Off to the Terra Firma
A proud day it was for those who, at the order of the earl, attended at
the door of Greenwich Palace, and great was the emotion of Peter
Tamworth. He appeared in the most brilliant raiment, borrowed, if the
truth had but been known, from an accommodating dealer, and looking on
this bright morning more weather-beaten than before--his squat figure
and his huge nose calling unwonted attention to him. Roger de Luce
joined him as the hour for the interview arrived, looking taller than
ever, and more substantial. He, too, had donned his best apparel, and
still carried his crossbow.
"This way. Follow, an it please you," said an attendant, suddenly
opening the gate, to the alarm of Peter, who was more than excited at
the thought of the meeting. "Rub your shoes against the broom, and enter
quietly. His grace awaits you within, and will take you to the king.
Remember to kneel to his Majesty."
He led the way through a long corridor till he came to a large chamber
hung with tapestry, and with an arched exit leading into the interior of
the palace; and here the Earl of Essex met them.
[Illustration: THE GOLDEN DISK]
"You have the plaque?" he demanded shortly. "Then, keep it covered till
the king's Majesty makes application for it. Now follow."
He went through the archway, Roger and Peter coming close on his heels,
the former cool and unruffled, while Peter grew hot with uneasiness; for
he had fears lest this attack upon the Frenchman should lead to trouble,
and lest King Henry the Eighth, whose reputation was well known, should
take a fancy to the plaque and insist on keeping it. However, they had
little cause to be nervous, for King Hal on this fine morning was in the
best of humour.
"Show this relic, rascal," he said, as he stood beside the earl in a
window niche, "and relate how it came into your hands, leaving nothing
of the incidents of the fight to be imagined. By my faith, Essex, 'tis a
giant you have here, this crossbow man--or youth, I should have said.
How old is the lad?"
He directed his last question at Roger, who fell on his knee, and
answered.
"Eighteen! Then England need have little fear while she continues to
possess such sons. A fine body-servant, Essex."
"And an interpreter, sire. He and his father were in service with our
mission at the Court of Spain some years ago."
For an instant a cloud swept across the brow of the king, for at this
time he still remembered the opposition he had met with regard to his
cherished wish for a separation from his queen, Catharine of Aragon.
Then he stretched out a hand, and took the plaque from Peter.
"A sea dog," he said, in his blunt, loud tones, staring at the sailor,
while the latter quaked; "a sea dog who has fought and won, and fought
and lost many a time. Is it not so?"
"And who hopes to fight again, as it please your Majesty. There is news
here which would give fighting to many a man of yours, and some wealth
besides. The Indies are filled with pearls and gold."
"And you would have me take them from my brother of Spain?"
There was a half-smile on the lips of the king as he spoke, and thus
encouraged, Peter, who had now lost some little of his nervousness,
related all that he knew, and told how the plaque had come to his hands.
"I once fell in with a Spaniard who had served in the Indies," he added.
"He had been driven from Spain because of some offence to the Church,
and therefore he did not hesitate to tell me what he had seen. There are
thousands of undiscovered leagues yet, and it may be that some few might
come to the hands of the mighty king of England. There are men on the
sea who could do for you what these others have done and are now doing
for Ferdinand of Spain, if only the permission were given them, and the
money with which to purchase ships and stores at their hand."
"The rascal tempts me to become an adventurer," laughed the king,
looking closely at the plaque. "But let us hear about this engraving of
the sun. 'Tis marvellously wrought, and like you, Essex, I see
buildings, roads, and beasts, and boats upon the water. Let the
interpreter tell us of the writing."
With a nod Roger was beckoned forward, and at once translated, his
fluency delighting the king.
"Truly a valuable man to send on such an expedition," he whispered to
the earl, "for he speaks the Spanish tongue like a native, and he is
stalwart and strong. This tale of foreign lands tempts me, for I aspire
to extend my dominions. Let this sailor have the plaque and retire with
the youth. We will speak quietly together."
What happened at that interview it would be impossible to state. But the
result was soon felt by Peter Tamworth, and by Roger de Luce; for hardly
had a week passed, and the memory of their interview with the king was
still fresh to them, and much in their minds, when a stranger presented
himself to each in succession. He was a knight in poor circumstances, by
name Sir Thomas Brice, and he came armed with authority to speak.
