COLONEL NICHOLAS FIRESTONE
NEARLY a score of boats of various sizes were moored to the quay,
their outlines barely discernible against the placid surface of the
dark water.
Handing my sword to my companion, I carefully lowered myself into the
nearest boat, and made my way slowly from one to the other, till I
found the one we sought.
Fortunately, the oars had been left on board, and, what was more, a
small sail rolled round a short mast lay on the thwarts. The craft,
though barely fifteen feet in length, had plenty of beam, so that,
although cumbersome to row, it would doubtless prove an able boat
under sail.
As I had had considerable experience in the art of managing a boat,
having frequently made short voyages with the fishermen during the
holidays, I had no misgivings as to the handling of this craft,
although Granville did not regard my capabilities in the same light
as I did.
"Hasten," I whispered, fearful lest some belated passer-by might
overhear us; "jump in, and cast off that rope."
It was the work of a few moments to stow the arms carefully away,
unfasten the rope that held the boat to the side of the quay, and to
push off. Then, by dint of slow and careful strokes, we urged the
heavy craft towards the centre of the channel, and pointed its bow in
the direction of Cowes.
A few minutes' steady rowing sufficed to take us clear of the
buildings lining the quay, and, looking astern, our eyes becoming
more accustomed to the darkness, we could see the tower of St.
Thomas' Church standing out against the blackness of the night.
Not a sound came from the town, save the occasional barking of a dog;
but in the direction of Carisbrooke a subdued roar, like the distant
sound of waves breaking on the shore, came faintly to our ears, and
from the summit of the keep we could discern the flare of the wood
fires as the garrison plied the cressets with more fuel.
"They lie thick around the castle," remarked Ralph. "And spare not
their lungs though it seems that they have not yet opened the
attack."
"No," I replied, "I can hear no sounds of ordnance. Perchance they
are afraid to attempt an escalade, for 'tis certain Colonel Brett
will not hesitate to fire on the rebels, should they draw nigh the
walls."
After all, it was better for us that fate, or, rather, the spin of a
coin, decided against our throwing in our lot with the garrison of
Carisbrooke, for we afterwards learnt that there were but three days'
provisions, and but four small barrels of powder within the fortress,
the garrison of which was composed mostly of invalided and wounded
soldiers from the Scottish wars. So it came about that the valiant
Countess of Portland appeared on the ramparts with a lighted match in
her hand, and threatened to fire the first cannon on the rebels, and
to hold the castle to the last extremity, unless she and the garrison
were permitted to march out with all the honours of war. The rebels,
little knowing the weakness of the defenders, and probably glad of
the opportunity of foregoing the risk of combat, gladly agreed to the
Countess' terms, and on the following day the garrison retired in
good order to Yarmouth.
The tide was now running out, yet, in spite of steady labouring at
the heavy oars, it was a matter of nearly two hours ere we reached
the mouth of the river, where the two castles of Cowes kept watch and
ward, though whether for or against the King we knew not.
Mindful of the armourer's warning, we cast anchor close to the edge
of a mud-bank, and waited till the tide turned, for there was little
or no wind, so that 'twould have been a forlorn hope to attempt to
stem the adverse current.
For over an hour, as it seemed (for we were unable to measure the
time), we lay thus, talking of the future, yet during that space
neither did the tide show signs of slackening, nor did the dawn
commence to show in the east.
Suddenly, through the darkness, came the flashes of muskets, fired in
quick succession, and a babel of voices at no great distance, while a
bullet whistled above our heads, causing us to lie cowering under the
frail shelter of our boat's side.
Other shots came at intervals, till at length the firing ceased, and
we summoned sufficient courage to sit up and look around.
"What's amiss?" asked Granville.
"Nay, I cannot tell," I replied, "unless it be that one of the
castles has been attempted."
"The firing was too close for that," he rejoined. "Much too close to
my liking."
"And mine also."
We relapsed into silence, straining our ears for every sound.
Presently we heard above the confused noise of men's voices the
creaking of tackle and the sound of oars being thrown into a boat.
"They are lowering a boat from some ship near at hand," I whispered.
"Quick, now! Get the fishing tackle, and cast the lines overboard,
or we are undone."
Hastily we groped in the stern-locker for the lines; but, just as we
were about to make them ready, we heard a sullen splash in the water
close to our craft.
The next instant a pair of hands grasped the gunwale, and the
dripping head of a man appeared over the side.
