The Boy who sailed with Blake Part 8

Malignant though he was, I could not help admiring his courage, regretting that he was not fighting in a better cause. I heartily wished that he would give in before more damage was done.

He seemed, however, in no way inclined to strike while there was a chance of escaping.

I feared, indeed, that after all he would get off, but the two Parliament s.h.i.+ps plied him hard. Their commanders were as brave as he was, and had no intention of letting him escape.

Of this the corsair's crew were at length convinced, and some, unwilling to encounter certain destruction, cried out to strike the flag.

"Who dares to say that?" shouted Captain Blackleach. Then he cried out to the boatswain, "Reeve a dozen ropes, and we'll show our enemies how we treat traitors to our cause."

The boatswain, seizing one of the men who desired to strike, was actually about to put the order into execution when Martin rushed to the poor fellow's rescue.

"Avast, master boatswain!" he exclaimed, cutting the rope; "are you not afraid of committing murder, when, at any moment, you may be sent to stand before the Judge of all men?"

The boatswain, with an oath, again seized the man, and, aided by his mates, was forming a noose at the end of a rope, when a shot striking him on the breast sent his mangled body through a wide gap in the bulwarks into the blood-stained ocean. Most of the superior officers had by this time been killed or wounded, the latter being in the hands of the surgeon below.

"What's to be done?" said d.i.c.k, as we were together making our way to the magazine, being ordered down to fetch up more powder. "Surely the captain won't hold out longer! If I didn't feel that it was cowardly, I should like to stow myself away below till all is over."

"To go down with the s.h.i.+p and be drowned," I observed.

"No, no; let us remain on deck while we can, and take our chance," said Lancelot. "If the captain fights on until the s.h.i.+p sinks, we may get hold of a plank or spar. The Roundhead seamen will not let us drown, even though they think we are Malignants."

"Stay for me!" said d.i.c.k, as he saw us lifting up our tubs to go on deck again. To say the truth, I suspected that he had been in no hurry to fill his.

Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, cras.h.i.+ng through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, pa.s.sed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit. They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony. Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence. We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.

As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other s.h.i.+ps. I looked up at the peak. The flag was no longer there. On the after-castle lay the captain; he had fallen desperately wounded. Two officers alone remained on their feet, while fore and aft a sickening sight met our view. The s.h.i.+p was a perfect shambles; the dead and dying lay everywhere, the countenances of many distorted with agony; the decks slippery with blood, and covered with blocks, ropes, torn canvas, and shattered spars, while several guns had been dismounted, and every boat knocked to pieces. The master of the mariners, one of the surviving officers, was shouting to the crew to shorten sail.

Throwing our tubs of powder on deck, we gladly ran to obey the order, joined by Martin s...o...b..ok, who, amid the b.l.o.o.d.y strife, had escaped unscathed.

Meantime the two victorious frigates had hove to and were lowering their boats, ready to send on board and take possession of their prize.

"What shall we do now?" asked d.i.c.k, as the boats were coming alongside.

"Our friends will look upon us as deserters, and perhaps string us up at the yard-arm."

"Not much fear of that," said Lancelot. "We can tell who we are and how we came to be on board."

"But will they believe us?" asked d.i.c.k. "The rest of the crew will prove that we have been helping the gunners to load their pieces by bringing powder from the magazine."

"Just trust in G.o.d, young masters," said Martin, who had overheard them.

We had not much time for talking before the crews of the three boats which had been sent sprang on board. The officer in command at once ordered the whole of the "rovers" to muster aft. Of well-nigh two hundred men who had commenced the action, one half were dead or wounded.

The survivors stood with downcast looks, expecting no gentle treatment.

"You have taken up arms without lawful authority against the Parliament, and you must be prepared for the punishment due to you, unless the admiral thinks fit to remit it," explained the officer, casting his eye over the men. "Have you anything to say for yourselves?"

There was no reply until Lancelot stepped aft, followed by Martin, d.i.c.k, and me.

"We were on board against our will, sir," he said, "and acknowledge the Parliament as the supreme authority in the realm." He then described how we had been rescued by the _Charles_ when on our way from Dartmouth to Lyme.

"A likely story, young master," said the officer; "but I will talk to you more anon. The rest of you tumble into the boats and go peaceably on board the s.h.i.+ps to which they will convey you."

Nearly half the men had already taken their seats in the three boats which had shoved off, when the cry arose, "The s.h.i.+p is sinking!"

