CHAPTER SIX.
The _Benbow_ frigate sailed out of the Bay of Cadiz bound for England.The wind was fair, the sea smooth, and she carried every stitch ofcanvas which could be set, eager to reach her destination, the port ofLondon. Stephen and Roger walked the deck with her commander, who wasin high spirits at the success of his voyage, for he had secured notonly a good freight out and home, but had received a bag of gold andother presents from the King of Spain as a testimony to his gallantry.
"And are you two young men willing to continue to sail with me?" heasked.
"With all my heart," answered Roger promptly. "It has been the earnestdesire of my heart ever since you came into our bay; and long beforethat I wished to go to sea, though it mattered but little to me withwhom I should sail. Now I know you, I shall never wish to serve underanother commander."
Captain Benbow smiled at Roger's enthusiasm. "I may hope to keep afloatfor many a year to come, and I am always glad to have those with me whoserve from affection rather than from interest, so you may depend onhaving a berth on board whatever ship I may command, and I will neverlet the grass grow under the keel if I can help it. And, MasterBattiscombe, what do you say to following sea life?"
"I have not made up my mind for doing so," answered Stephen. "I had nointention of going afloat till I was appointed supercargo of the_Dolphin_, and the experience I have had does not tempt me to go again,though I thank you, sir, for the offer, and am bound to confess that Iwould rather serve under you than any other commander."
"Well, well, each man to his taste," said the Captain. "I conclude thatas you have been so long absent from home, and your friends must havebeen in great anxiety for your fate, that you would like to land as soonas possible. Should the weather permit, I will put you on shore eitherat the Start or the Bill of Portland. I cannot promise to run in toWest Bay, lest I should be delayed in my passage up channel; may be,however, we shall fall in with a Torbay fisherman, or some craft boundto Lyme, which will land you still nearer home."
Roger, on hearing this, was strongly tempted to ask leave to accompanyStephen, for he longed once more to see his father and uncle, and sweetAlice and Madam Pauline, but he restrained his feelings; he feared thatshould he once leave Captain Benbow it might not be again so easy tojoin him. He therefore said nothing on the subject, but applied himselfas diligently as before to improving his knowledge of seamanship andnavigation.
Nothing has been said of Jumbo since he was employed in carrying theMoors' heads on shore. He had devoted himself to Captain Benbow, andfully expected to continue in his service. Sam Stokes also had enteredas a seaman on board the _Benbow_ frigate, but he was greatly changed;he had never been quite himself since they sailed from Cadiz.
"I cannot help thinking of those Moors' heads," he said one day toRoger, who inquired what was the matter. "Sometimes I see themdangling, and they taunt me for having deserted the ship when I hadsworn on their Koran to stick to them to the last."
"I am not very well able to say whether you are right or wrong in whatyou have done; still I think you were right in escaping from the Moors,for you would have died a Mohammedan if you had remained with them, andI hope you will die a Christian," said Roger, who was greatly puzzled toconsole poor Sam.
"Cannot say, sir," murmured Sam. "I was a very poor one, or I shouldnot have turned Moor; even to save my life. There were a good manyother poor fellows who refused to turn, and got cruelly treated inconsequence. It seems to me that I acted like a big coward, when, tosave myself, I agreed to become a Moor, and I should have been servedright if I had never been able to get away from them."
"At all events, you have great reason to be thankful that you did getaway from them," said Roger. "Now, you have to see that you behaveyourself like a Christian man in future."
"I will try," said Sam, gravely. "I wish you would speak to the Captainand have those heads thrown overboard."
On this it occurred to Roger that the best thing was to tell CaptainBenbow of the hallucination under which Sam was suffering.
"I will soon settle that matter," said the Captain, and he directed oneof the mates to go forward and tell the men that if he ordered them toheave overboard the Moorish heads ranged on the forecastle, they were topretend to do so. Presently he came on deck, and calling Sam aft, askedhow he dared to have allowed those heads to remain on the forecastle.He then, keeping Sam by him, ordered the men to heave them into the sea,and not let one remain. They, being prepared, went through the actionof heaving heads overboard. Sam looked on with open eyes and mouthagape.
"Now, my man," said the Captain, "we have got rid of those Moorishheads."
"Ay, ay," said Sam, looking over the side to see some of them floatingastern. "I hope we have seen the last of them; it's my belief they haveall gone to the bottom."
