The Boy who sailed with Blake Part 15

The wind s.h.i.+fted to the north north-west, gaining every instant additional force. The sea ran mountains high, filling the air with sheets of foam, through which one s.h.i.+p could scarcely distinguish the other as they were tossed and tumbled by the raging waves. The coming darkness increased the horrors of the scene. Admiral Blake collecting his s.h.i.+ps in time, steered for the southward of Shetland, under the shelter of which he remained secure during the height of the tempest.

No sooner had it abated than he pursued the sorely battered Dutchmen, capturing many before they escaped into port. The Dutch, after this, knowing that Admiral Blake was waiting for them, did not for some time put again to sea. While he was cruising in the Channel, expecting their appearance, news was brought him that the Spaniards were besieging Dunkirk, but that the French king had sent a fleet for its relief.

Believing it was to the interests of England that it should fall, lest the Dutch admiral should make it the basis of operations against the towns on the opposite coast of England, he resolved to go and attack the French fleet.

"The admiral led the way in the _Resolution_, followed by the _Sovereign_, the largest of our s.h.i.+ps, carrying eleven hundred men and eighty-eight guns. He first attacked the _Donadieu_, commanded by a Knight of Malta, and boarding her, pike in hand, took her in a few minutes, while the _Sovereign_ with her terrible broadside sank one of the royal frigates and dismantled five others.

"So desperate was the onslaught, that in a few hours every French s.h.i.+p had been sunk or captured, the prizes being carried into the Downs.

Scarcely was this victory gained when the Dutch fleet, under Admirals De Witt and De Ruiter, were sighted off the North Foreland. Admiral Blake, without waiting for the rest of his fleet, which were astern, immediately ordered each s.h.i.+p to engage as she came up, and leading the way attacked De Witt's line. Tremendous were the broadsides exchanged.

As night came on the Dutch retreated, having suffered severely, the masts of many of the s.h.i.+ps being shot away and vast numbers of men being slain. The next morning the Dutch seemed disposed to renew the b.l.o.o.d.y work of the previous day, but their courage failed as the English admiral bore down, and putting up their helms, they ran for their native coast, followed by Blake until the shallowness of the water compelled him to desist from pursuit. The Dutch, though thus signally defeated, would, it was thought, again attempt to regain their lost power on the return of spring, and information was received that their most celebrated admiral, Van Tromp, would take command of their fleet. It was not supposed, however, that it would be ready until the spring.

"No sooner had our s.h.i.+ps been dispersed to their winter stations, than Tromp appeared with a fleet of more than a hundred sail off the Goodwin Sands.

"Admiral Blake, who was still on board the _Triumph_, on hearing of this, collected all the s.h.i.+ps he could get, and stood out of Dover to attack the Dutch. For the whole of that winter's day the two admirals watched each other, each endeavouring to obtain the weather-gauge.

"A dark and tempestuous night then coming on separated the fleets of both s.h.i.+ps. The following day the weather moderated. Still for some hours the _Triumph_ and Tromp's flag-s.h.i.+p the _Brederode_ kept manoeuvring, until late in the afternoon the Dutchman made a sudden attempt to take the English admiral at a disadvantage. Blake, however, by suddenly luffing-up crossed the bow of the _Brederode_, followed by the _Garland_, against which s.h.i.+p the _Brederode_ ran with a tremendous crash, when both became hotly engaged. The _Bonaventura_, a trader of only thirty guns, gallantly came up to the rescue of the _Garland_.

While thus fighting, Admiral Evertz attacked the latter s.h.i.+p, the whole four being alongside each other, when after a desperate struggle, more than half the crews of the two English s.h.i.+ps being killed and wounded, they were boarded and carried by the Dutchmen. Meanwhile the _Triumph, Vanguard_, and _Victory_ were fighting desperately with twenty of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps, frequently almost surrounded before many of the rest of the fleet had gone into action. The men stood bravely to their guns, although numbers were falling on their decks, and fought their way on, until the night coming down put an end to the battle.

"The following morning a thick fog prevented the enemy being seen, and with his shattered fleet Admiral Blake thought it wise to retire up the Thames to repair damages and collect his s.h.i.+ps in readiness again to encounter the enemy. Such was the last action which was fought before we left England," continued the officer; "but I am ashamed to say that Tromp was seen vauntingly sailing up and down the Channel with a broom at his mast-head, as if he had swept the English from the sea."

