CHAPTER SEVEN.
It would be impossible thoroughly to describe the feelings ofdisappointment which the Englishmen experienced when they discoveredthat they were caught like fish in a net. The Portugals were advancingalong the rocks on both sides of the harbour, and in the narrow channelwhere they were they would all be shot down, or must yield directly theywere summoned. In vain they tried to break through the chain. Againand again they dashed the stem of their boat against it. No weapon ofsufficient strength to cut it was to be found in the boat. Dick andanother man leaped overboard, and, balancing themselves on the chain,attempted to lift the boat over, but she was far too heavy to allow thema chance of success. Hitherto the Portugals had not fired; it mighthave been because they believed that Donna Isabel was with them, orthat, having to scramble along the rocks, they had left their weaponsbehind them.
"Oh, boys! if we had but a place to swim to, we'd swim rather than becaught by these baboon-faced Portugals," cried Dick, as he reluctantlyre-entered the boat.
Lights were now seen as if on the water itself.
"The Portugals have launched some boats, and are coming in pursuit!"shouted Lizard.
"Never mind, lads; if we can but get through their chain, we'll holdthem a long chase yet. Now, lads, a hearty pull and pull all together."
Heartily the seamen did pull, and stove in the bow of the boat, andsprang every one of their oars. With no very complimentary remarks onthe Portugals' rotten spars, they broke them completely in two, and eachman, grasping the inner end, prepared to use it as a quarter-staff.Scarcely had they thus armed themselves when three boats dashed upalongside them. Several voices ordered them to yield themselvesprisoners.
"Yield ourselves prisoners!" exclaimed Dick. "Come and take us, youblackguards! We'll just have the pleasure of cracking some of yourskulls first."
Although the Portugals did not understand Dick's polite observations,they concluded from the tone of his voice that they were notconciliatory, and therefore, with threats of vengeance, they pressedround them. Great was their astonishment and indignation as they wereabout to jump on board the fugitives' boat to find showers of blowsdescend on their heads with such hearty good-will, that with many acracked skull they sprang back into their own boats faster than they hadleft them. The Portugals in the boats so thickly surrounded the Englishthat the former could not use their fire-arms, while those on the rockswere also afraid to fire for fear of hitting their friends. Bravely andgallantly the seamen held out.
"Hurrah for the true English quarter-staves, lads!" cried Dick, as hedealt blow after blow on the heads of the Portugals, his example beingably followed by the rest of the men.
Edward shouted and encouraged his followers, though less vociferously.Several of the Portugals were knocked overboard; others, stunned, fellback into the bottom of their boats; and others, with broken arms andbruised shoulders, shouted--"Treachery! treachery! Help! help! Fire!fire!" and all sorts of cries, under the belief that the numbers of thefugitives were far greater than was the case.
As long as the enemy could be kept at close quarters the English hadgreatly the advantage; but at length so greatly worsted were thePortugals that the survivors and the unmaimed, getting out their oars,and shoving off from the boat which contained the audacious English,fairly took to flight, and pulled away up the harbour, maliciouslyshouting as they went--
"Fire! fire at the chain!"
Their cries were heard, and the rattle of fire-arms followed, and thebright flashes were seen, while the shot whistled over the only spot atwhich the prisoners could hope to make their escape, even if they couldmanage to cut or force the chain. As it would have been certain deathto make the attempt, Raymond proposed a still more daring scheme--topull up the harbour after the Portugal boats, to board one of thembefore the people had recovered from their panic, to seize their arms,and then to try and make terms with the enemy, or to die fightingbravely with weapons in their hands which might be used at a longerdistance than could their quarter-staves. The idea was no soonersuggested than put into execution. The boats had only gone up a shortdistance, and before the Portugals were aware that they were pursued,the English, with their dreaded quarter-staves, were battering away ontheir skulls, and in a few seconds had possessed themselves of all thefire-arms, ammunition, and swords to be found on board. Another boatwas overtaken, and before those on board had recovered from theirastonishment they were also deprived of their arms. The English nowdashed on so as to reach the shore before their opponents, and be readyto stand on their defence. Their success was greater than theyanticipated. As the Portugals were looking in other directions, no oneopposed them, and they had time not only to leap on shore, but to reacha rock on the beach which Raymond recollected so close to the water thatit prevented any one approaching on that side, while the rock itselfformed a rampart in front, behind which they could fight. Here Edwardfound himself with Dick Lizard and ten other men, some of them more orless wounded, but all able to use their weapons. Although they knewthat they must ultimately be starved out or overwhelmed by numbers, yet,like brave men, they agreed not to yield while resistance could by anypossibility avail them. Some time passed--no enemy appeared. What werethe Portugals about to do? was the question.
