Boy who sailed with Blake

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  THE ENGAGEMENT.

  The fate of honest Martin hung in the balance; should I fail to strikeup the captain's arm, his death would be certain. Whether or no myaction had been observed I could not tell, for the appearance of thestranger drew the captain's attention off from his victim, and in amoment he seemed to have forgotten all about Martin.

  The approaching ship fired a broadside which raked us fore and aft,sending many of the roystering crew to their dread account. Stillundaunted, the captain ordered the starboard broadside to be fired inreturn, and the _Constant Warwick_, in consequence of the loss of herheadsail, being unable to keep her position, we drew ahead of her; butour fresh antagonist, with her yards and rigging uninjured, quickly cameup, and her guns, aimed at our masts, ere long brought down the fore andmain-yards; but the flag still flew out at the peak of the corsair, andher guns on either side continued to belch forth their deadly missiles.

  Though round shot and bullets from her antagonists came crashing onboard the ship, tearing up the decks, piercing the sides, carrying awaylanterns, boats, and spars, wounding her masts and plunging through herbulwarks, the scuppers running with blood, her gallant captain, standingstill unharmed amid the dead and dying, refused to yield.

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

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

  I feared, indeed, that after all he would get off, but the twoParliament ships plied him hard. Their commanders were as brave as hewas, and had no intention of letting him escape.

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

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

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

  "Avast, master boatswain!" he exclaimed, cutting the rope; "are you notafraid of committing murder, when, at any moment, you may be sent tostand before the Judge of all men?"

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

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

  "To go down with the ship and be drowned," I observed.

  "No, no; let us remain on deck while we can, and take our chance," saidLancelot. "If the captain fights on until the ship sinks, we may gethold of a plank or spar. The Roundhead seamen will not let us drown,even though they think we are Malignants."

  "Stay for me!" said Dick, as he saw us lifting up our tubs to go on deckagain. To say the truth, I suspected that he had been in no hurry tofill his.

  Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded inour ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks andscattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, buthappily none of us were hit. They were followed by the groans andshrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in theiragony. Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence. We hadnaturally 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 ourears, but it came from the other ships. I looked up at the peak. Theflag was no longer there. On the after-castle lay the captain; he hadfallen desperately wounded. Two officers alone remained on their feet,while fore and aft a sickening sight met our view. The ship was aperfect shambles; the dead and dying lay everywhere, the countenances ofmany distorted with agony; the decks slippery with blood, and coveredwith blocks, ropes, torn canvas, and shattered spars, while several gunshad been dismounted, and every boat knocked to pieces. The master ofthe mariners, one of the surviving officers, was shouting to the crew toshorten sail.

  Throwing our tubs of powder on deck, we gladly ran to obey the order,joined by Martin Shobbrok, who, amid the bloody strife, had escapedunscathed.

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

  "What shall we do now?" asked Dick, as the boats were coming alongside."Our friends will look upon us as deserters, and perhaps string us up atthe yard-arm."

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

  "But will they believe us?" asked Dick. "The rest of the crew willprove that we have been helping the gunners to load their pieces bybringing powder from the magazine."

  "Just trust in God, young masters," said Martin, who had overheard them.

  We had not much time for talking before the crews of the three boatswhich had been sent sprang on board. The officer in command at onceordered the whole of the "rovers" to muster aft. Of well-nigh twohundred 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 theadmiral thinks fit to remit it," explained the officer, casting his eyeover the men. "Have you anything to say for yourselves?"

  There was no reply until Lancelot stepped aft, followed by Martin, Dick,and me.

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

  "A likely story, young master," said the officer; "but I will talk toyou more anon. The rest of you tumble into the boats and go peaceablyon board the ships to which they will convey you."

  Nearly half the men had already taken their seats in the three boatswhich had shoved off, when the cry arose, "The ship is sinking!"

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

  We four assisted them, and as the pumps clanged loudly the water spreadover the decks, partly cleansing them from their bloody stains.

  It was an anxious time, for I feared that the ship would go down beforethe boats could return. We pumped, and pumped away with might and main,while the carpenters stopped the most dangerous shot holes between windand water.

