Chapter XX: Bringing in the Prize

'TWAS certainly a most perplexing problem, for we dared not board, neither could we send a boat to take possession, for had we done so, the Dons could have held our men as hostages and defied us to fire. Moreover, my father was the only one aboard the pinnace who could speak Spanish, and he lay unconscious in the hold, whither he had been taken to be well out of the way of any chance shot that might strike us.

Finally, we decided to send a boat, and lay hold of the galleon's quarter. We were then to hail her in English, for we hoped that amongst her complement some might understand us. Then, if the surrender was made in good faith, we were to desire the Spanish captain and three of his officers to board the _Damsel of Lyme_, and with these important hostages it would be fairly safe to take possession of the prize.

"Master Roy, 'tis you who must see this through," said Coombes. "If the officers come off, you must board the prize and take steps to secure her. Ten men only can be spared."

"Very good," I replied joyfully. "But what can I do with the galleon?"

"We'll bear you company with the pinnace under shortened sail. If so be we fall in with another Spaniard, you must leave the prize and get aboard the pinnace as best you can. Our cargo is too precious to risk."

Having obtained leave to take Jack Staynton with me, I obtained nine volunteers to man our cock-boat. Then pulling well out of the direct line betwixt the two ships, so that we would not impede the fire of the pinnace should the Dons act treacherously, our men rested on their oars when within pistol shot of the shattered stern of the _Sol del Esto_.

For a while there was no audible reply to my hail, though the bulwarks were lined with olive-skinned faces. Presently an officer replied that the galleon had indeed surrendered.

"We would that your captain come aboard us," I shouted.

"That, señor, is impossible. Our captain is slain."

Thereupon I asked that five of her officers should be rowed off to the _Damsel of Lyme_ to prove the sincerity of the declaration of surrender.

To this the officer demurred, saying that the word of a hidalgo was sufficient pledge.

"Nay, señor," I replied. "'Twill not pass in England. Personal security we ask, and must have, otherwise it is my order to tell you we must open fire once more."

Thereupon the Don promised compliance, and we waited while the officers were taken in their own boat to the pinnace. Then, having received a hail from Coombes that we might proceed, we ran alongside the towering galleon and, making fast our cock-boat, climbed on board.

It was a strange sight that met our eyes as we gained the deck. Ranged in lines four deep on the larboard side of the waist were some of the best veteran soldiers of Spain, for, we afterwards learnt, they were returning to Flanders, after having been sent thence to engage in a war with the Indians of New Andalusia.

Dejection, hatred, mortification, and rage were writ plain upon their faces; yet like lines of polished steel they stood, with their arms laid before them on the planks, awaiting their captors ten Englishmen under the orders of a youth of sixteen!

"Roberts," said I to one of the men, "do you go below and examine the hold. See carefully to it that there be not more than one hatchway." For most of these galleons have a clean run in their holds from the cable tier right aft, with only a long hatchway amidships.

The man departed on his errand, and in the meanwhile we made the remaining officers retire to the great cabin, into which we locked them, leaving but one, who could speak English passably, to give the necessary orders to the soldiers and mariners.

Presently Roberts returned with the news that there was but one exit from the hold, and that there was half a fathom of water over the ballast. Accordingly, we set the Spanish seamen to work to man the pumps, and when they had drained the hold, we told the officer to order his men to go below.

'Twas a harsh course to have to pursue, but 'twas stern necessity. Had we confined them to the orlop and lower decks the prisoners would have been a source of trouble to us, since they might have clambered out of the lower deck ports and attempted--with every chance of success--to retake the ship.

Ere we secured the troops and seamen under hatches we trained two pieces of ordnance, crammed with small shot, upon the hold, so that the prisoners could see that we meant to do our work thoroughly. Here we stationed a sentry with a lighted port-fire, placing a second at some distance from him, so that the former could not be surprised and cut down without the latter being able to raise the alarm.

We then set the ship on a north-westerly course, the _Damsel of Lyme_ keeping well on our quarter. Several times the handy pinnace closed in, hailing us to make sure that all was well. I learnt that my father had recovered from his swoon, and was still low from loss of blood, but otherwise was well on the road to recovery, unless gangrene or some other disease set in.

Of the nature of the galleon's cargo we could only hazard a guess. Her papers showed that she carried much treasure, but of what it consisted or where it was stored we as yet were ignorant. The damage done by our ordnance was considerable, for in addition to the almost total destruction of her stern--a circumstance that now caused us great uneasiness, since a heavy sea would assuredly cause her to founder--our shot had raked her repeatedly.