"They don't know where we've got to, and they're boasting that they'vekilled us," suggested Dick in a low voice.
Edward had still a lingering hope that they might escape. The minuteswere very long, but they increased into hours, and at last the daydawned, and Dick, looking out from behind his hiding-place, could seethe Portugals scattered about among the rocks near the harbour stilllooking for them. Daylight, however, exhibited the boat on the beach,and the marks of their feet on the sand. Their place of refuge was soondiscovered, and now in numbers the Portugals came crowding up from allquarters, thinking that they were about to take their prey on easyterms, and vowing vengeance on their heads. The rock, however, formed abreastwork which no bullets could penetrate, nor even could round shotfrom ordnance make any impression on it. The shape was that of ahalf-moon, the convex side being towards the shore, with the two hornsrunning some way into the water where it was too deep for any one towade, except the sea was unusually smooth.
On the sea side there was deep water, outside of which was a ledge ofbroken rocks here and there showing their heads, forming a barrier noboats could pass, with what may be described as a lagoon of smooth waterinside the rocks. Thus Raymond and his party were completely protectedfrom the sea, unless a boat could be dragged overland and launchedbeyond the rock into the lagoon. This could easily have been done underordinary circumstances, but any persons now attempting it would havebeen exposed to the fire of the English from the rock. Edward had notedsome of the advantages offered by the rock as a place where a fewdetermined men might defend themselves, but the strength of its positionsurpassed his expectations. It was the recollection of this rock whichmade him propose the bold attack on the Portugals in their boats whichproved so successful. Some of the Portugals, it was observed, advancedbravely enough, but others, whose heads were bandaged, though theyshouted and urged on their countrymen, hung back, and seemed in no wayinclined to encounter the daring Englishmen. Dick Lizard pointed themout to his companions.
"Ha, ha! the varlets!" he exclaimed. "They know the flavour of ourEnglish quarter-staves, and don't want a second taste of them."
Raymond had no necessity to counsel his men to be steady, for every onehad his weapons ready, and stood as cool as if no enemy were advancingto the attack. Still the number of their opponents was sufficient todaunt the stoutest hearts. Not only were there Portugals, but swarthynatives in light garments and long matchlocks, nimble fellows who lookedcapable of climbing over the rocks like wildcats, and provingtroublesome at close quarters. There were some gayly-bedecked cavalierson horseback, but of them the seamen took but little account.
"All we've to do, lads, is to kill the steeds, and then your horsemenbecome clumsy footmen," exclaimed L
izard as he saw them galloping upover the sand-hills from the interior.
The Portugals, who, like wise men, seemed to be lovers of long shots,began to fire towards the rock, not all together nor taking good aim,but as each man thought he could hit an enemy without being hit himself.The leaden bullets mostly flew high overhead, but a few camespluttering against the rock to fall flattened into the crevices or toroll down into the sand. Edward ordered his followers to keep undercover, he alone watching the progress of their foes. On they came, theshowers of shots increasing in thickness, but being perfectly innocuous.The nearer they got the higher the shot flew, so that no harm was doneexcept to the Portugals themselves by the bursting of some of theirfire-arms.
"Wait, lads, till they get close up to the rock, and then fire and knockover the foremost dozen at the least," he cried out. "Maybe they won'texpect the warm reception we can give them."
