CHAPTER XIV.
WE ARE DOGGED BY A BLACK SHIP, TO THE GREAT DISCOMFORT OF OUR COMPANIES.
We set sail at daybreak with a fair breeze, and if this had held on,then had we got safely on our way, escaping all danger from our enemy;but being only a land wind, such as frequently blows towards the sun atits rising, we found ourselves an hour after clearing Falmouth Haven ina little chopping gale, where we had much ado, by tacking this way andthat, to make any progress at all, to our misfortune. While we were thuspottering to and fro, a sail appeared coming down the Channel,whereupon, my fears being that way disposed, I took into my head at oncethat this was Rodrigues' ship from Penzance, there having been ampletime during the night for the wench who had come aboard to take himintelligence of our intent to sail. Then I begged Captain Wilkins, anexcellent good man as ever lived, to let me have the ship's barge that Imight go speak with my uncle; to which request he acceded instantly, andthe barge being lowered and manned I was carried to the _FaithfulFriend_. Here, taking my uncle aside, I laid out all that had happenedthe night before, and pointing to the sail bearing down towards us, Igave him my apprehensions, begging he would put back into Falmouth Havenwhile we yet might. But this would he not do.
"What!" says he, "put back because a sail is in sight! Why, at that ratemight we never get out of Falmouth. Never yet did I put back, for Icouet it the unluckiest thing a seaman may do; and in this case 'twerenothing short of folly and rank cowardice; for our foe, if foe he be, isbut one, and we be two. You have done your duty, Benet, and therefore Ido not scold you for doubting my mettle, your own being much softened nodoubt by hardship and suffering, Lord help you! But go back at once toyour ship, I prithee, and bid Master Wilkins look to his armament, besober and prayerful, and hold himself ready to lay on to an enemy."
With this comfort I returned to the _Sea Lion_, and telling CaptainWilkins my fears and my uncle's decision, he lost no time in chargingthe guns and setting out muskets, swords, and brown bills ready to everyhand. Likewise he mustered the crew when all had been prepared, and gavethem out a very good prayer, at the same time bidding the men trust totheir own defense as well as the mercy of Providence (should we bepresently attacked) and give no quarter. To this address would SirBartlemy have added a hearty "amen" had he been present, for it was justafter his own sturdy heart.
The strange sail bore down to within half a mile of us, being a swiftership than either of ours, and making way where we could none, etc.; andthen she held off on a tack and came no nearer. And though she showed noguns, yet could we see she was a powerful ship, and such as, for thevalue of her, would not venture abroad in these troublesome timeswithout good arms.
About noon the breeze grew stronger and more steady, and so continuedthat by sundown we had made in all twelve sea leagues. All this time hadthe strange sail followed in our wake, standing off never much over halfa mile. Then Captain Wilkins and all on board were convinced that thiswas an enemy seeking to injure us, and it seemed that Sir Bartlemy wasequally of our way of thinking, for by means of his signals he bade usdouble our watch, keep our lamps well trimmed, and hold close to him.And this we did, no man taking off his clothes, but every one who laydown having his arms ready to his hand. For my own part I quitted notthe deck all that night; nor could I take my eyes from the lights onboard the _Faithful Friend_ two minutes together for thinking of thedear girl who lay there, and whose life and honor were in our keeping.
We could see no lights in our track at all during the night, whereby wehoped that our enemy--as I may call her--seeing not ours, had fallenaway in the darkness; but when day broke we perceived her stillfollowing us, and no further away than ever, so that we knew she hadbeen guided by our lamps, and had lit none of her own. In short, not toweary the reader, as she had followed us that night and the day before,so she clung to our heels for four days and nights after. And now beingoff Portugal, Sir Bartlemy might have run into port; but this he wouldnot do; for, firstly, the breeze continued all this time fairlyprosperous; and, secondly, his bold and stubborn nature would not permithim to swerve from his course, or show fear of any one.
By this time our company began to murmur because they got no proper restthrough constant watching, and because (though they feared no mortalenemy) they began to look upon this pursuing ship as a thing withoutsubstance--an unearthly sign of impending destruction, a device of thefiend--I know not what, for seamen are ever prodigiously superstitiousand easily terrified by that which passes their comprehension; and itstrengthened their dread that this ship was painted black from stem tostern. Indeed, to a mind reasonably free from superstition, there wassomething dreadful and terrific in this great black ship following uswith so great perseverance, which put me in mind of some carrion birdwith steadfast patience hovering slowly about wanderers beleaguered in adesert, with some forecast that in the end one must fall to become itseasy prey.
These six nights did I get no rest; but only a little dog sleep in theday when my body yielded to the fatigue of watching, my mind being quitedisordered with dreadful apprehensions; for well I knew that if by stormwe got separated in the day, or by accident of fog or such like losteach other in the night, then would our enemy fall upon us one after theother, and vanish with us; which, though we fought like lions, mightwell arrive, seeing she was so much greater than either of us, andmanned with a greater company, as I could descry through a perspective.My own life I valued not; my fear was all lest Lady Biddy should fall aprey into the wicked hands of that bloody, subtle Rodrigues. What couldthat dear, sweet creature do to resist? What fate would be hers, beingat his mercy? These questions did provoke fearful answers in my anxiousimagination, to my inexpressible torment.
