Wearily the weeks went by after John Drake's death. What with the
miserable effect it had upon the whole company and the continual
rains, it was all that Harry and I could do to keep the men in good
heart. Indeed, our lives at that time were far from easy, not only
in respect of our spirits, because of our grief, but also in respect
of our bodies, because of the wet and cold, and, above all, the
legions of a certain grievous insect, which the constant rain seemed
to engender of the mud upon our islands.
We had suffered from them all along the coast, but never so
grievously as here. The Spaniards call them 'mosquitoes.' They are
insects of the bigness and similitude of reasonable gnats, but for
ferocity, persistence, and trumpeting past anything we know in
England. We often marvelled for what purpose they could have been
made, unless it were to punish Spaniards. Yet this reason halts, for
a mariner who had sailed in a ship of the Muscovy Company reported to
us that he had felt and seen them as bad, or worse, in the country of
the Samoits and Permians upon the Muscovy Sea.
Yet by constant work in strengthening our fort, and hunting with the
Cimaroons on the Main, no less than by every pastime Harry could
devise, we managed to keep in health till the general returned. It
was towards the end of November that he came back, with a prize of
some ninety tons, which, as well as his pinnaces, was laden with all
manner of provisions, not forgetting several botijos of good Spanish
wine.
Like ourselves he had suffered much from wet and cold, as well as
from want of meat, for he had found the whole coast thoroughly
alarmed and prepared for his coming. Yet had he taken not a few
prizes, and, what pleased him best, ridden out a storm which lasted
many days in the harbour of Carthagena itself, in spite of all the
Spaniards could do with horse, foot, ordnance, and treachery to drive
him thence.
But all the joy with which we might have talked over these things was
marred, because Jack was no longer there to take his part. Of
Frank's and Joseph's grief over the loss of their brother I will not
speak. Yet I know how deep it was, though they said but little.
Frank seemed to care no longer to jest over what the prisoners had
said about him, and when alone was very stern, though outwardly with
the men he would be cheerful as ever.
It was all the harder to bear since we were now condemned more than
ever to inaction. From what the general saw on his last-made voyage
to Carthagena, and the intelligences he had from the prisoners, he
was resolved to keep close, that the Spaniards might think us
entirely gone, until we could hear of the coming of the Plate Fleet,
when with better hope we could make our attempt by land against the
_recuas_ that came to meet it.
We were well able to lie still awhile, since our magazines were full,
and there was no necessity for our putting to sea for intelligence,
since the Cimaroons had spies out everywhere for the first tidings of
the coming of the fleet.
Frank's efforts to keep the men in good heart were redoubled, since,
now that the rains were beginning to abate, he knew the sun would
increase in power and draw all kinds of noxious humours and
exhalations from the sodden earth; against which danger he held there
was nothing so medicinable as a cheerful spirit.
Till the end of the year things went well, though in spite of all we
could do with daily worship, music, and sports, it was plain that
crude and heavy humours were being engendered in us by the sudden
change we underwent from cold to heat.
Our surgeon was ever urging Frank to permit him to rid the men of
these humours by strong purgations, but he would not consent to it,
rather serving out more wine to those who seemed most oppressed. So
we passed Christmas indifferently well; but, our merrymaking over,
things went worse than ever, with constant quarrels and murmuring,
which Frank bore with very patiently, knowing it was an infirmity of
the flesh rather than the spirit.
At last some lay down and would not be persuaded to any sport, and
before the end of the day our surgeon pronounced ten of them to be
sick of a calenture. Three days after half our company was down and
several dead. In vain did Frank and the surgeon try every remedy
they could devise. On the seventh day Joseph Drake was seized, to
his brother's great grief.
For some days our general had been very earnest to have made
discovery of this terrible disease by ripping open one of those who
had died, and now in hope to save his brother he openly proclaimed
his intention, but in spite of their sufferings the company murmured
so loudly at this profanation of their dead comrades that he was
compelled to forego his desire.
'They say I care not what indignity I set on them,' said Frank to me,
when I told him what the men were saying, 'so long as I save my
brother? Poor lads, they must be sorely sick in body and spirits to
say that. They shall see yet how they are all brothers to me, and
they shall have their way. Yet I would dearly love to make discovery
of the strange matter. It is hard, very hard, to lose Joe as well as
Jack.'