Raymond, like a good officer, having made the utmost of his position andtaken every proper precaution to insure success, did his best toencourage his men and to make them despise their enemies. Foolish andignorant officers neglect the necessary preparations and precautions,and yet fancy that they are exhibiting their bravery by despising theirfoes. This has ever been a great cause of defeat and disaster. Therewas a pause. The Portugals had not the heart to make a rush forward,and the English were unwilling to throw their precious shot away.
The Portugals were seen to halt, as if to hold a consultation. Theperfect quietness of the English alarmed them more than loud shoutingand noise would have done. They did not know what to make of it.
"Ha! ha! they've no stomach for the fight," whispered Dick, who hadpopped up his head to see what was going forward. "They're justthinking whether they 'll go back to their wives and families, or comeon and be shot. We'll teach them the wisest thing to do."
The pause was broken by the sound of a trumpet, and a cavalcade was seenapproaching from the direction of the castle. As it drew near, Edwardrecognised by his dress and bearing Don Lobo at its head. An officerwas now seen to gallop forward towards what might be called the stormingparty, but that they appeared to have no great inclination to storm.His message seemed to expedite their movements, and with loud shouts anda hotter fire they once more advanced. Finding also that the garrisonof the rock did not reply, their courage increased as did their shoutsand their speed, although it requires a stout heart to march towards anenemy over heavy sand.
"They'll go back, an' I mistake not, faster than they are coming on,"whispered Dick.
"Steady, my merry men," cried Raymond as the Portugals were crowding onwithin a few paces of the rock.
Numbers had already begun to climb its slippery sides, pressing on eachother, the hinder ones urging on those in front, the rearmost feelingtheir valour at the highest pitch, when Edward perceived that the timefor action had arrived.
"Now, lads, give it them!" he exclaimed, setting the example by firinghis piece, which was of the blunderbuss genus, rammed full of shot, andknocking over three if not more of the stormers. The rest of the partydischarged their fire-arms at the same moment, lodging their contents inthe bodies of some score or more of their assailants. They, the mostpart killed, with many who, though unhurt, were terribly alarmed,tumbled back on their comrades in the rear, all rolling down the rocktogether, and so thoroughly bedabbled with blood that it appeared as ifthe whole party were desperately wounded. This damped the courage ofthe rest. Some stood irresolute, others actually ran, and othersshouted to their comrades to go on, but did not themselves advance.This enabled the English seamen to reload their fire-arms, and as it wasevident that the fight would be carried on at close quarters, each manput as many shot into his piece as it would hold.
"Now we are ready once more for the Portugals! Hurrah, lads! give itthem again!" shouted Dick, while the enemy hesitated to advance.
Several fire-arms had been taken from the boats besides those of whicheach man had possessed himself. These were also loaded and placed readyfor use. The spirits of the seamen rose as they saw the way in whichthe first attack had been repulsed. Of the future they did not think.Edward, on the contrary, could not help thinking of the result, and feltthat their lives must be sacrificed in the end, and that, as they hadresolved to sell them dear, the longer they fought was but adding totheir price. Still he kept his courage up and resolved to persevere tothe end. Still the enemy did not advance. The governor was seen in thedistance, and appeared to be furious at the hesitation of his men.Message after message was sent to them to goad them on. The trumpetssounded the charge, and with shouts and cries they once more advanced toclimb the rock. Again Edward allowed them to approach till the mostdaring had got high enough to bring their breasts up to the muzzles ofthe pieces.
"Fire, my merry men, fire!" he shouted.
The result was even more terrible than at first, and numbers of killedand wounded men rolled back on their comrades, throwing their ranks oncemore into confusion. This time, however, others attempted to come on,but Edward, leaving two of his party to reload the fire-arms, led on therest armed with their quarter-staves, and leaping on the rock gave thefoe so unexpected a reception that they were driven helter-skelter backand fairly put to flight. Edward restrained his men from firing avolley after them, as ammunition was too precious to be thrown away.This success gave them a short breathing-time. Raymond had littlehopes, however, of obtaining fair and honourable terms. Carrying offtheir wounded, but leaving their dead under the rock, the Portugalswithdrew to a distance.