CHAPTER TEN.

A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.

The news brought by the _Diamond_ made the officers and crews of the squadron eager to return to England to avenge the insult put upon the English flag by Van Tromp. The crew of the _Good Hope_, Royalists as many of them had been, shared equally in the feeling. So would Lancelot and I, had we not had a more sacred duty to perform; but when we mentioned our plan to the commodore, he positively forbade our making the attempt.

"It would be the height of madness to venture in your small s.h.i.+p on the Barbary coast," he repeated. "Before you could explain your object, she would be captured, and you and your crew would be carried into slavery."

For a long time we entreated him in vain to allow us to prosecute our undertaking. At last he said--

"I will allow you to go, provided your people are ready to accompany you after you have clearly explained to them the dangers of the enterprise; but I again warn you of your certain fate. My advice is that you should return to England, make known the sad condition of your own friends, and numberless other Christian captives in Barbary, and I have little doubt that as soon as we have thrashed the Dutch, Admiral Blake will be sent out to compel the corsairs to give up their prisoners."

The only course open to us was to follow the commodore's advice. Bitter was our disappointment when our crew declined further to prosecute the undertaking.

In vain Martin and d.i.c.k urged them to fulfil their engagement, supported by Mr Aylett.

They were ready to fight with a prospect of success, but they had no desire to be made slaves, or to lose their lives in a hopeless cause, they answered.

I cannot describe our feelings; we did not possess even the means of communicating with the captives, and letting them know that we were making efforts for their liberation. At last the signal was made to weigh anchor, and the _Good Hope_, with several s.h.i.+ps ordered home, set sail for England.

Having met a Dutch fleet which we beat off, though they left us sorely battered, and encountered a fearful storm which well-nigh sent the _Good Hope_ to the bottom, we at length reached Plymouth in a sinking state.

There the s.h.i.+pwrights p.r.o.nounced the _Good Hope_ unfit again to go to sea.

This was the climax of our disappointments, for we had not the means of obtaining another vessel.

"Cheer up, s.h.i.+pmates!" exclaimed d.i.c.k Harvey. "I'll try and induce my father to help us. He will rejoice to see me back safe, and you too, for he has a sincere regard for you, and is grateful for the service you rendered him."

Finding that Mr Harvey had gone to London, we repaired thither, taking Martin and Mr Aylett with us.

Mr Harvey was glad to see his son, and treated Lancelot and me with great kindness; his means, however, would not allow him, he said, to purchase a s.h.i.+p, but he advised us to repair to Queensborough, in the island of Sheppey, where Admiral Blake was busily employed in fitting out a fleet to attack the Dutch.

That we might not miss the opportunity of joining the fleet, we immediately went on board a hoy which was going down the river. We found the roads crowded with men-of-war, sixty sail at least, beside frigates, all busily engaged in taking stores, and powder and shot on board. The admiral's flag was flying at the mast-head of the _Triumph_.

As we reached her deck, we found him surrounded by officers, to whom he was issuing orders. It was some time before we could approach to pay our respects. He recognised us at once, and holding out his hand, shook ours warmly, listening with much interest to the account we gave him of our adventures.

"You have come in the nick of time," he said. "We sail to-morrow in search of the Dutch. You shall all serve on board. There's work to be done, and I have not too many officers or men to do it. After we have thrashed the Dutch, I promise you, should my life be spared, to inflict due chastis.e.m.e.nt on the Barbary corsairs, and to endeavour to recover your friends."

More than this we could not expect, and we at once zealously set about performing the duties a.s.signed to us. Lancelot and Aylett were appointed to act as lieutenants, and the admiral directed d.i.c.k and me to remain by him ready to signal his orders to the rest of the fleet, to carry messages, or to perform any other duties he might require.

On inquiring for his nephew, young Robert Blake, we found that he had been appointed to command the _Hamps.h.i.+re_, a thirty-four gun s.h.i.+p; but as no boat could be spared, we were unable to pay him a visit.

Near us lay the _Speaker_, Vice-Admiral Penn, and the _Fairfax_, Rear-Admiral Lawson, while the other s.h.i.+ps were commanded by the best captains in the navy.

