Captain Fleetwood once more trod the deck of the _Ione_; and though his
cheek was pale, and his step had not regained its usual firmness, nor
his voice its strength, his health was almost re-established, and grief,
more than any other cause, prevented him from entirely recovering.
Linton had also returned to his duty, and had produced several poetical
effusions on the subject of the fate he had anticipated for himself,
productions which he threatened to inflict on his brother-officers; but,
as they earnestly entreated him to keep them fresh for those who could
better appreciate them, he locked the papers up again in his desk--the
purser, however, who did not intend to pay him a compliment at the
expense of the rest, assuring him that it would be like casting pearls
before swine.
The officers had just come up on deck from breakfast, and the captain
was pacing the poop with his first-lieutenant by his side, the sea was
smooth, with a light air from the westward, and the brig, under her
topsails, was standing to the northward--in which direction lay the
pirates' island, appearing in the distant horizon like a blue hillock
rising out of the water.
"Sail, ho!" was the welcome sound which reached the deck from the
mast-head.
The usual question of "Where away?" was put by Mr Saltwell, in return.
"On the larboard quarter, sir," was the answer.
"What does she look like?"
"A ship right before the wind, sir."
"I trust she is a friend come to our assistance," said Captain
Fleetwood. "We'll stand down to meet her. Put the ship about, Mr
Saltwell."
The brig having tacked, now stood under the same easy sail as before, to
the southward, so as to cut off the stranger; a bright look-out being
still kept astern, lest the _Sea Hawk_, or either of her tenders, should
appear on the northern board.
It may easily be supposed how anxiously Captain Fleetwood had been
expecting the arrival of some other cruiser to assist him in making the
attack he contemplated on the island. Had he consulted his own
inclinations, he would, as soon as he was able to grasp his sword, have
attempted the exploit with his own ship's company, whom he well knew
would be ready to follow him; but he was unwilling to risk the lives of
his gallant fellows on so very hazardous an expedition--especially after
the sad lesson he had lately experienced--and the suffering, if not the
destruction, to which he had subjected his brave companions.
Were he to make the attack and fail, he also thought the result would be
too dreadful to contemplate; so he curbed his impatience as he was best
able, till he could collect a sufficient force to enable him to
undertake it with a certainty of success. He tried also to console
himself with the hopes that the Signora Nina and her brother would
protect Ada to the utmost of their power. Raby, wisely, had not told
him his suspicions of Paolo--and, of course, he was ignorant of the
events which had occurred in the island after he had been carried off,
or he would certainly have been even less at his ease than he
endeavoured to make himself.
"What do you make her out to be?" he inquired of Mr Saltwell, who had
just descended from aloft, with his spy-glass over his shoulder.
"English, I think, sir. I could see to the head of her courses, and, I
should not be surprised, from the look of her canvas, that she is the
_Vesta_ frigate, which was to be cruising somewhere off the Gulf of
Egina."
"I trust she may be. Captain Grantham is an old friend of mine, and I
know that if he received my letter he would come, if he possibly could;
and welcome he will be; for, though the _Vesta_ is but an
eight-and-twenty, we may do without further aid."
Sail after sail of the stranger rose out of the blue water, till a
towering mass of snow-white canvas floated above it, shining brilliantly
in the rays of the forenoon sun, which fell directly on it. At last,
the dark hull and bow ports, and even the thin line of glowing copper
below the bends, could be perceived, and little doubt remained of the
identity of the ship in sight; though, from her position, her signals
could not be perceived. Had it been war time, the _Ione_ would not have
allowed a ship, so far her superior in size, to approach, without
greater caution in ascertaining her nation; but, as it was, there was no
danger of her proving an enemy, and, at the worst, she could be but a
neutral.
While the matter was still in doubt, another sail was seen astern of
her, standing in the same direction; and, in a little time afterwards,
the frigate took in her studden sails, clewed up her courses, and
bracing up her yards, rounded to, when the _Vesta's_ number blew out
clearly to view.
The brig, now close to her, also backed her main topsail, when the
captain's gig was piped away, and Fleetwood, with a heart less depressed
than he had long felt, went on board the frigate.
He was warmly received by Captain Grantham, who exclaimed, "I am
delighted to see you, Fleetwood. From the accounts we received we
thought it was all up with you; and I came more with the hope of
avenging you, than of seeing you alive; but now you shall have that
satisfaction yourself. By Jove! we must blow up the hornet's nest
without delay. When did you propose to make the attempt?"
"The very moment a sufficient force was collected," replied Fleetwood,
highly gratified at his friend's zeal.
"Well, what do you say to this very night?" asked Grantham. "There is
the _Venus_ coming up after me, and your Greek friend cannot be far off.
I am afraid she is not likely to meet any other ship of the squadron;
but we are enough, as it is, to drive every one of the rascals into the
sea."
"To-night, by all means," exclaimed Fleetwood. "I could not have hoped
for anything better. We shall have a sufficient force to ensure
success; and as there is no moon till a late hour, we shall have less
risk of discovery before we are upon them."
"Then to-night let it be; and I suppose there's no use insisting on your
remaining on board, on account of your illness, and letting Rawson, of
the _Venus_, lead the attack," said Captain Grantham. "He is a gallant
fellow, and will do it well."
