plan was
defeated.
Some weeks went by, when Admiral Popham arrived with a strong
reinforcement, and by one of the ships came letters to Lancelot and me,
of which I will speak anon. The King of Portugal, just before this,
throwing off all disguise, arrested several English merchants residing
in Lisbon, and declared his intention of supporting the corsair princes.
No sooner was this news received on board our ships than the admiral
sent word to the Portuguese government that he proposed to make
reprisals. While the messenger was on the way, a number of ships were
seen with all sails set coming out of the river. They proved to be
richly-laden merchantmen bound for the Brazils. As they approached, our
squadron got under weigh, and before the Brazilian ships had time to
retreat we surrounded them and captured the whole. As they were
well-armed, the officers and crews being removed, we sent all the men we
could spare on board, and thus nine fine vessels were added to the
strength of our fleet. Winter was approaching, and with it came heavy
gales, greatly trying our ships. Information had been received that
another richly-laden fleet from the Brazils was expected in the river.
We accordingly, our ships having been carefully fitted to encounter the
fiercest storms, got under weigh and stood out to sea in order to watch
for it. We had not long to wait, when one of the look-out frigates
brought intelligence which made us all on the alert.
The commander stated that he had counted no less than twenty-three sail
approaching under all the canvas they could carry.
On they came. The admiral ordered the signal to be thrown out to
prepare for action. The Portuguese fleet approached, supposing our
ships to be those of their own nation; and as far as we could judge,
were in no way ready for battle. They advanced in gallant array, their
admiral leading, but as they drew nearer their suspicions must have been
aroused. They were soon convinced that we had hostile intentions, when
the _Tiger_, standing across the bows of the flag-ship, ordered her to
strike and heave to. A shot which struck us was the answer, when
tacking so as to bring our other broadside to bear, we commenced firing
away as fast as our guns could be run in and loaded.
The other ships imitated our example, each engaging one, and some two or
three of the enemy. Again our commander ordered the Portuguese admiral
to strike, but he refused, notwithstanding the fearful punishment we
were inflicting on him. Our shots, fired at short range, were going
through and through the sides between wind and water. Presently one of
the enemy's ships astern of us was seen to be on fire. The flames
spread rapidly, bursting out from her ports and climbing the tall masts.
Another and another was speedily in the same predicament. The fate of
these ships brought terror into the hearts of the enemy. Now the flag
of a large ship attacked by the _Resolution_ was hauled down. Now
another struck, and quickly the antagonist of the _Constant Warwick_
lowered her flag, allowing that gallant barque to pay her attentions to
a second foe.
Cheer after cheer burst from the throats of our crew as they saw these
rich prizes captured, while they redoubled the efforts they were making
against the Portuguese flag-ship. Still the action continued raging in
all directions over the blue ocean, canopied by a dark pall of smoke,
which was increased each moment by the curling wreaths arising from the
thundering guns. Every effort was now made by the Portuguese to escape,
for their ships contained rich treasures which they were unwilling to
lose, but their efforts were in vain. Like eager hounds heated by the
chase, our ships, setting all sail, soon came up with the fugitives,
whose masts and spars being knocked away, they hauled down their flag.
Their admiral had been fighting long and bravely, when Martin Shobbrok,
who was standing near me, exclaimed, pointing at her, "The Lord have
mercy on their souls! Mark you not, Master Ben, how deep by the head is
that stout Portugale ship? See, see! she is sinking lower and lower."
Still the guns from her upper deck continued to belch forth flames and
smoke. It seemed as if her crew were not aware of the fate awaiting
them. Before another minute had elapsed shrieks and cries arose. Men
were seen rushing up from below, and clambering on the bulwarks. Others
were engaged in lowering the boats and throwing overboard planks and
hen-coops, and pieces of furniture, and whatever they could lay their
hands on.
"Cease firing!" cried our admiral, and not another shot was discharged
at our helpless foe. Lower and lower sank the stout ship, her stern
lifted high out of the water, then downwards she glided, her canvas set,
her flag still flying, her commander and his officers still standing on
the lofty after-castle, until that too disappeared beneath the wild
waves which dashed over them, and soon even the main truck vanished
beneath the surface, leaving a few struggling forms and pieces of wreck,
and articles thrown overboard, floating on the spot she had lately
occupied.
Stern necessity compelled us to sail in chase of her flying consorts,
one of which proved to be the ship of the vice-admiral, who, taught a
lesson by the fate of his chief, as we approached lowered his flag.
Seven of the smaller vessels which had sought safety at the commencement
of the engagement in flight, being already close in with the mouth of
the river, escaped, but we captured eleven large ships, not counting the
admiral's which sank, and three others consumed by fire.
As soon as the prizes were secured, the boats were lowered to try and
pick up any of the helpless people who alight have escaped from the
ships destroyed; but few only were rescued, though I am well assured
that, had the admiral acted according to the dictates of his heart, he
would rather have allowed the vice-admiral to escape than have delayed
the attempt to save the perishing seamen.
As we could not enter the river, and another gale might come on, we lost
no time in repairing damages and refitting the prizes, so that they
might undertake the voyage to England.
