productive of something very nearly approaching to panic, both in the
town and on board the plate ships; for she had entered with the cross of
Saint George flaunting from her ensign staff, and the first impression
of the Spaniards was that their dreaded enemy, Drake, had returned; the
bells of the cathedral clanged out a wild alarm; and it was seen that
the crews of some of the plate ships were making hasty preparations to
get under way, with the evident object of attempting to escape to the
open sea. This last, of course, had to be at once put a stop to;
therefore the moment that the anchor was down, George caused a boat to
be lowered, and, with its crew armed to the teeth, pulled round the
Spanish fleet, hailing each ship belonging to it, and informing the
captains that any ship seen to be getting under way would at once be
fired into and sunk. This threat, backed up as it was by the display of
the English ship's ordnance, had the desired effect, and there were no
further attempts at flight just then on the part of the plate ships.
George's next act was to send Captain Martinez, of the wrecked _Dona
Catalina_, ashore in one of the _Nonsuch's_ boats, under a flag of
truce. The captain was handed his dispatches, and was instructed to
either deliver or forward them to the persons to whom they were
addressed; and he was also given a letter addressed to the governor or
chief magistrate of the town, summoning that functionary, together with
twelve of the most influential inhabitants of the place, to a conference
on board the English ship, upon a matter of vital import; the conference
to begin not later than noon that day; the penalty of non-attendance
being the bombardment of the town. Then, every preparation having been
made to carry into effect the threatened bombardment, the English sat
down and patiently awaited developments.
Half an hour before the expiration of the specified time a large boat,
flying a flag of truce, was seen to leave the wharf, and some ten
minutes later she came up to within a few fathoms of the _Nonsuch_
gangway, when it was seen that, in addition to eight oarsmen, she
carried in her stern sheets thirteen men, most of whom had passed beyond
middle age, while all were, in appearance at least, and so far as dress
was concerned, men of position and substance.
Arrived within easy hailing distance, the oarsmen ceased their efforts
at a sign from the man at the tiller, and an elderly individual, attired
in what might be supposed to be robes of office, rose to his feet and,
doffing his plumed hat, bowed to the little group of officers mustered
on the ship's poop. Then, hat in hand, he remarked:
"Noble senors, I am Juan Alvarez, the alcalde of San Juan de Ulua, very
much at your service; and in response to your somewhat imperatively
worded letter I and my fellow townsmen have come out to confer with you.
But before we board your ship I should like to ask you just one
question. I see by your flag that you are English. Come you in peace,
or in war, senors?"
"That," answered George, stepping forward, "is for you and your fellow
townsmen to decide. But meanwhile I give you the assurance of an
Englishman who has never yet broken his word to friend or foe, that you
may come aboard without fear, and that when our conference is at an end
you shall all be permitted to return to the shore without molestation--
unless it becomes apparent that hostages are necessary."
The old gentleman bowed and, still with his hat in his hand, ventured
upon a further inquiry. "And pray, noble senor, who is to determine
whether or not hostages are regarded as necessary?" he demanded.
"I and my officers will determine that point," answered George. "But,"
he continued, "I give you the further assurance that, should we decide
upon the necessity to retain any of you as hostages, their persons will
be as safe, and they will be treated with as much honour, on board this
ship, as in their own houses--unless treachery of any kind be attempted,
in which case I will hang them at my yard-arms as a wholesome warning to
others."
This statement caused the utmost perturbation to the alcalde and his
companions, as might easily be seen, for they all at once started to
their feet and burst into excited conversation. But, as is usual in
such cases, there were two or three--of whom the alcalde was one--who
soon obtained an ascendency over the rest, quieting them and themselves
carrying on the discussion; and after some ten minutes of earnest debate
the rest sat down, leaving the alcalde standing alone to propound a
still further question.
"Illustrious senor," he said, addressing himself to George, "my
companions and I feel that, before we proceed further, or place
ourselves altogether in your power, it is very necessary that we should
know what acts you would be likely to construe as treachery on our
part."
"The reply to such a question is not difficult," replied George. "We
should regard as an act of treachery any attempt on the part of either
of those ships to put to sea; and also any attempt to attack us at
disadvantage and without due warning, such as was perpetrated last year,
in this very harbour, on my countryman, Admiral Hawkins."
This answer was received with much shaking of heads and uplifting of
hands, followed by further eager consultation and debate, which ended at
last by the alcalde putting a further and final question:
"And, in the event of our refusing to board your ship under such
conditions, senor, what will happen?"
"You will be permitted to return to the shore without molestation,"
answered George. "But," he continued, "as soon as you shall have
arrived and are landed, I shall seize every ship in this harbour; and,
that done, shall proceed to bombard your town until you see fit to
surrender it to me unconditionally!"