"There is a large brigantine lying in the river," he said, "and I am in
want of men to man her. Her mission is a secret one, at which you can
guess. She is bound for the Indies. At this moment all manner of stores
are being loaded aboard her, together with guns and weapons. Will you
come with me and form part of my crew?"
Sir Thomas, a tall and courageous-looking man, who had already won a
reputation in the wars with France, waited to see what effect his
message had, and then commenced to speak again.
"There is no need to decide at once," he said quietly. "Meet me to-night
at the Swan Tavern, in Cheapside, and there we will discuss the matter.
For you, Roger de Luce, I have the Earl of Essex's sanction for your
absence, and his wishes for you to form one of the exploration. We go
to discover this city which was engraved on the plaque, and also to see
whether we cannot oust these Spaniards."
Acknowledging Roger's salutation he strode away again, leaving the
latter to think the question over, and discuss it with his father.
"'Tis a chance which may not occur again," said the latter, though Roger
needed no encouragement, for he was eager to go. "There is a plan, which
should take you to this part, and maybe you will arrive there before
this Spaniard who is known as Fernando Cortes. Then there will be riches
for all, and you will win back for our family the position which it once
held. For we were not always servants, or soldiers in subordinate
positions. Time was when the de Luces held their lands and vassals, and
jested with the best."
That night Roger kept the appointment at the Swan Tavern, a famous
hostelry, where he met Sir Thomas, with whom was Peter Tamworth and some
ten others.
"We sail within the week," said the knight, "and your answer must be
given now. There is the share of treasure which you will receive should
the expedition prove successful, and then there will be the honour which
his Majesty will do to each one of us. In all there will be a hundred
gentlemen and men-at-arms, whom the brigantine can just accommodate.
Now, will you come?"
"Willingly," said Roger. "The share which is promised will be suitable,
and I promise to do all that I can to make the expedition successful.
Should we fall in with the Spaniards, I shall be able to deal with them,
for I speak the language."
"And if the tongue fails, I warrant he will be able to deal with them in
other ways," laughed one of the gentlemen present. "We are fortunate in
having this young giant. Now, Sir Thomas, we have to find a sailing
master, and our crew is completed, for the men-at-arms have already been
enrolled."
In fact, those who were leading this expedition had little difficulty.
There were too many applicants, for it wanted but a day for the secret
to leak out, and it flew swiftly through the city of London. Seafaring
men, old sailors, and adventurers came forward in scores, and from
amongst them the most suitable were chosen. Then, having filled up with
provisions and water, and having taken aboard a plentiful supply of
gunpowder and arms, the brigantine slipped from her moorings, and slid
down the River Thames. A thousand eyes followed her as she went. Nor did
the knight, who commanded her, and his crew meet with the smallest
adventure till they had crossed the Atlantic Ocean, then an almost
unknown sea, at least to the English, and come into the neighbourhood of
the island of Cuba. A fair wind carried them directly on their course,
and during the voyage they met with few matters of great interest. As
for Roger, once he had recovered from his sea-sickness, he found the
life delightful. In spite of his height and his look of age, he was as
much a boy as any young fellow of eighteen years, and skylarked about
the vessel with Philip Heasman, son of one of the gentlemen adventurers
who had taken shares in the ship.
"I love to look over the side and see the water running past us,
Philip," he said, once they were out of the channel, and had come to a
part where the sea ran in long low swells. "Then at night I lie in my
bunk and listen to the swish of the water alongside, and that sends me
to sleep."
"And keeps you so till some one has kicked you to awaken you again,"
laughed his friend. "I declare that I have a big task every day and
night, for when we are off watch you seem to sleep all the time, and I
have to look to it that you turn up on deck at the appointed hour. I
suppose it's because you are so long, and have overgrown your strength."
"Hardly that. Look here, Philip. That doesn't look like overgrown
strength. At any rate, it doesn't seem to be what one could call
weakness."
As Roger spoke, he seized one of the small cannon by the muzzle with one
hand, and with a heave lifted the gun and its attached carriage till the
muzzle stared up at the sky, while the base rested on the deck. Then he
set it down again in its old position as gently as though it had been a
featherweight.
"A fine performance; but still, not as much as you will be able to do
one of these days," said Philip, critically; "and I maintain that you
are grown too much, and that the rapid spring-up which you have made has
robbed you of strength. That is why you are for ever sleeping, and why
you loll and rest at all times. Why, in a matter of a year or so, you
will be able to do what you have done without an effort, and with two
fingers. You will even be able to lift the portly Peter Tamworth right
over your head."