Yet so he did, and two days after Joseph Drake breathed his last in
his brother's arms. I saw tears drop from Frank's eyes as he bent
over the fair curly head that lay on his knee, watching the bright
young life go fitfully out. Joe had spoken last of his unhappy
mother, seeming to lament he had not been more kind to her, and this
memory had touched Frank, who was himself sick, more keenly than he
could bear.
So, as I say, he was weeping over his brother as he died. When the
last glimmer of life was gone he laid the fair head on the pillow,
and, kneeling down, prayed to God very earnestly that his brother
might be the last to die. Nearly all the company were gathered round
kneeling very respectfully as the general prayed. When he made an
end they all cried 'Amen,' and most tried in vain to keep back a tear
when they saw how tenderly their general leaned down and kissed the
calm young face of his dead brother.
All the time our rat-faced surgeon sat unmoved in the corner of the
house where we were. He alone did not kneel, but sat with his case
of knives on his knee, and never took his little round eyes off the
general. He shifted uneasily when Frank stooped to give his farewell
embrace to his brother, and looked more keenly than ever when he rose
up to his feet with dry eyes and the old resolute look on his face.
'Now, my lads,' said he, 'you may go. It is over. I thank you all
heartily for your prayers. Your duty is done, but mine and Master
Surgeon's is only begun. You would not let me do it before, and so
we have come to this pass; but, by God's help, this day we will make
an end. You thought I used you hardly when I would have done this to
one of your mates. So I stayed my hand, knowing how abominable it is
to unlearned men. Yet now you shall not hinder me, for between me
and my brother's body no one has a right to stand. Go now, and ere
long you shall know whether I hold my brotherhood to my father's son
higher than my brotherhood to you, my company.'
The rat-faced surgeon had opened his case, but the men still were
loath to go, as though they would have stayed Frank from his purpose,
and again the little black eyes looked keen and anxious at the
captain.
'Go, men!' cried Frank in a sharp, biting voice. 'It is I, Captain
Drake, who bid you, and whom you know.'
Slowly then they left. More than one stopped at the door to look
round at the surgeon rolling up his sleeves and shudder, till Frank's
set look sent them on their way. He beckoned me to stay; and indeed
I think he had need of some one to support him in his terrible
resolution. It is a fearful thing to use a body as we were about to
do, but what must it have been to Frank thus to desecrate the mortal
part of that fair youth he loved so well!
It made me sick to see how eagerly the surgeon went to his work. As
soon as we had stripped the corpse Frank drew from his pack a book he
had often spoken to me about. It was _The Anglishman's Treasure, or
the True Anatomy of Man's Body_, by Master Thomas Vicary. This he
held open in his hand, and signed to the surgeon to begin.
Over the terrible sight that followed let me draw the veil. To me it
was as heroic a spectacle as ever Agamemnon presented at Aulis. It
was a holy sacrifice by our general of his tenderest feelings. Yet
when I think how detestable, inhuman, and sacrilegous in most men's
eyes is the dissection of bodies, how it has ever been banned by the
Church, how there are many who would have it altogether prevented by
law, and how loathsome it is even in my eyes, who so well know its
necessity, I hasten from the picture that fills my memory, since I
have said enough for men to bear in mind this crowning act of Francis
Drake's heroical resolution. Everything he did before and afterwards
I think called for less from his noble nature than that. Many
high-sounding acts he achieved before his death, in the face of
danger and the heat of battle, with a constancy that will make true
English hearts beat higher for all time; yet nothing stamps hero on
his memory, to my thinking, like what that January afternoon he
steadfastly endured on that fever-stricken isle, in cold blood,
unshaken, unflinching, and almost unmarked. It was the first
experiment in anatomy that our captain made that voyage. I cannot
wonder it was also the last.
Even the surgeon was more moved than he, and in order to purge the
pestilent humours which he swore arose from the body and were the
cause of the disease he took so strong a dose of his own compounding
that he never spake again, nor did his boy, who also tasted the
medicine, recover wholly till we reached England.
Frank, therefore, became surgeon himself, and whether from the
knowledge he had gained by his terrible experiment on his brother, or
whether by using different remedies, or none at all, I know not, but
certain it is that from that time no more died, and those that were
sick began rapidly to mend.
Still we had suffered heavy loss before it was all ended, and many
were for giving up our voyage, protesting it was useless to attempt
to 'make' it with so maimed a company. But Frank would not hear such
counsel, and cheerfully encouraged them to endure a little longer.
