Chapter IX: Don Iago D'alvarez

THE galleon was at least four times the length of the _Damsel of Lyme_, and carried two tiers of guns, with additional ordnance under her poop. Even at her waist she was full twenty feet above her waterline, while fore and aft she towered to almost twice that height.

She was painted black, with two broad yellow bands, while her stern was finished off with two wide galleries richly gilded. She had three masts, with a short one at her bowsprit, each of which carried a circular top, whence bowmen and arquebusiers could seriously annoy an enemy at close range.

Over her taffrail, which was fitted with three enormous lanterns with elaborately decorated ironwork, floated the red and gold flag of Aragon and Castile, with its embellishments too numerous to describe.

As the boat swept past her stern, I read the name _San Josef_.

Directly we came over the side my captor had me led to the quarter-deck, where stood the Captain, a man even more haughty in manner and dignified in appearance than the officer who had me in his charge.

It was a lengthy report that the latter made, but when he had finished, the Captain gravely inclined his head without saying a word.

"Boy, you are to be my prisoner," announced his subordinate. "Yet, 'tis in your hands to decide what your treatment shall be. Give us no trouble, and answer me well and truly, and 'twill go easy with you. Now go forward and get food and drink. Yon seaman will provide you in that way. Then see to it that you are well washed, and don clean apparel. This done, you will be brought to my cabin, for I have much to say to you."

With that I was led away, wondering mightily at the condescension of my captor, and more concerning his knowledge of my father.

It was about high noon when, having carried out my instructions, I was taken aft. As I passed along the upper deck I could see that the _San Josef_ had resumed her course, and was steering approximately due east.

Something compelled me to walk to the leeside, and though the seaman who accompanied me followed close at my heels, he made no effort to prevent me. I was not mistaken. Wallowing half a cable's length astern was the _Damsel of Lyme_, towed by a huge hempen hawser, while the men who had been left on board were still busily engaged in rigging a jury mast. I could not help wondering whether they had discovered my secret hoard of gold, or whether the limbers of the pinnace still guarded my easily gotten wealth.

A smart touch upon my shoulder recalled me to my position. My guardian pointed significantly towards the companion-ladder, and, descending a semicircular flight of steps, I gained the maindeck. Here the space seemed immense, for I could actually stand upright under the deck-beams, while betwixt the rows of ordnance there was a clear space of full ten paces. The galleon was a veritable floating castle.

Still aft we went till the sailor stopped short before a door over which was a plate of brass engraved with the words _Tiente Po_, which I afterwards learnt signified First Lieutenant. Here he knocked, and, on being answered, carefully opened the door and beckoned me to enter.

I found myself in a spacious cabin, well lighted by the windows in the stern gallery. The place was splendidly furnished, the table and chairs being of walnut. Rich hangings covered the walls, while on the floor a thick green and gold carpet deadened every sound of one's feet. Through the windows I caught sight of the _Damsel of Lyme_ still yawing as she laboured through the green rollers in tow of the huge galleon.

Seated at the head of the table, and idly toying with a massive silver goblet, was the officer who had brought me from the pinnace. Without speaking, he motioned me to stand at the foot of the table. This I did, and he remained for some moments looking fixedly at me with his small, sharp eyes, till I began to feel ill at ease.

"Well, Señor Ralph," he began at length, "I trust you will, for your own sake, answer me fully and truly. Has your father ever said aught to you concerning one Don Iago d'Alvarez?"

"Nay, sir," I replied, which was the truth, since my father had said little to me relating to his adventure, which I have heretofore mentioned.

"Art quite certain? Then I am Don Iago d'Alvarez, and a friend of your father. Now, has he ever said aught about a certain mine in New Spain?"

"Ay," I replied. "But of that very little."

"'Tis well. Now listen. Many years ago he and I discovered a rich mine. Unfortunately, we were--shall I say--separated? Consequently the locality of the mine remains a secret. Now, if I give you safe conduct through France to your home, will you lay hands on a certain chart, somewhat like this one, and bring it to me? That done, I swear by my patron saint that you will be set free, and, moreover, a fair portion of the proceeds of the mine will be yours."