"I trust, Grantham, that you will give the command of the expedition to
me. I shall, indeed esteem it a most especial favour if you will do
so," pleaded Fleetwood. "I would, on no account, if I can help it, lose
that post."
"Well, I suppose, under the circumstances of the case, we must persuade
Rawson to keep the ship, though, indeed, Fleetwood, I do not think you
are yet strong enough for the exertion you must go through."
"I have a Hercules of a coxswain, and I must make him carry me, if my
legs fail me," said Fleetwood, smiling sadly. "But you know, Grantham,
I have motives enough to carry me through anything."
"Yes, indeed, I know, and feel for you. I suppose the fellows will show
fight."
"Not a doubt of it, from the specimen we have had of them. They know
that they have no mercy to expect at our hands, and that they fight with
ropes round their necks."
"We must give them enough of it, then; but I suppose, with the force we
have collected, we shall have no great difficulty in forcing our way
into the harbour I understand they have got there, though it seems to be
well fortified."
"We should be blown to atoms if we attempted it in the boats," said
Fleetwood. "You have no idea how strong the place is."
"How, in the name of goodness, are we to get at them, then?" exclaimed
Captain Grantham, who was more celebrated for his dash at an enemy, when
once he saw him, than for originating any plan where stratagem was
required. "But let me hear what you propose to do."
"I have, as you may suppose, thought much on the subject, so I may claim
for it more attention than I might otherwise venture to do," said
Fleetwood. "I would on no account attempt to enter the harbour; but
there is at the east end of the island a small cove, with an entrance so
narrow that one boat can alone pass at a time."
He spoke of the one into which the Greek captain had steered the
mistico, all the circumstances of which he explained.
"Now, I propose," he continued, "that the three English ships should
stand towards the place, as soon as it is dark, and there is no chance
of our being seen from the shore, while the _Ypsilante_ I will employ in
another way. We will bring up close in shore, and have all the boats
ready to drop into the water, at the same moment. I will lead in the
_Tone's_ cutter, and, with my men, will mount by the concealed passage,
and secure the approach to the summit of the cliff. When this important
point is gained, the other boats can enter; and Raby, who knows the
passage, will lead the main body through it. We will then proceed, as
silently as we can, to the causeway, across which we must make a dash,
and, I hope, may take the pirates by surprise. I would send the
_Ypsilante_, meantime, to approach the harbour; and when we reach the
causeway, we will throw up a rocket, and she must commence a feigned
attack on the mouth of the harbour, blazing away as hard as she can.
This will distract the attention of the pirates, and make them fancy
that they have most to fear from their enemies on that side. As soon as
she opens her fire, we will rush on; and as the Greeks will have hurried
to the defences of the fort towards the harbour, I hope that we may have
an easy victory."
"I like your plan very much, and it has my hearty concurrence, as I have
no doubt it will have Rawson's," said Captain Grantham. "We shall soon
have him up with us, and when he comes on board you can explain your
proposal. The _Venus_ should be near us by this time." He rang his
bell, and the steward appeared. "Mason, learn from the officer of the
watch how soon the _Venus_ will be up with us, and beg him to signalise
her captain to come on board."
"She's close to us now, sir," said Mason, as he went to fulfil the rest
of the order.
In about a quarter of an hour, Captain Rawson was ushered into the
cabin. He was a short, fat man, with a large, round, red, good-natured
countenance, and if he was a fire-eater, as he had the character of
being, he certainly did not look like one, except it might be supposed
that the ruddy hue on his cheeks could have arisen from that cause. He
shook the hands of his brother-captains, as if he would have wrung them
off, and then threw himself into a chair to recover from his exertions;
but, when he began to speak, instead of the rough voice one might have
expected, a soft, mellifluous tone was heard, which might better win a
woman's ear than vie with the howling of the tempest. He at once waived
all the right he might claim to lead the attack on the island, and
cordially agreed to the plan proposed by Captain Fleetwood.
"In fact," he said, laughing, "there is no great credit due to me,
Fleetwood; for I would much rather fight a ship twice the size of my own
with the deck under my feet, than have to scramble up such a place as
you describe, on a pitch-dark night, to thrash a few scoundrels of
pirates."
"If I don't mistake, you tried the first, and with no little success,"
observed Grantham.
"Oh, yes! that was when I was first lieutenant of the _Pan_,
eighteen-gun sloop, and the captain being ill below, we fell in with the
French thirty-gun frigate, _Liberte_, and instead of her taking us, as
she expected, we not only beat her off, but gave her such a drubbing,
that if we had carried as long guns as she did, we should have made her
our prize. But I'm afraid, Grantham, neither you nor I will see any
more of that fun. Well, we've had a good deal of it in our day, and
have no right to complain."
The friends, in talking over the adventures of the past, would very
likely have forgotten what Fleetwood considered the much more important
present, when they were interrupted by the entrance of a midshipman, who
brought the agreeable intelligence that a sail, supposed to be the
_Ypsilante_, was in sight to windward.
"Huzza, then!" exclaimed Rawson. "We shall have all your plan complete,
Fleetwood,--and you think those fellows will fight? Well, on my word, I
should much like to bear you company if it was not for the hill--mind,
only as a volunteer though--I will keep alongside your friend, Colonel
Gauntlett."