  It was a great relief at length to see the boats come back. Theybrought more men, and among them some carpenters from the frigates toassist in repairing the damages. The remaining prisoners havinglaboured so well, had the choice given them of continuing on board, andthey gladly accepted the offer, promising faithfully to serve theParliament.

  Evening was drawing on, and the two frigates lay still hove to close tothe prize, when, looking to windward, I saw the upper sails of severalships, which I deemed to be of size, rising above the horizon. Ipointed them out to Martin, and asked if he thought they were PrinceRupert's squadron.

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

  During this time everyone on board was working away with a will, forthere 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 dressedhis wound. Dick, who had been ordered to watch him, came rushing outafter some time, looking greatly terrified, and declared that thecaptain was raving and swearing that he would rise and blow up the shiprather than yield to the Roundheads.

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

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

  Lancelot took my advice. We stepped aft, followed by Dick and Martin.

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

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

  "You are ready enough now to declare yourselves Roundheads," answeredthe captain, "but you were found on board an enemy's ship, and must betreated like the rest."

  "They are brave little fighting-cocks, Cavaliers to the backbone,"shouted one of the men from the group of prisoners, not wishing that weshould receive more favour than themselves.

  I had observed a young officer standing close to the captain. I lookedat his countenance, and the thought flashed across me that I had seenhim before.

  "Captain Stayner," he said, "allow me to say that I believe the accountthese 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 allwell. One is the son of Mr Kerridge, the mayor, who fought so bravelyfor the good cause; the father of the other, who served under mygrandfather, was killed during the siege; and this one," he added,taking Dick by the hand, "is the son of Mr Harvey, who expended hismeans in aiding in the defence of Lyme."

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

  Thus were our anxieties brought to an end. Instead of being treated asprisoners, we were received as guests by the officers, who insisted onsupplying us with clothes and other necessaries, of which we stood muchin want. Great was our surprise to hear that the admiral of the shipsin sight astern was no other than Colonel Blake, who had been placed incommand of the fleets of England by the Parliament in conjunction withColonels Deane and Popham.

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

  I mentioned this to Mr Robert Blake, who promised on the firstopportunity to take me on board the flag-ship and introduce me to theadmiral.

  "Not that you will require an introduction," he answered; "my unclenever forgets those he has once known, and, though grown, you are notaltered much from the little fellow I remember at Lyme."

  I felt bound to put in a word for my two friends, as also for Martin,whose brave conduct on board the _Charles_ I described, when he refusedto fire at the _Constant Warwick_.

  "It would not become me to make promises to you," he replied, "but youmay depend upon it that the admiral will not overlook such conduct, andas Shobbrok is an experienced seaman, he will gladly place him in someposition of trust on board."

  The other frigate which had assisted in the capture of the _Charles_was, I should have said, the _Seaford_. The breeze freshening, we hadno opportunity of going on board the _Triumph_, Admiral Blake'sflag-ship, as he was pressing on under all sail in chase of thecorsairs. The frigates led the way, and the next morning, from themast-head of the _Constant Warwick_, we caught sight of well-nigh ascore of ships right ahead. That they were those of Prince Rupert wehad no doubt; but they must have seen us coming, and having no stomachto engage in fight--for they knew by this time who commanded the Englishfleet--they pressed on before us.

  We continued in chase under every stitch of canvas we could carry,hoping to come up with one or more of the rearmost ships and to bringthem to action, so as to keep them employed till the rest of the fleetshould arrive and compel them to strike. The breeze freshened, and the_Constant Warwick_, followed closely by two other frigates, tore throughthe water, as if eager to overtake her foes.

  "Hold on, good sticks!" cried the captain, looking aloft. "Time enoughto go overboard when we have grappled the enemy."