The Englishmen had time now to consider their position and what was tobe done. They were as unanimous as at first in determining to hold outto the last gasp. Indeed, Edward reminded them that if they yieldedthey would certainly be put to death. Without saying any thing, Dickslipped from among the rest, and with a large knife in his hand rushedinto the water. He speedily returned with a large bunch of clams andother shell-fish.
"Ha! ha! the Portugals will not starve us out as quickly as they think,"he exclaimed triumphantly. "That's the reason, I take it, that theyhold back."
Probably Dick was right in his conjecture. There was no want ofdriftwood under the rock, and, though raw shell-fish have often beeneaten, even seamen prefer them cooked. A fire was soon lighted, and allthe garrison were speedily employed in roasting the shell-fish. ThePortugals on seeing the smoke must have guessed its cause, for they weresoon again seen assembling to renew the attack. Edward saw that thetime had come when they must prepare to die like brave men, for he couldnot hope to repulse another attack as successfully as he had done thefirst. Often did the brave band wish they were on the deck of a stoutship prepared to do battle on somewhat equal terms, with a prospect ofvictory in the end, or at worst to go down with colours flying to findtheir graves in the element they loved so well. Ever and anon, andnaturally enough, they turned a wistful gaze over the ocean, and a sailwas now descried in the horizon. The circumstance could scarcely giverise to hope, and yet often and often, as men would do, they turnedtheir eyes in the same direction to watch her progress. She was,however, not directly approaching the shore, for the land breeze yetblew strongly off it, but she was standing along it close-hauled fromthe southward.
"She is edging in for the land!" cried Dick Lizard. "She may be aPortugal, or a Spaniard, or a Hollander; but oh, boys! she may--she maybe an honest Englishman, and bring us help at our great need."
"The Lord grant that so it may be!" said Edward, who, withoutpretension, had true religious principles, and was not ashamed of hisfeelings. "We are in his hands. Let us pray for protection, and hewill not desert us."
And then and there, on the sand and rocks, like sturdy believers as theywere, they knelt down, with their arms in their hands, and humbly pouredout their petition to Heaven for aid. Then they rose and looked out forthe enemy. The land wind, as has been said, was blowing, and the heatwas very great, especially on the sands, and the Portugals seemed ratherinclined to take their siesta than to fight with e
nemies whom theybelieved they had got securely in a trap from which they could notultimately escape death or capture.
As the sun rose the wind died away, and the heat became almostunbearable. Some of Edward's party declared that they should be roastedalive, and that they felt themselves bubbling and hissing already.
"Never mind, lads, a plunge in the sea will soon cool us; and that'swhat I propose we take to when our ammunition is all gone," cried Dick.
Even while he was talking, however, a ripple was seen to play over thesurface of the lagoon, and a faint breeze fanned their scorched cheeks.
"Hurrah, lads! here comes the honest sea wind," exclaimed Dick. "May itblow us good luck!"
Stronger and stronger it blew, and now the strange ship was seen to berapidly approaching the land under all sail, having squared away heryards before it. Had the Portugals been more wide awake they would havelong since seen her. They seemed, indeed, in no way disconcerted at herappearance. After a time, the Portugal flag was seen flying at herpeak, and they were evidently prepared to welcome her as a friend. Thehopes of most of the party again sank low. Dick, however, constantlykept his eye on the stranger, scanning her sails and rigging and loftyhull. He had not much time to engage in this agreeable occupationbefore Raymond called his men to their posts, for the enemy were seenmustering in great numbers, probably ashamed that their countrymenshould find them kept at bay by a mere handful of foreigners. Don Lobohimself rode forth from the castle with his staff of officers, and drumsbeat, and trumpets brayed, and cymbals clashed as the troops rushedforward to the assault. On they came.
"Steady as before, my brave men, and we'll beat them off again," criedEdward.