Seldom had an expedition been undertaken under better auspices than that
to rescue Ada Garden and her companions, and to punish the pirate. The
night was very dark, and the breeze was just sufficient to enable the
ships of war to get up to their anchorage at the proper time, while
being from the west, or rather from the northward of it, the sea was
perfectly smooth, which would enable the boats to enter the little bay
without danger.
As the dusk came on the little squadron hauled up for the island, the
Greek brig standing for the port, the others keeping more to the
eastward; the former had, however, sent two of her boats to accompany
the _Ione_, and to assist in landing the men, thus rendering herself
rather short handed; but, as she had only to make a feint of attacking,
this was not considered of any importance, nor was it supposed for a
moment that the _Sea Hawk_ would, or even could, make an attempt to quit
the harbour in face of so superior a force.
It was so dark that it was scarcely possible to distinguish the shore;
but Fleetwood, who led in the _Ione_, as she was the smallest vessel,
kept the lead going, and, as he knew the coast, he had no fears. As he
thought of the certain result of the expedition, and the unspeakable joy
of releasing Ada, and bearing her off in triumph from the pirates'
island, the depression of spirits, from which he had so long suffered,
wore off entirely, and every moment which intervened seemed an age in
his sight.
"I am delighted to see you looking so well, my dear sir," said Colonel
Gauntlett, as, before getting close in with the land, they sat at table
with some refreshment before them, of which, by the by, the captain took
but little, though his guest did ample justice to it. "I must claim a
post next to you, with Mitchell as my body-guard, and we must make it
our business to find out my poor niece as soon as we get into the port.
You will have to attend to the business of thrashing the pirates, and
taking possession of the place, you must remember, so it is fortunate
you have some one to assist you in rescuing the prisoners."
"I shall be glad, indeed, to have some one with whom to place Miss
Garden, as soon as she is released; but I expect that I shall be called
on to perform that grateful duty at the head of my men, for round her
tower, probably, the greatest resistance will be made by the pirates."
"Well, then, my boy, we'll keep together--we'll keep together, and
you'll find, I hope, that an old soldier is no bad ally!" exclaimed the
colonel with animation. "And now, Mitchell," (he was standing behind
his master's chair, his head pressed against the deck above, and the tip
of his nose just appearing from under a beam, which entirely concealed
his eyes), "let me have another look at my arms. There's nothing like
having one's weapons in order on an expedition of this kind, depend upon
it, Captain Fleetwood. A good general always takes care that his army
is well supplied with munitions of war."
While he was speaking, Mitchell brought forth from his cabin his sword
and two brace of pistols, which he placed on the table. The old soldier
drew his sword from its scabbard, and regarded it with a look of the
greatest affection. He turned it round to the light, to see that no
rust had rested on it, and then pressed its point on the deck, and let
it spring up again, to assure himself that it had not lost its pliancy.
"Ah!" he said, "this and my pistols were the only things I saved from
the wreck of the _Zodiac_ and the Frenchman; for I hold that no soldier
should part with his sword till the last extremity. An old friend, too,
and served with me right through the campaigns in the Peninsula, till
the crowning fight of Waterloo. I have reason to be proud of it,
Captain Fleetwood."
"Indeed you have, sir; and I have no doubt that it will do good service
to-night," said the captain.
"I hope so; and, Mitchell, recollect the same orders as I have often
before given you--never let this sword be left behind, should my arm
lose the power of using it."
"Yes, your honour," said Mitchell, with all the gravity of a mute,
putting his hand to the beam, as he could not reach his forehead. "I'll
not forget."
The captain, followed by his guest, went on deck, and, in about half an
hour, the brig he considered was near enough in to anchor. A light
shown over the taffrail was the signal of what he was about to do, and
as he clewed up his sails, his consorts followed his example, and all
three dropped their anchors within a short distance of each other--the
frigate being on the outside. Not a light was allowed to be shown, lest
it might be observed by any sleepless eye on shore--and as little noise
as possible was made, lest any ear might hear it.
The moment the anchors were let go, the boats were got out and manned,
and rapidly collected round the _Ione_.
Fleetwood then summoned the officers, commanding them, into his cabin,
where, on the table, was spread out a rough sketch of the part of the
island across which they would have to proceed, and of the port and
harbour; and he then repeated briefly the plan of the attack, and
assigned to each his particular duties.
The frigate and corvette had each sent two lieutenants; and Linton
insisted on being as well able to undergo the fatigue as his captain;
the rest of the boats were commanded by the mates and midshipmen.
Tompion had the jolly boat, and Jack Raby the gig, while the frigate
sent also her lieutenant of marines to command those of the other
messes.
"Now, gentlemen, you clearly understand my wishes. I will go in first,
and climb to the top of the cliffs, and five minutes afterwards, Mr
Raby, who knows the place well, will lead in the _Tone's_ gig, and show
you the way to follow me, unless I should be attacked; and even then, do
not come to my assistance till I call you. I need scarcely caution you
to preserve the strictest silence among your men to the last moment--
indeed, till we are actually upon the enemy; and could we surround, and
take possession of the tower you see marked there, it would be of the
most vital importance, though I fear the pirates will keep too brisk a
watch to allow us to get thus far without discovery; and now, the
quicker we set about the work the better."
