CHAPTER XVII
A Fleet of Brigantines
Boom! A cannon-shot thundered from the nearest brigantine, and a ballploughed its way through the very heart of the fleet of Mexican canoes.Boom! a second shot rang out, and was followed by a fusillade, which washelped from each one of the ships.
"Forward!" called out Teotlili, who was with Roger and Philip. "Take noheed of their shot, but close in and scramble aboard. Our numbers willoverwhelm them."
"Shout to the men to separate," called out Roger; "then there will beless chance of being hit. Now, push on. A breeze would ruin ourchances."
"And one is coming, my leader," said Peter, mournfully, pointing to thesky. "There is wind there, and it will fill the sails before we can getto this fleet. They are a long cannon-shot from us yet, and there istime for them to gather way. Better perhaps to retire."
"Better to risk disaster than do that," exclaimed Roger, sharply. "Toretire would be to dishearten the men. Forward! We will make a braveattempt to capture them."
He urged the rowers to get the bulky craft ahead of the others, and,thanks to the fact that more than thirty were plying the paddles, theboat shot ahead and took the lead. Then Roger pointed to the largest ofthe brigantines.
"Run us aboard that," he said in peremptory tones, "and, Philip, prepareto follow me over the side. The natives will come after us willingly,and with a rush we may capture the craft. Now, push on, push on!"
His eye shifted from the brigantines to the sky, and back to the surfaceof the lake. It was ruffled already, he noticed, and the large, flappingsails of the enemy's fleet flapped louder still, while some bellied. Itwas a question of time, he knew, for if the brigantines could get thewind, and a good one, too, they could sail away from the canoes, couldcircle round them, and deluge the Mexicans with shot. Worse still, thesebulky vessels, the like of which had never appeared on the lake beforein the memory of man, would, if they were sailed boldly down upon thecanoes of the Mexicans, overwhelm them, and ride over them as if theywere straws floating in the water. It was a race, and Roger and his menmade strenuous efforts to win it.
"They are off. Look at their sails. They are under way! Master Roger,'twould be better to beat a retreat."
Peter took him by the sleeve, but our hero shook him off.
"We have men to spare, even if the whole fleet be sunk," he said, "andat this stage of the battle it is better to risk all than to set a badexample. Let us show the Spaniards that we will not be conqueredwithout a struggle. Come, take the tiller, and set us aboard."
He was inflexible now that he had given his orders, and, come whatmight, was determined to give battle to the enemy.
"It may seem unwise," he said to himself over and over again, "but it isa necessary act, I am sure. Besides, if we could cripple one of thebrigantines only it would be something gained, even at the cost ofthousands of lives. And, if the wind is really coming steadily, theywould be after us if we retired, and would treat us just as badly asthey can do now. No. Attack is the only thing for us, and we will see itthrough."
By now the two fleets were rapidly approaching one another--theSpaniards moving slowly through the water, with their sails only halffilled, while the Mexican fleet advanced at a swifter pace, propelled bypaddles. Those who were free to do so answered the cannon-shots withshouts and shrill whistles, while every canoe showed a number of duskyfigures brandishing their arms. Occasionally a shot would strike one ofthe tiny craft, and she would sink at once, the occupants swimming awayto others, or turning their heads toward the city. Roger hardly noticedthese, however. His eye was fixed upon the large brigantine, which hewas determined to capture. And those aboard her evidently saw hisobject, for they trained a gun upon him and took careful aim.
"'Tis the dog of a white giant," said the gunner who trained the piece."Stand back, while I blow him to atoms!"
He waved his comrades to one side and squinted along the sight. Then heraised his head and peered over the side.
"The breeze comes stronger," he said with a husky laugh, "and maybe thegun will not be required. But I will try. I would give a gold doubloonto be able to strike the head from that fellow."
Once more his eye went to the piece, and he adjusted the aim minutely.Then he touched the vent with his port-fire and sprang away. There was aroar, a spout of smoke and flame flew from the brigantine's side, and ashot hummed over the craft in which Roger stood.
"A close ball," he remarked with a laugh. "The Spaniards have singled usout and hope to sink us. But we shall be there before they can repeatthe attempt. Warn the men to be ready."
Teotlili did as he was asked, and then stood beside his friend, bothwatching the gunner aboard the brigantine. By now they were much closer,and it was possible to make out his figure distinctly, and even to seehis features.
