Chapter XV: Off to the Spanish Main

BEING unable to lay to, in response to the _Nonsuch_, we lowered the fore lateen sail and drifted with the wind. Then, having rove a fresh sling to the mainyard and made good sundry defects, we paid a visit to our prisoner below decks.

The man had been aroused by the noise of our guns, and, to his surprise and terror, had found himself securely bound and under heavy fire; for though the danger of his being hit was slight, several of the arquebus balls had embedded themselves in the planking of the pinnace.

But when my father spoke to him, promising him quarter on the understanding that he gave no trouble, the soldier recovered his composure. He had reasons to be thankful for his change of circumstances, for, he told us, he was a Majorcan who had been compelled to join a newly-raised levy for service in Flanders.

When my father asked him straightly if the munitions on board were not intended for an invasion of England, the man shook his head. Whether he was really ignorant or deliberately so we could not decide.

"And mark my words, Ralph," observed my father, "if I tell them at home of these preparations for invasion I shall only be laughed at. Yet 'twill come ere long. The King of Spain merely waits to draw to himself the sympathies of the English Papists--then he will move. Yet methinks these English Papists would vastly prefer a Protestant English Queen to an arrogant Romish Prince."

Meanwhile our rescuer, the _Nonsuch_, and her chase were well-nigh hull down, but by the dull rumble of an incessant cannonade we knew that they were hotly engaged. Of the issue we had no doubt, for with the strong wind the barque could manoeuvre well enough to prevent the troop-laden galley running alongside, while her ordnance ought soon to send the Spaniard to the bottom.

As night fell the wind dropped. All sounds of firing had ceased. We hoisted the most powerful light we possessed to the mainmast, then, dog-tired, we sought slumber.

Just at sunrise we were hailed by the welcome sound of a gruff and hearty English voice.

Lying a cable's length off our quarter was the _Nonsuch_, her sides pitted with musket balls and her sails holed in many places, showing how fierce had been the resistance of the Spanish arquebusiers.

Hanging to our main-chains was a longboat filled with bronzed seamen, while in the stern sheets was one whom I instantly recognised as my old companion, Jack Staynton. By him was seated his father, the doughty master-gunner, now clad in a serviceable garb of russet brown, with a silver whistle slung from his neck.

"What cheer-ho, shipmate!" shouted the latter, as he swung himself nimbly over the side. "Right glad were we to drive off those rascally Dons. But, by Christopher! I've seen you before, my lad!"

"Ay," added Jack, who had followed his parent. "What manner of chance brings you here, Ralph?"

In a few words we explained the circumstances under which we found ourselves on board the _Damsel of Lyme_, not forgetting to mention the end of Captain Hannibal Cleat.

"Sink me if I should have thought it!" exclaimed Master Staynton. "The cap'n was ever a sorry rogue, a stickler at nothing to gain his ends, yet I marvel that he turned pirate. Had he contented himself with taking Spanish ships 'twould have been a right proper course, and I would have sent my son with him."

"And how came you, sir, to take to the sea?" I asked.

"Envy of some of my fellow-countrymen, and hatred and malice towards the Dons," he replied. "Since several gentlemen of Devon have adventured themselves to good account, methought 'twas time I followed their example. I could not find zest enough even to enter into another passage of arms with the rascally Mayor, so I sold my appointment as master-gunner, raised all the money I could, and fitted out the _Nonsuch_. It has not been a prosperous voyage, though we have cleared our outlay with a bit to spare, not to speak of the excitement and the experience gained thereby. Now we return to refit, so, an ye will, I'll send half a score of stout seamen to lend a hand to get the _Damsel_ safe home. How say you?"

My father was pleased beyond words with Master Staynton's offer, and soon the two vessels were sailing in company, though it was necessary to check the way of the pinnace, otherwise she would easily have outstripped the barque.

Without further incident we drew within sight of Old England, but when off the Lizard a tempest drove us to take shelter in the harbour of Fowey, where for nearly three weeks the vessels rode storm-bound.

Thus Jack and I had ample opportunities for renewing our friendship (if it can be said 'twas ever severed). He was serving aboard the _Nonsuch_ as his father's 'prentice, and had--though he told me not--done right well in several stiff fights.

Old Roger Staynton, too, was a frequent visitor to the _Damsel of Lyme_. No doubt he found that the Madeira and Alicante stowed aboard the pinnace was much to his liking; but, at the same time, he conceived a strong attachment towards my father.