More perturbation, more shaking of heads and agitated waving of hands,
followed by further excited discussion lasting for close upon a quarter
of an hour, after which the alcalde, standing in the midst of his
companions and again addressing himself to George, observed:
"Most illustrious senor, we, the alcalde and twelve of the
representatives of the inhabitants of the city of San Juan de Ulua, have
decided to rely upon your assurances, and now declare ourselves ready to
board your ship, there to listen with all deference and attention to
such communication as you may desire to make to us." And therewith the
old gentleman, bowing with much dignity, seated himself, replaced his
hat, and gave an order to the steersman of the boat, who repeated it to
the oarsmen; whereupon the boat got under way and pulled up alongside to
where the gangway ladder already hung over the side for the
accommodation of the Committee. And while this was doing, George,
followed by his little knot of officers, descended from the poop to the
main deck and grouped themselves about the gangway in readiness to
receive their by no means willing visitors.
Don Juan Alvarez, the alcalde of San Juan de Ulua, was the first to
ascend the side and pass through the _Nonsuch's_ gangway, when, again
removing his hat and bowing profoundly to the little group of
Englishmen, he stood aside until his twelve companions had joined him,
when he proceeded to ceremoniously introduce them, one after the other,
until he had named them all. Then George followed suit in like fashion,
first introducing himself and then each of his officers to the group of
visitors.
This ceremony duly performed, the alcalde once more took up the tale.
"Most illustrious senors," he said, bowing to the Englishmen
collectively, "touching the exceedingly delicate matter of treachery,
you have the assurance of myself and colleagues that, so far as the city
is concerned, you may absolutely depend that nothing of an overt nature
shall be permitted to occur until an understanding of some sort--an
amicable one, we all trust--shall have been arrived at between us. But
with regard to the ships in the harbour, we feel that we cannot
undertake to be answerable for the conduct of their captains and crews,
since we have had no opportunity to communicate with them; we therefore
venture to suggest that, in order to avoid anything in the nature of an
untoward event, I, as chief magistrate, be permitted to write and
dispatch to each ship an order embodying the instructions contained in
the communication received by me, through your courtesy, this morning,
from the governor of Cartagena."
"Or, perhaps, what would be still better," replied George, "I would
advise that you write an open order to the captain and chief officer of
each ship, commanding their immediate presence here. I will then place
them in honourable confinement until our negotiations are concluded,
when we will, of course, release them. By adopting such a course I
think we may make quite sure that none of them, through mistaken zeal,
will do anything to interrupt the smooth course of our rather delicate
negotiations. What say you?"
The idea at once strongly commended itself to the party, who, it was
quite evident, were more deeply interested in the preservation of their
own skins than in anything else, and who, it was equally evident, were
mortally afraid that some over-zealous individual might be tempted to do
something for which this stern-faced young Englishman would hold them
accountable; accordingly the order was written in the cabin of the
_Nonsuch_, summoning the commanding officers and their immediate
subordinates to at once assemble on board the English ship to assist in
the arrangement of a matter of vital importance to themselves and the
city; and when it had been submitted to and approved by George and his
officers, the alcalde's boat was despatched with instructions to go the
round of the plate ship fleet, show the order, and bring the officers
back upon her return. That done, refreshments--including a liberal
service of wine taken out of the _Santa Maria_--were placed upon the
table in the state cabin, and the alcalde and his companions were
invited to partake thereof pending the arrival of the men from the
ships; but they were much too anxious to do justice to the viands spread
before them, and would fain have forthwith proceeded to the business
which they had been summoned to discuss. But George refused to say a
word until the officers of the plate ships were safe under hatches; and
a long interval now elapsed during which the anxiety and apprehension of
the alcalde and his associates visibly increased, which was precisely
the effect that the astute young captain desired to produce. At length,
however, certain sounds from the deck outside reached the ears of those
in the cabin, announcing the arrival of the men from the fleet, while
other sounds, especially those of Spanish voices raised high in angry
protest, proclaimed, a little later, that the new arrivals were being
conducted below somewhat against their will; and finally Dyer appeared
in the doorway with the information that the Spanish sailors had been
taken below and were safe under guard; whereupon George rose to his feet
and, addressing his visitors in his best Spanish, said:
"Now, senors, every precaution that we could think of has been taken to
insure the undisturbed discussion of the business which has brought me
and my compatriots to San Juan de Ulua; with your permission, therefore,
we will proceed."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
HOW GEORGE PROCEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF SAN JUAN.