The little sailor happened to be passing along the deck at that moment,
and Roger seized upon the opportunity with eagerness.
"Lift Peter!" he cried, with a derisive laugh. "He is but a child. See
him soar aloft."
He swung round and seized the sailor by his clothing. Then, with a
swing, he tossed him into the air, and held him at arms' length above
his head, while Peter shouted angrily.
"What fool's work is this?" he demanded, as Roger set him down again,
while the men-at-arms, who had watched the little exhibition of
strength, roared with laughter. For Peter was a character, a jolly
fellow, apt to cultivate a bosom acquaintance with all with whom he
sailed. But, on this occasion, dignity had in some small measure altered
his habit, and he stood aloof, as far as his merry nature would allow.
"Would you toss our leader so into the air? Then, why choose me? My
faith, were I in command, I would send you to the peak in the bight of a
rope, and let you swelter there for a day."
"If you could get him to the rope, well and good, Peter," laughed
Philip, patting the angry sailor. "But, think of the strength of this
young bull. I warrant, he could hold you with one hand, and lash you
with the other. Mayhap, seeing that you do not lead this expedition, he
may feel desirous of sending you to the peak to see how the trick looks.
But be not angry. Our friend was just trying his strength or weakness,
for I maintain that he is weak rather than strong."
"Then let him keep this weakness for the Spaniards," grumbled Peter,
"and try not his strength on me. Look over there, comrades. Cuba is in
sight--the island where it is said these Spaniards caused the natives to
slave so that they died within a few years. 'Tis well for us that we
are away in the offing, for there will be ships there, and many men to
man them. If they caught sight of us, we should be surrounded, and then
where would be this city on the Terra Firma, and the treasure we seek?"
His words brought the men-at-arms, Philip and Roger, to the side of the
vessel, leaning against which, they fixed their eyes upon the speck of
blue in the distance, which they were told was Cuba.
"Perhaps another week will take us to the north of Yucatan," said Peter.
"After that no one can say how long it will be before we run on to the
main land. But we shall doubtless halt at Yucatan and take in water and
fresh food, if the latter can be found. Does any one see a sail?"
All stared out across the water, but though they watched for many hours,
nothing was seen save the land in the distance. And as evening came the
latter became larger, and those gifted with the best sight could make
out hills and mountain chains. Roger even thought that he caught the
white sheen of a sail. But it was getting dusk, and he could not be
certain.
"As like as not it was one," said Sir Thomas, when our hero brought the
report to him, "for I have information that the Spaniards keep many
ships here, and that they are making large preparations to reinforce
this Fernando Cortes with men and ships. But we shall be far along the
coast by to-morrow, and our course will take us out more. Did you think,
Roger de Luce, that we should have accomplished so much in one single
month from our sailing from the port of London?"
"I had expected to be many weeks on the voyage, sir, though I am
ignorant of the time usually taken. But I remember that while in Spain
it was told me that the great Columbus had taken a very long time, and
that when in these parts his men had begged of him to turn back, for
they thought that they had gone so far that to proceed would make return
impossible."
"And yet he persevered against their wishes, and discovered Hispaniola,
and afterwards Cuba. And he took many weeks, while we are but four from
London. We are fortunate, and in two weeks from this should be on the
coast for which we aim. Then we must search for natives, and a captive
Spaniard would be of service, for then you could question him."
Roger made his salute, and retired to the lower deck, where he soon
turned in. At midnight he and Philip came on the deck again, to take
their watch, and strolled up and down. A fine moon was up, and the sea
could be observed for miles around them, looking silvery white in the
rays.
"Wait," said Roger, after they had trudged up and down for nearly an
hour, both busy with their thoughts, "I fancied that I saw another ship.
Perhaps it is the light given by the moon, which is rather deceptive,
but--look yonder. Is that a sail?"
"I also thought so," was the hesitating answer. "But I could not be
certain, and now there seems to be nothing. Listen! Did you hear a
call?"
They stood at the rail, staring out at the water and listening. But it
must have been their fancy, for though an hour passed and still found
them attentive, they neither heard nor saw anything to arouse their
suspicions.
"We imagined the whole thing, then," said Roger, "though I fancy still
that I actually caught sight of a sail. Suppose these Spanish fellows
had heard of our coming, and were lying in wait."
