CHAPTER FIVE.
As the harbour was very shallow, the _Tiger_ had to haul out into theouter roads, inside the island of Tedal, off the mouth of the riverGueron, before she could take her guns, powder, or stores on board. Anumber of boats came out with them, so that she soon had her lading andprovisions on board, and was now ready for sea. She mounted twentyguns, and had a crew of a hundred men, sturdy, active, dark-skinnedfellows, armed with sharp scimitars, with which they practised daily.They had also fire-arms, spears, and boarding-pikes; indeed were inevery way well prepared for fighting. A strong westerly gale kept the_Tiger_ in the roads for some days, but at length, the wind shifting tothe eastward, the anchor was hove up, and she stood out into theAtlantic. Hamet now intimated to Stephen and Roger that his wish was toget to the northward, so that he might attack vessels in latitudes whereSallee rovers were seldom to be found, and thus take them by surprise,and so be more likely to effect their capture without resistance. Theywere by this time able to understand much that he said. He told themthat he wished each to keep a separate reckoning, so that he mightcompare the two; that they must take good care that they agreed.
"That would be a puzzler for me," observed Stephen. "As you, Roger, area much better navigator, you would probably be correct, whereas I amvery likely to make mistakes. I think that I had better tell him atonce that I am not much of a navigator, and that he would be wise torely on you."
"That may be the safest plan, though I will try to pass my calculationson to you without letting him discover that I do so," said Roger.
The very next day, when they were out of sight of land, Stephen, who wasordered to stand at the forepart of the ship to take an observation,made some mistake, and placed their position a degree or more out. Ofcourse, her Captain, who understood the use of the charts perfectly,afterwards told Roger to put it down, which he, having carefully takenhis observation, did properly.
"How is this?" exclaimed the Captain. "Which of the two am I tobelieve?"
"You may trust me," said Roger, firmly. "My friend, though older, hasless experience; but if you will allow me, I will teach him, and he in ashort time will be as useful to you as I am."
Thus the difficulty was got over, for happily the Captain did notsuspect that any trick was being played him. Fortunately at first theweather was fine, and as the Moors were sober men, and not addicted toquarrel among each other, the _Tiger_ glided over the calm sea, andeverything went smoothly.
"Really, from the appearance of things, I should not have supposed thatwe were aboard a piratical craft," observed Stephen, "for truly they area very gentlemanly set of cut-throats, and I doubt if Prince Rupert'smen behaved half as well."
"It may be not, but they did not knock all their prisoners on the head,or make them walk the plank, as these fellows are said to do; we as yethave only seen them in their good behaviour," observed Roger.
Hamet insisted on their carrying the _Tiger_ northward till they wereabout in the latitude of the rock of Lisbon. Not a ship had beensighted which they could venture to attack. They had passed in thedistance squadrons of three or more large ships, but Hamet deemed itprudent to stand away from them, though he discussed the possibility ofcutting off the sternmost during the night-time, but old Sam dissuadedhim from making the attempt. The sun had just risen on the top-mastcanvas of a ship of some size coming down before a fresh breeze from thenorthward, the wind about north-east. Hamet possessed a telescope, andpointing the stranger out to Roger, bade him go aloft with thetelescope, and on his return report to him what he thought she was.Roger, slinging the telescope over his shoulders, climbed up therigging, and took a steady look at the stranger. She appeared to him tobe a large ship--a man-of-war--carrying probably forty guns or more,with which the _Tiger_ would be utterly unable to cope. On coming downhe told Hamet his opinion.
"If she is a merchantman, the larger her size the better prize she willprove," he observed.
"But should she be a man-of-war, you may find that instead of taking heryou are taken yourself," said Roger.
The Captain, who seldom did anything without consulting his officers,had a talk with them on the subject. Some were inclined to runalongside the stranger and try to capture her, but others thought such aproceeding would be dangerous. The two vessels approached nearer andnearer.
"These are bold fellows to think of attacking a ship of that size,"observed Roger. "I am nearly certain that she is an English man-of-war,and if so, the _Tiger_ will be taken, and if we are not killed, we mayhope to gain our liberty."