"Before I answer, Don Iago, where is my father? Is he still alive?"

For a half instant the Spaniard's brows contracted.

"He is; but, you may regret to hear, he is--shall I say--detained? To put it briefly, he is a prisoner. Yet he is my comrade. Years ago we swore everlasting friendship; that friendship still exists. Now, if you can lay your hands on the chart, the profits of the mine will go partly towards the payment of your father's fine and partly to me, while both parties will, I know, contribute towards the share that you will have well and truly earned.

"Now consider; the time is short. Ere tomorrow morning we shall reach Vigo, make over the prize, and put to sea again. If you have not then decided, there will be no other course open than to hand you over to the Governor of the town as a pirate. Agree to my terms, and you will be shipped to Bordeaux or Nantes, whence you can travel overland to Le Havre, and so to England."

There was something about d'Alvarez's manner that caused me to hesitate. In spite of his professions of friendship, there was a veiled menace in his speech.

"I'll go right willingly," I replied, "provided that I first see my father and obtain his permission."

Again Don Iago contracted his brows, then, discarding his haughty calmness, he exclaimed impatiently:

"That is impossible. Your father cannot be seen by anybody save the officers of Government and the members of the Holy Office."

"Then how am I to know whether he is alive; and what pledge have I that, should the plan be found and the mine rediscovered, my father will obtain his release?"

"You have the word of one of the hidalgos of Spain," he replied grandiloquently. "Let that suffice."

"'Twill not suffice for me," I rejoined with English bluntness. "Until I see my parent and obtain his free and full permission to do what you ask, the matter must remain as it is."

"Consider, my boy!" he exclaimed angrily.

"I have considered," I replied shortly.

"You refuse?"

"I do."

"Then on your head be the consequences. Your fate as a pirate will be sure and swift; as a heretic 'twill be none the less sure, but long-drawn, since 'tis not the custom of the Holy Office to send heretics to the stake without first inflicting pain upon their bodies to purge their stubborn souls. Now choose quickly; my terms or the tender mercies of the Inquisition."

'Twould be vain to pretend that I was aught but horribly frightened. To fall into the hands of the Inquisition was ever regarded as the most awful fate that could befall a hapless prisoner, and the memories of the cruelties inflicted upon free-born Englishmen during the last reign still rankled in the hearts of my fellow-countrymen. Therefore it was not surprising that I tried to temporise.

"'Tis a strange way to show your friendship for my father, Don Iago. I pray you, think more of the matter. Without the plan all hope of finding the mine is, I take it, lost. With both my father and me kept prisoners you will not gain anything. All that I ask is to see my father and obtain his permission."

"By my head!" he exclaimed in a passion. "Am I to be talked to thus by a mere boy? Terms, forsooth! 'Tis I who hold the stakes. Your doom is sealed, young fool!"

Before I had time to say or do more he clapped his hands, and immediately two soldiers entered the cabin.

Don Iago snapped his fingers and thumb expressively, the men stepped beside me, and laid their hands heavily upon my shoulder. I glanced at the Spaniard. He had resumed his seat, and was again toying with the goblet, as if unmindful of my presence. Thinking it useless to say more, I preserved silence, and, unresistingly, was led from the cabin.

Down in the bowels of the great ship I was taken, till forward in the gloom of the orlop deck I was thrust into a small prison-like den, lighted only by a horn lantern swinging from the low deck-beam.

Here, with the dexterity acquired by long practice, the soldiers clapped me in bilboes, so that I could scarce move a yard in any direction. Then, having made sure that the padlock was properly secured, they left a pannikin of water and a crust of rye-bread by my side, removed the lantern, and left me.

I heard the oaken door creak on its hinges and the dismal sound of the rusty bolts being shot. Then, in utter darkness, I lay a helpless prisoner. 'Twas my first taste of captivity in the cruel clutch of Spain.