IN SEARCH OF THE PLATE FLEET.
It had been night-time when the fleet cast anchor under shelter of the
island of Flores--the most westerly of the Azores; and if any of the
younger members of the expedition who had not before gazed upon foreign
land had hoped to witness aught that was novel or surprising, they had
perforce to content themselves for the time being with the sight of a
stretch of dark land rising out of a blue moonlit sea. Here and there,
it is true, they could discern the black outline of a tall date-palm
against the lighter background of the sky, poised, as it were, on the
ridge of some rugged hill. But when the morning came the sloping land
could be clearly seen with its terraces of vine and its blossoming
orange-trees and its plantations of olives; and at the foot of the
cliffs there was a long white line of foam, where the Atlantic rollers
broke upon the rocky shores.
The _Revenge_ lay so near to the shore that the people of the island,
who had come down from their village on the hillside, could be
distinctly seen standing in a group looking out in wonder at the ships.
And some of them had even put out their boats and were paddling towards
the ships in the hope of doing some trade in the selling of fresh fruit.
When they came alongside, certain of the officers bought a few bunches
of luscious grapes or baskets of oranges and dates; but what was most
required was a supply of fresh water, and for this the English saw no
reason why they should pay money or money's worth, and their own boats
were better fitted for the carrying of water-beakers than those of the
natives. So, ere the sun was yet high above the horizon, two boats of
the _Revenge_ were launched, and a like number from each of the other
ships, and they were pulled towards the beach.
In one of the _Revenge's_ boats went Gilbert Oglander. He sat at the
tiller, and he steered her round under the stern of Jacob Whiddon's
bark, the _Pilgrim_, that lay but a cable's length away from his own
ship. As he passed under her high counter one of her own boats shot out
from her larboard side, and her men pulled vigorously at their oars as
if intent upon having a race. Gilbert glanced at her rowers as she came
abreast of him, and as he caught sight of the youth at her helm he
started in amazement. For a moment he could not believe the evidence of
his own eyes. But when the youth turned half-round with his face full in
view there could be no mistake as to his identity, and Gilbert cried
aloud in a voice that carried far across the waves:
"Tim! Timothy! Timothy Trollope!"
And Timothy (for it was in truth he) touched his cap in salutation, and
answered cheerily:
"Give you good-morrow, Master Oglander. Prithee, hast had a pleasant
voyage, withal?"
"Ay, truly," returned Gilbert. "But 'sdeath, Tim, I thought not to see
you here!"
And then the boats drew apart, and Timothy remained out of sight in the
rear for some ten minutes, until the keels grounded on the pebbles of a
little sheltered creek whither the boats from the _Defiance_ had already
led the way. And when Gilbert leapt ashore he ran across some rocks to
where Timothy's boat was arriving; he caught the painter-rope that was
thrown to him, and drew the craft inward through the deep green water to
the edge of the rock. As Timothy stepped out, Gilbert, remembering
nothing of the disagreement that had come betwixt them, took the lad by
the hand and clapped him on the shoulder in very joy.
"Well met!" said he; "well met!" he repeated. "But why, since thou'rt
sailing i' the fleet, Tim, didst thou not come aboard the _Revenge_,
quotha? There was ample room for thee."
Timothy smiled awkwardly.
"I cared not a groat which ship I sailed on, so that it were but in the
following of my lord the admiral," said he, as he strode over the rough
rocks towards a little grassy knoll beyond. "'Tis true I had wished to
be aboard one of the Queen's ships rather than on a mere adventurer such
as Jacob Whiddon's _Pilgrim_. Yet so hard did my father urge my staying
at home, even to the last day, that 'tis a marvel that I did end by
gaining his consent to my coming at all, and it was by sheer good luck
that I succeeded in getting a berth with Whiddon."
"Wouldst come aboard the _Revenge_ even now an I got thee entered on her
books, Tim?" questioned Gilbert.
"Ay, gladly," returned Timothy; "for I do assure thee the life we have
had since leaving Plymouth hath been none too comfortable; and the food
is less to be desired than that which I have ofttimes seen bestowed upon
the swine at Modbury Manor. As for the beer they give us, I vow I'd
rather regale myself on the water out of the sea. Ay, gladly would I
join the _Revenge_. And yet," he added, with a curiously undecided look
in his eyes, "'tis surely passing strange, Master Gilbert, that thou
shouldst ask me aboard the same ship with thyself, seeing that when last
we parted it was upon no friendly terms."
"I should willingly forget and dismiss from my mind the matter that
parted us," said Gilbert. "And I will own now that I made a huge mistake
in my judgment of thee, Tim. I fear thou wert right in thy estimate of
my uncle. I blush to think it, but I am well-nigh convinced that he was,
as you said, engaged in plotting on the side of our country's enemies."
