The Rock of the Lion
Page 9
CHAPTER IX
On the 21st of June, 1779, had begun the fourteenth and last siege ofGibraltar. On the 12th of September the gates had been closed, and fromthat on never, in all the annals of war by land and sea, had there beensuch a struggle for the possession of a single spot of ground as forthat mighty Rock. General Sir George Eliot, with a few more than fivethousand men, had resisted for five months the assaults of an army threetimes as numerous, and a strong fleet, which proposed, by fighting andstarving the British garrison, to reduce it. Already there had beenthree months of scarcity before September, and five months of faminesince; but the spirit of the garrison was still unbroken, and when, onthat brilliant morning, Rodney's fleet was discerned rounding CabritaPoint, the gaunt crowds of soldiers, officers, ladies, servants, Jews,and Genoese poured out upon the face of the Rock, wept and laughed andprayed and went wild with joy, as sufferers do when relief is in sight.For seven days they had alternated the agonies of despair with thetransports of hope. They had heard that Admiral Rodney, with a convoy,was coming to their relief; but a little English brig which had made itsway in brought news of Admiral de Langara's squadron, and the besiegedpeople knew nothing of the numbers of the ships or the result of thebattle that must follow. As day succeeded day, with no news of thefleet, they began to fear that it had been defeated--and that meantsubmission or starvation, and they had starved since September. Everyhour of the night there were half-despairing creatures watching andwaiting on Europa Point for the longed-for succor; and every morning hadbrought them nearer to despair, until, at last--at last--the fleet wascoming, their white sails shining in the morning light, and bringingwith them life itself to the brave men and dauntless women on the Rock.
Never, in all his life, did Archy Baskerville forget that day when hefirst set foot on Gibraltar. The _Royal George_, her masts and sparsbraced and refitted, and her shot-holes plugged, could still leg itfaster than most of the ships in the fleet, and led the second division.Her decks had been cleaned up and her injuries repaired as far aspossible, and although she showed marks of her warfare with theSpaniards and the storm, yet was she ready at that moment to go intoaction if necessary. Next her came the _Phoenix_, larger than the _RoyalGeorge_, and clumsier, but a noble trophy; and beyond them were othergreat ships of the line, smart frigates, captured Spanish ships, and afine convoy loaded with provisions for the famishing garrison.
As they neared Europa Point they heard the shouts of joy from the peoplewho swarmed to meet them. From the old convent on the hill, which wasthe Governor's residence, General Eliot, the commandant, was issuingwith his staff. A band was playing "God Save the King," which was takenup by the ships in the fleet. Admiral Digby was on the bridge, wavinghis hat at General Eliot, who, with his hat in his hand, bent his gray,uncovered head as if returning thanks, while he walked towards the mole,where a shouting crowd of soldiers, civilians, women, and children weregathering.
Nearly every one of the wounded officers was on deck, and so wasLangton, who had not been wounded at all, but who was weak and illbeyond any of them. He had not fully recovered from his injuries in theshipwreck, before the battle off Cape St. Vincent, and after doing hisduty like a hero he had completely collapsed. Nevertheless, with Archy'said, he had crawled up on deck, and both of them watched, with shiningeyes, the stirring and inspiring scene as the ships came to anchor. The_Royal George_ stood quite close in, and almost before the anchor kissedthe ground the Admiral's barge put off and joined the crowd of boatscontaining officers that were making for the landings. They saw thepeople crowding around the officers, shaking hands, and even embracingthem, while General Eliot stood silent and apparently overcome withemotion, as admirals, captains, and lieutenants grasped his hand andwrung it. Pretty soon a boat with provisions put off from the _RoyalGeorge_, for the necessities of the people were so great that they hadto be supplied before the cargoes of the storeships could be broken.Archy, who always had to be in the thick of everything, basely desertedLangton as soon as the boats began putting off, and, going up to CaptainFulke, asked permission to go ashore. The young prisoner's conduct onboard ship had made him to be highly popular, and Captain Fulke at onceagreed.
"Good-bye!" cried Archy to Langton. "Somebody will take care of you, Idare say," and skipped over the side.