"One good thing is, we need not fight," said Stephen. "The most prudentthing we can do is to stow ourselves away as soon as we are withingunshot."
"The agreement from the first was that we might remain in our cabin,"remarked Roger.
"Oh no; but I propose that we get into the lowest depths of the ship,where there is less chance of a shot coming," said Stephen.
"Suppose she is sent to the bottom," said Roger, "we shall be drownedwith the rest. We shall see the water rising, and if so, we must hurryup on deck."
While Roger and Stephen were holding this conversation, they observed agood deal of excitement among the officers. Presently two or three cameaft to the Captain, and, by their gestures, it was very evident thatthey were insisting that the ship should be put about, and that theyshould try and make their escape. The Captain yielded; the helm was putup, the yards squared, and away the _Tiger_ ran before the wind, everyadditional stitch of canvas which she could carry being set. Thestranger was not near enough to fire, or it might have fared ill withthe pirate.
"Our chance of liberty is diminishing by this time," observed Roger."The _Tiger_ before the wind has a remarkably fast pair of heels."
The stranger, however, seeing what the pirate was about, also made allsail, and came bowling away after her, guessing probably her character.
"She will not catch us, gentlemen," said Sam, who came up to them."Cannot say that I am sorry we are running away. I put the officers upto insisting on it, by telling them that we should be sent to thebottom, or captured and strung up to the yard-arm, and they fortunatelybelieved me."
At first it was doubtful which ship was sailing the fastest; and Rogerthought, in spite of what Sam said, that the stranger was coming up withthem, but after a time it became evident that the _Tiger_ was gettingahead. The Captain told Roger to be careful to mark down their course,as they were standing away from the land to the westward. All day longthe chase continued; there was still some chance of their falling inwith another large ship, and if so, they might have to fight after all.It was some hours past noon; they had already sunk the courses of thestranger below the horizon, but there she was, in her former position,still following, though a dark bank of clouds was now seen rising to thewestward, indicating a change of wind, and probably a heavy gale. Theclouds rose fast, and came scouring across the blue sky, while thehitherto calm ocean was covered with foam-crested seas, which rosehigher and higher. Hamet ordered sail at once to be taken in--not amoment too soon, for down came the gale, and the stout ship heeled overto it. The _Tiger_, however, still kept to the southward. At last thegale increased to such an extent that the Captain ordered her to behove-to. Roger looked out for the stranger, but she was nowhere to beseen. That danger was escaped, but the question was how theslightly-built rover would endure the tempest. They might have run fora port on the Barbary coast, but that was a long way off, and no otherwould afford them shelter; for as their hands had turned against everynation, so every nation was a foe. Night came on, and as there was nogood in their remaining on deck, Roger and Stephen went to their cabin.Poor Jumbo soon made his way there.
"Oh dear, me tink we go to de bottom," he said. "Wish we had stayed onshore; all my doing too, for if I no say you knew how to manage de ship,Hamet not bring you."
"You acted for the best, Jumbo, and I do not blame you. We must hope toescape this danger and make our escape another time. Remember that wedo intend to make our
escape, if we can, on board the first vessel thepirate gets alongside. It will be somewhat hazardous, but it is ouronly chance. You must try and escape also, and I hope that Sam will,though it would be more difficult for him, as he has to fight with therest of the crew."
Jumbo shook his head; he evidently thought Roger's plan impracticable.All night long the tempest howled, the ship was tossed to and fro, theblocks and rigging rattled, the sea dashed over her, the voices of theseamen were heard amid the uproar shouting to one another, whileoccasionally the clanking sound of pumps was added to the noise.Morning broke dark and gloomy. During the day the wind decreased, andHamet told Roger to continue his course to the southward. He seemed tofancy that in those northerly regions he was likely to meet with moregales than were pleasant. The following day the weather had moderatedgreatly, and by degrees the sea went down, and the ship glided on assmoothly as before. A bright look-out was of course kept for strangers;and the _Tiger_ was about the latitude of the Straits of Gibraltar whena sail was seen to the eastward, which had apparently come out of theMediterranean. Chase was at once made, for she appeared to be amerchant vessel, and, though of good size, not much larger than therover. As they got nearer, she showed English colours. Roger andStephen watched her anxiously, and they called Jumbo.
