Boy who sailed with Blake Read online

  CHAPTER THREE.

  IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS.

  Mr Harvey looked so astonished when Dick and I were introduced, that healmost betrayed us. Quickly, however, recovering himself, he opened hisarms and embraced us affectionately. The other prisoners, gentlemenwell acquainted with him, seeing that he wished to be alone, retired tothe farther end of the room, when Dick lost no time in whispering intohis ear the plan we had arranged for his liberation.

  He listened with a thoughtful brow, and Dick continued to press itsadoption, but I much feared that he would not agree.

  "I will try it," he said at last; "but you, my children, must hastenfrom the camp; it is no place for young persons, and should I fail toescape, you will be made to suffer."

  Though Dick begged hard to remain, his father was firm, and told us toreturn by the way we had come, hoping that we might get free withoutfurther questions being asked us.

  Having taken an affectionate farewell of Mr Harvey, we set out, Dickcleverly replying to all the questions put to us, and, with much lessdifficulty than we had expected, we gained the outskirts of the camp.Instead of returning to Lyme, we kept on towards Charmouth, to a spotwhere we had agreed to meet Lancelot. To our infinite satisfaction wefound that he had obtained a horse and left if in Charmouth Wood asarranged, under charge of a lad who had been directed to stay thereuntil Mr Harvey appeared, being supplied with food for himself and cornfor the animal.

  We would gladly have remained to see the success of our undertaking, butLancelot was impatient to get back to relieve the anxiety which hisfather and mother would feel when his absence was discovered. Wetherefore set off to return to the shore, keeping a look-out toascertain that we were not watched.

  We had reached the top of the cliffs, and were about to descend, when wecaught sight in the distance of a party of horse galloping towards us.

  "They are out on a foraging expedition, probably," observed Lancelot."We must get away before they come here, or they will be apt to inquireour business."

  Whether we had been seen or not, it was impossible to say. We, however,made the best of our way down the cliff; on reaching the bottom we foundTom waiting for us, and forthwith set to work to launch the boat. Wehad scarcely got her into the water when some of the men we had beforeseen appeared at the top of the cliffs. They hailed us, and ordered usto come back.

  "Very likely," said Lancelot. "Shove away, Tom. Let them halloo aslong as they like."

  We had got out the oars, and the boat was soon in deep water. Dick tookthe helm while the rest of us rowed, as there was not wind enough tofill the sail had we hoisted it.

  A voice from the top of the cliff again ordered us to come back, andpresently several shots pattered into the water close alongside.

  "Cowards!" exclaimed Lancelot. "Even though they fancy they see a girlsteering, they make no scruple of trying to hit us." The shot only madeus pull the harder. Presently we saw some of the men descending thecliff, and making towards a boat which lay hauled up on the beach atsome distance.

  "They suspect something, and intend to pursue us," observed Lancelot."Nevertheless, we have a good start of them, and when we get fartherout, we shall feel the breeze and be able to make sail."

  "And maybe the other boat hasn't any oars in her, and if so we can laughat them," said Tom.

  Lancelot told Dick to steer right out to sea. "They won't be inclinedto follow us far away from the land," he observed; "and if we make forLyme, they will guess where we come from."

  We saw the men reach the boat, and presently they began to launch her.By this time we had got well beyond the range of their firearms.

  "Hurrah!" cried Dick, who had been looking to the eastward. "I see asail coming up from Portland. She's more likely to be a friend than anenemy, and if we can get on board her we may defy our pursuers."

  This announcement encouraged us. We had need, however, to exertourselves, for the soldiers had almost launched the boat, which showedus that they had found oars, or they would not have taken the trouble ofputting her into the water. We could only just see what they wereabout, but we made out that four or five fellows had got into her.

  Directly afterwards, her head being turned towards us, they gave way.Though the boat was heavy, four stout hands were more than a match forus, for though Tom pulled a strong oar, Lancelot and I were scarcelyequal in strength to one man.

  Dick kept looking eastward. Again he cried out, "There's another sail,and another; a whole fleet of them!"

  "If they are Parliament ships, they'll soon make the fellows in the boatastern put about," exclaimed Tom; but we were pulling too hard to turnour heads even for a moment. Our pursuers still kept on, but they werenot near enough to allow them to fire with any chance of hitting us.

