OFF TO THE SPANISH MAIN.
BEING unable to lay to, in response to the _Nonsuch_, we lowered the
fore lateen sail and drifted with the wind. Then, having rove a fresh
sling to the mainyard and made good sundry defects, we paid a visit
to our prisoner below decks.
The man had been aroused by the noise of our guns, and, to his
surprise and terror, had found himself securely bound and under heavy
fire; for though the danger of his being hit was slight, several of
the arquebus balls had embedded themselves in the planking of the
pinnace.
But when my father spoke to him, promising him quarter on the
understanding that he gave no trouble, the soldier recovered his
composure. He had reasons to be thankful for his change of
circumstances, for, he told us, he was a Majorcan who had been
compelled to join a newly-raised levy for service in Flanders.
When my father asked him straightly if the munitions on board were
not intended for an invasion of England, the man shook his head.
Whether he was really ignorant or deliberately so we could not
decide.
"And mark my words, Ralph," observed my father, "if I tell them at
home of these preparations for invasion I shall only be laughed at.
Yet 'twill come ere long. The King of Spain merely waits to draw to
himself the sympathies of the English Papists--then he will move. Yet
methinks these English Papists would vastly prefer a Protestant
English Queen to an arrogant Romish Prince."
Meanwhile our rescuer, the _Nonsuch_, and her chase were well-nigh
hull down, but by the dull rumble of an incessant cannonade we knew
that they were hotly engaged. Of the issue we had no doubt, for with
the strong wind the barque could manoeuvre well enough to prevent the
troop-laden galley running alongside, while her ordnance ought soon
to send the Spaniard to the bottom.
As night fell the wind dropped. All sounds of firing had ceased. We
hoisted the most powerful light we possessed to the mainmast, then,
dog-tired, we sought slumber.
Just at sunrise we were hailed by the welcome sound of a gruff and
hearty English voice.
Lying a cable's length off our quarter was the _Nonsuch_, her sides
pitted with musket balls and her sails holed in many places, showing
how fierce had been the resistance of the Spanish arquebusiers.
Hanging to our main-chains was a longboat filled with bronzed seamen,
while in the stern sheets was one whom I instantly recognised as my
old companion, Jack Staynton. By him was seated his father, the
doughty master-gunner, now clad in a serviceable garb of russet
brown, with a silver whistle slung from his neck.
"What cheer-ho, shipmate!" shouted the latter, as he swung himself
nimbly over the side. "Right glad were we to drive off those rascally
Dons. But, by Christopher! I've seen you before, my lad!"
"Ay," added Jack, who had followed his parent. "What manner of chance
brings you here, Ralph?"
In a few words we explained the circumstances under which we found
ourselves on board the _Damsel of Lyme_, not forgetting to mention
the end of Captain Hannibal Cleat.
"Sink me if I should have thought it!" exclaimed Master Staynton.
"The cap'n was ever a sorry rogue, a stickler at nothing to gain his
ends, yet I marvel that he turned pirate. Had he contented himself
with taking Spanish ships 'twould have been a right proper course,
and I would have sent my son with him."
"And how came you, sir, to take to the sea?" I asked.
"Envy of some of my fellow-countrymen, and hatred and malice towards
the Dons," he replied. "Since several gentlemen of Devon have
adventured themselves to good account, methought 'twas time I
followed their example. I could not find zest enough even to enter
into another passage of arms with the rascally Mayor, so I sold my
appointment as master-gunner, raised all the money I could, and
fitted out the _Nonsuch_. It has not been a prosperous voyage, though
we have cleared our outlay with a bit to spare, not to speak of the
excitement and the experience gained thereby. Now we return to refit,
so, an ye will, I'll send half a score of stout seamen to lend a hand
to get the _Damsel_ safe home. How say you?"
My father was pleased beyond words with Master Staynton's offer, and
soon the two vessels were sailing in company, though it was necessary
to check the way of the pinnace, otherwise she would easily have
outstripped the barque.
Without further incident we drew within sight of Old England, but
when off the Lizard a tempest drove us to take shelter in the harbour
of Fowey, where for nearly three weeks the vessels rode storm-bound.
Thus Jack and I had ample opportunities for renewing our friendship
(if it can be said 'twas ever severed). He was serving aboard the
_Nonsuch_ as his father's 'prentice, and had--though he told me
not--done right well in several stiff fights.
Old Roger Staynton, too, was a frequent visitor to the _Damsel of
Lyme_. No doubt he found that the Madeira and Alicante stowed aboard
the pinnace was much to his liking; but, at the same time, he
conceived a strong attachment towards my father.