Our joy then may be judged when on the last day of January some of
the Cimaroons, who ever since our first meeting with them had been
continually ranging up and down the country to gather news, reported
of a certainty that the Plate Fleet had put into Nombre de Dios.
A pinnace was at once despatched to the outermost island of the
Cativaas to confirm this report, whereby our general hoped to test
how far our allies were worthy of trust, since he knew that if it
were as they said, the victuallers would be seen flocking to the
ships with supplies.
Within a few days the pinnace returned bringing the joyful
confirmation we desired, and something more which we very little
desired, namely, thirteen Spanish prisoners, and amongst them the
_Scrivano_ of Tolu and a black-eyed comely girl, his daughter. These
had been taken on a frigate laden with victuals, which had been dealt
with for the sake of getting certain news of the fleet.
Nothing could have embarrassed us more in the last preparations we
had now to make for our land journey. To release the prisoner was
impossible, since they would have straightway spread the news which
it was our business to conceal. While to keep them was to have them
in constant danger of being cruelly massacred by the Cimaroons.
Frank took every precaution that was possible. The prisoners were
landed on 'Slaughter Island,' as we called it, since we had lost so
many of our company there, so as to keep the Cimaroons from sight of
them, and then speedily set on board our great Carthagena prize,
which lay moored hard by the island.
Here they were all brought before our general to be questioned. He
received them in such state as we could make upon the poop, and
presently encouraged them to fear nothing, for they seemed very ill
at ease as not knowing what treatment they should get at our hands.
In the midst of his speaking I saw the girl draw a knife from her
breast, and with the suddenness of a cat spring upon Frank. In truth
I think he must have been very near his death had not I seized her
hand, being prepared by what I had seen, and held her.
It was all I could do to keep her from him, for she writhed and
struggled in a frenzy of passion and would not be pacified, till,
much against our will, we were forced to bind her pretty hands behind
her for the sake of peace, as though she had been a common mariner.
Then she stood alone in the midst before Frank helpless, panting, and
flushed, a passingly beautiful picture. Her luxuriant black hair was
loosened in her struggles and fell all about her face, and her large
dark eyes were flashing defiance at Frank as she drew herself up
proudly before him, looking like some young tigress fresh caught from
the forest in the plenitude of her wild youth and beauty.
'Well, my beauty,' says Frank good-humouredly, 'this is strange
woman's work! Why will you force on us such discourtesy as to fit
you with such rude bracelets. Your pretty white arms were meant for
other work than this.'
'I know that,' she answered scornfully; 'but when men turn women,
women must do men's work. You--you are men, and know not what it is
for a woman to be amongst such curs as these, who cower to be kicked
at the very sight of an Englishman, and let you heretic Lutheran dogs
plunder good Catholics as you will and then whine to the Blessed
Virgin to help their cowardice. Ah, if we had a few hearts like
yours and mine then you should see!'
'God forbid,' says Frank, 'that we meet many men like you, else
surely will our voyage take more making than we bargained for.'
'Ah, you are a man,' she said, 'and you know. I am glad I did not
kill you now, though I vowed the first time I met him to attempt with
my bodkin the life of the Dragon Francisco.'
'Dragon Francisco is good,' laughed Frank. 'Were you twice as wild
you should have your bracelets off for that! Loose her, Jasper; she
will be quiet now.'
'Ah,' she said again, as I undid her bonds, 'you are a man. It is
long since I felt a man's hand.' With that she threw herself at the
captain's feet, and, taking his rough hand in hers, kissed it
ardently. Then without a word she walked away from where we sat, and
quietly fell to twisting up the great masses of black hair that clung
about her, which was a wonder to us all.
Having got the intelligence we required from the prisoners, it
remained but to set a guard over them, both to prevent their escape
and to keep an eye on the Cimaroons. I think Mr. Oxenham would have
very gladly undertaken this labour for the sake of those same
lustrous dark eyes; but Frank would not have it so, and appointed me
to it, bidding me treat the prisoners with all courtesy so far as I
could, having regard to their safe-keeping.
I did not much relish my wardship of the wild girl, though I think I
was as much taken with her beauty and spirit as any of us. For Frank
would not have her put under constraint, though he suffered me to
keep the rest below hatches when night came on. So I allotted her
the best place in the poop, and bade her good-night.