  They had undoubtedly seen the ships, and thought we were going out tocarry them information. This probably made them more anxious to catchus. At length the breeze, as we expected it would, freshened.

  "I'll step the mast; you, Master Lancelot, go to the helm. Stand by tohoist the sail, Master Ben," cried Tom; and in half a minute we had themast stepped, the sail hoisted, and the sheet hauled aft, when, againgetting out the oars, we glided rapidly through the water. We saw thatour pursuers had no sail, or they would have hoisted it. This wassatisfactory, though they were pulling harder than ever.

  Should the wind hold, we had good hope that they would soon be leftbehind, still it would be folly to relax our efforts.

  "Hurrah! we are distancing them," cried Tom.

  As he spoke, our pursuers fired two shots at us, but the bullets fellinto the water astern.

  "Blaze away as fast as you like!" cried Lancelot; "every shot you firewill help us to get ahead of you."

  The men in the boat had to throw in their oars to fire, while they lostsome time in reloading.

  The ships were still a long way off, and it was very probable that, asevening came on, the wind would fail before we could reach them. Therewas, however, one frigate ahead, which, propelled by oars as well assails, was making good way. We steered for her.

  "All right, boys," cried Tom; "I see the Parliamentary flag flying fromher peak, and if those fellows come near us they'll have to rue it."

  Notwithstanding, our pursuers, finding that they could not reach us withtheir muskets, again took to their oars and pulled away with might andmain, trusting probably to the chances of the wind falling. Still, aswe were already well ahead, we determined to maintain our advantage.The frigate meantime was coming on at good speed, carrying every stitchof canvas she could set. At length both we and the boat in chase wereseen, but should the frigate fire at the latter, we might run a chanceof being hit. We kept on therefore. As we got nearer, Tom stood up andwaved as a signal that we wished to get on board.

  On perceiving this, our pursuers knew that their game was up, and, toour regret, putting about, pulled away towards the shore as fast as theyhad come. The frigate, to allow us to get on board, now clewed up hersails and drew in her sweeps.

  We were welcomed on board by her commander, who inquired where we hadcome from and what we had been about. We frankly told him, when, to ourjoy, he informed us that the fleet was that of the Earl of Warwick, sentby the Parliament to the relief of Lyme.

  "You have come opportunely, sir," said Lancelot, "for we lack bothammunition, food, and clothing, and had you not arrived, we might in ashort time have been compelled to yield to the foe."

  _The Mermaid_, the frigate we had so fortunately reached, again makingsail, continued her course towards Lyme. Darkness, however, quicklycame on, but Tom piloted her up to a berth close in with the harbour,where none of the enemy's shot could reach her. We then accompaniedCaptain Ray, her commander, on shore, to convey the joyful intelligenceof the approach of the Earl of Warwick's fleet.

  The news spread through the town quickly, but Colonel Blake issuedorders that no demonstration should be made. My father, when he hadheard of our expedition, did not blame me for having taken part
in it.

  "Ben," he said, "you should have trusted me; and, my boy, let me urgeyou never to undertake anything for which you cannot ask the blessing ofyour Father in heaven as well as your earthly parent. Now go to rest.Before to-morrow evening important events may have occurred."

  On rising the next morning, I saw a goodly array of ships at anchorbefore the town. Soon after I had left home I met my friend Lancelot,and we hurried down to have a look at them.

  While standing on the quay, Colonel Blake with two other officers camedown, about to embark to hold a consultation with the Earl.

  "Would you like to accompany us and see the big ships?" he asked,looking kindly at Lancelot and me.

  We doffed our hats, and answered that it was the very thing we wished.

  "Come, then!" he said; and we followed him and his companions into theboat. We pulled away for the _Vanguard_, one of the largest ships, onthe deck of which the Earl stood ready to receive Colonel Blake.

  Briefly exchanging greetings, they went to work on business at once,while Lancelot and I were allowed to go round the ship to see the bigguns, the huge lanterns, the stores of pikes, and the tops high up thelofty masts, each capable of holding a score of men.

  "Have you a mind to sail with us, youngsters?" asked one of theofficers. "You are likely boys, and will become prime seamen in time."