Up the rock they climbed with fierce shouts and denunciations ofvengeance, but the same mistake was again committed as at first--thebravest had been allowed to go first, the more cowardly following.Again the little English band of heroes let fly their pieces, knockingover the leaders, who, falling back, threw the rest into disorder. Somestruggled on, and the English quarter-staves again came into use.Several of the English were, however, wounded by the pistols of thePortugals. Raymond got a severe cut on his left arm, and a bullet wentthrough the brain of another man. Still the seamen struggled on, andmaking a rush all together, drove the Portugals once more to the bottomof the rock. Now, had the cowards led the way they would haveundoubtedly been killed by the volley of the English; but before thelatter could reload, the braver men would have been upon them, and wouldprobably have ended the unequal contest. As it was, so great was theawe inspired by the English seamen's determined bravery, that it wassome time before the Portugals could be again brought up to the attack.
During the interval the stranger ship had approached as near the shoreas it was safe to venture, and had there cast anchor, just beyond therange of the guns of the castle. Several boats were seen to be loweredfrom her lofty sides. They were at once filled with men and pulledtowards the shore, under cover of the ship's guns. The ship had come toan anchor while the fighting was going forward, and no sooner were theenemy repulsed than Lizard turned his eyes towards the ocean toascertain what the stranger was about. He took a steady gaze at her,and then giving a loud slap with his hand on his thigh, he exclaimed--
"The Lion, lads, the Lion! Hurrah! Old England for ever! Hurrah!"
His shouts made all his companions turn their eyes in the samedirection, and so absorbed were they in gazing at the stranger, that hadthe enemy stormed at that moment the little English band would have beencut to pieces. A second glance was not necessary to convince Edwardthat the ship he saw was indeed the Lion herself.
The Portugals, it seemed by their movements, began to have somesuspicions of the character of the stranger, and of the object of theboats in coming on shore. It made them still more eager to recapturetheir former prisoners, and to retire to the fort. Doubly resolved,however, were Raymond and his men to hold out till their countrymencould come to their rescue. The boats were steering for a bay betweenthe rock and the castle. Again the Portugals began to assail the rockwith fierce cries of vengeance. The seamen shouted in return. Hotterand hotter grew the fight; the eleven defenders of the rock stood boldlyat bay, hurling the Portugals down the rock, casting their pistols,which they snatched from their hands, after them, and often bringingtheir own quarter-staves into play. Still, from loss of blood and theconstant attacks of the enemy, their strength began to fail; even Edwardfelt that nature would give way, when the stranger's boats reached thebeach. Each boat was full of men, who leaped on shore and formed in twoparties--one pushing towards the castle, the other, shouting "St. Georgeand Merry England!" towards the rock. On they came. There was no doubtthat they were friends. Some of the Portugals faced about to meet them;but so furiously did the strangers charge, that, after exchangingseveral blows, resulting in not a few cracked skulls, those who couldrun took to their heels and fled. Edward, seeing this, charged down onhis assailants, driving them before him to the bottom of the rock, whichhis friends at the same moment reached. The remainder of the enemy,finding themselves between two fires, made no attempt at defence, but asmany as could escape ran off inland, the rest being cut to pieces ormade prisoners.
Hearty were the greetings as shipmates, long separated, clasped thehands of shipmates--for the new-comers were the brave Lions. Raymond'sfirst inquiry was for Antony Waymouth.
"The captain is leading the other party," was the answer. "Our ordersare to push on to join him."
"Oh, let us go!" cried Edward, forgetting his wounds, fatigue, and everything, and eager only to join his friend.
On they went over the hot sands, not altogether unmolested; for thePortugals fired at them from a distance, and here and there one of theparty was hit; but no one seemed to care for wounds--the Castle of SanPedro, with the reputed riches of its savage governor, was to be theirprize. The two parties met under the walls. There was a short buthearty greeting between Antony Waymouth and Edward Raymond.