As the boat drew alongside the Rock the scene was thrilling. Before themtowered the mighty Rock, with its grim batteries ready for defence,while just across the neck of land connecting it with the mainland, nomore than a mile from the barrier gate, the Spaniards had erected twomighty lines of fortifications, from the Punta Mala on the bay ofGibraltar, across to the Sierra de Carbonera, or Queen of Spain's Chair.Two great forts were at either end of this line of fortifications--SanFelipe, on the bay of Gibraltar, and Santa Barbara, on the easternbeach. San Felipe was faced by a frowning fort, almost as strong as theSpanish fort at the end of the Old Mole, while three strong batteriesand the powerful defences of the Land Port defied the Spanish line ofattack. In the golden afternoon light these grim and warlike featureswere singularly clear, the Spanish colors were in plain view, while thedistant roll of the Spanish drums and the silver notes of the bugleswere perfectly audible.
On the mole the people seemed beside themselves with excitement--therapture of relief, the anxiety for news from home, the story ofsufferings half told, the pain, the joy, the pale mothers with thepaler children, the officers and soldiers with uniforms hanging looseupon their famished bodies, the Jews and Genoese chattering andgesticulating wildly, and a few Moors and Arabs standing silent andstoical amid the tumult. One of these men--an Arab--Archy noticed theinstant he stepped ashore, close to a group made up of General SirGeorge Eliot, Admiral Rodney, Admiral Digby, and some other officers ofhigh rank. This man was of a bronze color, tall and well formed, withthe full black eyes of the Arab tribesmen, and wore his white burnouseand his snowy turban with an imperial air. General Eliot, a soldierlybut austere-looking man, spoke to him.
"Come here, Musa."
Musa advanced with perfect dignity, and bowed to the officers; eachreturned the salutation by lifting his hat.
"This man, gentlemen, has been our only mode of communicating with theoutside world for five months past. Through him we have communicatedwith our consuls on the African side, and they have returned us, by him,the only news we have had of anything outside this Rock in all thattime. The Spaniards have found out that Musa is clever enough to eludetheir smartest cruisers, and have repeatedly offered him money tobetray us, but he has steadily refused."
"This shall be known in England, Musa," said Sir George Rodney.
Musa slightly inclined his head, and, without the faintest change ofcountenance, withdrew, and walked off by himself.
General Eliot then turned to a small, slight man, in naval uniform, andsaid, "I have had as much assistance from Captain Curtis as from anyofficer in the garrison, and Mrs. Curtis fired the first shot of thedefence on the 12th of September, the order for firing being, 'Britons,strike home!'"
Archy glanced around, and saw by Captain Curtis's side a pretty,pale-faced woman, holding a little girl of ten years by the hand, and byher blushes and the child's smiles he knew that the lady was Mrs.Curtis. But the next moment the child said something that went to hisheart.
"Mamma," she whispered, "when do the sailors mean to give us somethingto eat? I am so hungry!"
This was more than Archy could stand, and, making for the boat, he veryunceremoniously seized a bag of potatoes and was walking off with it,when an officer, superintending the unloading, called out to him,sternly:
"Hold, there! What are you doing with that bag of potatoes?"
"Taking it to feed a half-starved woman and her little girl."
"Put it down. The provisions must be distributed according to orders."
"Unluckily, this case can't wait," answered Archy, making a dash towardsthe group where Admiral Digby stood.
"Sir," said he, "I want these potatoes for Mrs. Curtis and her littlegirl, and--"
Archy waited for no further orders, and, laughing, started as fast ashis legs could carry him after Mrs. Curtis. In a minute or two hereached her, toiling painfully up the steep path, Dolly, white andfaint, clinging to her hand.
"Madam," said Archy, taking off his hat, "I believe I have the honor ofaddressing Mrs. Curtis. Admiral Digby gave me permission to bring thisbag of potatoes to your house."
"I have no house any more," replied Mrs. Curtis, with a faint smile."The officers' families have long since abandoned the houses in thetown, on account of the bombardment. My husband has had a rude shelterput up for us under the rocks at Europa Point, and there my child and Ilive, with a faithful old servant of my husband's. I thank you more thanI can express for your kindness in bringing us something to eat--I knewyou had a kind heart as soon as I saw your bright face. Tell me who youare."