  I answered that it was the desire of my heart, but that I must be guidedby my father's wishes, for that he, being himself a master mariner, wellknew the nature of the calling. The officer laughed at my reply, and Iwas about to ask him why he laughed, when Lancelot and I were summonedto return with Colonel Blake to the shore.

  From the conversation I overheard I found that the Earl had brought, byorder of Parliament, some provisions and military stores, of which westood greatly in need. Indeed, by this time we wanted nearlyeverything. One third of our men had no shoes or stockings, and largenumbers were but scantily clothed, while famine had made the faces ofthe stoutest look pale and thin.

  So shocked were the brave seamen with the appearance of the garrison,that they made collections of food and clothing on board their ships,while they gave a fourth of their daily allowance of bread for a monthto supply our wants. Colonel Blake had also arranged with the Earl aplan by which it was hoped the Prince would be more signally defeatedthan before, should he again attack the town.

  Scarcely, however, had we landed, and before the plan could be carriedout, than the Cavaliers in great force once more approached our lines toattempt taking the town by assault; but Colonel Blake, hurrying to thefront, placed himself at the head of a chosen band, and sallying forthdrove them back. The battle lasted little more than an hour, and duringthat time Colonel Weir was killed, as were many other officers, andColonel Blake himself was wounded badly in the foot, while manyCavaliers, several of them of note, lost their lives.

  The next day, while the funeral of Colonel Weir was taking place,another equally sanguinary attack was made with the same result.

  That night, according to a plan before arranged, three hundred seamencame on shore, and were concealed in the houses. In the morning thefleet was seen under weigh, standing towards Charmouth, now approachingthe shore as if about to land some men, now firing at the Cavaliers whoappeared on the cliffs.

  This made the Prince fancy that part of the garrison had gone away inorder to land and attack him in the rear, and that the town was evenless prepared for resistance than before.

  It was still early in the evening when we saw the Cavaliers in threesolid columns approaching, and at the same time the big guns opened fireupon us with redoubled fury. Instead of being diminished, our littlegarrison had been increased by the seamen landed from the ships, so thatwe now mustered twelve hundred men.

  As the enemy approached, the whole of our force springing into view,opened so withering a fire, that the front ranks of the foe fell intoconfusion. The next column coming on was treated in the same manner asthe first. The big guns meanwhile battered at our earthworks, knockingdown walls, and sent their shot through the roofs of the houses, many ofwhich being set on fire were blazing up brightly.

  The second column driven back as the first had been, the last advancedshouting fiercely, hoping to retrieve the day, but our brave commanderwas prepared for them. While he pressed them in front, his bestofficers appeared on their flanks, and the seamen rushing forward leapedon them furiously with their hangers.

  In vain the gentlemen Cavaliers urged on their men. Beaten back atevery point, the soldiers took to flight, and at length, when thatsummer's day closed, five hundred Cavalier corpses strewed the ground infront of the lines.

  In wanton rage at his defeat, Prince Maurice fired red-hot balls andbars of twisted lead into the town; but no farther attempt was made tocapture it, and the following day his army was in full retreat, hehaving heard that the Earl of Essex with a large force was marching tothe westward. Altogether upwards of two thousand Cavaliers lost theirlives in front of our earthworks.

  To us that last day was the saddest of all. By our father's desire,Audrey and Margaret had taken up their abode in the house of MrKerridge, as our own was greatly exposed. Lancelot and I had beenendeavouring to ascertain what was taking place, when he saw brightflames ascending from the direction of my father's house.

  We hastened toward it. Our worst fears were realised. Already everypart was burning, while red-hot shot and cannon balls kept ever and anonplunging into the midst of it, preventing the possibility ofextinguishing the flames. So dangerous was the position, that Lancelotdragged me away, and accompanied me in search of my father, to whom Iwished to give the intelligence.

  As the firing in front had ceased, we went on, hoping every now and thento meet him. It was by this time getting so dusk that we could hardlydistinguish one person from another. As we approached the part of thelines where my father was generally posted, we met a person hurryingtowards us. He was Martin Shobbrok.

  "Alack, alack! young gentlemen, I have bad news to give you," he said."I am hastening for a stretcher on which to carry the captain home,though I fear much it will be but his lifeless body."