Everybody expressed their full comprehension of Captain Fleetwood's
directions, and he led the way on deck, followed by Colonel Gauntlett
and Mitchell, and descended to his boat. There his big coxswain, Tommy
Small, was waiting for him. Small had charge of the signal rocket,
which the captain had, however, determined not to let off, unless they
were first discovered by the pirates.
One by one the other officers stepped silently into their boats as they
dropped alongside, and, with muffled oars, shoved off after the gig; and
no one, two cables' length off the ships, would have supposed that
nearly two hundred armed men were about to land on the coast.
Fleetwood's heart beat quick as he approached the shore, he felt sure
that he could not have mistaken the spot; but still very great caution
was necessary; and the entrance between the rocks was so narrow, that,
even in the day time, it was difficult to find. Twice he pulled up to
the black towering rocks, and was obliged to back off again disappointed
in finding the passage. High above their heads they rose, looking like
some impenetrable wall, the confines to a world.
"Give way again, my lads," he whispered. "Port the helm a little,
Small. That will do; I see it on the starboard bow. Now, give way
gently, my men. In with your oars."
And the boat was seen to disappear, as it were, into the very rocks.
She glided, however, between them, and slid with a slight grating noise
on to the soft sand, close to where still lay the mistico, which it
seemed the pirates had not got off. All hands jumped out, with the
exception of the boat-keepers, and Captain Fleetwood lost not a moment
in leading the way to the cavern, which he feared to find blocked up.
With cautious steps he groped his way to it, and to his great
satisfaction discovered that it was open, and feeling for the steps he
ascended them.
"Pass the word along for all hands to keep their left shoulders against
the cliff, and there is no fear," he whispered to Small, who followed
him closely with his drawn cutlass, ready to guard him from any who
might attack him.
This was, perhaps, the most hazardous part of the undertaking, for two
or three resolute men stationed at the top might have kept the whole
party at bay, or, indeed, have tumbled them all headlong down the
cliffs. He well knew the cunning of the Greeks, and should they have
discovered the ship by any chance, this was the point they would defend,
in the hopes of destroying all those engaged in the expedition together.
Darkness was around them, the rugged cliff on one side, a precipice on
the other, and beneath their feet a steep path or rough steps, and yet
no one hesitated to follow where he led. The most perfect silence
reigned over the scene, except the sound of their tread, which could
just be heard above the dash of the water on the rocks below, and the
scream of some wild sea-bird as it winged its flight at a distance
through the calm night-air. On he went--a few more steps would place
him on the summit of the cliff, in comparative safety. His hand touched
the grass at the very edge of the upper step--he sprang upwards and
gained a footing on the top--he breathed more freely, and his followers,
one by one, ascended and took their place by him. He then advanced a
little distance to defend the position and to allow the rest of the
party space to assemble as they came up. The five minutes passed away,
and Raby led on, followed in a line by the other boats, for there was no
room for two to pass abreast, and as they entered they all ran up side
by side on the beach. Raby led them with the same good success as his
captain, though the marines with their muskets had some difficulty in
getting up, and ran no little risk of falling over again; but no
casualty occurred. It was, however, a long business, thus getting up in
a single file at so slow a pace, but at last the whole body were drawn
up together. Captain Fleetwood, for greater convenience, separated them
into two divisions, he leading the first, and Jack Raby, who was
delighted with his own importance, acting at; guide to the second. It
wanted just half an hour to midnight when they were put in motion. He
found the greatest difficulty in passing over the rough ground, and
keeping the direct path near the cliff, without the risk of some of his
followers slipping from the precipice to their left. He had, it must be
remembered, gone over the same path several times in the day, and once
on the night of his attempted escape, when he and his friends went to
get the rope, and the arms, and provisions, or it would have been almost
impossible for him to find the way. On the party went, silent as the
dead, and though the sound of the marines' heavy and regular tread might
have been heard at a distance, had any one been on the watch for them,
the footsteps of the blue-jackets, as they sprang from rock to rock,
were light almost as those of Indian warriors on any similar exploit.
The weather, which had hitherto been serene, with a gentle and balmy
breeze blowing from the west, now gave symptoms of being about to
undergo a change. A low moaning sound was heard as the night wind blew
among the pointed rocks, and it struck with the chilly feel of the north
on the right cheeks of the adventurers. It served, however, rather to
raise their spirits and strengthen their muscles; they knew that their
ships were in safety, if the anchorage was tolerable on the lee side of
the island, so they thought or cared little about the matter.
Two miles had thus to be travelled, every instant expecting discovery;
for it was scarcely to be supposed that the pirates, after their late
deeds, would not be on their guard against an attack. Now Fleetwood
halted and listened, now he had literally to feel his way with the point
of his sword, lest he should have inadvertently gone too close to the
edge of the cliff, and in this manner upwards of an hour had passed
away, slowly, indeed, to those eager to know the result. At length,
with a beating heart, he stood on the causeway, while a tower, the one
in which he believed Ada was to be found, was faintly perceptible,
rising, like some tall spectre, in the gloom before him. A light for an
instant glimmered through a casement of the story in which she resided--
it was to him the beacon of his hopes, and served to confirm him in the
belief that he had reached the approach to the castle, of which,
otherwise, he was somewhat uncertain.