As the night wore on my anxiety only increased, and, being unable to
sleep, I went to walk on deck. It was a glorious tropic night, with
the moon flooding the dark forests and studded islands and the
slumbering sea with a brilliancy we do not know in the Old World. It
was so beautiful that I bade the look-out man go to rest, saying I
did not wish to sleep and would keep his watch for him. He seemed
very surprised, but thanked me civilly and went below.
As I watched alone on deck the Spanish girl kept constantly in my
thoughts. Whatever way I tried to think my mind always came back to
her, and her white skin and beautiful eyes, so flashing in anger, so
soft in peace. I began to dread she would be the cause of
contentions amongst us, and to long for the time when we should be
well away on our land journey.
I was sitting on the forecastle, and had been there perhaps for the
space of half an hour, when, just as the Señorita was most vividly in
my thoughts, I saw the poop door stealthily open and a strange figure
appear. I knew in a moment who it was, in spite of her being so
changed. It was plainly the Spanish girl, looking more beautiful
than ever in the dress she had adopted. It was nothing more than the
ordinary apparel which the Spanish mariners use in those seas,
consisting of loose striped drawers reaching just above the knee, and
an easy-fitting sleeveless shirt of white material, which she had
girt tightly about her waist with a red scarf.
Too amazed to act, I could only watch her ripe young figure, which
her dress set off to its full beauty, creeping warily forward towards
me. Very quietly I sunk lower into the shadow of the bulwarks to
watch what she would do.
Every now and again she looked round in some new and graceful posture
to see if she were watched. At last she reached the foremast, to
which was fixed the mutilated image of the Virgin and Child, and
there she fell upon her knees and began to pray in a low earnest
voice that I could just hear.
'Holy Mother of God,' she said, 'for the last time I beseech thine
aid to support me across the dark waters, to guide me through the
forest, to bring me safely to Nombre de Dios, that thy loving
worshippers may come at my word and destroy the heretics that would
plunder the treasure which his most Catholic Majesty would devote to
thy service, saving only, if it be not sin, Captain Francisco Draque,
whom it were a pity to kill, and the sad-faced man who has warded me
so courteously, and who, I think, is half in love with me.'
Then she rose and walked with desperate quickness towards the side,
but ere she had gone three steps I had leaped down into the waist,
and she was struggling frantically in my arms. I was resolved to
stay her from the wild purpose her brave spirit was bent on. As she
writhed in my grasp I remember being rather afraid that she should
fall into the hands of the Cimaroons than that we should be betrayed
to the Spaniards.
Like an eel she strove to get free, her dress giving her perfect
freedom to strain every effort. So tenderly did I feel towards her
for the sake of her heroic attempt that I was only thoughtful how not
to hurt her, but it was misplaced kindness, for suddenly she slipped
from my loosened grasp. In a moment she was at the bulwarks, poising
herself for a spring into the water, when suddenly she gave a low cry
of horror and sprang back into my arms as I rushed to her side.
In an extremity of abject terror, to which her resolution was
suddenly changed, she clung about me, trembling from head to foot.
'Save me, Señor, save me!' she gasped, as she sank down clasping my
knees wildly. 'O God, O Sancta Maria! see what is coming,--O God,
what will they do to me! I cannot bear it. Save me, Señor, save me!'
So distractedly did she cling to me that I was obliged to lift her in
my arms before I could get to the side to see what had frightened
her, and then I could not wonder how her courage had melted, for I
saw a sight that made my blood run cold.
Close to the ship and moving swiftly towards her swam over half a
score of black woolly heads. The ghostly moonlight glittered white
on the long wake that stretched behind each, and on their rolling
eyes, and, worst of all, on a grizzly knife which each held in his
grinning teeth. Like some hellish monsters engendered in the foul
womb of the sea they came on with lusty strokes, silent, sure, and
determined.
There was no time to fetch my caliver or wake the guard had I been
willing to do so. But this was far from my wish; for I feared, had
they known the negroes' purpose and seen the terror of their pretty
prisoner, they would have dealt more hardly with our allies than the
general would have liked. Moreover, to be plain, I had a still
stronger reason for what I did; for I could not bear to think that
those rough men should see my beautiful captive so scantily yet
withal so prettily clad as she was. So, drawing my rapier, I sprang
to the gangway, for which they were making.
'Back, back!' I cried, as low as I could for them to hear. 'The
first man that tries to board has my blade through him.'