"A face which I have good cause to know," exclaimed Roger, suddenly,staring at the enemy. "That is Alvarez, the traitor who stole the goldensign and afterwards nearly stabbed me to death. There is added reasonfor capturing that vessel. Urge the rowers on, Teotlili. Time is of theutmost importance."
Time was, in fact, of more than the utmost importance. Every minutebrought added freshness to the wind, and the brigantines, which a littlewhile before had lain there rolling lazily, were now running free, andchurning up a salt wave at their bows. It became no longer a race, forthe Spaniards now bore down upon the fleet of Mexican canoes; but itwas simply a question of where the combatants would meet, and whetherthe canoes would be able to grapple with the enemy.
"We shall be stove in and sunk at once," said Peter; "and now it is toolate to retire. Better give orders to all to seize the vessel andabandon this."
"Whereby we shall make sure of her capture," exclaimed Roger. "A goodthought, Peter, and the order shall be given. Tell all the crew tospring for the rail and fight their way on to the deck, Teotlili. Letthem desert this craft, for it will be useless. Ah! the distance growsless. That ruffian is about to fire."
He pointed to the bows of the brigantine, to the figure posted there,now without doubt that of Alvarez. He was peering over the rail again,waiting for the craft to come to closer quarters, and the smoke of hisport-fire could be seen as he blew upon it.
"For the god of air!" he shouted out, catching sight of Roger and wavingthe brand. "This will send him quicker to his end than would the strokeof a dagger. One minute and he and his men will be blown from thewater."
He shook his fist at the approaching canoe, and then bent to his sightsagain.
"Put us over a little," said Roger, quietly, touching Peter's arm toattract his attention. "Now, Teotlili, let the men stop rowing."
Paddles were at once drawn from the water, while the way on the craftallowed her to be steered to one side. She shot to the left, while thebrigantine held on her course. Almost at the same moment Alvarez blewon his port-fire again and applied it to the vent, sending a charge ofsmall shot tearing through the air, to strike the surface of the lakewithin a few feet of the canoe.
"Row, and put us over again," shouted Roger. "That is right. She willstrike us within a minute, and we must climb. Put her nose up as thebrigantine gets close, and then she will not roll us over."
There was a moment of confusion while the orders were carried out. ButPeter was an excellent seaman, and had been in dangerous work before. Heheld his tiller firmly, beckoned to the rowers to give a few strokeswith their paddles, and then, just as the stem of the brigantine bore upfor the broadside of the craft, he put his helm over again, causing theenemy's vessel to sail smoothly alongside.
"Aboard her! Cling to her rails," shouted Roger, springing to that sideof the canoe and leaping for the deck of the brigantine. He was followedby every man aboard, and ere a minute had passed some fifty natives werehanging to the brigantine--some half upon the deck, while others merelyretained a grip of the rail. As for their canoe, it swung round till thestern was caught by the brigantine, which happened to roll at thatinstant. The impact caused the Mexican craft to crumple up
as if she hadbeen made of paper, and before anyone could have thought it possible ithad gone to the bottom. It was a desperate situation for the attackers,and all recognized that victory must be won if they wished to live. Oneby one they scrambled on to the deck, though a few were flung off by theSpaniards. But the latter had been taken by surprise at the suddenmanoeuvre of the Mexicans, and before they could dash along to thatside, Roger and Peter and Philip stood firmly upon the deck, with someforty natives beside them.
"Charge before they can use their muskets and crossbows!" shouted Roger."St. George! St. George! Follow to the stern."
His sword was held firmly in his hand, and he had long ago donned hissteel cap. With that to protect him, and a thickly padded cotton jerkinover his chest, he flung himself upon the astounded Spaniardsrecklessly, his eye searching for Alvarez. Men opposed him, and dashedat him with their swords. But he hardly seemed to notice. His deft bladeput the thrusts and cuts aside, while his furious blows cut hisassailants down. One man even discharged a musket in his face, thebullet tearing over his head, while the flames from the discharge singedhis hair. But Roger hardly noticed the incident, for at that very momenthe had caught sight of the crafty Alvarez standing in rear of hiscomrades, where he had run from the bows.
"Ah, Alvarez the traitor!" he shouted scornfully, while the Spaniardglared at Roger like a tiger. "Alvarez the traitor, who took us all inand deceived us. Well, within a minute I shall be with you, and thenthere shall be payment of my debt. Let every one who comes within reachof that man secure him alive, for I want him. And be sure to take himwith the satchel which he wears beneath his arm."
