A True Hero Part 8

"Nay, though our friend finds it against his conscience to fight, he shall, at all events, labour at the pumps," exclaimed the captain, ordering three of the seamen to fetch him up. "Will you go also, Master Christison? Perchance you can persuade him more easily; but I can take no refusal."

After searching for some time, Ford was found concealed in the hold, into which he had crawled. The water, however, coming in, had somewhat frightened him, and he was just creeping out of his concealment. Not unwillingly, Wenlock brought him on deck, and a.s.signed him a place at one of the pumps. There he was compelled to labour. Once he attempted to escape below, but Bill Rullock caught sight of him, and quickly brought him back; and he was kept labouring, uttering moans and groans at his hard fate. All night long the s.h.i.+p ran on. Another day and another night followed, and yet the wind blew furiously as ever, and with difficulty could she be kept afloat. While the gale continued there was no hope of getting at the leaks. Many of the seamen and some of the officers began to look grave.

"Depend upon it our time has come," said the second mate to Wenlock. "I have had enough of the world, and have been knocked about in it so roughly, that I care but little."

"Our times, we are told, are in G.o.d's hands," answered Wenlock, calmly.

Wenlock, who had been taking his spell at the pumps, walked aft.

"We are in the lat.i.tude of the West India Islands," observed the captain. "Any hour we may make land, and a bright look-out must be kept for it."

Experienced seamen were aloft straining their eyes ahead and on either bow. At length a voice came from the foretopmast-head, "Land! land!"

"Where away?" cried the captain.

"On the starboard bow," was the answer.

"What does it look like?"

"A low land with tall trees," replied the seaman from aloft.

Two of the mates went up to look at it. They gave the same description.

The captain examined his chart.

"Bill Rullock says he has been there," observed the first mate.

Bill Rullock was sent for.

"Do you know anything of the land ahead?" asked the captain.

"I think I do, sir," was the answer; "and that craft which chased us the other day knew it too, I have an idea. To my mind, she also would have been looking in there before long; but if she has gone to the bottom there is no fear of that, and we shall find shelter and wood and water and plenty of turtle, and the means of repairing our s.h.i.+p."

"Is there a harbour there, then?" asked the captain.

"As good a one as you can desire, sir," said Bill; "and if it please you, I can take the s.h.i.+p in."

As the crew were nearly worn out with pumping, and the water, notwithstanding, still gained on the s.h.i.+p, the captain determined to take the _Amity_ into the harbour of which Bill Rullock spoke. The s.h.i.+p was therefore kept away for the island, Bill Rullock taking charge of her as pilot. He at once showed by his calm manner and the steady course he steered that he knew well what he was about. As the s.h.i.+p drew nearer the island, it appeared to be larger and higher than was at first supposed, and covered with cocoa-nut and other trees. Rounding a point, a narrow opening appeared. The s.h.i.+p's head was directed toward it, and, guided by the old seaman, she pa.s.sed safely through it, though it seemed as if an active man could have leaped on sh.o.r.e from either side. So clear, too, was the water, that the bottom could be seen below the s.h.i.+p's keel. The order to "furl sails" was given, and the s.h.i.+p came to an anchor in a broad lagoon, where she could lie secure from the fiercest hurricanes of those regions. On one side was a sandy beach, where the old sailor a.s.sured the captain the s.h.i.+p could be placed on sh.o.r.e with safety, when her damages might be examined. The trees came close down to the water's edge, and among them were seen several huts, and ruins of huts, showing that the spot had at one time been inhabited, but no persons appeared. Hauled up on sh.o.r.e, too, were several boats, one or two in good repair, but the others considerably damaged. Broken anchors, spars, pieces of cable, and other s.h.i.+p's gear lay scattered about, confirming the account given by old Rullock. As there was no time to be lost, the pa.s.sengers immediately went on sh.o.r.e, and they and the crew set to work to land their goods as well as the cargo, that the s.h.i.+p, being lightened, might be hauled up for repair. The ruined huts were repaired, and others were built, so as to afford shelter to the pa.s.sengers while this operation was going on. Every one worked with a will, with the exception of two or three, Jonas Ford being one of them.