After this the _Benbow_ frigate continued her course across the Bay ofBiscay without meeting with any adventure. One day the Captain wastalking over his plans with Stephen. "When I get to London, as soon asI have discharged my cargo and secured another freight, one of the firstthings I shall have to do will be to present myself to King James andsee what notice he is inclined to take of the King of Spain'srecommendation."
"To King James!" exclaimed Stephen. "Why, I was not aware that KingCharles the Second was dead."
"Dead he is though, and, as the Spaniards say, died a true Catholic.Cannot say it is much to his credit, as he always pretended to hissubjects to be a Protestant, and now that King James, who is more honestin that respect, acknowledges himself to be a Catholic, the French andthe Spaniards are rejoicing at the thought that England will be turnedback to the old faith, and that the object of the Spanish Armada will begained."
"Heaven forbid that such should be the case!" exclaimed Stephen.
"I have no wish for it, and do not believe the people of England willconsent to such a change," remarked the Captain; "but as I am atarpaulin, as they call us, I do not trouble myself with affairs onshore, and it is my business to obey the laws, and do my duty towhatever king is on the throne."
"I cannot altogether agree with you there," said Stephen. "Our fathersfought to gain our civil and religious liberty, and it behoves us, theirchildren, to defend those liberties with our lives."
The Captain shrugged his shoulders, remarking that he had not given histhoughts to such matters.
The news he had heard made Stephen meditate a great deal, and becomemore than ever anxious to return home. At length the Lizard was made,and the eyes of the adventurers were gladdened with the sight once moreof their native land. The wind being fair, the _Benbow_ frigate soonafterwards passed the Start, when she came up with a small vesselrunning in for the land. The Captain hailed her.
"Where are you bound for?" he asked.
"Lyme," was the answer.
"Heave-to, then, for I have a passenger for you."
"Now, Battiscombe, here is an opportunity if you wish to take advantageof it."
"Thank you, sir; I will do so," said Stephen.
In another minute his small bag of clothing was got on deck. He thankedCaptain Benbow for all his kindness; he and Roger grasped each other'shands; they felt the parting more than their words could express.
"Tell them all about me," said Roger; "how much I should have liked tocome home, but that I am bound to the ship and cannot leave CaptainBenbow." He sent many more messages, which need not be repeated.
A boat was lowered, and Stephen was speedily carried on board thetrader, which stood on towards Lyme, too far off then to be perceived,while the frigate, having hoisted her boat in, continued her course upchannel. The Bill of Portland was soon passed, and the high cliffs ofthe Isle of Wight sighted. Before the sun rose the next day, the_Benbow_ frigate had run through the Straits of Dover, and was about tohaul round the North Foreland, when a heavy north-westerly gale sprangup, which compelled her quickly to shorten all sail. In vain an attemptwas made to steer for the Downs; the gale increased with such fury thatit
became evident that she would run a fearful risk of being driven onthe Goodwin Sands. The ship was stout and well found, and CaptainBenbow still hoped to beat up against the wind; but he was drivenfarther and farther from the English coast, while under his lee he hadthe dangerous Flemish bank. Few men, however, knew the shoals of thatcoast better than he did. Now the ship was put on one tack, now onanother, but on each tack she lost ground.
He might, to be sure, have run for Dunkerque, Ostend, or other placesalong the coast, but night was coming on, and to steer in among thesandbanks was a dangerous undertaking, with the weather so thick andsqually as it then was, and without a pilot; still, unless the _Benbow_frigate could beat off the coast,--it was one of two alternatives whichremained--she might ride to her anchors, though risk of her draggingthem was very great. Still, as long as her masts and sails remaineduninjured, Captain Benbow resolved to try and keep to sea; a shift ofwind might enable him to gain either the Downs or the Thames. The coolintrepid way in which Captain Benbow managed his ship excited Roger'sadmiration, while the crew, accustomed to confide in his skill, executedhis orders with prompt obedience. When morning at length broke, darkclouds covered the sky, while leaden seas, capped with foam, rolled uparound them, but no land was in sight to leeward, which showed that theyhad not struggled in vain; still the wind was blowing as strong as ever,and, stiff as was the _Benbow_ frigate, it would have been dangerous toset more sail; indeed, she was already carrying as much as she couldbear.
"If the gale does not increase we shall do well," observed CaptainBenbow to Roger. "As soon as it moderates we may stand in for theThames."