I doubt who was the more confused--we, at the sudden apparition, or
the swimmer at the sight of two figures in what he had reasonably
thought to be an empty boat, for we had been both kneeling on the
bottom boards engaged in clearing the lines.
"Hist!" he whispered. "If ye be true King's men, give me shelter."
"Right willingly," I replied in a low voice, and, leaning over the
side so that the gunwale almost dipped, we seized the man's clothing
and helped him on board.
"A sorry shelter, but one that doth not come amiss," he remarked,
noticing that our craft was entirely open. "I see a sail rolled up
yonder; cover me up, and, if ye bear any love for His Majesty, betray
me not. They will be looking for me here anon."
It was no time for questions or explanations. The fugitive crept
underneath the forward thwarts and curled himself into a small
compass by the side of the mast, which we had already stepped in
order to lose no time when the tide changed.
Quickly I unfurled the sail, and, tossing it over the thwart, I
noticed with considerable satisfaction that it fell in apparent and
natural disorder over the place where the man lay huddled up.
Then, putting a brave face on the matter, we cast our lines and
waited.
Before long we heard the sound of oars, and, rowing aimlessly hither
and thither, there came a large boat. In the bows stood a man holding
a lantern, which cast long reflections on the rippling waters, and no
doubt dazzled more than served him.
"He's gone, sure enow, Baldwin," exclaimed a voice. "That first
volley must have settled him."
"I was nearer than that at Newburn, and a whole platoon missed me,"
was the scornful reply. "Pull more this way, I pray you."
"Even if we had missed him," answered the other, "he had his
jack-boots on when he jumped overboard. Against the tide he can do
nothing."
"Pull this way, I say again," interrupted the man with the lantern.
"I see a boat."
In another moment the pursuers' craft rubbed alongside our boat, and
the light was flashed in our faces.
"Who be you, young masters?" exclaimed the holder of the lantern
roughly. "And what are ye doing at this time o' night?"
"Fishing, sir. We be come from Newport," I replied, imitating as well
as I could the tongue of the fisher-folk, though my heart was in my
mouth.
"Didst see a man swimming?"
"Nay," I replied truthfully enough, for the fugitive had finished
swimming the moment he had grasped the gunwale. "But we were sore
afraid of the shots."
"What hast got under that sail?" he demanded suspiciously, holding
the lantern above his head and shortening a small pike which he held
in his right hand.
"Shame on thee, Baldwin," exclaimed another man. "Wouldst spoil an
honest fisher-folk's sail with a pike thrust? Come on, let's away; we
are but losing time."
The men released their hold of our gunwale, and their boat, drifting
rapidly with the tide, disappeared in the darkness, only the faint
glimmer of the lantern betraying their whereabouts.
"They're gone," I whispered to the fugitive.
"Yes, I know it," he replied; "but, with all due respect to you, I'll
tarry here longer, for I am in no mood to take to the waters again.
Canst put me ashore in a little while?"
"Where would you land?"
"It matters little, though I have a preference for the Hamptonshire
coast, if gold can work the oracle."
"'Tis not a matter for payment," I replied with as much dignity as I
could command. "And if you're for the King, we'll gladly place you on
the nether shore, for, as fate would have it, we ourselves purpose
journeying to Portsmouth."
"I perceive by your manner of speech that you are not fisher-folk,"
he continued, "though I cannot judge by your appearance.
Nevertheless, I shall be heartily glad to stretch my cramped limbs
once more, and then we'll talk further on the matter."
"Be careful that you do not raise your voice," I continued. "The
sound travels afar on the water, especially on a quiet night."
"Ay," he assented, throwing off the sail and stretching his huge
legs, which were still encased in jack-boots, under the thwarts. "Now
I feel more at ease. Did I have but a pipe of stinging tobacco and a
jugful of strong waters I'd be content. But why do you wait here at
anchor?"
"Till the tide turns."
"Then a murrain on the tide, say I. Twice hath the tide treated me
scurvily. Once as we left the port of Cherbourg, and again off Hurst
Castle, where but for the force of the current I could easily have
swum ashore. Knowing that you have not betrayed me, I'll tell my
mission. Hast ever heard of Nick Firestone?"
"I remember my father speaking highly of one Nicholas Firestone, who
gained great and honourable distinction in the Low Countries."