"Shall I let off the rocket, sir?" whispered Tommy Small, who had kept
close to him all the time, ready to support him had he stumbled. They
were the first words which had been spoken since the heights had been
gained.
"Not till the enemy discovers us," answered his captain--"then fire."
He had been careful not to halt his men; for he had often observed, that
while the actual tread, from breaking gradually on the ear, might not be
noticed, the stop and the fresh start were nearly always heard. On a
sudden, however, he met with an impediment he had not expected--a high
embankment ran directly across the causeway, with a ditch before it. To
slip down the side of the ditch, and to climb the opposite bank, was, to
seamen, the work of a moment, and, without being discovered, the first
few stood on the summit. Some noise, however, scarcely to be heard, was
made, and as Captain Fleetwood, with Small on one side, closely followed
by the gallant old colonel, was on the point of leaping down into the
ramparts, they found themselves confronted by a number of the islanders,
who started up from between the guns, where they had been sleeping.
To fire the pistols was the first impulse of the pirates, and the flash
aroused their comrades, as well as showed them to their assailants, who
dashed down among them before they had time to unsheath their swords,
and cut them down without mercy.
"Now, Small, off with the rocket," exclaimed Captain Fleetwood, as their
first opponents were disposed of.
At the word, the coxswain, who had been expecting the order, let the
beautiful firework fly into the air. Up it soared, making a curve
towards the sea, into which it sent down a shower of glittering sparks,
which had scarcely been extinguished before the _Ypsilante_, in gallant
style, opened her fire on the harbour, making as much blaze and noise as
she could. The British seamen, believing that all necessity for further
silence was at an end, gave three hearty, soul-stirring cheers, which
rung among the rocks, even above the roar of the artillery, and they
then rushed on into the fosse after their companions. The sound, though
it struck a panic into the hearts of the more timid of the pirates, at
the same time showed them where the most imminent danger lay. The chain
was across the harbour, and they knew no vessel could enter, and that
their guns on that side would sink her when she attempted it, so many of
the bravest hurried to the causeway, to defend the approach to the fort,
while others manned the guns above the harbour, and began to return with
interest the fire of the Greek brig.
All was now uproar, confusion, fire, smoke, shrieks, shouts, and
curses--the roar of the brig's guns, and the sharp reports of fire-arms.
The latter, however, were but little used by the English, who trusted
more to their cutlasses and the points of their bayonets.
The defenders of the causeway fought with the greatest bravery, the
voice of their chief encouraging them to persevere, and none gave way
till they were cut down or slain. The British poured on in overwhelming
force, but still the pirates struggled obstinately, strengthened by the
arrival of their comrades from other parts.
Fleetwood and Colonel Gauntlett both knew the voice of Zappa.
"On, on," they exclaimed, trying to cut their way up to the spot, where
at intervals, as pistols were flashing near him, they could see him
flying from spot to spot, and encouraging his men, "Seize that man,
their chief--take him alive!"
The seamen did their best to come at him, but his followers, with a
devotion worthy of a better object, rallying round him, kept them at
bay. At last the voice which had been heard so loud was silent, and
though fire-arms flashed on each side, his figure was not to be seen.
Yet the pirates did not give way, they even seemed to fight with more
desperation than before, as if to make amends for his absence, or to
revenge his loss. Nothing, however, could withstand the determined
courage of the English; though, had not the pirates incautiously lost
the post which Zappa had so judiciously formed, they might, perhaps,
have been kept at bay till daylight, and, at all events, must have
suffered a severe loss.
Fleetwood and the other officers encouraged their men to fresh
exertions, and led the way. The pirates could no longer withstand the
onset, and, within five minutes after they had leaped the ramparts, the
British had gained the open space under the fort, and the enemy were
flying in all directions before them, some to conceal themselves among
the ruins, others throwing themselves over the cliffs, to avoid, as they
supposed, another death; and the greater number, still facing round,
retreating by the path down the ravine. A small, but more desperate,
band, under old Vlacco, not active enough to run, and too brave to
yield, had entrenched themselves among the ruins, on the point directly
above the harbour; and while some of them were firing away on the
_Ypsilante_, and thus defending to the last the entrance to their port,
the rest had slewed round some of the smaller guns towards the interior
of the fort, prepared to fire the moment they could distinguish their
enemies from their friends.
Meantime, Charles Fleetwood, eager in pursuit of the great object which
had at first brought him to the island, the rescue of Ada Garden, led on
his men to the tower. He heard the scream of a female,--the gate was
open--he rushed up the steps, followed by the colonel and several
others--he reached the chamber she had inhabited, a light burnt on the
table--it showed the confusion around; a slight form was on one of the
couches--Fleetwood flew to it. Could it be his Ada?
