"Very well," he said; "but I must come and have a look at you
occasionally."
He was as good as his word. I remember his coming down once, but I was
very sleepy, and soon dropped off, so that I was no longer aware of what
was taking place.
The grey light of morning had found its way into the cabin when I awoke.
All was then quiet; the only sounds which reached my ears being the
heavy tread of the men on deck, the occasional creaking of a block, and
the ripple of the water against the sides of the vessel. By this I knew
that the vessel was under weigh. Feeling much better, I managed to get
out of my bed, and throwing a cloak over my shoulders, crawled up on
deck. We were standing down the Scheld, with all sail set, for the wind
had changed. The crew were still on deck, and, with the captain and
mates and A'Dale, were watching a large vessel which was following us.
So intent were they in watching the stranger that they did not observe
me. As soon, however, as Captain Davis's eyes rested on me, he
exclaimed:
"Go down below, Master Verner, and turn into your berth again. You had
no business to come on deck, and run the chance of getting the cold into
your wound. I am your doctor, as well as the captain of this ship, and
in both characters have a right to command you."
"I will obey you," I answered; "but pray tell me, what is that ship
astern?"
"That question is one I have no means of answering," he replied; "but go
down, I say, and perhaps A'Dale will tell you all about it when he is
wiser than I am."
A'Dale now came to the companion-hatch, and I was very glad to have his
assistance in going down again, and being helped into bed. He told me
that the captain was somewhat anxious about the vessel coming up astern;
that we had passed her in the early morning, and that soon afterwards
she was seen getting under weigh. We, however, having somewhat the
start of her, had hitherto kept ahead; but she was now fast coming up
with us, and if she was an enemy we might fare ill, however bravely our
men might fight.
"But does not the captain suppose she may be Captain Rover's ship?" I
asked. "He told me that she was not tar off, and that he was bound for
England."
"Captain Davis seemed rather to doubt that," he answered, as he went on
deck.
He soon returned, however, saying that I was right; and in a short time
the _Falcon_ was almost abreast of us. Captain Davis had had not only
my wound to dress, but those of three of his men who had been hurt. Two
had been killed, and their bodies were now resting at the bottom of the
Scheld.
Captain Rover hailed us through his speaking-trumpet, and expressed his
sorrow at hearing that I was hurt. The two captains agreed on the
course they were to steer, and promised to remain by each other, thus
being the better able to beat off those who might have been inclined to
attack us singly.
When the air became warmed by the sun, Captain Davis allowed me to
return on deck, for I could not bear being kept below. The water was
smooth and the sky bright, and our bulging sails were filled with the
fresh breeze. It was pleasant to watch the tall ship as she sailed by
our side, with pennants flying, and the muzzles of her guns peering
through her ports, and to think of the far-distant lands she had
visited. I hoped to have another opportunity of meeting Captain Rover,
and of hearing an account of his adventures. Thus the voyage continued.
At night our lanterns were lighted, which we carried on the poops and
forecastles, so that we might not run the risk of losing sight of each
other. Several times strange vessels were seen, but we held on our way
without being molested.
I still continued very weak, and I knew that such a wound as I had
received was not likely to be cured in a hurry. For my own sake, I was
very glad, therefore, when the shores of Essex on one side, and those of
Kent on the other, appeared in sight, and we glided slowly up over the
bosom of old Father Thames. The same breeze carried us along which had
brought us across from Flanders, and at length we cast anchor close to
the Tower.
Here Master Elliot, Sir Thomas Gresham's factor, came on board, and we
delivered over to him the goods we had brought. They were at once
carefully transferred into boats, and carried into the Tower, where Sir
William Cecil had ordered them to be stored. Here, under the
superintendence of Master Elliot, the coin was taken out; neither A'Dale
nor I, however, saw anything of that. Master Elliot, when he heard that
I was wounded, sent a litter, and had me conveyed to Master Gresham's
new house in Bishopsgate Street, which had been built during my absence
from England. Lady Anne had just come up to London, and received me
with especial kindness. She had many inquiries to make, not only about
Sir Thomas, but about her son and Aveline. I was sorry that with a good
conscience I could not give a better account of Richard. She sighed as
she heard my report.
"And my sweet Aveline, how is she?" she asked.
She watched me, I thought, as I replied; and I was afraid of blushing,
and betraying certain feelings which had long been agitating my bosom.