"We have no lack of gold and jewels already aboard the Lion," exclaimedthe former; "but an' we become masters of what this castle holds we mayturn our bows homeward, and no longer go roaming the world around forgold; that those who have lady-loves may wed and live like lords of theland to the end of their days. Yet I tell thee, Ned, I am more glad tosee thee alive and hearty than if I had gained this fortress."
There was no time for Edward to tell his story. Waymouth assured himthat, had he suspected he was with the defenders of the rock, he shouldhave come in person to his assistance. Waymouth's party had landed withsome scaling-ladders and a small ram used for battering open gates. Themen were all eager to begin the attack. They had halted under shelterof some rocks near the forts. With a loud cheer the men sprang forwardas the bugles sounded for the assault. Some placed the scaling-laddersagainst the walls, and began to climb up with a celerity and activitywhich only seamen can display; others bore on the battering-ram towardsone of the gates, which they battered with vigorous blows; while a thirdparty, armed with arquebuses and crossbows, shot bullets and boltstowards the walls, bringing down all who appeared upon them.
Although, from so great a number of the Portugals having been put toflight, the defenders were few, the walls were high and the gatesstrong, and, to get into the castle was no easy matter. As to the gate,the Portugals let the battering-ram do its worst without interfering,while they united all their efforts in opposing the escaladers, who, asthey reached the summit of the ladders, again and again were hurleddown, some with broken heads and gashed shoulders and arms, and otherskilled outright, though not a few were ready, as at first, to climb upand renew the attack.
Waymouth and his officers exerted themselves gallantly, but discoveredthat stone walls are hard things for men to knock their heads against,and many began to fear that the exploit must be abandoned, when Edward,who, in spite of his wound, had not been behindhand in exhibiting hiscourage, recollected the gate out of which Donna Isabel had conductedhim the previous night, and
the angle of the wall down which he hadslipped. Telling Waymouth what he proposed doing, he summoned DickLizard and some of his companions in captivity, with a few other freshmen, and, briefly explaining his plans, led them round close under thewalls on the sand where it was evidently generally washed by the sea.The angle was reached, and by the rope which Edward had left hangingover when making his escape he prepared to climb up, though each of hismen was eager to lead. Young Marston, who was the only midshipman ofthe party, especially entreated that he might go.
"I'll be at the top in a moment, sir," he whispered. "I'll let you knowif there are any Portugals near, and if they tumble me over it willmatter nothing."
Edward, however, would allow no one to precede him. He grasped therope, and began his ascent. How different were his feelings from whatthey had been when descending a few hours before! Marston followeddirectly after him. Up he climbed, expecting every moment a Portugal'shead to appear over the parapet, and to see the rope cut above him. Onhe went, though. The summit was reached, and throwing himself on it, hedrew his sword and stood ready to defend the spot till his men shouldhave likewise gained a footing. Marston was by his side in a moment.When they looked around, not a Portugal was to be seen to stop theirprogress. Forward they rushed accordingly, and got half way across theopen before they were discovered by one of the garrison. The man whofirst saw them summoned others, and a pretty strong party was collectedto oppose them, who, rushing down, met them before they reached the gateat which they were aiming. So furiously, however, did the seamen chargethe enemy, that they were driven back, cut down, or put to flight beforeany one had time to shut the gate, which, as Edward had hoped might bethe case, was left open. A few rushed in before them, and a desperatestruggle ensued. In the end not a Portugal remained alive. Thepassages resounded with the tramp of armed men, the clash of steel, thereports of pistols, and the cries of the wounded, while clouds of smokerolled along them.
"On! on!" was the cry.
Dick Lizard happily knew the way to the principal gate.
"I'll tell you, Master Raymond, by and by how I came to know it," heremarked. "It's all of the lady who helped us out."