There he beheld a sight to sicken his heart--it was the body of poor
little Mila: a ball had entered her forehead, and, as in too many cases,
the innocent life had been taken. What might be the fate of her he
loved best? His eye fell on Marianna, who was kneeling on the ground in
an agony of terror. She lifted her head with alarm, expecting that some
of the pirates had entered to wreak their vengeance on her; but when she
saw who it was, she gave a shriek of delight, exclaiming--
"Oh! save my mistress, signor captain,--save my poor mistress. They
have carried her away--the traitor, the false man, Signor Paolo--he and
the chief. You will never see her more."
"Where, where! which way, girl, speak?" cried Fleetwood, with feelings
which no words can in any degree express.
"Oh! I don't know, signor," answered the Maltese girl, weeping with
fright and agitation, increased by the tone of his voice. "Down through
the door, signor, she and Signora Nina."
"But, my girl, did they neither speak nor say where they were going?"
asked Fleetwood.
"Oh! yes, yes. They said the _Sea Hawk_,--the _Sea Hawk_. They will
escape. Oh, Mother of Heaven! have mercy on us," replied Marianna,
through her tears.
"Enough. Down the ravine, my men. Follow me," shouted Fleetwood, as he
rushed down the steps. "Colonel, do you remain at this tower, and
prevent the pirates entering, if any rally."
At the bottom he fortunately met Dawson, the first lieutenant of the
_Vesta_, and second in command.
"Dawson," he exclaimed, "take charge of the high ground with half our
men, and clear the point there of those fellows firing down on the
harbour. The first division follow me: on, my men!"
Uttering these words, he led the way to the path winding down the
ravine, followed eagerly by seventy or eighty of the blue jackets. As
may be supposed, he flew rather than ran, and even Tommy Small could
scarcely keep up with him. He had too good a cause to know the path,
every turning of which he had noted with the greatest care, so he had no
fear of missing his way. As he went on, he found the wind blowing
strongly down the ravine; and this circumstance showed him, to his
sorrow, that the _Sea Hawk_ would have no difficulty in running out of
the harbour, if the _Ypsilante_ did not prevent her. Still the pirate
could only have had a short start of him. All he could do was to shout,
"On, on," and to wish, though in vain, that he could move faster.
He might yet reach the shore, even before the boats could shove off, and
Ada might be rescued. This thought supported him. The wind rapidly
increased, and its howl was heard even above the shouts of his
followers. At length he reached the shores of the bay; he rushed to the
edge; he could distinguish some boats floating on the surface of the
water, and further on, there was a sound as if men were engaged in
shoving others into it; yet he dared not allow any one to fire, for he
could not tell what boat might contain his Ada. He led on his party in
that direction. The pirates had seen him, and defended themselves
bravely. Some sacrificed themselves while their comrades were escaping,
and, by the time they were overpowered, only three boats remained on the
shore. Into these, Fleetwood did not for a moment hesitate to throw
himself as soon as they were launched, with as many of his men as they
could contain, but the oars of two only could be found, and in vain were
those of the other hunted for. With a hearty cheer the gallant fellows
gave way after the enemy. The retreating pirates fired on them as they
advanced out into the bay. He could just distinguish, by the flashes of
the guns, the brig, and the two misticoes in the centre of it. As he
looked, their sails were loosened and swelled to the gale; the pirates
waited not to secure their boats, as they leaped on board. The cables
were cut, and the two misticos darted out through the narrow passage
into the open sea. Old Vlacco must have known what they were about, for
the fire from the fort towards the _Ypsilante_ seemed to be redoubled in
warmth, preventing her from aiming at them as well as she might have
done.
The _Sea Hawk_ had still several boats round her, and towards her
Fleetwood now steered. His men urged on the boat to their utmost
strength; he felt a hope that he might reach her, when her fore-topsail
was let fall, and sheeted home. A spring was on her cable, her head
turned rapidly round, her yards were squared away, the cable cut, and
she darted out from among a crowd of boats, among which she left the
English entangled, just as they were on the point of running alongside
her, and following her tenders out to sea, discharging her broadside
full at the _Ypsilante_, as she passed her. The Greek behaved
gallantly, and instantly put up her helm, and bore away in chase.
Fleetwood, his heart almost broker with agony at his disappointment, saw
that it would be in vain for him to pursue, and he also remembered that
the _Ypsilante_, with her reduced crew, and severely handled as she had
been by the fort, was in no way a match for the _Sea Hawk_, though her
shot might injure her, who was, he feared, on board.
There was, however, a doubt, on board which of the vessels Ada had been
carried, if she really had again been torn, almost as it were, from his
arms, and he dared not entertain a hope to the contrary.
Quick in action as in thought, these ideas passed through his mind as he
returned to the shore, with the purpose of hastening back to the ships,
and getting them to start in chase of the pirates.
At least, he thought, the _Ypsilante_ will know what direction the _Sea
Hawk_ has taken, and be able to direct us in the pursuit. Before,
however, he could return to his ship, he had numerous important duties
to perform as leader of the expedition, and, indeed, from the firing
which still continued on the heights, he saw that even the fort was not
yet entirely their own.