"Remember what I told you," said Roger. "Follow our movements whateverhappens; you are not expected to fight, so probably will not be missed."
"What do you think of her?" asked Roger, who went in search of the oldseaman.
"That she is a stout English craft, likely not to give in without toughfighting; but she probably carries not more than thirty men, if so many,and we muster a hundred, so that she has very little chance if we runher alongside."
"But you don't mean to say that you fight your countrymen, Sam?" saidRoger.
"Cannot help myself," he answered. "I would rather not; but should havemy head whipped off in a moment if I was to show the white feather, ortry to hide away."
"Well, I tell you this much, Sam," said Roger. "I don't believe thatcraft will be taken, although she may have but thirty men on board; butthey are thirty honest Englishmen against these hundred cut-throatMoors; and if you can manage to get on board and let them know that youare an Englishman wishing to escape, you will act wisely."
"Cannot do it, Mr Willoughby," said Sam with a sigh. "I should like tobe free. The chances are the Englishmen cut me down before I can openmy mouth, and the Moors will whip off my head if they see me making theattempt."
"Still you would have done the right thing, and I hope you will riskit," said Roger. He could not venture to say more, as the Moors alwayscast frowning glances at the Englishmen when they saw them talkingtogether.
Roger went back to Stephen, who was standing aft, watching the stranger.Suddenly he exclaimed, "She is wonderfully like the _Benbow_ frigate.Though so long a time has passed since we saw her, I remember her well.I hope she may be, for Captain Benbow is not a man to yield to a pirate.See, she has no intention of avoiding the fight."
As he spoke, the English ship brailed up her courses and hove-to,preparing for the combat. This seemed somewhat to cool the courage ofthe Moors, who looked at each other, for they were accustomed to see themerchant vessels they attacked run from them and do their utmost toescape. The English ship remained stationary. The Sallee rover stoodon, and as she got nearer, shortened sail to be more under command.Presently the former filled, not to escape, but to be ready formanoeuvring, and almost the next instant opened fire from ten long guns,run out from her sides, and the Moors began blazing away in return; buttheir shot fell short, whereas those of the English ship came rattlingon board them.
"I say, Roger, there is no use remaining on deck to be a target for ourfriends," said Stephen. "Let us slip below before we receive damage; weshall judge when the time arrives for us to act, by the noise they willmake should the rovers run their opponents on board. I see Jumbowatching us."
Roger unwillingly slipped down and followed Stephen, for he was anxiousto see what was taking place. Their cabin was not altogether safe, fora shot might come through the rover's side and reach them; but, at thesame time, they could from thence easily spring upon deck. They waitedanxiously. Again and again the rover fired, while they heard the shotof the English ship come crashing on board, tearing up the planks,piercing the bulwarks, striking the masts and spars, occasionallyknocking over one of the crew on the deck, while shrieks and cries aroseas the Moors fell wounded to the deck. None were brought below, asthere were no surgeons to attend to them, and they were left to lie asthey fell. Hamet was anxious to put an end to this sort of work as soonas possible, and shouted orders to his men to prepare for boarding. TheEnglish ship had gained the weather-gauge, so he could not escape. Now,suddenly putting down his helm, he ran her aboard. A loud crash washeard as the two vessels struck together; grappling-irons were thrownaboard, the Moors swarmed into their rigging to drop down on the deck ofthe vessel they expected to capture.
"Now is our time," cried Roger. "Come along, Stephen! Come along,Jumbo! We must look out not to be stopped by the Moors, and makeourselves known to our friends before they cut us down."
They made for the after part of the ship; it was the only spot whencethey could hope to escape. The vessels were surging against each other;now their bows almost meeting one instant, their quarters strucktogether.
