DON IAGO D'ALVAREZ.
THE galleon was at least four times the length of the _Damsel of
Lyme_, and carried two tiers of guns, with additional ordnance under
her poop. Even at her waist she was full twenty feet above her
waterline, while fore and aft she towered to almost twice that
height.
She was painted black, with two broad yellow bands, while her stern
was finished off with two wide galleries richly gilded. She had three
masts, with a short one at her bowsprit, each of which carried a
circular top, whence bowmen and arquebusiers could seriously annoy an
enemy at close range.
Over her taffrail, which was fitted with three enormous lanterns with
elaborately decorated ironwork, floated the red and gold flag of
Aragon and Castile, with its embellishments too numerous to describe.
As the boat swept past her stern, I read the name _San Josef_.
Directly we came over the side my captor had me led to the
quarter-deck, where stood the Captain, a man even more haughty in
manner and dignified in appearance than the officer who had me in his
charge.
It was a lengthy report that the latter made, but when he had
finished, the Captain gravely inclined his head without saying a
word.
"Boy, you are to be my prisoner," announced his subordinate. "Yet,
'tis in your hands to decide what your treatment shall be. Give us no
trouble, and answer me well and truly, and 'twill go easy with you.
Now go forward and get food and drink. Yon seaman will provide you in
that way. Then see to it that you are well washed, and don clean
apparel. This done, you will be brought to my cabin, for I have much
to say to you."
With that I was led away, wondering mightily at the condescension of
my captor, and more concerning his knowledge of my father.
It was about high noon when, having carried out my instructions, I
was taken aft. As I passed along the upper deck I could see that the
_San Josef_ had resumed her course, and was steering approximately
due east.
Something compelled me to walk to the leeside, and though the seaman
who accompanied me followed close at my heels, he made no effort to
prevent me. I was not mistaken. Wallowing half a cable's length
astern was the _Damsel of Lyme_, towed by a huge hempen hawser, while
the men who had been left on board were still busily engaged in
rigging a jury mast. I could not help wondering whether they had
discovered my secret hoard of gold, or whether the limbers of the
pinnace still guarded my easily gotten wealth.
A smart touch upon my shoulder recalled me to my position. My
guardian pointed significantly towards the companion-ladder, and,
descending a semicircular flight of steps, I gained the maindeck.
Here the space seemed immense, for I could actually stand upright
under the deck-beams, while betwixt the rows of ordnance there was a
clear space of full ten paces. The galleon was a veritable floating
castle.
Still aft we went till the sailor stopped short before a door over
which was a plate of brass engraved with the words _Tiente Po_, which
I afterwards learnt signified First Lieutenant. Here he knocked, and,
on being answered, carefully opened the door and beckoned me to
enter.
I found myself in a spacious cabin, well lighted by the windows in
the stern gallery. The place was splendidly furnished, the table and
chairs being of walnut. Rich hangings covered the walls, while on the
floor a thick green and gold carpet deadened every sound of one's
feet. Through the windows I caught sight of the _Damsel of Lyme_
still yawing as she laboured through the green rollers in tow of the
huge galleon.
Seated at the head of the table, and idly toying with a massive
silver goblet, was the officer who had brought me from the pinnace.
Without speaking, he motioned me to stand at the foot of the table.
This I did, and he remained for some moments looking fixedly at me
with his small, sharp eyes, till I began to feel ill at ease.
"Well, Señor Ralph," he began at length, "I trust you will, for your
own sake, answer me fully and truly. Has your father ever said aught
to you concerning one Don Iago d'Alvarez?"
"Nay, sir," I replied, which was the truth, since my father had said
little to me relating to his adventure, which I have heretofore
mentioned.
"Art quite certain? Then I am Don Iago d'Alvarez, and a friend of
your father. Now, has he ever said aught about a certain mine in New
Spain?"
"Ay," I replied. "But of that very little."
"'Tis well. Now listen. Many years ago he and I discovered a rich
mine. Unfortunately, we were--shall I say--separated? Consequently
the locality of the mine remains a secret. Now, if I give you safe
conduct through France to your home, will you lay hands on a certain
chart, somewhat like this one, and bring it to me? That done, I swear
by my patron saint that you will be set free, and, moreover, a fair
portion of the proceeds of the mine will be yours."