Admiral Blake was well aware that the Portuguese would endeavour to
revenge themselves for the loss they had suffered, but still undaunted,
he prepared to resist their squadron, united to that of the Prince,
should they venture to attack us.
Day after day we sailed backwards and forwards off the mouth of the
river, or when a tempest threatened, shortening sail, we beat out to sea
to avoid shipwreck, again to return the instant the wind moderated.
This sort of work greatly added to the experience my companion and I had
gained on the coast of Ireland, so that we could boast of being
efficient seamen.
"You'll soon be made a lieutenant, Mr Ben, and ere long a captain; and,
when you get command of a ship, I hope that you'll apply to have me sent
with you," said Martin to me one day as we were walking the deck
together. "Although she may be only half the size of the _Tiger_, I
would rather be with you than even with our good admiral, much as I love
him. He is the man to win all hearts, not only because he is the best
commander we ever had, but because he attends to the wants and looks
after the interests of the men below him."
I promised Martin, if I lived to get the command of a ship, that I would
obtain him as boatswain, should he not in the meantime be advanced to a
higher grade such as his merits deserved.
"Martin Shobbrok is too old for a lieutenant, and besides, is no
navigator, so that he would feel like a fish out of water," he answered.
"He has been boatswain for the best part of his life, and boatswain he
is willing to remain, unless he is made chief gunner, and no great
learning is required for that."
Again we sighted the rock of Lisbon, when a thick mist came on, which
shrouded it and the whole coast from sight. Notwithstanding the fog, a
fresh breeze was blowing. We were steering on our usual course under
easy sail, when, as I was on deck, with Martin pacing a short distance
from me, he exclaimed--
"There's a tall ship close to us," and looking in the direction he
pointed, I could dimly see through the fog a dark mass of canvas. The
sound of the rattling and creaking of blocks, too, reached our ears.
"She's an enemy; to your guns, lads!" he shouted. "Go and tell the
captain, Master Ben."
I ran aft to tell the commander, who, followed by the admiral, appeared
on deck.
"Silence!" he cried; "go to your quarters without beat of drum."
The guns were cast loose, and powder and shot brought from below, and
our men stood ready for the next order. The phantom ship, for such she
appeared, loomed larger and larger. The admiral divined her object--to
run us on board.
"She's either the Portugale flag-ship or maybe that of Prince Rupert's
himself," whispered Martin to me.
One thing was certain, that she was not one of our squadron. Silently
she glided up under our lee.
"Now give it her, my lads," cried the admiral, and every gun from the
starboard broadside was fired into the stranger.
Down came her fore-topmast by the run. Silence being no longer
necessary, our crew gave a hearty cheer, hoping that we were about to
tackle the stranger, but being under a press of sail, she shot past
ahead, and so dense was the fog, that in a few seconds she had
disappeared. We eagerly sought for her, but we searched in vain.
Next day, the fog having cleared away, the united fleets were
discovered, but our admiral's object was to avoid a regular engagement,
as no good could thereby be attained, and he contented himself with
cutting off first one and then another of the enemy's ships.
"I know who tried to surprise us yesterday evening," exclaimed Martin.
"The tall ship with the Prince's flag flying, and her fore-topmast gone,
but she would have been surprised herself had she not slipped out of the
way."
At length the admiral gained information that another large Brazilian
fleet was at sea, which, being of far more value than the empty hulls of
the Prince's squadron, we sailed in search of. After cruising about for
several weeks, we heard that some of the Brazilian ships had taken
refuge in Spanish ports, and that others were at the Azores. We
accordingly sailed back to the Tagus. Scarcely had we arrived than a
frigate with a flag of truce came to meet us, bringing intelligence that
the corsair princes had left the river, and that the king of Portugal
had sent an ambassador to England to sue for peace.
The admiral's work in the Tagus being accomplished, we prepared for
returning home. I mentioned that Lancelot and Dick had received letters
from Lyme. Lancelot's was from his father's head factor, the other from
Mr Harvey. They both gave us the same alarming intelligence which
affected Lancelot as well as me. They told us that Mr Kerridge and his
daughter, accompanied by Audrey and Mistress Margaret, her waiting-maid,
had sailed in a hoy bound for Plymouth, at which place, to their dismay,
they found she had not arrived. Some hours after leaving Lyme, a heavy
gale had arisen, but it was calculated that the hoy might by that time
have got into Plymouth, or run back for Lyme, or found shelter in some
other harbour. Whether she had foundered, or run on the Eddystone or on
some other rock, or had been captured by an enemy, no one could surmise,
but that some sad disaster had happened to her there could be no doubt.
The news of course caused Lancelot and me great grief, in which our
friend Dick heartily sympathised, as did Lieutenant Blake, who had when
at Lyme been well acquainted with Mr Kerridge and Cicely and my sweet
sister Audrey.
"Should the hoy have foundered, we must submit to God's decrees; but
should she, as is possible, have been captured, we will, as soon as we
are at liberty, search the world over to discover the missing ones," he
said, as he wrung our hands, and told us how sincerely he entered into
our feelings.