At length, on the seventh day, we being then, as Captain Wilkins toldme, off the coast of Morocco, and the wind falling to a calm, I took aboat and rowed to my uncle's ship. And when I got aboard I found thecompany there in not much better case than ours on the _Sea Lion_, forevery man had a sullen and unhappy look on his face, and from time totime cast his eye towards the black ship that lay behind us, for all myuncle pacing the deck did rate them most soundly for not going quickerabout the business he set them; swearing at them like a heathen Jew, sothat one, not knowing his kind and generous heart, had thought him avery tyrant.
My first thought was of Lady Biddy, and casting my eye up and down thedeck to see if her fair face and dainty figure were there, my limbsshook and my teeth chattered together with the intensity of my desire.But she was nowhere visible.
"Well, Benet, what the plague has brought you from your ship?" asks myuncle roughly, as he comes to my side. "What do you fear, that you arespying up and down, your cheeks pale, and your lips on a quiver?"
"Lady Biddy," says I, with a thickness in my voice, "is she well?"
"Ay, and if all on this ship were as stout of heart I should have morereason to be grateful," says he.
"Thank God she is well. May no mischance befall her!" says I in a lowtone.
"And what mischance may befall her if we act like men in her defense?"
I cast my eyes towards the black ship, and then said I to my uncle:
"Rodrigues is there, I know."
"You shall lend me your spyglass, for I think you have seen him, to beso cock-sure."
"No, sir, I have not seen him; but I am sure he commands that ship. Apainter is known by his workmanship."
"I know nothing of painting and such fiddle-faddle. Speak straight tothe purpose, man," says my uncle with a curse.
"Well," says I, "no man but Rodrigues could devise such subtle, devilishmeans for our destruction."
"In this holding on yet holding off, I see nothing but the device of afool or a coward, be he Rodrigues or another."
"He is neither a fool nor a coward," says I; "he values his ship and hismen too high to attack us at a disadvantage. He knows, as well as youdo, that this patient following, while it amuses his company and reststhem, is fatiguing ours, and sapping the foundation of their courage."
"I warrant their courage will return to the dogs with the first shotthat is fired."
"Then may it be too late; for, you may be sure of this, Rodrigues willnot fire a ball until he is sure of our defeat," says I.
"Sure of our defeat! And pray when may that be?" asks he, firing up withdisdain.
"When accident helps him either to fall in with his comrade Parsons, orby our getting sundered through some mishap. He has as many men on hisship (as you may plainly see) as we have in both our companies, andmore. How are we to combat him singly?"
"Why, with God's help and our own good arms," says he sternly; but themoment after that he turned his eyes towards the black ship, measuringit; and his silence proclaimed that he could not overlook his peril.Presently, in a more subdued tone, he says, "Well, nephew, I doubt notyou had some better intention than to damp my spirits in coming here, soif you would offer any advice, out with it, for the love of God, and Ipromise I will listen with as much patience and forbearance as I maycommand."
"Sir," says I, "you are making for the Canaries, and there, in alllikelihood, is Parsons, awaiting the coming of his confederate, so thatwe are, as it were, going before the tiger into the lair of his mate."My uncle nodded acquiescence. "Now, if I might advise, I would have youalter your course, and make for the Windward Isles, and so down toGuiana. Then, if Rodrigues does also alter his course, I should drawupon him and seek so to disable him with a shot amidst his masts as heshould be disabled from following us further."
"Now, indeed, do you talk good sense, and such as is after my heart,"cries he joyfully. "This will I do at once; so go you back and bidWilkins prepare to shape his course this way."
But seeing that I yet lingered, as loth to depart, he claps me on theshoulder and says, "What else would you have, Benet?"
"Why, sir," says I, "I would have you send another with your message,and suffer me to stay here in his place."
"Why, are you so weak-kneed as that?" says he. "Well, 'tis in the natureof mice to be timorous; but I looked for better stuff in a man of ourfamily."
"Nay," says I; "if I feared Rodrigues I should not ask to stay here, for'tis this ship he will attack, knowing, as he must, by our sailing, thatour general and leader is here."
"Why, that is true," says he; and then he fell into a silence, andlooked at me keenly to divine why I wished to stay there. After a littlewhile, marking the hot blood in my face, and knowing it was to be nearLady Biddy that, I sought this change of ships, he put his hands on myshoulders, and says he very kindly, and with a little trembling of pityin his voice, "My poor Benet, the best thing you can do for her sake isto go back to your ship and stay not in this. Ay, and for your own sakeit were better too. The enemy you have to overcome is the passion ofyour own breast, which is more capable to bring ruin to your soul andsorrow to our hearts than are the guns of Rodrigues to endanger ourbodies. Go back, dear fellow."
And knowing how this passion had before, by its hopelessness, brought meinto evil ways and despair of better, I accepted his guidance and wentback to my ship, though with a sore heart.
And going back I saw my lady standing in the stern gallery of the_Faithful Friend_. But she did not see me, or, seeing me, made no sign;for why should she trouble to descry whether it were I or anothersitting there? And clasping my hands together I prayed God (withinmyself) to dispose of her to her own happiness and His praise.
The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane Page 14