"If they had heard they would certainly be on the look out for us. But
you forget, Roger. Our expedition was planned not more than five weeks
ago; and it is said that the king commanded secrecy then. Who could have
sent the news to Spain? And granted that it reached the court at Madrid,
how would a boat have sailed to Cuba in time to bring the information?
For we have made a rapid voyage, quicker, we are told, than is usually
accomplished by the Spaniards."
The argument seemed conclusive, and Roger sought for some other means of
explaining the sail which he thought he had seen. Had he and the others
who took part in this expedition but known it, the suspected sail was a
ship in actual fact, which for many a week had been cruising off the
coast of Cuba. For Spain jealously guarded these new possessions of
hers, and the governor of Cuba and of Hispaniola had orders to watch the
narrow seas about them. Then, too, it happened that one of the prisoners
taken aboard the Spanish treasure ship had contrived to send information
of the capture to Ferdinand, and had narrated how the plaque and the
other valuables had fallen into the hands of the French, and afterwards
into those of the English. It was a serious loss, and steps were at once
taken to oppose any who might be tempted to find the land of gold and
the city referred to on the plaque.
Early on the following morning, when Roger lay coiled up in his bunk, a
shout startled the ship and brought all to the deck.
"A sail! A sail! A Spanish ship!"
It was Peter Tamworth who had made the discovery, and he voiced it at
the top of his power.
"A Spaniard, bearing down upon us from under the land."
"Then I was right," whispered Roger in Philip's ear. "There was a ship
near us last night. Look now! One can see her fairly well, running from
the land. We seem to be nearer in than we had intended to be. She is a
large vessel, I should say, and therefore we shall have to fight."
That this was so became clear to all aboard in the next half-hour, for
the Spaniard, a big vessel, with prow which stood high out of the water,
bore down upon the brigantine, sailing two feet to her one, and to show
the feeling aboard her, fired a gun as soon as she was in range.
"A queer sound, and one which makes one feel inclined to dip below the
rail," said Philip, with a laugh, as the cumbersome ball skipped along
the surface of the water, and sank at the forefoot of the brigantine.
"What answer will our leader give?"
"The one you might expect. We have as much right here as any, and are
not to be ousted because the Spaniards happened to be here first. But we
shall not waste powder. Our guns are far too small. Let them get to
close quarters, and then I warrant we shall talk to them. Give me a
crossbow before all."
Roger swung his weapon from his shoulder, and looked to the locks.
"One of these days it will happen, perhaps, that the arquebus will be
improved, and made easier to carry. It is too heavy by far now, and
takes too long to fire. For those reasons it cannot compare with this
weapon. At one hundred yards I will guarantee to bring down a man if he
does not move."
"You will hardly find one willing to oblige you," was the answer. "Ho!
That was a close one. I should think that we shall be badly pounded
before we get the range of them."
"Unless we run up towards the enemy, and so get to action sooner,"
remarked Roger. "That is what I should do, and I think our leader will.
Yes. There goes the tiller, and the master is calling to us to shift the
braces."
In those days every ship carried her fighting crew, who also saw to the
sails; and it happened that aboard the brigantine, amongst the
adventurers were many who were sailors as well. And thanks to that fact,
those who, like Roger, had been ignorant when they first embarked, had
quickly picked up the mysteries of sailing. They obeyed the master's
order, therefore, and very soon the brigantine was heading for the
Spaniard.
"Let every man lie down behind the rail till I shout," called out Sir
Thomas, stationing himself on the lofty stern of the brigantine, "and
come hither, Roger de Luce. It may be that they will desire a parley,
though it hardly seems so, considering that they have fired upon us so
early. Now," he said, when Roger had clambered to his side, "how many
men does yonder vessel carry?"
"That I cannot say, sir," answered our hero, "for I spent the greater
part of my life in Spain, at Madrid, though once I was at Cadiz. But
she is a large vessel, Sir Thomas; and seeing that she has been cruising
here, for I am sure now that I caught a glimpse of her last night, I am
sure that she will have many men."
"Then their numbers shall confuse them. We will carry them by the board,
and so escape their shot. Move the tiller over, master, so as to put
their aim out."
Bang! crash! It was very certain that the Spaniard carried heavy metal,
for one of her shots came aboard the brigantine at that moment, and
ploughed through the deck, rending the timbers, and scattering splinters
on either side. Then a second hulled the Englishman, stripping away a
length of bulwark, and killing or disabling half a dozen men. Roger
looked down at the scene of havoc for a little while, feeling dizzy and
upset at the sight; for huge though he was, and a powerful fellow, he
was a child in experience--a light-hearted, overgrown fellow, who had as
yet seen little of the rough side of the world.