At daybreak next morning we sailed. Soon after we got round the South Foreland, a fleet was descried from the mast-head of the _Triumph_, standing out from the land. The hearts of all on board beat high, for we believed that the enemy were in sight. But the strangers tacking soon showed English colours, and we found that it was the Plymouth squadron, which had been sent out to join us.

Thus, with eighty s.h.i.+ps, we stood down Channel, with a north-westerly wind, until we had pa.s.sed the Isle of Wight. When nearly up to the Bill of Portland, the _Triumph_ leading, just as day broke the look-out aloft shouted--

"A fleet ahead, a fleet ahead! away to the south-west."

There was no doubt now that the Dutch were in sight. The officer of the watch ordered me to call the admiral.

With a cheerful countenance he rose, and quickly dressing himself, came on deck, going to the fore-top, where I accompanied him, that he might take a perfect survey of the enemy with whom he was about to engage.

On one side of us was the _Speaker_, on the other the _Fairfax_, both within hail, and about a score of other s.h.i.+ps forming our vanguard; but Admiral Monk, with the main body of the fleet, was still some four or five miles astern. Though we could see them, they were not visible to the Dutch admiral, Van Tromp, who, having under him many other celebrated captains, was known to command the Dutch fleet.

The sun, which was just rising above the horizon, clearing away the wintry mist, showed us the whole s.h.i.+ning ocean covered with sails, a large proportion nearest to us being men-of-war, but fully three hundred others could be counted beyond them, which were supposed to be merchant vessels.

Undaunted by the overwhelming numbers opposed to him, without waiting for the rest of the fleet to come up, Admiral Blake pressed on with all sail to attack the enemy.

The leading s.h.i.+p of the Hollanders was recognised as the _Brederode_, carrying the flag of Van Tromp. Close astern of us came the _Speaker_ and the _Fairfax_, the rest of the vanguard not being far behind.

"He hasn't got the broom aloft," whispered d.i.c.k to me, as he stood close to the admiral on the after-castle watching the enemy. "If he had we should soon knock it away."

"We shall, I hope, before long knock away his masts," I answered. "But see, he is getting closer; before another minute is over the fight will begin."

We were now so steering, that we should speedily pa.s.s along the Dutch line, which only waited for the _Triumph_ to get within range to open fire.

Presently a puff of smoke issued from the bows of the _Brederode_, and almost before the shot aimed at us could strike, the _Triumph_ opened fire from the whole of her broadside. The _Speaker_ and the _Fairfax_ followed our example, as did the other s.h.i.+ps, receiving in return the broadside of the entire Dutch fleet.

The Dutch admiral, with the wind free, shot by us, delivering his fire from one broadside, then tacking under our lee, discharged the other with tremendous effect, wounding our masts and spars, riddling our canvas and rigging, and strewing our decks with killed and wounded.

Other Dutch s.h.i.+ps imitated the example of their admiral and steered down upon us, when we should have fared ill from odds so overwhelming, had not Admiral Penn, followed by two other vessels, come to the rescue and drawn off the attention of the enemy to themselves.

As we got out from the circle of fire we could better see what was going on, though all the time we were hotly engaged with one or more of the enemy.

d.i.c.k and I immediately reported every circ.u.mstance to the admiral. Now the _a.s.sistance_ was boarded by the Dutch. Now two s.h.i.+ps ran alongside the _Prosperous_, and in spite of the valour of her crew, she was captured by the enemy. The _Oak_ shared the same fate, though her people fought long and bravely.

On my reporting what I had seen to the admiral, "We must go to their help," he exclaimed, and ordering the master to steer for them, we furiously attacked the s.h.i.+ps to which they had struck.

We had, however, to contend with the rest of the Dutch fleet, and it appeared to be going hard with us. In spite, however, of almost overwhelming odds against us, we and the other s.h.i.+ps of the vanguard fought on. Often I turned my eyes to the eastward, but could discover no signs of the advance of the fleet, the thick wreaths of smoke often preventing me from seeing to any distance. At length, however. I saw the rays of the sun falling on their white canvas, and s.h.i.+p after s.h.i.+p appeared. It was the white division, led by General Monk; as they arrived they gallantly opened their broadsides on the Dutchmen, increasing the fearful uproar. On every side the sea appeared covered with shattered spars and planks. Now a n.o.ble s.h.i.+p was wrapt in flames, now I caught sight of the tall masts of another sinking beneath the surface as she and her crew went down to the depths below.