"Great, I admit, but I must needs cavil at the honourable, though
'twas only when hard pressed that I had to think of a whole skin
before honour. And who is thy father?"
"Sir Reginald Markham, of Ashley, in the county of Hamptonshire."
"As good and brave a knight that ever set hand on hilt. And I'll
warrant his eye is as keen and his arm as strong as it was when he
and I fought side by side in the retreat from Rhé. Certes! A dozen
such as he and things would have gone far different in that miserable
affair."
"And what of your mission?" I asked, curious to know what
circumstances had caused him to swim off to our boat.
"I'll tell you. Upon my person, sealed, and proof against water, I
bear despatches in cipher from the King of France, to be delivered at
all costs to His Majesty, the purport being unknown to me, though I
know it is of inestimable value. Another trusted messenger, bearing a
duplicate, has left for Dover, and a third has sailed from Cherbourg
to Fowey. The last has the better chance, seeing that Cornwall is
ever devoted to His Majesty."
"True, true, Master Firestone," exclaimed Granville, speaking to him
for the first time.
"Then I take it you are of Cornish stock? I rejoice to hear it,
though I know not your name; but, at the same time, I would inform
you that I am Colonel, and not Master, Firestone."
"And he is named Ralph Granville," I informed him. "But concerning
your perilous voyage?"
"I left Cherbourg four days agone in the barque _Endeavour_, of
Lymington, and the first intimation of the inevitable rupture 'twixt
the King and his rebellious Parliament occurred in a rude fashion by
the Endeavour being boarded when off the Needles by the ship
_Bonaventure_, lately held by His Majesty, but recently seized by the
rebels, and forming part of the fleet that lay against Portsmouth."
"Though we carried naught that might be reckoned as munitions of war,
some of the officers of the _Bonaventure_ recognised me, and,
thinking rightly that I was on the service of the King, they detained
me, searching my baggage and person for any documents. Therein they
were foiled, but how I'll explain anon. Finding nothing, they clapped
me in a close and dirty cabin on the _Bonaventure's_ main deck,
allowing me to take the air on deck every four hours."
"At yester-midday the vessel came up under all sail through the
Solent Channel, and stood over so close to Hurst Castle that I hoped
to seize the chance of jumping overboard and swimming ashore; but so
strong flowed the tide, surpassing the trotting pace of a horse, that
the _Bonaventure_ was swept back and compelled to anchor in one of
the bays on the island shore."
"With the turn of the tide we made the harbour of Cowes, and again
anchored for the night. Here I feigned sickness, and asked to be
brought up on deck, and, fortune favouring me, I sprang into the sea,
followed by a volley from the muskets of the soldiers on board, for,
to give the men credit, they stood more quickly to their pieces than
I expected."
"It was a narrow escape, for one of the bullets grazed my hand, and
several splashed up the water all around; but, thanks to Providence,
I found myself swimming straight for your boat, and the rest you are
well acquainted with. But now, Master Markham, I perceive that the
tide runs but weakly, and the breeze is springing up. Actions, not
words, must prevail, for in another half an hour day will be
breaking."
We immediately set about getting the boat under way, and, pulling up
the anchor, shipping the rudder, and hoisting sail, we slipped
quietly out of the harbour, and shaped a course in the direction
which we supposed Portsmouth to lie.
While these preparations were going on, the dawn began to glimmer in
the east, and I could now see what our new companion was like, though
he still sprawled on the bottom boards, fearful lest he should be
seen from the _Bonaventure_, which we could dimly make out away
towards the western side of the harbour.
Colonel Nicholas Firestone was now revealed in the person of a tall
and wiry-looking man, yet possessing a massive frame, which carried
little beyond bone and muscle.
His face was thin, while a mass of deep wrinkles covered his cheeks
and forehead, which a short dark brown pointed beard, upturned
moustachios, shaggy eyebrows, and a thick crop of grizzled hair all
but concealed. He was soberly dressed, so that his apparel, which,
being wet, clung to his frame, gave no indication as to whether he
was for or against the Crown.
[Illustration: _"I sprang into the sea."_]
As far as we could judge, he was unarmed, but, strangely enough, his
feet were still encased in heavy riding boots and spurs.
As we rounded the Castle Point the sun rose above the horizon a deep
red ball of fire, while the wind, which hitherto had been light, now
increased, causing the little craft to plunge and stagger as she
breasted the short, steep waves.