For him the great object of the enterprise had failed, totally,
miserably failed. Not only was Ada Garden again lost, but she would
certainly be placed in a position infinitely worse than that in which
she had hitherto been. He scarcely dared to think what act the pirate
might commit, now that he was driven to desperation; she had no longer
her attendant with her, and the Signora Nina might have lost the little
influence over him she had before possessed. He bitterly cursed the
mistake he had made in not dispatching one at least of the British ships
round to assist the _Ypsilante_ in blockading the entrance; but he
checked himself, as it occurred to him that, had he done so, Ada might
have been placed in still greater peril, as Zappa might still have
attempted to carry her off, and, on finding himself completely
entrapped, without a hope of escape, might have blown up the _Sea Hawk_,
with all on board her, and he remembered the principle which had often
sustained him through adversity and sorrow, though he could not accuse
himself of having, through his own conduct, brought on the misfortune,
or the cause of grief, that Heaven ordains everything for the best, and
that it is impious to repine at its decrees. With a far different
feeling did he climb up the path than that with which he had rushed down
it, and though his spirits, disappointed and agitated as he was, did not
fail him, his bodily strength almost did, and, had it not been for
Small, he would scarcely have accomplished the undertaking against the
fierce gale which was blowing down the ravine.
As they climbed up, the occasional roar of the big guns, and the rattle
of musketry, was still heard, and on the summit a sight met his view
which he had scarcely expected, and which grieved him sorely. Some of
the huts I mentioned as having been built to contain the pirates'
provisions and other stores, had caught fire, and lighted up the whole
scene. Hedged up on the outer promontory were the band of islanders,
under old Vlacco, who, without the remotest prospect of victory or
escape, yet refused to yield or ask for quarter. The old pirate had
saved his chief; he had enabled him to escape by the gallant way he had
held the post. He was now fighting on his own account for revenge, and
to sell his life as dearly as he could. He was determined the victory
the British had obtained should not be bought cheaply; he and his men
worked the guns with the greatest courage; while one party were engaged
in loading them, the others would rush forward and defend them, and then
retire at the moment they were fired, and be at their posts again before
the British could reach them.
Their numbers were being gradually thinned; but, in the meantime, they
were committing great havoc; and the ground in front of their
entrenchment was strewed with the dead and dying marines and seamen, who
had, with equal gallantry and true courage, ventured to attack them.
The numbers of the British seemed, to Fleetwood, to be awfully
decreased; the marines and a few seamen only appearing to keep the
pirates in check, when a loud shout proclaimed the cause of it; and he
saw Colonel Gauntlett at the head of a large party, dragging forward one
of the guns from another part of the fort. They halted, and, opening on
either side, the gun was fired directly at the centre of the gang of
pirates.
"Now, on, my friends!" shouted the colonel.
"On, on!" cried the lieutenant; and, at the same moment, Fleetwood led
on his party towards the devoted desperadoes. Not one cried for
quarter; but they could not, for an instant, withstand such an attack;
every one was cut down or driven towards the edge of the cliff, where,
still inspired by their desire of revenge, they seized their opponents,
and endeavoured to drag them over with themselves. Almost the last
survivor was old Vlacco; and exerting all the remaining strength which
age had left him, for he was still unwounded, he fixed his death grasp
on the arm of one of the foremost of his assailants; slowly he stepped
back, as he was forced to retreat, enticing his antagonist on, till,
feeling his left foot over the edge, he sprang forward to grasp him.
"In Heaven's name, hold me back!" shouted a voice, which Captain
Fleetwood thought he recognised as Bowse's. The old pirate threw
himself back with all his might, in the hopes of overbalancing the man
whose arm he held, and dragging him with him. For himself he had no
hope, no expectation but instant death, and the gratification of his
revenge against one of those who had caused the destruction of himself
and many of his comrades. Bowse was a powerful man; but he had been
weakened by long confinement, and the pirate was large and heavy. Once
he drew himself back, lifting the old man with him; but again Vlacco
forced him forward, pressed as he was by others behind, who did not see
their nearness to the dreadful precipice, and he felt that the
despairing pirate was dragging him, with himself, to instant
destruction; his feet lost their hold of the ground, and he was falling
forward, when he, at length, sung out for help--though scarcely
expecting it; but at that instant he felt himself dragged back by a
powerful hand, and a sword descending, severed, with a blow, the arm of
the old pirate, who, with a cry of rage, disappeared into the dark
obscurity of the abyss below; and Bowse, turning round to thank his
preserver, found that he was his old shipmate, Tommy Small.
This was the last resistance the British had to encounter; and,
unfortunately, it had cost them very dear. The second lieutenant of the
_Vesta_, a mate of the _Venus_, and six seamen and marines, had been
killed, and ten men wounded, as well as four officers. About fifteen
pirates only were found dead, but a larger number had been seen to throw
themselves over the cliffs; and the wounded had probably destroyed
themselves in the same manner, for five only, who were unable to move,
were discovered alive. About twenty, who had either wanted resolution
to destroy themselves, or thought they were less guilty, and, therefore,
likely to escape punishment, were dragged out from the holes among the
ruins, where they had concealed themselves--these were the only remnant
of the force who had made so stout a resistance; the rest had either
escaped in the vessels, or their mangled corpses were to be found at the
bottom of the cliffs. Although Captain Fleetwood was most anxious to be
off, he considered that it would not do to evacuate the place till it
had undergone a strict examination, he determined, therefore, to leave
the _Vesta's_ lieutenant of marines, with thirty marines and twenty
seamen, in charge, while he led the rest back to embark on board their
ships, where he knew, should the gale increase, their services would be
required.