Besides the captain, two lieutenants, and the master, twenty-four soldiers and seamen were slain, while the colonel, two captains, and an ensign of the _terzae_--for such the Spaniards term a regiment--twoscore and five of the common troops and seamen were wounded.

Those who were slightly wounded we passed below, after having attended to their hurts. The others, many of whom were sore smitten, were placed forward on the maindeck and secured under lock and key.

On the third day following the capture of the prize the wind dropped, and by midday it was a flat calm. I therefore took the opportunity of going on board the _Damsel of Lyme_, leaving Jack Staynton in charge.

I found my father, looking very pale and weak, lying in his bunk in the cabin.

"Ralph, my son!" he exclaimed, "my sea days are over. An old hulk with a wooden leg is of no further use 'gainst the Queen's enemies, so I must be content. If we gain port in safety, there is more than enough to keep me in comfort. Some day you will benefit by what is left; but meanwhile, lad, stick to the sea. In spite of its hardships and perils 'tis a grand life. And now concerning the galleon; what is the name of her captain?"

"I never found out," I replied. "He was slain in action. Yet I'll see to it that they hail the prize and ask."

Having asked Coombes to communicate with the _Sol del Esto_, I returned to my father's side.

"We have done exceedingly well," he continued; "that is to say, as far as wealth goes. It is in my mind to refit the _Damsel_ on our return and offer her to Her Majesty, for I am convinced, as I have been for years past, that the day is nigh when every available vessel and every able-bodied man will be needed to strike a blow for the lives and liberties of Englishmen. You are now full grown, and mature for your years, Ralph, and 'tis meet that you should take command of the pinnace in my stead. You are not lacking in courage and judgment, and with an old seaman, on whom you can rely, to act as your mate, the task will be quite within your powers."

At that moment Coombes came into the cabin with the intelligence that the name of the late captain of the galleon was Don José da Silva.

"As arrant a rogue as ever trod a deck," quoth my father. "Why, 'tis the rascal whom Don Iago d'Alvarez persuaded to treacherously slay me at Rio del Foy. Well, there is one villain gone to his account. Once I should have rejoiced to have had my fingers at his throat, but time softens old hatreds. I am glad that he fell in fair fight, and not by any vengeance of mine. Now get you gone, Ralph, for you have been absent from your post long enough. Keep sharp watch and ward, for you have a troublesome handful under hatches."

Shortly after my return on board the prize the wind freshened, so that even under her scanty canvas the galleon maintained a fair pace.

Yet 'twas an anxious time, for the care and maintenance of three hundred prisoners and ceaseless vigilance, both within and without, left us no peace.

At length, by observations we reckoned that the Lizard ought to be sighted on the following day. When daylight dawned there was a rush for the foretop of the galleon. We were right, for less than ten miles away on our larboard bow lay the rugged granite cliffs of Cornwall.

Almost simultaneously there was a cry of "Sail ho!"

"Whither away?" I asked anxiously.

"On the starboard quarter," replied the look out. "A large vessel bearing down on us."

Meanwhile the _Damsel of Lyme_, which had been leading by nearly half a mile, backed her topsail and waited for us to come up.

"Do not bear away from the shore," shouted Coombes. "If yon vessel is a Spaniard you must run the galleon aground and shift for yourselves. We'll hold her in play as long as we can, then we'll run for Fowey or Plymouth."

Accordingly I gave directions for the helm to be put up, and a course shaped for the iron-bound coast, while the pinnace stood away across the track of the oncoming stranger.

At all events, I vowed, should she prove a Don, the Spaniards should never retake their lost galleon.

Presently I saw the _Damsel of Lyme_ fling about and stand in pursuit of us.

"As you were, Master Roy, as you were!" Coombes shouted, as the pinnace came within hail. "Steer due east. Yon vessel is the _Nonsuch_." In less than a couple of hours our consort had fallen into line.

{Illustration: "HAVE THE SPANIARDS LANDED?" I ASKED. [p. 246.}

Strange to relate, nearly thirty days had elapsed since the gale that separated us. All that time the _Nonsuch_ and the _Damsel of Lyme_ were shaping a course for home, but had not sighted each other till within the chops of the Channel.

Two days later our three vessels dropped anchor in Portsmouth Harbour.