On they went. It was every thing to reach the principal gate withoutfurther opposition. As Edward had hoped, all the defenders were on theramparts. No one had remained inside the gate, which from its strengthit was supposed would withstand any attempt to batter it down. Dick wasnot mistaken. The thundering of the battering-ram guided them also tothe spot. Passing under a broad archway, they found themselves justwithin the great gate. The din of the battle outside had preventedtheir approach being heard, while every one was too busy to observethem. Bars and bolts innumerable guarded the gate. These Edward andhis followers began to withdraw, but they were so huge and rusty that itwas with difficulty they could be removed. While the seamen were stilllabouring away, Raymond, turning his head, saw at the farther end of thepassage a number of men approaching. At their head he recognised DonLobo himself. With cries of vengeance, the governor led on his men.The blood of the Lusitanian was up, and, cruel tyrant and extortioner ashe had been, when he found himself pushed to extremities, and hisenemies already within his stronghold, he resolved to drive them out ordie as became him in its defence. As the governor approached, Edwardand part of his company faced about to encounter him, while Dick Lizardand the rest plied crowbars and hammers in beating back the huge boltswhich secured the gate. The battering-ram was all the time thunderingaway outside. The object of Don Lobo was to destroy the daring band ofEnglishmen who had got inside, and to replace the bolts before the ramhad forced the gate. Nobly Edward and his little party kept theirnumerous foes, hard pressing on them, at bay. Don Lobo himself rushedforward at length in desperation, and his blade crossed that of Edward.
"Ha, ha! I hate you, and you know the reason, vile Englishman!" heexclaimed, as he made a lunge at his opponent's breast.
Edward turned the weapon aside, and that instant Dick shouted--
"Stand from under, lads! stand from under!"
For the huge gate was cracking in every part, and with a loud crash downit came, crushing one poor fellow, the rest with difficulty escaping.Don Lobo heard the shout and the crash. His eye was for an instantwithdrawn from his sword's point to look at the falling gate. Thatinstant was fatal to him, and Edward's weapon entering his bosom, hefell backwards to the ground, while his own sword fell useless from hisgrasp. As the gate gave way, the fierce and eager countenances of theEnglish seamen were seen in the entrance, led on by Waymouth.
"St. George and merry England!" they shouted. "Down with the Portugals!Hurrah! hurrah!"
"An' you cry `Down with the Portugals!' just be sure if there arePortugals to put down," cried Dick. "The mouse has got into the cheesebefore you, mates; but there is no lack of mites yet to eat. On--on,lads!"
Dick narrowly escaped a clout on the head by his facetiousness.Fortunately, daylight came in through the open gateway, and through thesmoke and dust his features were recognised in time. The whole partynow rushed forward. Some of the Portugals in narrow, passages made astand, but they were forced back and driven from chamber to chamber tillevery part of the castle was in the hands of the English.
"The miser's gold! the miser's gold!" was now the cry. "Where are hisstrong boxes? Bring him forth, and make him tell us."
Several hurried off to search for the late governor. Edward might havetold them of his fate, but he, mindful of poor Don Joao, had gone tolook for his unfortunate acquaintance, and to save him, if possible,from insult or violence.
Here and there the sound of strife might still be heard as a few of thebraver spirits who had retreated, not aware how entirely the castle wasin the power of the English, were defending themselves in rooms andgalleries from small parties of adventurers who had separated from themain body in search of plunder.
Edward had made inquiries both of Portugals and English if they knewaught of Don Joao. At length, led by the sound of clashing steel, hefound his way, with the few men he had got to follow him, into thecircular chamber of a distant tower. There in a deep window recessclustered three or four priests holding crucifixes in their hands, somedark-skinned women in their picturesque costume, and some nativeattendants. Before them stood Don Joao, with five or six Portugalsoldiers, defending themselves with their swords against the attacks offour or five English sailors, who were hewing and hacking away, not withmuch science, but with such furious blows that they had already cut downtwo or more Portugals, and were now hard pressing the old soldier. Hewas bleeding from more than one wound, and was evidently little able tohold out against assailants so persevering. Edward hurried forward,ordering the Englishmen to desist; but they either would not or did nothear him, and before he could interpose his own weapon, a heavy cut froma rapier brought the old man to the ground.