Roger's quick eye had seen the same bag in which he had brought thegolden sign ashore now secured over Alvarez's shoulder, and doubtlesscontaining the coveted disc--the plaque which held the secret of theMexican treasure, and which, if he could only secure it, would lead toan immense reward for himself and the expedition; that is, supposing heand his comrades escaped from Mexico, which was not at all certain. Inthe meanwhile they had their hands sufficiently full, for as they foughton the deck of the Spanish brigantine, the other vessels sailing beneaththe flag of Castile bore down upon them, churning their way through amass of canoes, which were swamped for all the world as though they werebut tiny shells. None of the Mexican craft could withstand these heavyvessels--not even those constructed by Peter Tamworth. The huge prows ofthe brigantines crashed into them and bore them down, rolling them andtheir freight over, and sending the canoes to the bottom. The natives,however, could swim like fish, and while numbers made vain attempts toclamber aboard the brigantines, others swam to their comrades or turnedfor the long swim home. But they had to contend with more than wateralone, for as the brigantines ran, the Spanish plied the enemy withtheir guns, using small shot, one of which was sufficient to wreck acanoe, while broadsides often slew fifty and more of the unfortunateMexicans. Then the crossbow-men aboard turned to the brigantine on whichRoger and his friends fought, sending their shafts amongst them.
"Tell some of our men to keep down that fire," gasped Roger, halting fora moment and turning to Teotlili. "Now, Peter and Philip, one moreeffort and we will drive these Spaniards out into the lake. Shoulder toshoulder, and bring up some of the natives with the lances. We will makea capture, and will take this fellow Alvarez; for see, the disc ishanging to his shoulder."
They gathered into a close body again, and at a shout from our heroadvanced along the deck at a run. The Spaniards opposed them stubbornly,but the lances kept the swordsmen well away, while the crossbows heldthe fire from the nearest brigantines. And while the lances hampered theenemy, Roger and his two comrades, together with a number of theMexicans who were armed with their obsidian swords, dashed into closequarters, and struck fiercely at their opponents. There was a desperatemelee, a struggle, the fate of which hung in the balance, and a conflictat which Alvarez the traitor stared as if he were dumfounded. He wascornered. He saw before him men who were determined to win, and men,moreover, who had a personal enmity for himself. He remembered histreachery--the dastardly blow which he had struck at the young giantfighting in the very centre of the ship's deck, and he trembled now forthe consequences. He stood with the port-fire still smouldering in hishand, and a look of terror on his face. Then seeing his comrades slowlygiving way, he dived below and disappeared for a moment.
"He is a coward at heart," shouted Roger, who had kept an eye on him."He has slunk below the deck, and there we shall find him. Now, one rushand we shall have the craft."
"He has come up again. What devil's trick is he playing?" suddenlyexclaimed Philip. "See him; he has something in his hand! He is laying atrain!"
"And will blow the brigantine up! The villain!" shouted Roger. "Let usget to him before he can apply the match."
They made frantic efforts to come at Alvarez, and their terrific blowsforced the enemy back. Then Roger rushed like a maddened bull into thevery centre of the Spaniards, and with a shout of consternation theygave way and ran to the stern. But they were not allowed to pause there,for the Mexicans were now fully roused. The lances were levelled, andthe natives came at a run full tilt at their enemies. It was a desperatesituation for the Spaniards. They had to choose between death from thoselances and the swords of the Englishmen, or a leap into the lake and thepossibility of being rescued by their friends or of being taken by theenemy.
"Jump!" shouted Alvarez; "they shall not have the vessel. Jump! I havemade a train ready and will fire it. Now overboard, every man of you."
He glanced along the deck, gave Roger a look which spoke volumes, andwhich threatened unutterable reprisals, and then blew on his match.
"We will send their god of air higher than he had hoped," he shoutedwith a derisive laugh. "We will send him to the skies, and in littlepieces. Farewell, Roger de Luce, one-time lieutenant aboard thebrigantine, and now Roger the Cacique, lord of Mexico. We shall not meetagain."