"I am Midshipman Baskerville, late of the continental ship _Bon HommeRichard_, a prisoner on parole, and entirely at your service, madam--andthis young lady's," added Archy, who dearly loved children, looking atDolly.
Dolly smiled at him, and when he offered her his hand to help her up thesteep incline she gave it him with the sweetest confidence. Archy hadnever practised carrying bags of potatoes on his back, and wasconsiderably out of breath when they reached the shelter that stood fora house for Mrs. Curtis.
"ARCHY MAKES AWAY WITH A BAG OF POTATOES FOR MRS.CURTIS"]
There was an open space between two huge bowlders which had been roofedover, and in it were spread some rugs, two mattresses for sleeping,cushions and blankets, and in a large chest were a few necessaries forliving, and clothing. This was the home of an officer's wife and child.
But some one was there before them--a tall, well-made, hard-featured,elderly man, in the uniform of a sergeant of marines, who had promptlykindled a little fire, and immediately set to work briskly peeling thepotatoes.
"This is Judkins," said Mrs. Curtis to Archy. "He was formerly myhusband's orderly, but was retired on account of wounds; but he hasbecome _our_ orderly, and is cook, butler, nurse-maid, and lady's-maidto Dolly and me. We are in his charge while Captain Curtis is on hisship, the _Enterprise_."
Judkins had been hungry for eight months; but he did not abate a jot ortittle of his dignity on that account, and stopped peeling the potatoes,and stood bolt-upright at "attention" while Archy courteously salutedhim.
While they were still standing there, Archy quite fascinated with thesweetness of Mrs. Curtis and Dolly, Captain Curtis arrived. Mrs. Curtisat once introduced Archy, and told of his action in such a way as tomake it seem more than it really was.
"Kindness to my wife and child is a very good recommendation to me, Mr.Baskerville," said Captain Curtis, cordially, "and I would like to knowby what scheme you got the potatoes first."
"Nabbed them, sir," replied Archy, with a grin; "and I am now goingback to be hauled over the coals by Admiral Digby, who told me to runaway with the bag, and then come back and be reprimanded. Good-bye!good-bye!" and he was off.
When he again reached the mole the scene was even more animated. Therewas a procession of boats passing back and forth from the ships to themole, and provisions were being unloaded with extraordinary rapidityunder the eyes of the officers. All were working hard, and none harderthan Prince William, who, with a red face and a dusty jacket, was doinghis duty among the other midshipmen just as if his father did not situpon the greatest throne on earth. Admiral Digby, who was everywhere atonce, noticed Billy's energy and industry, and spoke some words ofpraise to him, at which the young Prince's honest, simple face glowedwith pleasure.
Many of the poorer persons hung about, begging for food before it couldbe taken to their houses. Admiral Digby, his hands behind his back, waswalking up and down the mole, watching with pity the efforts of thestarving people to carry away what was given them. He was looking at anold woman who had been given a basketful, but was tottering along underit, almost falling under her load, when Archy appeared before him.
"I have come for my reprimand about the potatoes, sir," he said,respectfully.
"That's right, sir," chirped the Admiral; "never neglect reportingyourself when a reprimand is expected, or you may have worse luck. Youcribbed a bag of potatoes, didn't you? Very reprehensible--veryreprehensible, indeed. You should be severely reprimanded. Stealingpotatoes is clearly against the articles of war. Consider yourselfreprimanded--severely reprimanded, sir; and if you have a chance ofstealing a few more for that old woman yonder, don't hesitate, but doit, and come and be reprimanded again. You might help her and someothers of these poor, weak, helpless creatures to carry away what isgiven them--you have a fine pair of shoulders, and legs like a Londonchairman--so be off with you--and, stay--eh--I say--dine in the greatcabin with me to-night-- Gone, with a duck of his head for answer to anadmiral's invitation! Presumptuous young dog! But a fine fellow, if everI saw one."