"It may be that you will have proof of it when we return to England,"
observed Timothy. And then with a "God-speed you", he turned and
rejoined his shipmates, wondering the while at Master Oglander's
friendly feeling towards him.
When Timothy again went on board the _Pilgrim_ he sought out her captain
and told him of the offer that Gilbert had made, beseeching Jacob
Whiddon to let him join the _Revenge_ if it should so chance that Sir
Richard Grenville would have him. Captain Whiddon murmured some
objections, saying that his acquaintance with Timothy during the voyage
had taught him the lad's value.
"Nevertheless," said he, "if you are a handy man on board this small
craft, I doubt not that you would prove even more so in a wider sphere.
'Tis your own advantage that I consider, Timothy, and looking at the
matter thus, it would ill become me to refuse your pleading."
For the rest of that day, and during the day that followed, Timothy cast
many a longing glance towards the _Revenge_. So often did he look at the
ship that very soon he came to know every rope of her rigging, every
spar of her masts, and every plank of her richly-carved and gilded hull.
She was a comely vessel, he thought, with her tall poop and her
glittering brass guns, her waving flag of St. George, and her crew of
merry, stalwart men. But the days passed and yet no message came to him,
and he began to think that Gilbert Oglander had surely forgotten all
about him.
During these days the ships remained in the same positions as they had
taken up when they had cast anchor. At times the boats would be sent
ashore, or to one or other of the victuallers; but there was no sign of
growing activity, nothing to indicate that the expected treasure-ships
were at hand.
Two weeks went by and still all remained as before. But on a certain
Monday morning in early April, when Timothy sat with some of the men
enjoying the bright sunshine on deck, he observed a boat putting off
from the _Revenge_. He watched it idly, growing more eager when he saw
that it was approaching the _Pilgrim_, and that Gilbert Oglander sat in
her stern seats.
Very soon the boat was alongside, and Gilbert climbed up the ship's side
ladder and stepped on deck, and strode aft to the captain's cabin.
There he remained for many minutes, delivering some message from Sir
Richard Grenville. When at length he came again upon the deck he sought
out Timothy Trollope--no difficult task, seeing that Tim was patiently
waiting for him at the gangway.
"Didst think I had forgotten thee, Tim?" said Gilbert. And then, without
waiting for answer he added: "Get thy trappings and baggage ready, lad,
and come aboard the _Revenge_ with us; for Sir Richard hath consented to
thy coming, and hath bidden me fetch thee."
It occupied Timothy but a few moments to gather his belongings together;
for in truth they made but a scanty bundle, needing no great
consideration in the packing. With his morion slung basket-wise on his
arm, his corselet gripped by the shoulder-straps, his sword dangling at
his side, and his small canvas bag of spare clothing carried on his
back, he followed Gilbert Oglander into the boat, and waving a farewell
to his old shipmates he was rowed alongside the _Revenge_.
Timothy was somewhat awed by the sight of Lord Thomas Howard on the
ship's quarter-deck, where the admiral, arrayed in a suit of spotless
gray velvet trimmed with silver lace, paced to and fro in earnest
colloquy with Sir Richard Grenville.
Lord Thomas, it seemed, had been making a tour of his fleet that
morning, inspecting the ships and giving various instructions to his
captains. When Timothy came on board the whole company of the _Revenge_
were being mustered on the upper deck. Gilbert Oglander presented him to
the purser, who straightway entered his name on the ship's books.
When the roll had been called, the admiral and the vice-admiral,
standing at the forward rail of the quarter-deck, looked down upon the
sea of sunburnt faces and continued their conversation. Presently Sir
Richard Grenville leaned over the rail and spoke to one of the officers
who stood below.
"Master Tremayne," said he, "send me up the man Hartop--Jacob Hartop."
And when the word had been passed forward, Jacob Hartop strode towards
the stairs and mounted to the quarter-deck, where he saluted the two
great men.
Lord Thomas Howard signed to him to approach nearer, saying at the same
time:
"It seemeth you are passing well acquainted with these islands, my man?"
"I have good reason to know them well, my lord," returned Jacob. "I lost
my ship off this same island of Flores--a ship that was loaded even to
the gunwales with Spanish treasure--and for two weeks I cruised among
the Azores in an open boat in search of a vessel to fetch me home to
England. I have been ashore on every island in the group, and have lived
in Terceira for full three months. Yes, my lord, so please you, I know
them well."
"Good!" nodded the admiral. "And I doubt not you can manage a small boat
if need be?"
"Ay, or a large," said Jacob. "I am well trained in navigation, as Sir
Richard Grenville can avouch."
"Enough," said Lord Thomas. And then, becoming more familiar in his tone
of speech, he told Jacob that he had a mind to send him off for a cruise
to the westward with the purpose of keeping an outlook for the
appearance of the Spanish treasure-ships. "You shall have a good,
swift-sailing fly-boat," he said, "and may choose your own companions
for crew. And when you catch sight of the plate fleet it shall be your
object to hasten back with all speed to our anchorage here and warn us
of their coming."