The lances were within four yards of him when he thrust the match intothe black train trailing across the deck. But even then his coolness anddetermination did not desert him. He pushed in the glowing end andwaited till the grains commenced to splutter. Then he tossed the brandfull at Roger, and setting the example to his men, leaped over the side,the Spaniards following instantly, tumbling into the lake with a seriesof loud splashes, and with loud shouts to attract the attention of theircomrades. As for the attackers, the Mexicans hardly realized what washappening, for they were unacquainted with the powers of gunpowder, andeven then, after their conflicts with the Spaniards, did not know howthe thunder of their guns was produced, nor the means by which the ballwas driven. They stared over the side, therefore, while the crossbow-mensent their shafts at the swimmers. And there they would have remained,deafening the air with their shouts of triumph, had it not been fortheir leader. Roger bounded forward and leaped at the spluttering train,hoping to put out the fire with his foot. But it ran as swiftly as a mancould travel, and as he reached the black and smoking line which it hadleft, he saw that it was already descending the rough ladder which ledbelow, and was racing over the piece of canvas on which Alvarez had laidit. Beyond, in the darkness, which the flashes of the powder helped tolighten spasmodically, was the faint outline of a barrel.
"The powder! We are dead men if we do not leap overboard!" he shouted.Then he seized Teotlili and dragged him to the side.
"Tell all to leap at once for their lives," he said. "Come, Philip,Peter, and every one. We will capture Alvarez in the water."
There was not a moment to be lost, and therefore, without another glanceat those aboard, he flung himself into the water, and swimming beneaththe surface as far as possible, rose at length when he was forced to doso by the need of air. At the same instant there was a deafeningexplosion, the brigantine split into fragments, while her deck andspars, together with some dozen of the unhappy natives, were flung intothe air with terrific force, the _debris_ descending within a fewseconds, and splashing into the lake. Roger trod water and looked vainlyfor Alvarez.
But he was nowhere to be seen. Then he turned to look forPeter and Philip, to find them close behind him.
"The enemy are being picked up by that brigantine," gasped Philip,pointing to one which was close at hand. "We had better move away, orthey will take us prisoners."
"Or shoot us down with their shafts," spluttered Peter, who was no greatswimmer. "Better get aboard one of the canoes."
"We must do so at once," answered Roger. "Alvarez must escape for thetime, but I know that he is with the enemy now, and that he has thedisc. Let him wait, for I will take him yet, and make him pay for histreachery. Ah, here is Teotlili."
"My lord, I have whistled for one of the larger craft. Let us get aboardand be gone. It would be well to signal to all to retire. Thebrigantines are too strong for us."
The Mexican noble trod water vigorously, and waved his arm. At thesignal one of the larger craft dashed up at a brisk pace, for the sailshad been hoisted again, and very soon she had taken the swimmers aboard.Then Roger had an opportunity of seeing how the battle went, andrealized that Teotlili had spoken correctly. For the brigantines wouldhave conquered even if they had had no armed men aboard, and merelysufficient to man the ropes and the tiller. The breeze had freshened,and the surface of the lake was now driven into little waves, on whichthe canoes danced up and down. And through the water came thebrigantines, handled by men who knew their work well. They came downupon the line of canoes, and plunged through and through them, upsettingthem, crashing their timbers, and sending them to the bottom. Then theywheeled, and came back again, spreading shot and crossbow shafts amongstthe swimmers and those on the canoes. Nothing could withstand them, andthough Roger and his friends made another gallant attempt to board oneof the enemy, they failed, a cannon-shot stripping their craft of itsfree-board, and causing it to sink. Once more he was thrown into thewater, and with difficulty was picked up by another of the craft made upof several canoes.
"Better turn our faces to Mexico," said Teotlili, who possessedwonderful vitality. "All is lost here, my lord, while there we can stillfight. The ships are too strong for us."
Roger reluctantly admitted the fact, and at once the shrill whistle, thesignal for retreat, sounded across the lake. The canoes turned about,and men laboured at the oars to get away from the enemy. But the breezethat day was unfriendly to the Mexicans. It filled the sails of thebrigantines, till the vessels heeled with the pressure, while they camethrough the water with a big foaming wave at their cutwaters. Their paceeasily enabled them to come up with the flying canoes, and once againthey ploughed through them, sinking them and killing or drowning theoccupants. It was a disaster, and Roger was not to escape from it soeasily. For Alvarez had never lost sight of him.
"That is the craft," he bellowed in the ear of the commander of thebrigantine on which he had taken refuge. "There is their god of air, theMexican cacique hailing from England. Follow the canoe, and you will winhonour for all of us. Cortes will give you promotion and a specialreward."