That, I thought, dismayed them, for each as he swam up stopped
without attempting to board, which they might easily have done; for
the ship, being full of victuals, was very low in the water, and,
moreover, two chains hung down the side by the gangway. I was in no
little doubt how I could deal with them should they make any attempt,
for I feared that my terrified Señorita would much hamper my
movements, since she had followed me to the gangway. Therefore, to
further dissuade them, I fell to showing them how ill the general
would take what they did, seeing the prisoners were his.
Even as I spoke I was much encouraged to feel the Señorita's arm
steal round me and draw from its sheath the strong sailor's knife I
always wore. I knew then the brave girl had recovered her spirit. I
could not refrain from pressing the little hand as it closed round
the hilt of the knife, to let her know how I marked her courage.
My speech had small effect on the Cimaroons; for though they still
held off, yet they seemed not to note my words, but only to glare
horribly at the girl by my side. Wondering what next to do, I was
all at once aware that most of them had disappeared. There was
something so unearthly and magical in this sudden vanishing that my
heart misgave me. While I could see my foes I did not fear but that
I could deal with them as I wished; but now I was encompassed by
unseen dangers, and in that ghostly moonlight, I say plainly, I was
afraid.
Nothing would have been more to my mind than to cry aloud and wake
the sailors. Yet I set my teeth hard and gripped anew Harry's
rapier. I felt he would have done as I hoped for courage to do, and
I clung to my former resolution. Yet I saw it was useless to wait
where I was, so, taking the Señorita's hand, I led her towards the
poop. Half-way there she looked back, started, and clutched my arm.
'Look, Señor, look,' she whispered, 'look at the forecastle.'
I turned and saw the evil sight I dreaded. Black against the moonlit
sky the wet, shining figure of a Cimaroon was climbing over the
bulwarks where our head-fast ran out. I knew directly they must have
dived to the cable and climbed up by it. In another minute they
would all be aboard.
Then I knew there was but one thing to do, and ran quickly under the
poop-gallery with the Señorita.
'Go in, Señorita,' said I, as soon as we reached the door. 'You must
leave me to deal with these alone.'
'No, Señor,' she answered, 'I will not leave. I am not afraid now.
It was only for a moment. I will stay and fight them with you.'
'There is no need,' said I; 'I am going to rouse the mariners.'
Indeed, it was time. One after another I could see the black forms
climb over the bulwarks, dripping and gleaming in the moonlight, and
each with his bright knife. A hideous head, too, was glaring over
the gangway, as though waiting for the rest. Still the Señorita
would not go, but rather stepped out into the moonlight to be farther
from the door, which I held open.
'No! I will wait with you,' she said resolutely. 'Why should I not
wait and fight beside the sailors when they come?'
'Because, Señorita,' said I, growing desperate as I saw the wet,
shining forms creeping athwart the forecastle, 'because they are
rough men, and I would not have them see you as you are.'
A crimson flush overspread her beautiful face. With wide astonished
eyes and parted lips she met my gaze for a moment.
'Ah!' she cried then, just as she had to Frank, 'you are a man!'
Dropping the knife as she spoke, she sprang towards me, and before I
was aware what she did she had taken my face between her soft little
hands and kissed me on the lips. Then she was gone; and even as that
fair vision passed I saw black forms dropping from the forecastle
into the waist. Loudly then I shouted to my company, and ere the
Cimaroons had advanced many paces one of the mariners came running up
to me, and then another, and another, blowing up their matches.
That was enough for the Cimaroons, who we afterwards found had no
heart to stand before gunpowder. One of them uttered a loud cry, and
then with one accord they all leaped into the sea. Lustily they made
for the shore, and I had much ado to prevent my small-shot men and
archers hastening their swimming, but at last I prevailed.
After that I set a double watch, but we were no more disturbed that
night. Next day I reported these things to the general, who so dealt
with the Cimaroons, and took such order for a guard over the
prisoners, that the Spaniards were no more molested till we departed
on our land journey, though the negroes ceased not to urge him by
every device they could think of to permit them to have at least a
few to murder, or better than naught, the girl alone.
As for me, I craved to be relieved of my charge, feeling that after
what had passed it would be better for us both if the captive had
another warder; but Frank only laughed, and said he could trust no
one, not even himself, with that lump of Eve's flesh, unless it were
a sober scholar like myself. With that answer, whereby he showed
less knowledge of men than ordinary, I had to be content, and bear
myself as soberly and scholarly towards my prisoner as I could make
shift to do till the time came for our departure.