"Now is our time," cried Roger, who had been waiting for theopportunity, and together they all three sprang from the quarter-rail ofthe _Tiger_ on to that of the English ship, and throwing themselves overit, were the next moment on her deck, where Jumbo narrowly escaped beingcrushed before those parts of the vessel.
"Look out, lads; we are being boarded aft," they heard a voice shout,and three or four seamen, with gleaming cutlasses, came springingtowards them.
"No, no, we are friends; we are Englishmen," shouted Roger and Stephenin chorus. "Save us! save us! We are escaping from the Moors." Theycould scarcely get the words out in time to prevent the sailors frommaking mince-meat of them.
"I do believe they are Englishmen," cried one of the men.
"All right," cried one of the seamen. "Lie quiet, or, if you like, youwill find some spare cutlasses in the companion-hatch; go and get themand help us."
"There is another Englishman on board who wants to escape," cried Roger,remembering poor Sam. "Try and save him if you can."
"Ay, ay," answered the sailor, who the next instant sprang back to hackand slash away at the Moors, who were endeavouring to gain a footing onboard. As yet, fiercely as they were fighting, the Moors had gained noadvantage. Some indeed had reached the deck, but it was only to pay thepenalty of temerity with their lives, for not one had succeeded ingaining a footing. Roger, looking up, recognised the Captain of theEnglish ship; there was no doubt about it, he was Captain Benbow. Witha huge hanger in his hand he was slashing away furiously at the enemy,driving back some, cutting down others. Roger and Stephen made theirway to the companion-hatch, where they procured a couple of hangers andjoined the brave Captain. They were seen by the rovers, several ofwhom, uttering expressions of rage, attempted to get at them, and paidthe penalty of their daring with their lives, being cut down by theBritish seamen the moment they reached the deck. The rovers fought withdesperation, believing that they could quickly overcome the small crewopposed to them. Fresh gangs, summoned by their Captain, wereattempting to leap on board, when suddenly the grapnels gave way. Whilesome were still clinging to the sides of the _Benbow_ frigate, thevessels parted, and the _Tiger_ forged ahead. Ere many seconds wereover not a boarder remained alive; some were hurled into the sea, othersfell inside the bulwarks on to the deck.
"Now, ply them with the great guns," cried Captain Benbow.
His crew, reloading them and running them out, in spite of the bodieswhich cumbered the deck, sent such showers of shot on board the roverthat she did not again attempt to close, Hamet evidently considering herso tough a customer that he might pay
too dear a price for victory, evenshould he gain at last. He was seen to haul his wind and to stand awayon a bow-line, though he continued firing at the English vessel as longas he could bring his guns to bear. The shot, though they did no damageon deck, cut up the rigging and prevented the frigate from following,though Captain Benbow ordered his crew to knot and splice the ropes asrapidly as possible, in the hopes that she might be able to do so. Therover was soon out of range, and as she continued standing away theBritish crew gave her a lusty cheer as a farewell. On and on she stood,making all the sail she could carry. It was soon evident that the_Benbow_ frigate had no chance of overtaking her, though the crew workedaway with right good-will at the rigging. Strange as it may appear, notone of the British crew had been killed, although about a third of theirnumber had received wounds more or less severe.
"Now, lads, let us count the bodies of these villainous Moors theirfriends have left behind," said the Captain. Thirteen were foundstretched on the deck, presenting a ghastly appearance, and the crewwere about to heave them overboard.
"No, no, lads," cried Captain Benbow; "we must carry some trophy onshore to show our friends at Cadiz what we have done, or they may chancenot to believe our report. Bring up a cask of salt."
There were several on board that it was intended to fill with Spanishpork. The Moors' heads, as they were chopped off, were put into thecask with layers of salt between them, when, the whole being packed, andmore salt added at the top, the head of the cask was then fastened down.The crew then set to work with buckets of water to wash down theblood-stained deck. Roger and Stephen had in the meantime, with Jumbo,been standing aft, waiting to make themselves known to the Captain, buthe had hitherto been too much engaged to notice them. They now, seeingthat he was for a moment disengaged while considering what was next tobe done, advanced to him.
"You probably do not recollect us, Captain Benbow, though we are oldacquaintances of yours," said Stephen.