  The topgallant masts bent like willow wands, and I expected every momentto see them fall, but though the lofty sails tugged and tugged, yet theyheld fast, and we hoped that we should yet be in time to stop some ofthe corsairs before they could get into harbour. The _Triumph_ wasstill far away astern, followed by the rest of the fleet, our captaindoing his best to drive his ship through the water. The corsairs didnot gain upon us, and we well knew that for a good hour or more weshould have them to ourselves, should we overtake them. Captain Staynerwalked the deck, now casting his eye ahead at the enemy, now aloft atthe straining canvas, and now astern, to judge, by the way the sails ofthe _Triumph_ were blowing out, how the wind was holding in thatdirection. Presently the lofty canvas was seen to hang down against themasts, then slowly to blow out again. In a short time our own royalsand topgallant sails followed their bad example. The captain gave astamp of impatience on the deck. The breeze was falling, even thetopsails and courses no longer bellied out as before. Still, thefrigates glided on, but the sluggish eddies astern showed how greatlytheir speed had decreased.

  At length, on the larboard bow, the old head of Kinsale appeared insight, with Prince Rupert's ships passing round it. Still, they toomight get becalmed and a change of wind enable us to approach them. Ourhopes, however, were doomed to be disappointed. Though the wind waslight, they moved as fast as we did, and the lighter vessels getting outtheir sweeps, they ere long disappeared, shrouded by the gloom ofevening, and by the time we came off the mouth of the harbour not a sailwas to be discerned.

  "Though they have escaped us this time, we have shut the rats up intheir hole, and they will find it a hard matter to get out again to seekfor prey," observed the captain.

  "Can't we go in and destroy them?" inquired Lancelot of Mr Blake.

  "From the information we have received, we judge that it would be ahazardous undertaking," he answered. "There are castles on either sideof the harbour, and the corsairs have thrown up earthworks, armed withheavy guns, for the protection of their ships, so that they would blowus out of the water should we attempt to enter. We must contentourselves with blockading them."

  Such, I afterwards found, was the plan adopted. We stood on and off theland to watch the entrance. The next morning the whole fleet arrived,forming a line from the old head of Kinsale northward, which PrinceRupert, daring as he was, would not, it was believed, attempt to breakthrough. It was somewhat trying work. Night and day a vigilant watchwas kept, great care being required so that each ship should maintainher proper position, and that one should not run foul of the other.

  According to his promise, Mr Blake took Lancelot, Dick, and me, withMartin Shobbrok, on board the _Triumph_. The admiral recognised meimmediately, and remembered also what he had said to my father.

  "Would you wish to remain with me?" he asked. "Should such be yourdesire, you shall become my cabin boy, and when you have gained aknowledge o
f navigation and seamanship, you shall, without delay, bemade an officer."

  "Such I desire above all things," I answered, "and I am deeply gratefulfor the offer."

  "And your friends here," he continued, looking at Lancelot and Dick."Were they with us at the siege of Lyme?"

  "They were, sir, and we all three worked together to throw up theembankments," I answered.

  "Good! they appear likely lads, and I will watch over their interests,if the Lord spares my life."

  Lancelot and Dick made proper acknowledgment of the admiral's intendedkindness. I then bethought me that now was the time to speak a word forMartin, and told the admiral how he had behaved on board the _Charles_,being ready to lose his own life rather than fire at the Parliamentaryships.

  "Brave fellow! I remember him when he served with your father andmine," he observed. "He shall have a post on board such as his meritdeserves. I will see to it."

  Several captains from other ships coming on board, we retired, followingyoung Robert Blake, who took us into the gun room, where he introducedus to such of the officers of the ship as were below.

  I had long been wishing to hear from Lieutenant Blake how his uncle hadbecome an admiral, and I now took the opportunity of asking him.

  "Simply because he is one of the most worthy men the Parliament couldfind," he answered. "His great talents, his undaunted bravery, arewell-known, and although he had not before been to sea, the Governmentfelt sure that he would be able to fill the post, and seeing him as wedo now at the head of naval affairs, no one would suppose that he wasfifty years of age before he set his foot on the deck of a ship ascommander, taking precedence of such men as Captains Penn, Jordan,Ascue, Stayner, and Lawson, while Admirals Deane and Popham, though ofthe same rank, yield to his judgment."

  For the benefit of those who may not be acquainted with the history ofone of the most famous of England's sea commanders, I may here note thatAdmiral Blake, eldest son of a highly-esteemed merchant, Humphrey Blake,trading with Spain and other foreign parts, was born at Bridgwater inthe year of grace 1598, and that he had many brothers and sisters.