He grumbled greatly at having the voyage thus prolonged, and not ceasing to blame the captain for the s.h.i.+p having failed to reach the Delaware at the time expected. From a slight elevation near the harbour, a view of the whole sea on that side of the island could be obtained. Old Rullock had not been quite easy since their arrival. He had found evident traces of a late visit of persons to the island, and he confided to Wenlock his fears that should the vessel which had chased them have escaped, she might possibly come into that harbour to repair damages.

One morning, soon after daybreak, and before the men were called to their work, Rullock came hurrying into the village. Wenlock was the first person he met.

"It is as I feared," he said. "I have just made out a tall s.h.i.+p standing towards the island. Come and see her, and then let us ask the captain to decide what he will do. I advise that we should bring the guns down to the mouth of the harbour and defend it to the last. If those are the people I fear, they will give us no quarter; and if we yield, it will be only to have our throats cut, or to be thrown to the sharks."

On reaching the look-out place, Wenlock saw the s.h.i.+p of which the old seaman spoke. She was yet a long way off, and, as far as he could judge, was very like the vessel that had chased them.

The whole party were quickly astir. The captain determined to follow the old sailor's advice, and even the Quakers among the pa.s.sengers agreed that they had no resource but to defend themselves, should the stranger prove to be the pirate they dreaded. As she approached the island, she must have discovered the English flag flying from the _Amity's_ masthead; for instantly her own dark symbol was run up, and a shot was fired from her side, as if in defiance.

Happily, the wind, which had been light, prevented her from entering the harbour. As she pa.s.sed by, however, the number of guns seen from her sides showed that she would be a formidable antagonist, and that she could scarcely be prevented, with a favourable breeze, from entering the harbour. The whole of the morning the party were kept in anxious expectation of what would occur, the pirate being seen to tack every now and then to keep her position off the land. At length a breeze from the sea set in, and once more she was seen approaching the harbour. Nearer and nearer she drew. All eyes were kept turned towards the dreaded object. In a brief time they might all be engaged in a deadly struggle, while the fate of the poor women and children was dreadful to contemplate. The captain and several of his officers were collected on the mound, watching the progress of the pirate.

"See, sir! see!" exclaimed Wenlock. "What say you to that?" and he pointed towards the sails of a lofty s.h.i.+p which at that instant appeared rounding a distant point of the island.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

The pirate had descried the stranger; for now her yards were seen to be braced up, and instead of standing towards the island, she tacked and stood again out to sea, her pirate flag still flying from her peak. As the stranger drew nearer, she was seen to be a much larger s.h.i.+p.

Wenlock at once declared her to be a man-of-war; and this was soon seen to be the case, by the pennants and ensigns she hoisted. And now she was observed to be making more sail, and standing towards the pirate, which was evidently endeavouring to escape. The latter, however, in a short time, either considering escape impossible, or confiding in her own strength, again tacked, and stood boldly towards the man-of-war.

Nearer and nearer they drew to each other. It was evident, from the pirate keeping her flag flying, that she intended to fight to the last.

She was the first to fire, discharging her whole broadside at the man-of-war. The latter fired not a shot in return, but stood on, gradually shortening sail. Then suddenly luffing up, she crossed the bows of the pirate. As she did so, before the other could keep away, she fired her whole broadside, raking the pirate's decks fore and aft.

The latter, again keeping away, fired in return, but little damage seemed to be done. The crew of the _Amity_ set up a loud shout as they saw the success of their friends. And now the combatants, shrouded in smoke, stood away from the land, the rapid sound of their guns showing the desperation with which they were fighting. Those on sh.o.r.e watched them anxiously. Many a prayer was offered up for the success of the royal cruiser. Their own safety, indeed, depended on it. Farther and farther the combatants receded from the sh.o.r.e, till it was difficult to distinguish one from the other. Now they were shrouded with smoke, now the wind blew it away, and they were seen, still standing on, exchanging shots. Now at length they appeared locked in a close embrace. Then a dense ma.s.s of smoke was seen to ascend from their midst, followed by flames, and the loud sound of an explosion; but which was the sufferer it was impossible to discover, or whether both were involved in the same ruin. How earnestly, how anxiously they were watched from the sh.o.r.e!

Now, at length, once more they were seen returning towards the island; but one was leading, the other apparently being towed astern. Which was the conqueror? was the question. On they came, nearer and nearer. Some declared that the pirate was the leading s.h.i.+p, and seemed ready to _give_ way to despair.