An uneasy stir among his audience followed this brief introduction,
showing clearly the highly-wrought condition of the Spaniards' nerves as
they leaned forward in their seats and fixed their eyes intently upon
the speaker's face. To still further increase the tension betrayed in
the faces and attitudes of his audience, George paused impressively for
a few seconds, and then resumed:
"A year ago," said he, "seven ships, storm torn and shattered, put into
this harbour in order to refit. They were manned by Englishmen, fellow-
countrymen of my own and those with me. They had been engaged in lawful
and peaceful trade with various ports along the Main, and entered this
harbour with the utmost confidence, secure in the conviction that,
having committed no offence, they might implicitly rely upon Spanish
honour. When they arrived, they found twelve defenceless plate ships,
laden with gold and silver, in the harbour; and had they been so
disposed my countrymen could have seized those ships, or as many of them
as they chose to take, and sailed away in them, leaving their own
damaged craft behind them; and nobody could have said them nay. But my
countrymen were traders, not pirates; and great though the temptation
must have been, they left those galleons alone, asking only the
hospitality of your harbour and permission to refit their ships without
molestation. Also when, upon the day after the arrival of the English
ships, the remainder of your plate fleet and its convoy appeared off
this port, my countrymen could have kept them outside, had they so
chosen, with the result that every ship would have been lost in the next
gale that might arise. _You_ knew, as well as did my own countrymen,
the tremendous risk and peril to which those enormously rich ships would
have been exposed, had they been prevented from entering the harbour;
and you hastened to arrange a convention with the English whereby your
own ships were to be permitted to enter the port, while the English were
to be allowed to refit their vessels without hindrance or molestation.
Is all this true, senors, or have I misstated any part of the story, so
far?"
George paused for a reply; but for a full minute or more there was no
response. Then at last the alcalde slowly rose to his feet and
stretching forth his right hand deprecatingly toward the young captain,
said:
"Most illustrious senor, all that you have said is absolutely true. But
before--"
"Pardon, senor," interrupted George. "I have not yet finished. When I
have done so I shall be quite prepared to listen courteously and with
patience to whatever you may be pleased to say.
"In accordance with the terms of that convention the English were
permitted to work for three days at the dismantling of their ships in
preparation for the work of refitting--and then, senors, without a word
or hint of warning, at the very instant when they were least able to
defend themselves, you treacherously fell upon them; with the result
that more than three hundred Englishmen were slain, four of their ships
were either captured or destroyed, many Englishmen were taken prisoners,
and the residue were driven to sea in their least dismantled ships,
short of food and water, to sink or swim as the fates might decide. One
of the ships which effected her escape afterward sank, and with her went
the entire proceeds of the voyage, while the other two, riddled and torn
by Spanish shot, treacherously fired, only reached England after a
voyage of incredible difficulty, toil, and suffering. Now, senors, the
object of my visit to San Juan de Ulua is to avenge that treacherous
attack upon my fellow-countrymen, to exact ample compensation therefor
and for all the loss and suffering attendant upon it, and to demand the
release of those who fell into your hands upon that occasion. If you
have aught to urge by way of excuse for, or justification of, your
treachery, I am willing to hear it and give it my most careful
consideration."
Again silence, tense and electric, prevailed in the cabin at the
conclusion of the young English captain's indictment, the alcalde and
his companions staring helplessly at one another as each groped for
something, some sign or suggestion, upon which to frame a reply to the
charges which they knew only too well to be true. At length one of the
party, seemingly unable to any longer endure the tension, rose slowly to
his feet and, addressing George, said:
"Senor Capitano, it is not possible for us to deny the truth of the
charges which you have brought against us; to our shame and sorrow we
are obliged to admit that all you have said is only too true. Yet,
senor, in self-defence, I submit that, individually, none of us who are
here assembled is to blame for the occurrence to which you have
referred, and therefore I contend that you cannot, in justice, hold us,
or any one of us, responsible for it. We, who now sit here in the cabin
of your ship, were all present in San Juan de Ulua when the attack upon
your countrymen took place, and I am confident that I am expressing the
opinion of my fellow-citizens as well as of myself in saying that we one
and all deplored and were ashamed of it, and would have prevented it,
had it been possible. But, senor, the citizens of San Juan had no voice
in the matter; we were not consulted; we were not even informed of what
was about to happen; the whole affair was the conception of his
Excellency the Viceroy, and the attack was organised and carried out at
his instigation and order by the military and naval forces under his
command; the citizens took no part in it, so far as I am aware; or, if
any of them did so, it was only the comparatively few lawless ones who
are to be found in every community. Therefore, senor, I contend that
your quarrel, which I admit to be just, is not with the peaceful and
law-abiding citizens of San Juan, but with his Excellency the Viceroy,
who ordered the attack, and the military and naval officials who carried
it out."
A low murmur of approval and agreement ran round the assembly as the
speaker resumed his seat, and then there ensued a pause while George
waited to see whether anyone else had anything to say. Presently, in
response to the glance of inquiry with which he regarded the various
members of the assemblage, first one and then another arose and briefly
remarked that he fully concurred in what his compatriot had so well
said, until nearly, if not quite, all had expressed approval.