Glancing astern, we saw the _Bonaventure_ still at anchor, though her
sails were shaken loose, ready to get under way.
"'Twill be a good half-hour before she can follow, and, should the
breeze hold, as I think it will, we'll be well over to the opposite
shore ere then," remarked Colonel Firestone, raising himself slowly,
as if cramped by the long confinement, and awkwardly making his way
aft to the stern-sheets. "So it matters little whether they see us or
not, though, I doubt not, they have a perspective-glass or two
bearing this way."
"There are several ships of war ahead," I exclaimed, pointing in the
direction of a number of dark objects standing out clearly against
the light almost on the skyline.
"We must hug the shore closely and take our chance. A small craft
like this might escape notice."
Even as Colonel Firestone spoke a cloud of smoke, followed by a
muffled report, sprang from one of the ships, and immediately the
firing became general. The attack upon the town of Portsmouth had
been renewed.
From where we were the fortress was invisible, being hidden by a
long, low tongue of shingly beach, surmounted by a thick belt of
furze; but, judging by the direction of the sounds, we concluded that
Goring was offering a stubborn resistance.
At length, with wind and tide, we rounded the intervening shore, and
the town came into full view. I knew the place but slightly, having
only passed through it on my journeys 'twist Ashley and Newport, but
Firestone showed that he was no stranger to the fortress.
"The rebels press closely on all sides save the eastern," he
exclaimed. "Look, they have thrown up batteries on Gosport shore,
and by the smoke I perceive the northern side is assailed also. See
the Royalist batteries on the Platform--they are not backward, and
the Round Tower holds its own. Canst make out the tower of the church?
Is it afire, or have they mounted cannon therein?"
"I cannot tell," I replied. "The smoke lies over all like a cloud,
though 'tis certain the town is afire in more places than one."
"Ay, it is not to be expected that the town comes off scatheless.
Dost see that stone fortalice to the east of the town? 'Tis Southsea
Castle, which in truth is the key of the position. Betwixt it and the
Platform is a stretch of beach, whence, if we can effect a landing,
'tis but an easy matter to gain the postern."
"Before so doing we must run the gauntlet of the rebel ships."
"Ay, but perchance they'll be too busy to mind us."
Bidding us lie down, the colonel took the helm, and, standing boldly
over towards the beach, we passed between the ships and the town
batteries, the shot flying thickly overhead, though, fortunately, as
both sides were firing at long range, the cannon-balls attained the
highest point in their trajectory above our heads, save a few that,
either by accident or design, fell unpleasantly close to us.
We had arrived within half a mile or so of the beach when we saw that
the nearest warship had lowered a couple of boats, which started in
close pursuit of us.
Without a moment's hesitation Nick Firestone called upon me to take
the tiller, and, grasping the heavy oars, he rowed strongly towards
the shore, the boat, under oars and sail, making a long wake astern.
"They gain on us," he muttered. "Hast weapons on board?"
"A brace of pistols apiece," I replied, telling Granville to produce
them from the stern-locker.
"Handy enough at twenty paces," was his contemptuous remark, "though
they may serve to gain our end. Load all four, Master Granville, and
place them by my side."
A stern chase is ever a long one, yet the two pursuing boats came on
apace, each urged by twelve rowers, whose efforts were encouraged by
their officers.
Meanwhile the batteries ashore, seeing that something untoward was
happening, began to fire at our pursuers, though their aim was wild,
and bid fair to harm us as well as our foes.
Suddenly a bullet struck our light mast, and, cutting through the
halyards, brought the sail down with a run.
Uttering a fierce exclamation, Firestone tore away the folds of the
canvas that enveloped him, and, calling on me to keep the boat on her
course, resumed rowing, though I imagined it to be a forlorn hope,
for, glancing over my shoulder, I saw one of the rebels' boats was
but six lengths astern.
Even as I looked a huge column of water sprang into the air, and fell
in a shower of spray to the accompaniment of a crashing and rending
of wood and shrieks and shouts of surprise and terror. A chance shot
from the batteries had wrought havoc with the leading boat, and her
crew were struggling in the water.
The second boat made to the rescue, and at the same moment we saw a
troop of dragoons riding furiously along the shore from the
Castle--yet, though within easy range, they forbore to fire on their
discomfited foes.
Another twenty strokes and our craft's forefoot grounded on the
beach.
We were safe within the lines of the beleaguered fortress.