Among the wounded was Colonel Gauntlett. His grief on hearing that his
niece had been carried off by the pirate was very great.
"It is a sad thing for that poor child; and though I have had much
sorrow in my time, never has anything pained me more," he said, as the
captain told him what had occurred. "And for you, Fleetwood, I feel
most deeply. You loved the girl, and you deserve her for the exertions
you have made to recover her. In Heaven's name, get back to your ship
and pursue the scoundrel round the world, if he goes so far. For
myself, I will remain here, and have my old carcass doctored; and if, as
you think there is a possibility of her being concealed somewhere in the
island, I will discover her, and shall be here to take charge of her,
while you, at all events, will have the satisfaction of punishing the
pirate."
Thus it was arranged; indeed, the colonel was unfit to be moved, and was
likely to fare much better in the tower, under the care of Mitchell, and
a surgeon, who was left to look after the wounded, than on board the
brig in a gale of wind.
Marianna, however, entreated that she might not be left behind on the
island. She urged that her mistress must have been carried away in the
_Sea Hawk_, and that as the _Ione_ was going in search of that vessel,
her services would certainly be required when she was recovered, which
she felt positive she would be, as she would serve as a chaperone to
Ada, should he be blessed by finding her. Fleetwood was glad to take
her with him. The first person he inquired for, after the pirates had
been overcome, was his friend Captain Vassilato.
Bowse said that he had been released with him and the Maltese, Pietro,
from the dungeon under the tower, by Colonel Gauntlett's party, and that
he had seen him charging the last band of pirates who had resisted. It
was for some time feared that he was one of those who had gone over the
cliffs, either dragged over by the pirates, or in the eagerness of
pursuit; but at length he was discovered under a wall, where he had
managed to crawl to be out of the way of the scuffle, after receiving a
severe wound on the leg from the wind of a round shot.
His delight at seeing Fleetwood, whom he thought had been killed, he
declared, restored him to health; and he insisted on being carried on
board the _Ione_, to get sooner on board his own vessel, that he might
go in chase of the pirate. Bowse also begged to be allowed to accompany
the captain.
All their arrangements being made, Fleetwood set off at the head of his
men to return to the little bay, where the boats were left. The march
back was less difficult and more rapid than the advance, as they were
now able to light their lanterns, which had been brought, and to use
some torches which had been discovered in the fort. They reached the
boats in safety; but although the bay was to leeward, as the gale was
blowing strong, there was a good deal of swell setting into the little
cove, and they experienced considerable difficulty in embarking, and no
little danger in getting out to sea. The ships, however, showed plenty
of lights to guide them on board; but the way the lights moved showed
that there was a heavy swell, and the loud roar of the surf warned them
that they would have breakers to pass through before they could get on
board.
"It must be done, Small," said the captain, as her crew were getting the
cutter afloat. "We have gone through many a worse surf, but never
through so narrow a passage in so dark a night."
"I've always managed to see the way out of any place I've got into,
sir," replied Small. "Please Heaven, sir, we'll get out of this too."
"Very well," said the captain. "Gentlemen, I will lead, and let the
boats follow at a sufficient distance from each other not to run the
risk of fouling."
Captain Vassilato was lifted into the cutter, she was shoved off through
the surf, and the impetus almost sent her up to the entrance. A high
black mound appeared to rise before her, obscuring the view even of the
lights on board the ships, and seeming to block up all exit. Small's
eyes were keen, he exactly hit the passage, and the boat, rising on the
surge, her oars almost touching the rocks on either side, darted out
into the open sea. For an instant only, Fleetwood went alongside the
_Ione_ to put his Greek friend on board, and to order Saltwell to get
everything ready for weighing the instant he returned, and he then
pulled off to the frigate to make a report of what had occurred, and to
advise the instant pursuit of the pirate.
Captain Grantham was very much grieved to hear of the loss of so many
men, and that the young lady had been again spirited away, and promised,
as soon as it was daylight, to go in chase of her; but in the dark, he
considered it worse than useless to move from his comparatively snug
berth. He was glad a nest of such determined pirates had been routed
out; but, independent of more humane motives, he regretted to have to
send up to the Admiralty so long a list of casualties. It showed,
however, that it was no trifling affair, and he might truly state, that
it was impossible to count the number of the enemy killed.
"You, Fleetwood, do as you think best," said Captain Grantham. "If you
wish to get under weigh, do so; but, tell me, what plan do you propose
to pursue?"
"I think, while the present gale lasts, of standing across to examine
the island to the westward of this; and when it moderates, or if the
wind shifts, I shall stand to the northward, towards the Gulf of
Salonica, where there are numerous hordes of pirates, with whom Zappa is
certain to find friends."
"I am not quite so sure of that--remember, two of a trade can never
agree. However, it is as well to try in that direction. I will stand
to the southward and westward, and will send Rawson to the eastward, and
we will then rendezvous off this island, unless we happen to catch sight
of our friend in the meantime, in a week or ten days--Heaven grant that
we may have success!"