As the Captain had been on deck all night, he now went below to snatch ashort sleep, leaving his first officer in command. Roger was also gladto turn in, for he could scarcely keep his eyes open. He might havebeen asleep for about a couple of hours, when he was awakened by hearingtwo loud crashes in rapid succession. He sprang up on deck to discover,to his dismay, that both mainmast and foremast were gone by the board.The Captain was already there issuing his orders to clear the wreck, andto prevent the butts of the masts striking the sides of the ship.Never, perhaps, before had the _Benbow_ frigate been in greater peril,and it was more difficult than ever to keep her off the shoals. Thelong dark night was coming on, the masts were pounding away against thesides, having been cut adrift. An effort was made to rig a spar on thestump of the foremast, so as to keep steerage-way on the ship, theCaptain having resolved to steer for the Scheldt, in which river hehoped to find safe anchorage. Owing to the way the ship was tumblingabout, some hours passed, however, before the jury-mast could be riggedand sail set on it. The ship was then kept as much as possible to thewestward, and Captain Benbow expressed a hope that he should be able toreach the mouth of the river. Before the morning came the wind haddropped considerably, and had shifted to the southward, whereon theship's head was immediately turned in the direction of the Thames. Shehad gone but a short distance, when a sail, which had been sighted atdaylight coming from the northward, approached under Dutch colours.
"Mynheers and I have always been friendly, and if yonder vessel has anyspars on board, I doubt not that her Captain will gladly supply us withanything we want."
The stranger soon drew near, and Captain Benbow having explained hiswants, which were indeed very evident, the Dutch Captain at once offerednot only to furnish him with spars, but, it being almost calm, to sendsome of his crew on board to assist in getting them set up. The offerwas too good to be refused. The stranger was the _Elephant_, CaptainCoopman, who, knowing Captain Benbow by reputation, said that he wasdelighted to be of service to him. While the two ships lay closealongside each other, their crews busily engaged with the work in hand,another ship was approaching, which was not discovered till she was acouple of miles or so off. Captain Coopman, on observing her, expressedhis astonishment and annoyance.
"She is French," he exclaimed. "By not keeping a proper look-out, Ihave allowed myself to be caught."
"But I cannot permit you to be caught by the Frenchman," said CaptainBenbow.
"Thanks, friend," answered the Dutch Captain. "I would willingly notexpose you to an attack from the Frenchman, but I cannot help myself.See, the wind has fallen completely; it has become a dead calm."
While he was speaking, a boat was seen to put off from the stranger, andas she approached, it was observed that she was full of armed men.Captain Benbow, on this, ordered the guns to be loaded and run out, anddirected his men, while the Dutch Captain, going on board his ship,followed his example. In a short time the stranger was alongside.Captain Benbow stood at the gangway.
"You are welcome to come on board if you visit us as a friend," he said,"but I cannot allow you to step on my deck if you approach as an enemy."
"Whither are you bound, and to what nation do you belong?" asked thestranger.
"I am English," answered Benbow, "and am bound from Cadiz to the Thames.You, I see by the colours you carry, are French."
"What is the other vessel alongside you?" asked the French Captain.
"She is Dutch, and has delayed her voyage to render me assistance ingetting fresh masts set up, as you will observe, mine having beencarried away in the gale."
"I regret to have to interfere with her, but I must, notwithstanding,make her my prize," said the French Captain.
"If you make prize of her you must make prize of me," answered CaptainBenbow. "In common gratitude I cannot allow her to be captured while Ihave the means of defending her."
"Notwithstanding, I must take her, for I am bound to make prizes of allDutch vessels I fall in with," answered the stranger.
"At present, my friend, I think we are more likely to make you and yourboat's crew prisoners," said Captain Benbow. "See, you are under ourguns, and I have only to give the word, and we can sink you in a moment;however, what do you say to a compromise? You give me your word thatyou will let this vessel escape, and I promise not to make prisoners ofyou and your boat's crew, which I shall otherwise most certainly do."
"Who are you?" asked the French Captain, standing up in his boat. Heappeared to be in the prime of manhood, and exhibited a tall yetwell-knit figure, and a fine bold handsome countenance.
"John Benbow, at your service," answered the Captain. "May I ask yourname?"
"I am Jean Bart, in the service of the King of France. I am pretty wellknown in these seas."