  "Where is he?" I asked, in an agony of sorrow. "Take me to him."

  "I remained with him where he fell till a surgeon camp to bind up hiswounds, but from what he said I fear the worst," answered Martin.

  Hurrying on, I soon reached the spot where my dear father lay, as Martinhad told us, attended by a surgeon.

  He knew my voice, but his eyes were already growing dim. Pressing myhand, he whispered--

  "Ben, I am about to be taken from you, but I have fallen in a righteouscause; may you never fight for another. And remember, my boy, do yourduty in the sight of God, and never fear what your fellow man may say ordo to you."

  "I will, father," I answered, bursting into tears. "Is there no hope?"I asked, finding that my father did not again speak. The surgeon shookhis head. Ere many minutes had passed, my kind, brave father breathedhis last. "Poor dear Audrey will break her heart," I cried, whileLancelot raised me from the ground.

  We followed the litter on which some men, who had been sent to collectthe dead, had placed my father's body. He received a soldier's funeral,with several other brave men who had fallen on that day, so glorious tothe national cause.

  We were orphans, but not friendless, for Mr Kerridge invited Audrey andme, with Margaret, to take up our abode at his house until arrangementswere made for our future disposal. Dick had all this time received nonew of his father, and he, as were all who valued Mr Harvey, was ingreat anxiety as to his fate. Had he been unable to make his escape,Prince Maurice would not have scrupled to hang him, as he had otherRoundheads who had fallen into his power, when he found himselfdefeated.

  Dick, Lancelot, and I were going along the lines picking up bullets andsearching for arms and any valuables which might have been left by theCavaliers, when we saw a horseman spurring at full speed towards thetown. Dick gazed eagerly at him.

  "That's
my father!" he exclaimed. "I know his way of riding. Heaven bepraised!"

  Dick was right. In a short time Mr Harvey, having thrown himself fromhis horse, was embracing his son. Owing to the arrangements we hadmade, he had effected his escape, though he had nearly been caughtafterwards by Prince Maurice's troops as they advanced eastward. Hecame to inform Colonel Blake of the road they were taking, and of theirprobable plans for the future. He brought also news of the nearapproach of the Parliamentary army under the Earl of Essex and of therecapture of Weymouth.

  The result of this information was that Colonel Blake marched out ofLyme with his now veteran troops, and, joined by other Roundhead forces,captured Taunton without a blow. His heroic defence of that town, whenit was soon afterwards surrounded by the Cavaliers, I cannot describe.For a year the brave garrison held out against all the assaults of someof the bravest of the Cavalier leaders, including Lord Goring and hisruffian crew.

  Although their clothes were reduced to rags, their ammunition had runshort, and they were almost starved, they maintained it until relievedby General Fairfax.

  In the meantime Lyme was unmolested, and Audrey and I continued toreside with our kind friend Mr Kerridge and his family. A youngminister undertook to superintend our studies, but all my leisure timewas spent with Lancelot and Dick, as had been our wont before the siege,on the water.

  Sometimes we extended our excursions westward as far as the Teign, andeven to Dartmouth, at other times along the coast to the west ofPortland Bill, but as there were no safe harbours to run to, we seldomventured in that direction.

  Colonel Blake, we heard, remained Governor of Taunton, and I much fearedthat I should never see him more, as he was not likely again to come toLyme.

  The battle of Naseby had been fought, and the Parliament had gained theupper hand through the length and breadth of England and Scotland,though the Royalists still held Jersey and Guernsey and Scilly, and thegreater part of Ireland.

  News now reached us but rarely; indeed, our little town, which hadlately been so famous, seemed almost forgotten. Audrey and I, havingrecovered from the grief caused by the loss of our father, were veryhappy in our new home.

  Mr Kerridge and Mr Harvey had arranged our affairs, so that we werenot dependent upon others. At the same time it was necessary that Ishould have a profession. My inclinations prompted me to follow that ofmy father, but my friends found it difficult to settle with whom Ishould be sent to sea. Both Lancelot and Dick declared that they wouldgo with me, though their fathers were not very willing that they shouldengage in so dangerous a calling. One day, the weather being fine,Lancelot proposed that we should make a trip to Dartmouth, taking MartinShobbrok, now our constant companion, with us. Storing our boat withprovisions for the voyage, we made sail.