"Very well, senors," responded George, when at length he found that no
one had anything to add, "I am willing to accept your collective
assurance that the citizens of San Juan as a whole are guiltless of all
participation in, or approval of, the treacherous and unjustifiable
attack upon my countrymen of which I complain; therefore it follows that
the local representatives of the Spanish Government are the responsible
parties, and it is with them that I must settle the account. As I have
already informed you, I am here to demand the fullest and most ample
reparation for the outrage of which I complain, and for all loss and
damage attendant upon it; and I ask you, do you think it in the least
degree probable that the Viceroy will peaceably concede my demands? If
he will not, I shall exact them by force of arms; and in that case I
warn you all that it will be very difficult, if not indeed impossible,
for me to discriminate between public and private property; it will
therefore be for you, senor"--bowing to the alcalde--"to use your best
efforts to induce the Viceroy and those under him to arrange an amicable
settlement with me; for otherwise it may be necessary for me to, among
other measures, bombard your town!"
"Nay, nay, senor; not that, not that, I pray you!" exclaimed the
alcalde, starting to his feet in great agitation. "Think, most
Illustrious, think of the many innocent lives, of the women and
children, who must inevitably perish if you resort to such a bar--such
a--an--extreme measure as that which you threaten."
"I do think of it, senor alcalde," answered George; "but I think also of
my fellow-countrymen who died here as a consequence of Spanish
treachery, and also of those others who are at this moment lying captive
and pining in your dungeons; and the latter thoughts render me
inflexible. I will not fire a single shot at your town if I can help
it; and it must be your task, senor, to so conduct matters and represent
them to the Viceroy, that it shall be unnecessary for me to resort to
such an extreme measure."
"I will gladly do my utmost, most noble senor, to carry out such
instructions as you may be pleased to give me," answered the alcalde.
"That is well," said George. "I want you to convey to the Viceroy--by
the way, where is the Viceroy? Are you here as his representative?"
"Nay, not so, senor," answered the alcalde. "His Excellency is at
present in the city of Mexico. The Commandant of the military lies in
his house, sick of a fever and quite unable to transact business; and
that is why I am here."
"Um!" commented George. "That makes it rather awkward--for you, I am
afraid, senor." He considered a little, and then asked: "How long would
it take a well-mounted messenger to proceed to the city of Mexico with a
message, and return with an answer?"
"Six days at the very least, senor; the roads are very bad," was the
reply.
"Then that rules the Viceroy out of the question," said George, "for I
cannot spare the time to send messages backward and forward a six days'
journey. Now, as to the military Commandant: you say that he is too ill
to transact business. Is there not a sub-commandant, or some such
official, with whom I can deal?"
"There is, of course, the Captain of Soldiers, senor," answered the
alcalde. "But I come next in rank to the Commandant."
"Then," said George, "it is clear that you, senor, are the official with
whom I must deal; and if you are unwilling to bear the entire
responsibility, you must e'en share it with the military captain. Now,
these are my demands, which I will presently embody in a written
document, in order that you may have something to show when the time
comes for you to reckon with the Viceroy.
"First: I claim one million _pezos_ of gold to cover the loss of ships
and treasure resulting to my countrymen through the Viceroy's
treacherous attack upon them. Stay a moment, senor, that is only the
beginning of my demands,"--as the alcalde half rose to his feet,
protestingly.
"Secondly: I will put down the number of Englishmen slain on that
occasion at, let us say, three hundred and fifty. For the benefit of
those who were dependent upon those men I demand one thousand gold
_pezos_ each, or three hundred and fifty thousand in all.
"Thirdly: I demand the release of every Englishman now in your hands,
with certain provisos concerning them, which I will make known when they
have been delivered into my hands.
"And lastly: I will retain these twelve gentlemen, your companions, as
hostages on board my ship, to guard against any further treachery; the
understanding being that upon the first sign of anything of the kind, I
hang them, one after the other, at my yard
As one man the unhappy thirteen sprang to their feet, and for a few
minutes the cabin was vociferous with their protests. Saint Leger stood
listening with perfect calmness to the storm as it raged around him, and
his absolute imperturbability seemed at length to have a tranquillising
effect upon his unwilling guests, for, finally, realising that what they
said produced not the slightest visible effect upon him, they resumed
their seats one after another, and eventually peace was restored, the
party waiting eagerly to hear what reply might be forthcoming. Then
George once more spoke.
"I think, senors," he said, "that you are alarming yourselves quite
unnecessarily--unless indeed you feel that you are unable to rely upon
the good faith of your fellow-countrymen. For your safety depends
entirely upon that. So long as they can be content to deal
straightforwardly with me, no harm shall happen to you; it is only in
the event of treachery that you will have anything to fear, and surely
you can trust to your friend the alcalde to take all the steps needful
to prevent anything of that kind."