The carpenter and his mates were among those who remained, and the officer ordering some of his own men to a.s.sist them in stopping the leaks, directed them to man the pumps. The rovers obeyed with alacrity, for they had no wish to drown.

We four a.s.sisted them, and as the pumps clanged loudly the water spread over the decks, partly cleansing them from their b.l.o.o.d.y stains.

It was an anxious time, for I feared that the s.h.i.+p would go down before the boats could return. We pumped, and pumped away with might and main, while the carpenters stopped the most dangerous shot holes between wind and water.

It was a great relief at length to see the boats come back. They brought more men, and among them some carpenters from the frigates to a.s.sist in repairing the damages. The remaining prisoners having laboured so well, had the choice given them of continuing on board, and they gladly accepted the offer, promising faithfully to serve the Parliament.

Evening was drawing on, and the two frigates lay still hove to close to the prize, when, looking to windward, I saw the upper sails of several s.h.i.+ps, which I deemed to be of size, rising above the horizon. I pointed them out to Martin, and asked if he thought they were Prince Rupert's squadron.

"No fear of that," he answered; "they must have been seen some time ago from the frigate, and they show no intention of trying to escape."

During this time everyone on board was working away with a will, for there was much to be done both below and aloft, while the wounded men had to be looked after.

The captain had been taken to his cabin, where the surgeon had dressed his wound. d.i.c.k, who had been ordered to watch him, came rus.h.i.+ng out after some time, looking greatly terrified, and declared that the captain was raving and swearing that he would rise and blow up the s.h.i.+p rather than yield to the Roundheads.

Fortunately we found the surgeon, who sent two men to watch over him, and d.i.c.k was relieved from his trying duty. A boat now came alongside with orders to remove more of the prisoners, and among them Martin and my two friends and I were ordered to get into her. In a short time we were conveyed on board the _Constant Warwick_, and found ourselves standing on her deck together with the other prisoners.

"Now is our time," I exclaimed to Lancelot. "Let us go boldly aft and tell the captain who we are, or we shall be sent below and placed in irons with the rest."

Lancelot took my advice. We stepped aft, followed by d.i.c.k and Martin.

"What have you to say, lads?" asked the captain, looking greatly astonished at our audacity.

We gave him the same account of ourselves that we had to the officer who had come on board the _Charles_.

"You are ready enough now to declare yourselves Roundheads," answered the captain, "but you were found on board an enemy's s.h.i.+p, and must be treated like the rest."

"They are brave little fighting-c.o.c.ks, Cavaliers to the backbone,"

shouted one of the men from the group of prisoners, not wis.h.i.+ng that we should receive more favour than themselves.

I had observed a young officer standing close to the captain. I looked at his countenance, and the thought flashed across me that I had seen him before.

"Captain Stayner," he said, "allow me to say that I believe the account these young gentlemen give of themselves. I was at Lyme with my uncle, the admiral;" then turning to us he inquired our names.

"I thought so," he said, putting out his hand; "I remember them all well. One is the son of Mr Kerridge, the mayor, who fought so bravely for the good cause; the father of the other, who served under my grandfather, was killed during the siege; and this one," he added, taking d.i.c.k by the hand, "is the son of Mr Harvey, who expended his means in aiding in the defence of Lyme."

While the young officer was speaking, I recognised him as the nephew of Colonel Blake. "I truly rejoice to see you," he continued, turning to us, "for, putting into Lyme some weeks ago, I found your relatives and friends in great sorrow at your supposed loss. We will take the earliest opportunity of sending them news of your safety."

Thus were our anxieties brought to an end. Instead of being treated as prisoners, we were received as guests by the officers, who insisted on supplying us with clothes and other necessaries, of which we stood much in want. Great was our surprise to hear that the admiral of the s.h.i.+ps in sight astern was no other than Colonel Blake, who had been placed in command of the fleets of England by the Parliament in conjunction with Colonels Deane and Popham.

Admiral Blake was now in chase of Prince Rupert's squadron, which it was his intention, should he fail to overtake it at sea, to shut up in Kinsale harbour. This, to me especially, was satisfactory news, for I had not forgotten the remark made by Colonel Blake to my father, that he should like to have me with him, and I felt very sure that he was a man who would fulfil his intentions.

I mentioned this to Mr Robert Blake, who promised on the first opportunity to take me on board the flag-s.h.i.+p and introduce me to the admiral.