  We had a fine run to that beautiful little harbour, and having gone onshore, we spent more time than we had intended in purchasing variousarticles which were not to be procured at Lyme.

  It was somewhat late in the evening when we stood out again, but asthere was a moon we expected no difficulty in finding our way back;scarcely, however, had we got well out of the harbour than the windshifted to the eastward, but as the tide was in our favour we agreedthat by making a long leg to the southward we should fetch Lyme on thenext tack.

  To our disappointment, just as we were going about, the wind veeredthree points to the northward, and we found it blowing directly in ourteeth. Unwilling to be defeated, we continued standing out to sea,expecting that when we went about we should be almost abreast of Lyme.In a short time, however, the sky became covered with thick clouds, thewind came in fitful gusts, and the hitherto calm ocean was broken intofoam-covered waves.

  We reduced our sail as much as possible, and Martin, as the mostexperienced, took the helm. The night became darker and darker. We hadno compass, and no land could be seen. Still, supposing that the windwas now remaining steady, we stood on, our stout boat riding buoyantlyover the increasing seas. Martin at length expressed his fear that thewind had gone back to its old quarter, and judging by the heavyfoam-crested seas which came rolling on, that we were no longer undershelter of the land.

  We kept up our spirits, though I guessed by the tone of Martin's voicethat he was far from happy at our position. The tide, too, we knew bythis time must have turned, and we should be unable to fetch Lyme.

  We might, we agreed, run back to Dartmouth, but the attempt to find theentrance of the harbour in the darkness of the night would be difficult,if not dangerous.

  Though Martin steered as well as the best of seamen, the rising seascame washing over our bows, and we all had to turn to and bale out theboat. This prevented us from thinking of the danger we were in.

  At length, not without risk, putting an oar out, we got the boat round,and stood, as we supposed, towards the shore. By this time we were wetthrough to the skin, and in spite of our exertions our teeth werechattering with cold.

  "I hope Mistress Margaret will have some bowls of hot porridge ready forus when we get in," said Lancelot.

  "Oh, don't talk of that," observed Dick. "Let us get in first. Shallwe ever reach the shore, Martin, do you think?"

  "That's as God wills, Master Dick," answered Martin. "It's our businessto do our best."

  Just then a sudden blast almost laid the boat over. Martin saved her byluffing-up. Scarcely had he done so than we saw a dark object away onthe starboard hand.

  "That's a ship; she's standing directly down upon us," cried Martin."Shout, lads, shout at the tops of your voices."

  We all shrieked out, joining Martin's deep bass, which rose above thehowling of the storm. The next instant there came a crash, our boat hadbeen run down, but before she sank, having been happily struck by thebow, and not by the stern of the ship, we found ourselves alongside,when Martin, seizing me by the arm and catching hold of the fore-chains,hauled me up as the boat disappeared beneath our feet. We hung therefor a few seconds before we were discovered, though I caught sight ofseveral figures leaning over the side. I uttered a cry of sorrow as Ithought that my two friends were lost. In vain I looked down for them.The next instant several willing hands assisted Martin and me on board.

  "Oh, save Dick and Lancelot," I cried out. "Lower a boat; pick them up;don't let them perish."

  My heart bounded with joy when I heard Lancelot's voice.

  "Here I am, safe and sound," he cried out, running forward and shakingme by the hand, "thanks to our friends here, who hove me a rope just asI was sinking."

  "And Dick, where is Dick?" I said.

  "The youngster is on board, but he got a knock on the head. He's cominground though," said a voice from the afterpart of the ship.

  Martin, Lancelot, and I hurried aft, where we found Dick lying on thedeck, supported by a seaman, who seemed as wet as he was. We were toldthat the gallant fellow had fastened a rope round his waist, plungedoverboard and picked up Dick just as he was being washed by astern.Dick quickly came to.

  "Where is the boat!" he asked, lifting up his head.

  "She's gone to the bottom," answered Lancelot.

  "Where are we?"

  "On board a ship."

  "What ship, what ship?" asked Dick, still confused.

  "That's more than I can say," answered Lancelot, "We shall soon know,however."