I was soon sufficiently recovered to attend the dinner-table, at which
Master Elliot, in his employer's absence, presided. Among the guests,
much to my satisfaction, I found Captain Rover, as well as Captain Davis
who had brought us over. The latter told me that, after a few slight
repairs, he should be ready again to sail, and to convey A'Dale and me
back to Antwerp. I learnt also from Captain Rover somewhat about the
numerous countries he had visited. He had been, I found, many years
from England in command of his ship, which belonged to a company of
merchant adventurers, in which company Sir Thomas Gresham had a share.
He had been acquainted with Sir Thomas from his youth, having always
sailed in ships either belonging to him, or to those with whom he was
connected.
On parting from Lady Anne, she gave me many charges with regard to her
son Richard.
"And above all things," she said, "remember you bring him and Aveline
ere long back to me in safety."
A'Dale joined me on board. He had been with his friends to the last
moment, and had a great deal to tell me about the wonders he had seen in
England, and the state of Queen Elizabeth, who had passed through the
City in a magnificent coach, all of gold and silver and silk. But the
grandest sight, according to A'Dale's idea, was the shooting for a great
wager of archery, in Finsbury Square, Lord Robert Dudley having been the
challenger.
We proceeded for some distance down the Thames aided by the tide, but
afterwards were kept a week in the mouth of the Medway, waiting for a
fair wind. After this, when we got to sea, we encountered a heavy gale,
which drove us back again into harbour. Thus three weeks passed before
we arrived at the mouth of the Scheld.
We had brought over a cargo of wool and hides, to be manufactured in the
Netherlands into numerous articles.
Sir Thomas approved of all that we had done. He now for the first time
heard of the _Diamond_ having been attacked by pirates, and of the
assistance which Captain Rover had afforded us.
"I hope that he will be here before long," he observed, "as I shall be
glad to offer him my best thanks, and perchance show him my gratitude in
a more substantial manner."
Having delivered my despatches to Sir Thomas, I hastened in search of
Aveline and Richard. On entering the sitting-room, the noise of the
opening door aroused Aveline, who was busy over her work, absorbed in
thought, so it seemed to me. She started up, and, as I approached, took
my hand.
"Why, Ernst!" she exclaimed, "what has happened? you look so pale and
ill."
I told her of our ship having been attacked by pirates, and she listened
with deep interest, so it seemed to me, to my narrative.
"And Richard," I asked, "how is he?" She pointed to a couch in a
recess, shaded by a curtain, and shook her head, while a sad look came
over her countenance. "He sleeps," she said. "He sleeps often now, and
a long time together, and every day grows weaker; but his father does
not observe it. I have not ventured to write to Lady Anne to tell her;
and I fear that her grief will be greatly increased when she hears of
what will, I am sure, ere long take place. I wish that he had never
been brought over here, and separated from her."
I need not say what further conversation passed between Aveline and me.
It was some time before Richard awoke. He seemed pleased at seeing me,
but I soon observed that the account which Aveline had given of him was
too correct. After the day of my arrival, I saw both him and Aveline
only for a short time in the evenings, being engaged in the
counting-house from an early hour in the morning till late every day.
There was a large amount of work to be done, and as Sir Thomas and
Master Clough never spared themselves, so they required us, their
inferiors, to labour with a like assiduity.
The state of the country was also becoming every day more and more
disordered. It is only surprising that this had not occurred at an
earlier period. Antwerp itself suffered, as well as other places.
Bands of ruffians went about the streets at night, attacking any unarmed
persons they met, and sometimes breaking into houses, when they carried
off whatever they could lay hands on, and had generally decamped before
the arrival of the watch or guard. At length the robbers so increased
in numbers, that the ordinary watch of the town could do nothing to
oppose them.
The persecutions continued as fierce as ever, the Inquisitor, Titelmann,
daily citing before him persons of all ranks and callings, men and
women, and compelling them by force to say whatever it pleased him.
Often he did so in revenge for words which they were accused of having
uttered against him, although he always used the pretext of heresy. The
Government of the Regent--the Duchess of Parma--was also employed in
ruining the country, edicts being passed to prohibit the importation of
cloth and wool from England. Shortly after this, another edict was
passed, prohibiting the importation of any merchandise or goods of any
sort from England; while no Flemish goods were allowed to be exported on
board English ships.
I was one evening seated at my desk at work, when the porter told me a
stranger wished to see me. I went down, and as the light fell on my
visitor's features, I recognised Captain Rover, who had rendered us such
essential service on board the _Diamond_.