"I am the lad you promised to take to sea when you visited Eversdenmanor-house on the Dorsetshire coast," said Roger.
"Bless my heart alive, I remember the circumstance perfectly, though youhave grown out of my recollection, young gentlemen; but how in the nameof wonder did you happen to be aboard the rover, and how did you manageto gain the deck of this ship?" exclaimed the Captain, putting out hishand and shaking theirs warmly. "Very glad to see you, however ithappened, and I can congratulate you on making your escape, for it musthave been no easy matter."
Stephen and Roger between them briefly explained what had occurred.They were again welcomed by the Captain. They also mentioned SamStokes, and his intention of attempting to escape.
"Poor fellow, I know that he must have lost his life if he tried to doso," said the Captain, but he inquired among his crew whether they hadrecognised an English face among the rover's crew.
On this two or three came aft and declared that they had observed an oldman spring on to their forecastle, that he had warded off several blowsaimed at him without attempting to strike in return, and had suddenlydisappeared, they supposing that he had gone overboard, although, asthey had been compelled to defend the forepart of the vessel from aparty of rovers who were attempting to follow him, they had not time totake any special notice.
"Then perchance he is the very man we were inquiring about, and may havesucceeded in getting below. Let search be made for him," cried theCaptain.
Several of the crew on this leaped below, and one lighting a lantern,they began to search the fore peak. Before long the light from thelantern fell on an English-looking face in one of the bunks.
"Halloo! how did you come here?" exclaimed the seaman with the lantern.
"Don't cut my head off and I will tell you all about it," said the manin the bunk.
"You need have no fear; come out of that and we will hear what you havegot to say for yourself," said the seaman; and drawing off the blanket,he exposed to view a seeming Moor, who was quickly dragged out.
"Why, you are the very man we are looking for," exclaimed the sailor."Come up, our Captain wants to have a word with you."
And Sam Stokes, willingly obeying, accompanied the men up on deck, whereStephen and Roger and Jumbo welcomed him.
"Glad to see you have escaped, my man," said Captain Benbow, "for if youhad been caught you would have had a great chance of losing your head."
"Please you, sir, I do not feel it quite comfortable on my shoulderswhile I am dressed in this outlandish fashion among Christian men," saidSam; and he whispered to Roger, who was standing near him, "Do not saythat I turned Moor, Mr Willoughby, an you love me. I will soon getwhitewashed, I hope."
The Captain, taking the hint, ordered a suit of sailor's clothes to begot up, which Sam without delay put on, and then doing up his Moorishdress in a bundle, hove it overboard, exclaiming, "I hope that I may notwear such duds as those again; and now, Captain, just to show that I amturned into a Christian once more, I shall feel greatly obliged if youwill give me a glass of honest liquor. To say the truth, I have notdared to touch a drop since I turned Moor."
"With all my heart," said the Captain, and he ordered a glass of strongwaters to be handed to Sam, who quaffed it off at once, giving a deepsigh as he reached the bottom.
"Come, that does a fellow good; I feel once more like Sam Stokes insteadof the rascally Mustapha Mouser I was turned into."
As soon as the ship had been put to rights a course was shaped forCadiz, to which port Captain Benbow told his young friends he was boundwhen attacked by the Sallee rover.
"Now that you have come on board, Master Willoughby, I shall be glad tofulfil my promise and keep you if you desire to remain," he said toRoger. "I was heartily sorry to have to leave you behind, as I knew howmuch you would be disappointed, but I was many months absent fromEngland, and when I got back there was no time to send down toDorsetshire and have you up, should you have been still willing to come;however, a promise is not broken as long as there is time to fulfil it,and so you are welcome to remain on board the _Benbow_ frigate."
Roger warmly expressed his thanks, and said that he would rather servewith Captain Benbow than go on board any other ship. He made the sameoffer to Stephen, who, however, having no wish to follow the sea as aprofession, declined accepting it, though he begged that he might returnhome. Sam was at once duly entered as belonging to the ship. Jumbo,when he first came on board, had fixed his big round eyes on the Captainwith an inquiring glance, but had been apparently too much awed to speakto him, and now he came aft, and making a profound bow, said, "Me tinkyou remember Jumbo, Captain Benbow; serve on board dis ship to sweepcabin when little boy."