"Before I answer, Don Iago, where is my father? Is he still alive?"
For a half instant the Spaniard's brows contracted.
"He is; but, you may regret to hear, he is--shall I say--detained?
To put it briefly, he is a prisoner. Yet he is my comrade. Years ago
we swore everlasting friendship; that friendship still exists. Now,
if you can lay your hands on the chart, the profits of the mine will
go partly towards the payment of your father's fine and partly to me,
while both parties will, I know, contribute towards the share that
you will have well and truly earned.
"Now consider; the time is short. Ere tomorrow morning we shall reach
Vigo, make over the prize, and put to sea again. If you have not then
decided, there will be no other course open than to hand you over to
the Governor of the town as a pirate. Agree to my terms, and you will
be shipped to Bordeaux or Nantes, whence you can travel overland to
Le Havre, and so to England."
There was something about d'Alvarez's manner that caused me to
hesitate. In spite of his professions of friendship, there was a
veiled menace in his speech.
"I'll go right willingly," I replied, "provided that I first see my
father and obtain his permission."
Again Don Iago contracted his brows, then, discarding his haughty
calmness, he exclaimed impatiently:
"That is impossible. Your father cannot be seen by anybody save the
officers of Government and the members of the Holy Office."
"Then how am I to know whether he is alive; and what pledge have I
that, should the plan be found and the mine rediscovered, my father
will obtain his release?"
"You have the word of one of the hidalgos of Spain," he replied
grandiloquently. "Let that suffice."
"'Twill not suffice for me," I rejoined with English bluntness.
"Until I see my parent and obtain his free and full permission to do
what you ask, the matter must remain as it is."
"Consider, my boy!" he exclaimed angrily.
"I have considered," I replied shortly.
"You refuse?"
"I do."
"Then on your head be the consequences. Your fate as a pirate will be
sure and swift; as a heretic 'twill be none the less sure, but
long-drawn, since 'tis not the custom of the Holy Office to send
heretics to the stake without first inflicting pain upon their bodies
to purge their stubborn souls. Now choose quickly; my terms or the
tender mercies of the Inquisition."
'Twould be vain to pretend that I was aught but horribly frightened.
To fall into the hands of the Inquisition was ever regarded as the
most awful fate that could befall a hapless prisoner, and the
memories of the cruelties inflicted upon free-born Englishmen during
the last reign still rankled in the hearts of my fellow-countrymen.
Therefore it was not surprising that I tried to temporise.
"'Tis a strange way to show your friendship for my father, Don Iago.
I pray you, think more of the matter. Without the plan all hope of
finding the mine is, I take it, lost. With both my father and me kept
prisoners you will not gain anything. All that I ask is to see my
father and obtain his permission."
"By my head!" he exclaimed in a passion. "Am I to be talked to thus
by a mere boy? Terms, forsooth! 'Tis I who hold the stakes. Your doom
is sealed, young fool!"
Before I had time to say or do more he clapped his hands, and
immediately two soldiers entered the cabin.
Don Iago snapped his fingers and thumb expressively, the men stepped
beside me, and laid their hands heavily upon my shoulder. I glanced
at the Spaniard. He had resumed his seat, and was again toying with
the goblet, as if unmindful of my presence. Thinking it useless to
say more, I preserved silence, and, unresistingly, was led from the
cabin.
Down in the bowels of the great ship I was taken, till forward in the
gloom of the orlop deck I was thrust into a small prison-like den,
lighted only by a horn lantern swinging from the low deck-beam.
Here, with the dexterity acquired by long practice, the soldiers
clapped me in bilboes, so that I could scarce move a yard in any
direction. Then, having made sure that the padlock was properly
secured, they left a pannikin of water and a crust of rye-bread by my
side, removed the lantern, and left me.
I heard the oaken door creak on its hinges and the dismal sound of
the rusty bolts being shot. Then, in utter darkness, I lay a helpless
prisoner. 'Twas my first taste of captivity in the cruel clutch of
Spain.