"Dick," quoth he, one evening, as the pair sat over a right royal
repast, "I've a mind that you sail in company with me; share and
share alike. Now, look you. The scurvy Poole man whose ship was to be
my consort has basely failed me. With more men I could do much. Since
the year draws to an end I mean to lay up till Lady Day, so you can
sit at your ease at home till then. Say not that you're loth to have
another fling at the Spanish dogs?"
"Nay," replied my father grimly. "Give me the chance, and I'll do my
best 'gainst the murderous Dons. But there is the question of money."
"Pshaw!" ejaculated Roger. "The _Damsel_ is yours by right of
conquest. Of recompense for services rendered to you by the _Nonsuch_
we'll say nothing. The Queen will claim her per centum, but a tithe
of the store of the munition of war aboard the pinnace will serve.
{Illustration: "THUS WE SPENT A HORRIBLE NIGHT." [_p. 190_.}
I'll see to that, for my old patron, Sir Henry Radclyffe, has the
ordering o' it. The _Damsel of Lyme_ is a sweet little craft, Dick,
of which you may justly be proud. Come now, clench the nail on the
head and say yea."
"But the men?"
"Men? Bless me! One has only to beat a drum at Point and thrice as
many Portsmouth seamen as ye lack will be at your bidding, willing to
be paid by the profits or not at all. If you have no better
objection, gossip, you had as lief say yea straightway."
"Whither would you cruise--the Indies?"
"A profitable ground."
"Have you given a thought to the Spanish Main?"
"Did I know it well I would go willingly, but 'tis strange waters."
"But not to me, Roger. Listen."
And forthwith my father proceeded to give Master Staynton the story
of his adventure in the uplands of Mexico.
"You could lay your hands on the silver?" demanded the master-gunner.
"Enough to ballast both ships. Eighty well-armed men would suffice.
Twelve days' marching, with scant possibility of armed resistance,
and we can gain the spot."
"Twelve days from the sea is a hazardous journey," objected Master
Staynton reflectively. "And how is the silver to be brought to the
coast?"
"There are slaves to be had in plenty," replied my father. "Moreover,
there are few armed Spanish ships off that coast, seeing that they
are wanted to escort the Hispaniola fleets. The Spaniards would never
expect a descent upon the mainland."
"Then 'tis a bargain, Dick?"
"It is, comrade."
And, leaning over the table, the two adventurers shook hands, thus
sealing the compact that was to lead us into strange adventures upon
the Spanish Main.
. . . . . . .
The winter passed quickly, for what with the joy of my father's
return after many years, and of mine own after many months of
captivity, and the preparations for our next venture, and divers
other circumstances, we had scarce time to look around ere spring was
upon us.
Thanks to the good offices of the Governor of Portsmouth, Her
Majesty's permission for us to adventure in the Indies was obtained
without difficulty. With her natural caution the Queen forbade us to
molest the Spaniards in any way yet we knew full well 'twas an empty
order, for had not Drake and Hawkins done likewise, to the outward
displeasure and with the secret approbation of their Royal mistress?
Of the munitions of war found on board the _Damsel of Lyme_ we
retained sufficient to more than fully equip the crews of the
_Nonsuch_ and the pinnace, handing over far more than the customary
tithe to the Governor of Portsmouth. The residue was sold at a low
rate--though 'twas all profit--to the train-bands of Portsmouth and
Chichester.
Meanwhile, my father had repurchased our old home at Crofton, and the
precious plan of the silver mine of San Luis was discovered after
having lain undiscovered for years in its hiding-place. When I saw
the intricate markings on the map, and the complicated directions how
to take this and that path or such and such a mountain pass, I could
well understand that the mine was beyond finding save by means of the
plan.
At length all our preparations were complete. The two vessels had
been breamed and tarred, all stores were on board, and 120 men--good
seamen all and trained to the use of arms--were signed on.
Captain Roger Staynton--to give him his new title--was to be in
supreme command, with my father as his immediate subordinate. There
were two mates to the _Nonsuch_--Tom Harvey and Will Sutton--both
Portsmouth men, and one mate--John Coombes, a native of
Bosham--appointed to assist my father on board the _Damsel of Lyme_.
Jack Staynton and I again served as 'prentices, though by now we were
fairly capable in the art and mystery of seamanship.
Thus it came about that on the morning following Lady Day in the year
1584--it being my sixteenth birthday--the two vessels weighed and set
sail for the distant Spanish Main.