  When a boy he studied navigation and the routine of sea duties from hisfather and some of his captains who had come to live on shore, but atthat time his own taste made him wish to obtain a knowledge ofliterature, and at sixteen he entered as an undergraduate at SaintAlban's Hall, Oxford, whence he removed to Wadham College. Here heremained several years, until his father being reduced in circumstancesfrom the failure of many of his enterprises, he returned home to watchover the interests of his family. He had, I should have said, offeredhimself as a candidate for a scholarship then vacant at Merton, but SirHenry Saville, the warden, who delighted in tall men, objecting to himon account of his height which fell below his standard of manlyperfection, refused to admit him, and the admiral, after he had beensummoned to the death-bed of his father, did not again return to Oxford.

  For some years he remained at Bridgwater, chiefly occupied with the careof his mother and brothers and sisters. At the same time he was a keenobserver of passing events. His indignation was aroused by thepersecutions of Bishop Laud and his attempt to impose the Papal systemon his country. When the King, after a lapse of many years, summoned aparliament, the admiral, then Mr Blake, went up as member forBridgwater. Soon afterwards came the outbreak in Ireland, when fortythousand Protestants were murdered by the Papists, who asserted that theKing sanctioned their bloody acts. Although this might not have beenthe case, the Parliament demanded that a fleet and army should be placedat their disposal to quell the rebels. Soon afterwards the King,leaving London, raised his standard at Northampton, and declared waragainst the Parliament and those who sided with it. Mr Blake was amongthe first gentlemen who took up arms in the south of England in defenceof the people's right, his first military achievement being the gallantdefence of Prior's Hill, Bristol. The rest of his career up to the timeof which I am speaking I have already mentioned, and I may truly saythat he had never been defeated. He had, for some time before I wasreceived on board his flag-ship, been engaged in reforming the navy,into which numerous corruptions had crept. His great object was to seethat the men were duly paid and well fed, that hospitals were providedfor the wounded, and that stout seaworthy ships were alone employed. Heperseveringly engaged even in the most minute details, to add to thecomfort of his men, and already they had learned to trust and reverehim. His fame had spread even among the Royalists, numbers of whom,escaping when opportunities occurred, eagerly came on board our ships toserve under his flag. That flag was now a red-cross on a white ground,and that banner was destined soon to claim the respect of England'sfoes, wherever it was seen waving at the peak.

  While we were watching Kinsale harbour to prevent the escape of PrinceRupert's cruisers, General Cromwell, who had gone over to the north ofIreland with an army, was righting his way to the southward.

  Blockading was no pleasant duty, for often heavy gales from the eastwardcompelled us to keep an offing from the shore, or when they blew from anopposite direction we had to beat backwards and forwards underclose-reefed sails to maintain our position, and several times we had torun for Milford Haven, to escape the danger of shipwreck. We youngseamen, however, thereby gained much practical experience in nauticalaffairs, as did undoubtedly our superiors, who had hitherto been moreaccustomed to the command of regiments of foot and horse than to themanagement of ships.

  By the first bag of letters despatched after we got on board the_Triumph_, we wrote an account of our adventures to our friends at Lyme.In due course we received others in return, with expressions ofthankfulness that we had escaped the perils to which we had beenexposed.

  Audrey and Cicely especially gave us an account of all that had occurredsince we left home, praying that we might soon return.

  October came, and with it a furious gale, which once more scattered theblockading squadron. In vain the _Triumph_ endeavoured to maintain herstation. Still she kept the sea in spite of the furious blasts whichlaid her over and threatened to carry away her masts and spars, and hurlher, a helpless wreck, on the rocky coast. A few other captainsimitated the example of their dauntless commander, but it was impossibleto remain in sight of Kinsale. At length, the weather moderating, weonce more came off the old headland, and, by degrees the shipsassembling, the frigates were sent in towards the harbour's mouth toinspect the squadron of Prince Rupert. They returned with theintelligence that the corsair prince, with, several of his ships, hadescaped, leaving behind, however, a considerable number, which fell intoour hands.