Will Peake, when the work of the day was done, was in vast great humour
to find me of the ship's company. He had scarce known me at first, so
changed was I by the perils of the last weeks. A score or more of
swashbuckling 'prentices were on board the ship, he said; and,
presently, when I saw them all, and heard their jests, and knocked some
of their heads together, I could have believed myself in Cheapside.
Having been some two weeks on board, they were mightily proud of their
seamanship, and delighted to call me (who had sailed as many seas as
they had ponds), landlubber.
However, it mattered not, and we spent a merry night--at least they
did--scudding before the wind, and watching the Spanish lanthorns
rocking uneasily in the darkness a mile ahead of us.
When daylight came, there they were in a long disorderly line, never
looking back, with canvas set, and still running. Some of our ships
hung close on their heels, like dogs at a flying ox; but scarce a shot
boomed, and never a tack did the Dons slack off their northward course.
As for us, there were two good reasons why we, on the _Vanguard_, should
not keep up the chase. We had neither shot to fire nor food to eat.
When I came forward that morning to receive my morsel of biscuit with
the rest, I understood how ill-pleased Master Winter had been to see
another hungry body on board his ship. Even yesterday, as we had helped
the bodies of the brave fellows who had fallen for their Queen
overboard, it was plain to see that there was something of consolation
joined to the pity we all felt for our lost comrades; and the sight of
my beggarly rations when I received them made it clear what that
consolation was.
So when, after a day's chase, the word was given to put about, and beat
up for Margate Roads, scarce a man among us had the stomach to grumble.
'Twas a long, dismal voyage that, in the face of the tempest--with short
and tedious tacks that sometimes left us at the day's end little nearer
our haven than at the beginning. And long before Margate was reached
half of our company was sick with famine.
I think as brave as any men who fought in that great sea-fight were the
few fellows of Will Peake's sort who kept up heart and spirit on that
sorry voyage back to Margate. I know I myself had been tempted often
enough to give over but for his cheery word in my ear; and if half the
crew remained loyal to their captain till we reached land, Master Winter
owed it not a little to his 'prentice-sailors. As for me, I was plague-
stricken before we passed the Thames mouth, and when at last we dropped
anchor in Margate Roads, Will told me he doubted whether I was worth the
lifting ashore.
Yet he did as much for me and more. He nursed me like my own brother,
and when, a week or two later, I was able to stand on my feet and set
one foot before another Londonwards, I owed it to him that I found
myself at last once more in the great city, and had life left in me to
look round and know where I stood.