"That indeed you are; a better seaman does not sail out of Dunkerque,"answered Benbow. "I have often heard of you and your doings, and fromthe number of prizes you have taken, I judge that you can afford to letone go without any loss to your reputation or purse. I tell you franklythat I am glad of having an opportunity of meeting you."
Captain Bart looked pleased at the compliment paid him.
"Come, my friend," said Captain Benbow, "agree to my proposal. Step onboard; crack a bottle with Captain Coopman and me. Your men shall beentertained forward, and while the calm lasts you need be in no hurry totake your departure."
Without further hesitation Captain Bart agreed to the proposal.
"I trust to your honour, Captain Benbow," he said.
"You may rest assured that, as you have given your word to allow the_Elephant_ to continue her voyage unmolested, you will be able to leavethis ship whenever you desire."
The three Captains were soon seated in the comfortable cabin of the_Benbow_ frigate. Captain Benbow, having regarded Captain Bart for aninstant, put out his hand, exclaiming, "Why, we served together as ladsfor two years or more under Admiral Ruyter--surely I am not mistaken--and saw a good deal of pretty hard fighting."
"You are perfectly right," answered Captain Bart. "I remained with himtill I was twenty-one and a half years of age, when I returned to mynative town of Dunkerque, not supposing at the time that I should haveto fight against my old friends the Dutch."
"You and I must be about the same age, Captain Bart," observed Benbow,after they had been comparing notes of certain events which had takenpl
ace.
"I was born in the year 1650," said Bart.
"Very same year that I first saw the light," observed Benbow. "We bothof us have been ploughing the salt water pretty nearly ever since."
"For my part I expect to plough it to the end of my days, as most of myancestors have done; for we men of Dunkerque are born seamen, and fondof the ocean," said Bart.
"And to my belief I am the first of my race that ever went to sea," saidBenbow.
Roger had been an interested listener to the conversation carried on inEnglish, which Bart spoke remarkably well, as did Captain Coopman.
"Will you tell Captain Bart your adventure with the Moors' heads, sir?"he said, thinking it would interest their guests.
The other Captain was eager to hear it, and Benbow gave the account, andtold of the wonderful way in which Roger and Stephen had escaped.
"You acted bravely, my young friend," said Captain Bart, turning toRoger. "It required no small amount of nerve and courage to escape fromthe _Tiger_. Those Sallee rovers have become the pest of the ocean. Ihope that my Government will send me in search of them, though for mypart I would rather catch them alive than cut off their heads, as eachMoor fetches a good price as a slave, and very useful well-behavedservants they make, always provided their tempers are not irritated, andit is prudent not to allow them to carry arms of any description."
After some time Captain Bart rose to take his leave. His men had, hefound, been hospitably entertained by the crew of the _Benbow_ frigate.Very loath to quit her, the Frenchmen, embracing their hosts in a mostdemonstrative manner, swore eternal friendship, expressing the hope thatEngland and France would hereafter, as now, remain on friendly terms.The Dutchmen had of late been suffering too much from the privateers ofDunkerque to regard the French with any amicable feeling, but wiselykept on board their own vessel.
"Now, Captain Bart," said Benbow. "I must trust to your honour not tointerfere with our friend here."
"Certainly, certainly," answered Captain Bart, and shaking hands withhis brother Captains, he stepped into his boat, which pulled leisurelytowards his frigate.
"Now, my friend," said Benbow to Captain Coopman, "yonder Frenchman maybe a very honourable person, but it is as well not to trust him morethan we can help. I would advise you to make sail directly it becomesdark, so that you may put as wide a distance as possible between yourtwo vessels before to-morrow morning. I will remain here and show mylights for some time longer, so that he will not know in what directionyou have gone."
The Dutch Captain, considering Benbow's advice sound, promised to followit. The calm continued till about half the first watch was over, when alight breeze sprang up from the northward, thus placing the English andDutch vessels to windward of Jean Bart's frigate. The _Elephant_immediately made all sail, and stood away for the Texel, not allowing aglimmer of light to proceed from her sides, and Captain Benbow trimmedhis lanterns brighter than ever, and waited for an hour or more, when, abreeze freshening, he shaped a course for the Thames.
"Come," he said, "we have done a good turn to our Dutch friend; I hopethat he will manage to escape from their clutches."
Roger Willoughby: A Story of the Times of Benbow Page 6