"No, friends, no," exclaimed the captain. "I can a.s.sure you that yonder tall s.h.i.+p, although her spars and rigging are somewhat shattered by the fight, is the royal cruiser."

That he was right was soon made evident. Captain Dinan now ordered the boats to be got ready, and he, with Bill Rullock, accompanied by Wenlock and one of his mates, went out in order to a.s.sist in piloting in the king's s.h.i.+p. The latter shortened sail to allow the boat to come alongside. The deck showed the fierce combat in which she had been engaged. The bulwarks were shattered; the decks ploughed up, and stained with blood; and numbers of the crew were going about with their heads and limbs bound up with handkerchiefs, while several bodies lay stretched out on the deck, a flag hastily thrown over them, partly concealing their forms. On one side stood a wretched group, their arms lashed behind them with ropes, and stripped to the waist, covered with smoke and blood. They were some of the survivors, it was evident, of the pirate crew. Captain Dinan, accompanied by Wenlock went aft to speak to the captain. The countenance of the latter, a fine, dignified-looking man, Wenlock at once recognised. He advanced towards him. He started when he saw Wenlock.

"Why, my friend!" he exclaimed, "I little expected ever to see you again!"

"Nor I you, Sir Richard. I thought you had perished on the fatal day when the _Royal James_ blew up."

"No; thanks to you, my life was spared; for after we were parted, I was picked up by an English boat."

Sir Richard Haddock informed Wenlock that he had come out as commodore to the American station. His s.h.i.+p was the _Leopard_, of fifty-four guns.

"The pirates fought well," he observed; "and as many perished in attempting to blow up the s.h.i.+p, we shall have but few to hand over to the executioner when we arrive in Virginia, whither I am now bound."

As both s.h.i.+ps, after the action, required a good deal of repair, the commodore accepted Captain Dinan's offer of piloting him into the harbour. It was a trial to Wenlock to find himself once more among his former a.s.sociates; for he had met several of the officers of the _Leopard_ when serving under Lord Ossory. They, however, treated his opinions with respect. In truth, thanks to the courage and talents exhibited by William Penn, the character of the sect had been raised considerably in the opinion of the public of late; albeit, there were many who were ready to ridicule and persecute them on occasion.

Happily, too, there was no time for idleness, as officers and crew were engaged from sunrise to sunset in repairing the damaged s.h.i.+ps.

One day, old Rullock came up to Wenlock, who had gone alone a little distance from the village.

"I do not know what you think of that young gentleman, Master Ford,"

said Rullock; "but I have an idea that he is a rogue in grain, and a fool into the bargain, as many rogues are. He was so frightened in the hurricane that he does not want to go to sea again. I heard him talking the other day with three or four pa.s.sengers and several of the crew about a plan he had proposed to remain behind. They have a notion that if they were to set the _Amity_ on fire before we get the cargo on board, the captain would only be too glad to leave those who might wish to stay behind; he going off in the _Leopard_, or the pirate s.h.i.+p.

Master Ford thinks, as the chief part of the stores would be left behind, they would have the advantage of them. They have induced three or four silly young women to promise to remain with them. Of course, the plan of burning the s.h.i.+p is a secret. Soon after I heard the precious plan, they invited me to join them; because, knowing that I had been an evil-doer, they thought I should have no scruple about the matter."

Wenlock, on hearing this, immediately sought the captain.

"It would be very easy to prevent these plans being carried out," he said; "but what to do with Ford and his companions is more difficult."

The captain took the matter very coolly.

"We will just pick out Master Ford and three or four of the ringleaders, and clap them into limbo, and depend upon it they will not further attempt to carry out their plan," he observed.

This was done forthwith by a party of soldiers from the s.h.i.+p of war, for whom Wenlock had applied to Sir Richard Haddock. No further time was now lost in getting the cargo on board. Ford and his companions had been kept in durance vile in a hut by themselves, and a guard placed over them. Sir Richard and Captain Dinan, and some other officers, visited them together.

"Now, my friends," said the captain, "you have your choice. If you desire to remain here, you are welcome to do so, but neither stores nor provisions can we afford you. Otherwise, you will return on board the s.h.i.+p, and, when we arrive in Pennsylvania, the matter will be submitted to the proper authorities."

As Ford's companions were three of the greatest ruffians among the crew, he, dreading to be left with them, entreated that he might be allowed to return on board. They, however, wished to remain.