"Cannot say that I recollect your face; to my eyes, one nigger is muchlike another; but I have no doubt about the truth of your story, and ampleased to have you aboard again, and will enter you on the ship's booksas one of my crew if you wish it."
"Oh yes, massa," said Jumbo, with a broad grin. "Bery glad serveCaptain Benbow; hope to sail wid you while you keep de sea."
"Not much chance of my keeping anywhere else," said the Captain.
So the matter was settled, and Jumbo, to his great delight, foundhimself one of the crew of the _Benbow_ frigate. In about three daysland was sighted, and that evening the ship entered the magnificent bayof Cadiz.
Next morning after breakfast the Captain ordered his boat to go onshore, and invited Roger and Stephen to accompany him.
"Jumbo, you will go with us," he said. "You will have to carry a sackon your shoulders, but you need not ask what is in it."
"Neber mind, Captain, me ready to do whateber you tell me," answeredJumbo.
Roger and Stephen had taken their seats in the boat with the Captain,when Jumbo appeared with a big canvas sack, which was handed down afterhim. The men who were looking over the side grinned as they watched itplaced in the bows of the boat.
"Give way, my lads," cried the Captain, and they pulled for the shore.
They soon reached the quay, when, the Captain
and his young friendsstepping out, he ordered Jumbo to take up the sack and follow him. Theyhad not gone far when they met two officers of the revenue, who stoppedand inquired what was contained in the sack the negro carried.
"Salt provisions for my own use," answered Captain Benbow. "You knowme. I am a frequent trader to this port, and I have never attempted tosmuggle."
Still the officers insisted on seeing the contents of the sack.
"No, no," said the Captain, "I have made up my mind not to show them. Itell you, I never ran any goods since I came to sea, and have nointention of doing so now."
"We cannot help ourselves, Senor. What you say may be very true, but itis against our orders to allow you to pass. However, as the magistratesare sitting not far off, if you like to declare before them the contentsof your sack, the negro may carry them wherever you order him."
"The very thing I wish," said the Captain. "I will go before themagistrates, and if they desire to see my salt provisions, they shall bewelcome to do so."
Accordingly, Captain Benbow leading, with his two young friends, Jumbofollowing with the sack, and the two officers bringing up the rear,proceeded to the custom-house, where a party of grave and reverendSenors were sitting. The officers at once stated what had occurred,when the president, who knew Captain Benbow, greeted him politely,expressed his regret that he should have to inconvenience him for such atrifle, but observed that he must adhere to the laws; that as soon as hehad shown what the sack contained he should be at liberty to proceedwherever he might choose.
"Well, Senor, since you insist on seeing my salt provisions, I will showthem to you," said the Captain. "Jumbo, open that sack and throw thecontents out on the table."
Jumbo did as he was ordered, the whites of his eyes glancing, and hismouth at a broad grin, for he was certainly not ignorant of what he hadbeen carrying, and, untying the string, out rolled thirteen gory heads.The magistrates started back, some with amazement, others with horrorexpressed in their countenances.
"There they are," cried the Captain, "and at your service."
"How did you become possessed of them?" asked the president.
"This bright sabre served me to cut the fruit from the branches," heanswered, and then gave an account of how he had been attacked by theSallee rover, and succeeded in driving her off, after she had lost alarge number of her men, besides those who had fallen on the deck of hisship, and whose heads he now exhibited.
The magistrates were greatly astonished, and highly delighted at hisgallantry, for the Moors had much interfered with their trade of late,and had cut off a number of their ships. For although Admiral Blake,during Cromwell's firm rule, had punished them severely and kept them inorder, they had, since Charles the Second came to the throne, resumedtheir predatory habits with greater vigour than ever, while theGovernments of southern Europe had been too much engaged with their owninternal affairs to send any of their squadrons to keep them in order.The president highly complimented Captain Benbow on his gallantry, andinvited him to a public banquet, to take place the next day in theTown-Hall. What became of the heads history does not narrate. Theywere probably returned to their sack after due note had been taken ofthem, and carried out to sea, and sunk with a shot or two in deep water;for it would certainly have been believed that they would not restquietly on Christian soil, the Spaniards overlooking the fact that theancestors of these Moors had once possessed the country as lords andmasters.