"Right well do I understand," agreed Jacob. "Prithee, when do I set
off?"
"When you list," said Lord Thomas; "but at noon to-day at the latest,
for it may be that they are already within a day's sail of the islands."
So Jacob Hartop, having received full instructions, returned to the
upper deck. And as he was passing the main-mast he caught sight of
Timothy Trollope and touched him on the elbow, bidding him follow him.
"I am glad to see thee aboard of us, Master Timothy," said he, shaking
the lad by the hand. "And in truth you are in goodly time. Art willing
for an adventure, lad?"
"Ay, in faith am I that," said Tim. "I am ill of this weary waiting and
ceaseless idleness. But what mean you by adventure, Master Hartop?"
Then Jacob opened out to him his plans for the cruise in search of the
enemy, and asked him to be one of his little crew.
Timothy at first leapt gladly at the proposal, but at the next moment he
shook his head in doubt.
"How will it be," said he, "if the Spaniards should come before we
return? I should then see naught of the fighting, and I would not for
anything in the world miss such an experience."
"You need have no fear as to that, my boy," returned Jacob, "for shall
we not be the first to see them when they come? Yea, 'tis for that
reason that we go, so that we may hasten back and give the alarm. Come,
be not afraid that we shall miss aught by our absence; for I do vouch
for it that if you remain on board the _Revenge_ it will be but a weary
time of waiting and inactivity, whereas in our boat we shall at the
least be moving from place to place with the chance of adventure. I had
thought that you would rejoice at the opportunity, as did Master
Oglander when I broached the matter to him."
Timothy's face brightened up at these last words.
"You had not told me that Master Gilbert was to come," said he. "In that
case, I will certainly consent."
"'Twas he who bade me ask you," remarked Hartop; "for you must know that
we had word of the thing full three days ago, when Sir Richard
Grenville, with more impatience than my Lord Thomas hath yet shown, saw
the merit of sending out scouts, and made up his mind to speak with Lord
Thomas as he hath done this morning."
In something less than an hour's time Jacob was ready with his little
crew, which he had chosen with the thought of friendliness rather than
with any regard to their special fitness for the expedition. The old
gunner, Edward Webbe, was a useful man, in that he could not only manage
a boat, but could also, if necessary, speak with any Spaniards or
Portuguese in their own tongue, and he also knew the islands. Timothy
Trollope was strong for the pulling of an oar when the wind would not
serve for the use of the sail, while Gilbert Oglander had marvellously
keen eye-sight, and might therefore be depended upon for a look-out.
Young Robin Redfern was chosen for no greater reason than that he had
pleaded to accompany Master Oglander, and because he was of no great
bulk and would therefore occupy very little room in a boat whose
accommodation was limited. All five were disguised as fishers, and their
boat, which was rigged with a lateen-sail, might well be mistaken at a
distance for a Biscayan fishing-boat. The provisions wherewith she was
stored were sufficient to serve for two weeks.
A light breeze from the south-east blew over the sea as Jacob Hartop
took his little craft out of the roadstead at the north of Flores
Island where the fleet lay at anchor. A projecting headland soon hid the
ships from view, and towards evening the land itself was but a dim blue
line on the horizon in the east. At nightfall the crew was divided into
watches, and Timothy, Webbe, and Robin Redfern slept while Hartop and
Gilbert remained awake, keeping the boat before the wind as she sailed
ever westward. But at sunrise on the next morning the course was altered
to the south, and so maintained until noon, when it was again altered to
the north. And so, backward and forward, north and south, the cruising
was kept up day after day. But it was not until the evening of the ninth
day that a single sail was sighted.
It was Robin Redfern who caught the first glimpse of the vessel--a mere
dark speck against the sunset sky.
"They are coming! they are coming!" he cried, half in terror and half in
joy. And in a moment his four companions were standing up on the boat's
half-deck and gazing out with searching eyes across the ocean.
"What make you of her, Master Oglander?" questioned Jacob Hartop in a
quiet, deeply earnest tone as he gripped one of the stays to steady
himself while the boat rose to meet the great Atlantic rollers.
Gilbert shielded his eyes from the strong light of the sunset as he
stood with one arm clasped about the mast.
"'Tis a goodly ship in the matter of size," he presently said; "yet I
can see but little of her hull, for she is bow-on, sailing eastward as
it seemeth."
"Haply 'tis one of their quick-sailing advance guards," suggested Webbe.
But Hartop silently continued to look out upon the sea with his brows
bent and an expression of grim expectancy in his cold gray eyes.
"Canst make out if there be more than one ship?" he asked after a long
pause. "Mark it well, my boy; for it were best that we make the matter
full certain ere we fly back with the alarm."
