"Yes; but one might die, and one might escape--and alack for the
survivor!"
Still the ladies insisted on remaining.
"Take your will, take your will, fair ladies. I would not quarrel with
you at such a time," he said in a mournful tone. "But I pray that
neither of you may be killed, though, perchance, a bullet may tear open
that fair cheek, or a splinter may deprive sweet Beatrice of an eye.
Although I doubt not Edward's love would stand the test, it would be a
sorry plight in which to greet him should we haply discover the land
where the Lion is cast away."
The fair damsels looked at each other.
"Brother Hugh, we will follow your counsel and seek shelter in the hold,
where we may offer up prayers for your safety," said Beatrice humbly,
Constance signifying, at the same time, that she agreed with her friend.
The stranger approached. A crescent was seen on her green ensign. She
was undoubtedly a Sallee Rover. They were in the latitude where those
vultures of the ocean were wont to cruise. Hugh hurried the ladies
below. The ports of the Esperanza were closed, and many of the crew
hidden away under the bulwarks, so that she looked but little able to
defend herself. Not that any ship in those days went to sea unarmed--as
well might a lamb attempt to sport among a troop of hungry lions. The
Sallee Rover approached, with her infidel banners flying, her brazen
trumpets braying, and her deck covered with turbaned swarthy Moors,
expecting to obtain an easy victory.
John Langton kept his good ship on her course without replying. He well
knew that, should victory not be obtained, the alternative must be
death, or--worse than death--a life-long slavery. Not a man on board
but resolved to triumph or to go down fighting for his own sake, but
much more for the sake of the fair ladies he had sworn to serve and
protect.
Louder blew the trumpets of the Moors as their ship came within shot of
the Esperanza. Nearer and nearer they drew. Their purpose, it seemed,
was to run the English ship on board, and to overcome her crew by
superior numbers. Captain Langton watched for the best moment to fire.
Already the dark-skinned infidels stood, with their scimitars in hand,
crowding the side, and some in the rigging, ready to spring on board.
"Raise the ports, and give it them!" shouted the brave English captain.
His gallant crew cheerfully obeyed, and the next instant twenty Moors
were seen struggling or dead, prostrate on the deck of the Rover, which
made a vain attempt to haul her tack aboard and sheer off. Again the
English crew loaded their guns ready to fire, as with a crash she ran
alongside. This time they were pointed at her hull, and fearful was the
execution they caused. Many of the Moors endeavoured to spring on the
deck of the Esperanza, but they were driven headlong back with pikes and
battle-axes, too late to regain their ship, which broke clear of the
Englishman, and they fell headlong into the sea. Then fearful shrieks
arose as the Esperanza sailed on--the Sallee Rover was sinking. Was
mercy to be shown to those who never showed it to others? The choice
was not allowed them. Before the canvas could be taken off the English
ship, the Rover had sunk beneath the sea, and not a Moor remained
struggling on the surface.
Beatrice and Constance, finding that the firing and turmoil of battle
had ceased, entreated that they might come on deck. They gazed around
in astonishment on every side; no foe was there; and except a few of the
crew with limbs bound up, and here and there the white splinters where
the shot from the Rover had struck the bulwarks, not a vestige of the
fight was to be seen. Even then the eyes of most on board were gazing
at the spot where the Rover had gone down, as if they expected to see
her emerge again from her watery grave. The damsels could scarcely
believe their senses.
"Heaven has fought for us," said Captain Langton. "We did our duty, but
no power of ours could have accomplished what has been done. I pray
that it may prove the first of many successes leading to that which may
crown our hopes."
"I pray so too, kind friend," answered Beatrice, her eyes filling with
tears as she thought of the danger from which they had been preserved.
Such was the tone of feeling of the voyagers--ay, and of many of the
boldest adventurers--of those days. They gave Heaven the praise for all
their deliverances and successes, and threw the blame when they failed
on their own folly and neglect. There were clear-sighted,
right-judging, and truly pious men in those days, who were laying the
foundation of England's glory and power. The age which produced a
Shakespeare produced many other gigantic intellects and true men.
The Esperanza sailed on, hope swelling the hearts of her owners and a
fair wind her canvas, till Afric's southern cape, known by the name she
bore, that of Bona Esperanza, appeared in sight.
Master Weedon counselled that they should not enter Table Bay, but
proceed on to Saldanha Bay as more convenient for watering, and where
they were less likely to receive interruption. As they drew near two
tall ships were seen at anchor. They might be foes more likely than
friends, where foes were so numerous and friends so few. The captain
seemed doubtful whether it were wise to enter.
"We may fight them if they oppose us, and conquer them as we did the
Rover," cried Hugh. "Maybe when they know our errand, whatever their
nation, they may be inclined to aid us."
Master Weedon seemed rather doubtful of this, but Captain Langton sided
with Hugh, and the Esperanza was accordingly steered towards the bay,
running up a white flag as a signal of truce at the fore. It was well
that this precaution was taken, for the strangers proved to be two
Hollanders, always jealous of the English who appeared in those parts.
The captains, however, when they found that their trade was not to be
interfered with, and that there were two fair ladies on board the
Esperanza, proved themselves to be honourable and courteous gentlemen.
They begged permission to visit the English ship, and offered all the
aid in their power to forward the object of the adventurers.
This aid was gratefully accepted, and picked men from their crews being
sent by them the rigging of the Esperanza was quickly set up, and other
repairs effected, and wood and water got on board, so that slid was able
to sail to the east in their company. Scarcely were the three ships out
of sight of land when several sail were espied coming from the west.
The Hollanders hailed to notify that they must be part of a Portugal
fleet which they had reason to expect ere long in those seas. Should
the Portugals espy them they would assuredly make chase and not spare
either ships or crews should they come off victorious. As more strange
ships were seen coming up, flight was their only prudent course. All
sail was made, accordingly, to escape. The strangers had espied them,
for they also crowded on canvas in pursuit. Captain Langton informed
the Hollanders that no English fleet had of late sailed with so many
ships as now appeared.
"Then they are Portugals, and we must escape them if we value our lives
or liberty," was the answer.
Though the Hollanders were stout ships, yet the Portugals had faster
keels, it seemed, for in spite of the wide spread of canvas set by the
former they gained rapidly on them. The Esperanza might have gone far
ahead; and though the Hollanders hailed and begged Captain Langton so to
do, he replied that it went against his stomach to do such an act--to
desert those who had befriended him. Hugh applauded his resolution, and
Beatrice and Constance agreed with him. The Esperanza therefore
shortened sail that she might not run away from her heavier-sailing
consorts. They insisted, however, that she should keep a short distance
ahead, that they might bear the first onslaught.
There was ample time to make every preparation for the fight, and the
shades of evening were coming on before the leading ships of the
Portugals got up with the stout Hollanders. It was now to be seen
whether to sail fast or to fight stoutly were of most avail. So
fiercely did the Hollanders receive their assailants that the first
three of them dropped astern in confusion; others coming up were treated
in the same manner. Hugh was so delighted with the bravery of the
Hollanders that he begged Captain Langton to drop astern into the fight.
"No, no, the post of honour is the station assigned to them," answered
the captain. "Should any of the Portugals pass our friends it will then
be our duty to fight them. Let us not wish to deprive the brave
Hollanders of the glory they are winning for themselves."