Nevertheless, Archy was not one to scorn an invitation to a betterdinner than he was likely to get in the usual course of events, and atdinner-time he presented himself in the Admiral's cabin. He thoughthimself especially fortunate in having a chance to talk about his schemeof staying at Gibraltar, and was delighted when Admiral Digby said, "Ihave mentioned to General Eliot your preference for remaining here, andas the place is plentifully supplied, and will be kept supplied in thefuture, there is no objection made to it. General Eliot was mostconsiderate, and readily granted my request."
"Thank you, sir," replied Archy, "and to-morrow morning I will call andpay my respects to General Eliot, and express my thanks. May I ask, sir,if you have not told the General that I am Lord Bellingham's grandson,that you will not? I--"
"Too late, sir. I felt obliged to tell General Eliot every particularconcerning you. I fear," said the Admiral, looking sharply at Archy,"that you have imbibed some false and demagogic notions about rank.Surely, it is of solid advantage to you to be known as the grandson of apeer."
Admiral Digby, without the slightest cringing towards the great, yetrespected rank, as it was everywhere respected in the eighteenthcentury; and he could not but hope that his kind attentions towardsArchy might result in bringing back this strayed lamb to the fold of theBritish peerage.
"In some ways, sir, it is to my advantage," said Archy, "but in othersit is not. I am sure if I had been the grandson of John Smith, or Jones,or Brown, that I should have been exchanged long ago, and I cannot helpthinking that my grandfather is using his influence against me at theAdmiralty. Commodore Jones warned me to keep quiet about LordBellingham."
"Oh--Commodore Jones! Recollect, you engaged to give me some account ofhim. He is a man of remarkable character and achievements."
Archy plunged into a history which was one long eulogy of Paul Jones.Admiral Digby smiled at his enthusiasm; but he was too good a judge ofhuman nature to disesteem, or even undervalue, enthusiasm. Archy gavehim every particular concerning the fight between the _Bon HommeRichard_ and the _Serapis_, and their perils at the Texel.
"Where I was bagged, sir," he said, regretfully, "by my own carelessnessand rashness, after having been repeatedly warned by Commodore Jones;and here I have been a prisoner of war for more than three months inconsequence!"
"Very sad--very sad!" condoled the Admiral, all the time thinking thatit might turn out the luckiest thing in the world for Archy. "And, may Iask, Mr. Baskerville, to return to Lord Bellingham, how you andhe--coincided?"
Archy rubbed his ruddy cheek thoughtfully before answering:
"Better, sir, I believe, than most people coincide with my grandfather.He seems to consider himself a much injured person, although I nevercould see where his injuries lay. As I do not want the title, and cannothave the estates, I believe my cousin, Mr. Langton, will be his heir. Mygrandfather was terribly cut up when he heard
the false report ofLangton's death."
"And is it possible, Mr. Baskerville, that you can regard such splendidprospects as might be yours with indifference?"
"I do not know, sir, whether that word describes my feelings. I regardthose splendid prospects as impossible for me. My grandfather, no doubt,desires me to give up my country, but I cannot; nor will I give up myprofession. It is the height of my ambition to have a command in theAmerican Navy."
"You speak as if you were quite sure that the revolted colonies will besuccessful. Now, while the present war is undoubtedly very unpopular inGreat Britain and in Parliament--the whole force of such gigantic men asMr. Burke and Mr. Fox is thrown against it--yet the fight will becontinued, and, for my part, I think the issue of the struggle more thandoubtful for the colonies."
"Then, sir, every American must, as a point of honor, maintain hisnationality when his country's cause seems most in peril. We cannotadmit that we are whipped before our adversaries think so."
"True enough, Mr. Baskerville. I see in you the spirit of determinationcommon among your countrymen, which, to my mind, is the one thing thatmakes it a question whether we can reduce the colonies or not. Oh, thatwe should be compelled to fight such men! But we must do our duty. Icannot approve of Admiral Keppel's course in declining the command ofthe fleet for North America because he did not believe in coercing thecolonies. I desire to have them back, and, by George!" cried theAdmiral, bringing his fist down with a thump that made the glasses ringagain, "I am so deuced anxious to have them back that, if they won'tcome for the asking, I would hammer them with men and ships until theywere driven back, begad!"