"Dick," quoth he, one evening, as the pair sat over a right royal repast, "I've a mind that you sail in company with me; share and share alike. Now, look you. The scurvy Poole man whose ship was to be my consort has basely failed me. With more men I could do much. Since the year draws to an end I mean to lay up till Lady Day, so you can sit at your ease at home till then. Say not that you're loth to have another fling at the Spanish dogs?"

"Nay," replied my father grimly. "Give me the chance, and I'll do my best 'gainst the murderous Dons. But there is the question of money."

"Pshaw!" ejaculated Roger. "The _Damsel_ is yours by right of conquest. Of recompense for services rendered to you by the _Nonsuch_ we'll say nothing. The Queen will claim her per centum, but a tithe of the store of the munition of war aboard the pinnace will serve.

{Illustration: "THUS WE SPENT A HORRIBLE NIGHT." [_p. 190_.}

I'll see to that, for my old patron, Sir Henry Radclyffe, has the ordering o' it. The _Damsel of Lyme_ is a sweet little craft, Dick, of which you may justly be proud. Come now, clench the nail on the head and say yea."

"But the men?"

"Men? Bless me! One has only to beat a drum at Point and thrice as many Portsmouth seamen as ye lack will be at your bidding, willing to be paid by the profits or not at all. If you have no better objection, gossip, you had as lief say yea straightway."

"Whither would you cruise--the Indies?"

"A profitable ground."

"Have you given a thought to the Spanish Main?"

"Did I know it well I would go willingly, but 'tis strange waters."

"But not to me, Roger. Listen."

And forthwith my father proceeded to give Master Staynton the story of his adventure in the uplands of Mexico.

"You could lay your hands on the silver?" demanded the master-gunner.

"Enough to ballast both ships. Eighty well-armed men would suffice. Twelve days' marching, with scant possibility of armed resistance, and we can gain the spot."

"Twelve days from the sea is a hazardous journey," objected Master Staynton reflectively. "And how is the silver to be brought to the coast?"

"There are slaves to be had in plenty," replied my father. "Moreover, there are few armed Spanish ships off that coast, seeing that they are wanted to escort the Hispaniola fleets. The Spaniards would never expect a descent upon the mainland."

"Then 'tis a bargain, Dick?"

"It is, comrade."

And, leaning over the table, the two adventurers shook hands, thus sealing the compact that was to lead us into strange adventures upon the Spanish Main.

. . . . . . .

The winter passed quickly, for what with the joy of my father's return after many years, and of mine own after many months of captivity, and the preparations for our next venture, and divers other circumstances, we had scarce time to look around ere spring was upon us.

Thanks to the good offices of the Governor of Portsmouth, Her Majesty's permission for us to adventure in the Indies was obtained without difficulty. With her natural caution the Queen forbade us to molest the Spaniards in any way yet we knew full well 'twas an empty order, for had not Drake and Hawkins done likewise, to the outward displeasure and with the secret approbation of their Royal mistress?

Of the munitions of war found on board the _Damsel of Lyme_ we retained sufficient to more than fully equip the crews of the _Nonsuch_ and the pinnace, handing over far more than the customary tithe to the Governor of Portsmouth. The residue was sold at a low rate--though 'twas all profit--to the train-bands of Portsmouth and Chichester.

Meanwhile, my father had repurchased our old home at Crofton, and the precious plan of the silver mine of San Luis was discovered after having lain undiscovered for years in its hiding-place. When I saw the intricate markings on the map, and the complicated directions how to take this and that path or such and such a mountain pass, I could well understand that the mine was beyond finding save by means of the plan.

At length all our preparations were complete. The two vessels had been breamed and tarred, all stores were on board, and 120 men--good seamen all and trained to the use of arms--were signed on.

Captain Roger Staynton--to give him his new title--was to be in supreme command, with my father as his immediate subordinate. There were two mates to the _Nonsuch_--Tom Harvey and Will Sutton--both Portsmouth men, and one mate--John Coombes, a native of Bosham--appointed to assist my father on board the _Damsel of Lyme_. Jack Staynton and I again served as 'prentices, though by now we were fairly capable in the art and mystery of seamanship.

Thus it came about that on the morning following Lady Day in the year 1584--it being my sixteenth birthday--the two vessels weighed and set sail for the distant Spanish Main.