Gilbert's eyes slowly swept the line of the horizon.
"No," he said; "there is but the one."
"Then we may not yet return," said Hartop; and turning to Timothy
Trollope he added: "Take you the tiller, Tim, and keep our head to the
westward until the dusk hath fallen. By that time we should know more."
The wind served well for this new course, and the boat sped on. But when
the sun had sunk the strange ship could no more be seen, for the bright
yellow afterglow was speedily obscured by a gray sea-mist.
Earlier on that same day they had observed that the sea was plentifully
strewn with tufts of sea-weed, and below their boat, when they had
looked over the gunwale and peered down into the depths of the water,
they had seen dense forests of marine growth thickly entangled, and
many thousands of jelly-fish and other denizens of the deep.
Jacob Hartop had shown more interest and concern in this fact than any
of his companions.
"'Tis for all the world like what I have seen many times in the Sargasso
Sea," said he. "And yet it cannot surely be that we have come so far to
the westward as that."
But as the evening wore on and the water became yet more densely full of
living things, he shook his head gravely and murmured a wish that they
had turned back towards the Azores. "For," said he, "if it be that we
are on the fringe of the Sargasso Sea there is no knowing what may
befall us."
"And prithee, Jacob, what manner of dangers do you fear?" questioned
Edward Webbe. "Sure there can be no peril in sailing over a forest of
harmless sea-weeds."
"'Twas in the Sargasso Sea that I lost my ship," said Jacob. "I know the
place full well, and never do I wish to be back in it again. Hast never
heard of it, Ned?"
Webbe shook his head and smiled as he answered:
"Mayhap I have heard the name. But it seemeth to me that we are now in
the Atlantic Ocean; and if thou dost declare that we are nigh unto any
other sea, why, I can only believe that thou art dreaming."
"Well do I know that we are in the Atlantic," returned Hartop, "though a
good piece farther to the westward than we had intended. But you must
know that this Sargasso Sea of which I speak, is itself a part of the
Atlantic--and a part which all wise mariners do avoid. 'Tis in places
naught but a solid mass of sea-weed, so dense as to support the weight
of a man, yea, even of a ship. Once within its confines, 'tis rare that
a vessel doth ever escape; and most men who have been through it will
tell you strange and marvellous tales of hideous monsters with hundreds
of arms, that dart out and entwine in their grip of death all who come
within their venomous reach."
"Then I pray you let us adventure no farther," said Webbe, "for I, at
least, have no great wish to be embraced by such arms. Let us turn back,
Jacob."
"I would that we were once more aboard of the _Revenge_," muttered young
Robin Redfern, who lay stretched upon the half-deck at Gilbert
Oglander'a feet. "Who knows but that the Spaniards have already passed
us, and been overmastered and taken home to England."
"There can be little harm in keeping on our present course until
sunrise," said Jacob Hartop, not heeding the boy's remark. "Then, if we
see no sign of the plate fleet, we can turn about and make a run for
Flores."
"Ay," added Webbe, "it were even wise to turn at the first peep of dawn;
for, mind you, it would go ill with us if we should find ourselves in
the very midst of the galleons without a chance of escape."
And so they held on westward; and when darkness fell over the sea,
Hartop and Gilbert curled themselves up under their rugs in the boat's
well and went to sleep, leaving Timothy in charge of the tiller and
Webbe and Robin on the watch forward.
It may be that the recent mention of the loss of his ship lingered in
Jacob's mind as he fell asleep, for, as he dreamt, he saw himself once
again upon her deck. A great galleon she was. He had won her in battle
from the Spaniards, and as she was a better vessel than his own poor
craft, he had converted her to his own use, and taking his own crew
aboard of her had hoisted the red cross of St George and cruised with
her as a buccaneer on the Spanish Main, conquering many another ship of
Spain and transferring their treasures to his own hold, until the
galleon was weighed down almost to her lower port-holes with the weight
of gold that she carried. And then on a certain night when he was
homeward bound he lay in his cabin asleep, and there had come to him one
of the ship's boys to tell him that the galleon had sprung a leak and
was sinking. He heard the boy calling him now as he lay in his dreams in
the _Revenge's_ boat, sailing on those same seas.
"Master Hartop!" the boy cried, laying his hand on the old buccaneer's
breast. "Master Hartop! Quick! quick!"
Jacob turned over and sat up, and found himself not in his ship's cabin
but in an open boat. And the boy who had called him was young Robin
Redfern, who now stood over him with a face as white as the sea-foam,
and with his hand that held the boat's lantern trembling as if with
palsy.
"'Sdeath, boy!" cried Hartop. "What in the world hath happened?"
Robin raised his free hand and pointed over the boat's gunwale across
the water.
"Look!" he cried. "What can it mean?"