Through Captain Benbow's liberality, Roger and Stephen obtained fittingcostumes to attend him at the banquet, where they had the satisfactionof seeing his health drunk and due honour done him, while they also had,through an interpreter, to give some account of their own adventures.
Some time was occupied in unloading the ship and receiving a freshcargo. Before this was accomplished, Captain Benbow, to hisastonishment, received an invitation from Charles the Second, King ofSpain, to visit Madrid, and to give him personally an account of hisexploit, of which his Majesty had heard through the officials at Cadiz.
"I know nothing of kings and courts, and if I go, shall feel like a fishout of water," said the Captain to his young companions. "But, you see,kings' commands must be obeyed, and perchance I may get a good turn orsome benefit to my trade. I should like to have taken you with me, butas the king has not invited you, and I require some one to look afterthe ship, I must leave you behind."
Roger and Stephen were in hopes that Captain Benbow might have takenthem, as they would have wonderfully liked to have seen Madrid, but theywere proud of having so much confidence placed in them, and theypromised to do their best to attend to the duties of the ship both whenunloading and loading, and their experience at Bristol enabled them todo the task. They had some difficulty from not knowing Spanish, butthey got over it with the help of gesticulating, and a word thrown inoccasionally by those who knew English. There were several Englishmerchants, even at that time, settled at Cadiz, some of whom wereshipping by the _Benbow_ frigate. These, finding two youngwell-educated Englishmen on board, invited them to their houses, andwere highly interested at hearing of their adventures during theircaptivity among the Moors, and their remarkable escape. As they becameknown they were made a great deal of, and thus greatly enjoyed theirstay at Cadiz, though they were anxious to return home to relieve theanxiety of their fathers; but Captain Benbow had told them that the_Dolphin_ had long since been reported lost, and they probably had beengiven up by their friends as dead. They were delighted, therefore, whenone evening, the day's work being over, they saw, advancing along thepier, a cavalier mounted on a stout mule, with a couple of attendants onfoot. Till he drew near they did not recognise the mud-bespattered,dust-covered traveller as their Captain, but he soon made himself knownby his hearty cheer as he saw them.
"How fares it, lads, with you; how fares it?" he shouted out. "Allright with the _Benbow_?"
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Roger. "All right with the ship and all rightwith us. How did you fare with the king and his courtiers?"
"A mighty deal better than I expected. Though they live in a big palaceand are dressed in fine clothes, there is nothing after all, as I couldsee, about them to be afraid of, so I cracked my jokes and smoked mypipe, made myself at home, and his Majesty promised to write to hisbrother King of England, and tell him what a fine brave fellow hethought me, and it would be shame in him if he did not make me one ofhis own captains. The King of Spain asked me if I would become one ofhis, but I shook my head, and told him that I was born an Englishman,and an Englishman I hoped to die; that I had no wish to fight, but thatif I did fight it would be for my country and my country alone. I amnot exactly like Master William Penn, who thinks we can do withoutfighting altogether. The king gave me a letter which I am to deliver,and he said that he would write direct through his ambassador in London,so that this little affair of mine will make more stir in the world thanI at first expected."
The Captain received a further welcome from the inhabitants of Cadiz,who considered that in some way or other his feat reflected a greatlustre on themselves.
The exhibition of Moors' heads was in accordance with the barbarouscustoms of the times, and the grim humour of the brave Captain greatlytook the fancy of people of all classes. As the _Benbow_ frigate sailedout of the bay, flags were flying at the mastheads of all the othervessels in the harbour and from the flagstaffs on shore, and guns werefiring and trumpets braying to do her gallant Captain honour.
Roger Willoughby: A Story of the Times of Benbow Page 5