"For shame, men!" exclaimed Edward, saving the old soldier from anotherblow. "We war not with grey hairs, with priests and women. Let notanother blow be struck."
The Portugals, finding resistance hopeless, threw down their arms.Edward knelt down by the old man's side, and raised his head. It wasvery evident that his last hours were passing by.
"My daughter?" he asked in a faint voice. "Brave Englishman, can youtell me any thing of my daughter? She had my leave to aid in yourescape. I would have accompanied her had I been able."
Edward felt sick at heart at having to tell the poor father of hisdaughter's fate. Yet what could he say?
"Alas! I cannot say but I fear the worst," was his reply.
"I dreaded to hear this, but do not blame you, noble Englishman. Thelast link which bound me to earth is broken, and I am ready to quit thisworld, which man's folly and wickedness has made so full of woe andsuffering."
These were almost the last words the old man spoke, though the priestscame round and administered the rites of their faith ere his spiritquitted its frail tenement. Even the rough seamen, despisers and hatersof all papistical cer
emonies, looked on with respect and awe as the oldsoldier's head sank on his breast, and his hand fell powerless by hisside.
Waymouth had taken precautions to secure all the entrances to the castlewhile the garrison were committed to the dungeons in which they had beenaccustomed to confine the enemies who had the misfortune of falling intotheir hands. Those who had gone in search of Don Lobo soon returned,bearing on a litter his dead body, an officer holding up in triumph abunch of keys which had been found in his pockets, and shouting--
"The keys of his money-chests! the keys of his money-chests!"
"The keys are but of small service to us without the chests," remarkedthe captain. "Find the chests, men, and we may make small account ofthe keys."
A diligent search was therefore commenced for the reputed wealth of theold governor. It was said that he had employed thirty years incollecting it, and that he had purposed shortly returning to Europe,under the vain belief that it would afford him enjoyment andcontentment. Every passage, and corner, and crevice of the castle fromtop to bottom was searched, and not a sign of a money-box could bediscovered. Some declared that the governor's wealth was reallyfabulous--that is to say, it had no existence; while others affirmedthat it did exist, and would somewhere be discovered. Midshipmengenerally consider hunting for rabbits very good fun, but hunting formoney-chests was very much better. All the cabin-boys of the Lionhunted round and round and up and down with wonderful zeal. The captainat last promised that whoever found the wealth should have a tenthportion of it. This still further excited the diligence of all hands.Still no chests were forthcoming. Some, in revenge, proposed burningdown the castle, till the captain announced that whoever set it on fireshould be cast into the flames. Again and again the search was renewed.The prisoners were interrogated, but no one could tell. Rewards wereoffered without effect. It was evident that they did not know. Severalsaid that Pedro Pacheco knew; but that worthy had been run through thebody by a pike, which had struck him in the back as he was making hisescape with a bag of gold under his arm, which he refused to stop anddeliver. The booty was, after all, not so contemptible, for there weresilver plate in large quantities, and jewelled ornaments, and goldencoin; but, as it was not what was expected, no one was contented.
At last Oliver Marston happened to strike his foot against a ring in thecorner of a small room on the ground floor of the castle. It served asthe handle of a stone which without difficulty he lifted. Lights werebrought. A flight of stone steps led to a vault, in which was an irondoor. Crowbars, eagerly brought, forced it open, and there exposed toview were a dozen large iron chests. The governor's keys were applied,the lids opened, and exposed to view ingots of gold and silver, andjewels and coins scarcely to be counted. Wild were the shouts ofdelight as chest after chest was opened, and each one in successionappeared to contain more gold and jewels than the first. The chestswere computed to contain property of even greater value than what wasalready on board the Lion. It was no easy work to carry off the chests,but it was accomplished before the eyelids of one of the victors closedin sleep. The prisoners were allowed their liberty, the castle was seton fire, and, while the flames were bursting out on all sides, the Lionmade sail with her rich freight, and stood away to the southward.
Antony Waymouth; Or, The Gentlemen Adventurers Page 7