"An ugly sight, which makes the head swim," said the voice of Sir
Thomas. "But use makes one hardened. When you have seen all that I have,
you will pity those who are hurt, but will let your feelings go no
further. Ah! we are likely to suffer heavily, unless we can soon come to
close quarters."
For ten minutes and more the Spaniard hulled the brigantine, while the
latter made fruitless efforts to come close to her adversary, and had,
so far, not returned a shot. Meanwhile, her crew had suffered heavily,
and many of the men-at-arms and the adventurers had been killed or
severely wounded.
"She is playing with us!" shouted Sir Thomas, at length, seeing that the
Spaniard did not approach closer. "She relies upon her superior sailing,
and is trying to circle about us. Bring her about, master, and jamb us
into this craft."
He stamped on the deck with vexation, for it was maddening to see his
men thus cut down without being able to retaliate. However, a crafty
move on the part of the master met a change of course of the Spaniard,
and at once the ships began to run towards one another, the brigantine
looking ridiculously small beside the Spaniard.
"Shall I keep an eye on their steersman?" asked Roger, seeing that a
move on the latter's part might yet take the enemy away. "If he puts his
helm over, we shall have their guns pouring their shot down our decks,
while our own small cannon will hardly serve better than my crossbow.
See, Sir Thomas, a shaft from my weapon would reach from here."
"'Tis a good thought. Hold the fellow in your eye, and if he makes a
move to throw us apart, fire at him. Stay here while I go to the
gunners."
By now the crew of the brigantine were overflowing with eagerness, for
it had been hard work lying behind the rail to be fired at without hope
of retaliation. Now the chance was coming, and the men could be seen
moistening their hands ere they seized their pikes or cutlasses, while
the gunners blew at their port-fires and squinted along the cannon. Not
that they could take aim yet at the enemy, for the latter was on a
course which would take her across the bows of the brigantine, and it
was impossible to slew the guns round sufficiently.
"We must make the most of the opportunity when we are near," said Sir
Thomas, as he returned. "But I fancy that they will run on this course
till almost crossing our stem. Then they will come over and sail on our
course, while their stern guns pour shot into us. You must see that the
movement is not carried out."
Roger nodded, and drew back the bow of his weapon, fitting a shaft with
care and accuracy. He had been accustomed to the weapon from his
earliest days, since he had had the strength to use one, and he was a
fine shot.
"He is about to move, sir," he suddenly exclaimed, bringing the crossbow
to his shoulder. "Yes, he is pushing at the helm."
Thanks to the high stern of the enemy, it was easy to pick out the
steersman and to observe his movements. By now the Spaniard was about to
pass the bows of the brigantine, and as she came to that position, the
steersman pushed at the helm, while men were seen running to the braces.
Roger took a quick aim and fired.
"Hit!" shouted Sir Thomas. "A brave shot, and see what it brings us."
He pointed excitedly, for the tiller had fallen from the hands of the
Spanish steersman, while the unhappy fellow, struck in the breast by
Roger's shaft, staggered against the rail of the vessel. The failure to
steer at that moment was fatal, for instead of coming up into her new
course, the prow of the Spanish ship paid off at once, and she swung
across the stem of the brigantine. Instantly the master aboard the
latter put his helm over a little, and ere the enemy could recover from
their astonishment, or send a relief to the helm, the English ship was
forging along on an almost parallel course which, thanks to the fact
that the other vessel had almost lost way, brought her quickly into
range. Then, indeed, did the men-at-arms and the adventurers give back
what they had received. Crossbow bolts and arquebus bullets flew at the
Spaniards, while the little cannon shot forth their missiles. Then the
prow of the brigantine struck the enemy heavily on the beam, and,
sheering off a few feet, came into contact again.
"Aboard her! To the rails!" shouted the English leader.
He seized his cutlass, and sprang on to the rail. A rope gave him an
opportunity of clambering up the high sides of the enemy, while Roger's
stalwart arm gave him a heave which sent him with a swing on to the
higher deck. Then our hero followed, Philip hard on his heels, while the
remainder of the ship's company swarmed up wherever and whenever they
could, leaving a few to lash the vessels together. A moment later all
were engaged in a fierce struggle with the Spaniards, at whose head
fought a noble in complete armour.