He raced to the bows and stood there staring out at Roger, shaking hisfist at him, and aiming a musket at his figure as often as possible.
"We shall be overwhelmed before we can return to the city," saidTeotlili, after a little while. "They sail so swiftly that even wecannot get away. I fear that all will perish."
"Then let us strike off this course and make for the northern shore,"exclaimed Roger, standing to his full height and surveying theterrifying scene. "We have drifted close in there during the battle, anda half-hour's run will take us to the land. There we can desert thecanoes and make overland to the city. Better that than see all perish."
It was, in fact, the only means of saving the occupants of the Mexicanfleet, which had put out with such confidence from the city, and at asignal from Teotlili all turned their prows towards the shore. And now,for the very first time on this disastrous day, fortune smiled upon theMexicans. For it happened that the shore on this northern side of thelake shelved very gradually--so much so that within a little while thefleet was fleeing over a portion of the lake where the water was veryshallow. The brigantines came after them at their swiftest pace, tillthe foremost came to a gradual stop, and remained fixed in the mud. Thenthe others lay to, firing with their guns.
"Had all gone ashore we should have had them at our mercy," said Roger,in tones of vexation. "But the attempt would be useless now. They canlie off within easy range, and we should lose heavily. Better make thebest of our way home."
"And comfort ourselves with the thought that we have made a braveattempt, and that we have aided in the destruction of one of thevessels," answered Teotlili. "My lord must not be down-hearted. Thesemen who have died on the lake to-day have done service to Mexico, for wecannot always win. We have opposed an enemy of whom we were afraid informer times, and we have shown our men that by using strategy we cancapture vessels. May the opportunity not occur later for a secondattack? Surely it will be possible, with the knowledge gained this day,to organize an attempt on another occasion. We can lay an ambush for theSpaniards on the water, and perhaps take all these brigantines. Let mylord consider that, and think of the future rather than of what has justhappened."
The noble laid his hand on Roger's shoulder, for he saw that the latterwas troubled and depressed at the defeat suffered by the fleet. And whocan blame Roger for feeling so? The whole responsibility of the affairrested on his shoulders, and as he made for the shore he asked himselfover and over again whether he had not been rash--mad, indeed--to makesuch an attempt.
"It might have succeeded," he said at length. "Had the wind not risen wecould have surrounded the fleet of brigantines, and they would have beenoverwhelmed. Yes, the attempt was justifiable, and its non-success isno fault of ours. Circumstances were too strong for us. And, as Teotlilisays, the knowledge we have gained will prove useful, for we will lay atrap for the enemy."
His mind at once became occupied with the thought, and so interested washe that he hardly noticed when the canoes reached the land.
"We are as close as we can get now," said Teotlili, touching him on thearm. "We had better wade ashore and run to the city, for their horsemenmight attempt to cut us off. Hark! I hear sounds of fighting."
They stood up in the canoe and listened, the noise of some conflictcoming to their ears.
"The first attack on the causeways," said Roger. "We need have no fearof the enemy breaking in while we are absent. But we had better run,for, as you say, the Spaniards might send out their horse to cut us off.Let the men keep together."
They stepped into the water, and waded across the mud-flats till theyreached dry ground, the Mexicans dragging their canoes after them. Thenall set their faces toward Mexico, where they arrived within half anhour. They found each of the three Spanish divisions hotly engaged onthe causeways, and hastened at once to aid in the defence, the arrivalof Roger being hailed with loud shouts of triumph.
"The cacique has come," the men bellowed to one another. "Here is thefighting chief who has promised to lead us. We will show these Spaniardswhat we can do."
Men rushed out and picked the young giant up in their arms. Then he wasborne to the main causeway, to where the King of Mexico was stationed.
"I am glad that you have come," said the latter, grasping his handwarmly. "I am lost without you. You know these men against whom wefight, and you are able to meet their strategy with methods which arenew to us. Come to the edge of the breach and see what is happening."
They walked along the causeway to that part which faced the far shore,and was within a stone's throw of it. A wide breach had been made, onthe near side of which the Mexican crossbow-men were posted, while onthe far side stood the Spaniards, baulked for the moment, and viciouslyplying the defenders with a hail of shot and cannon-ball. The attack hadcommenced, in fact--an attack which was to develop, and which was to beof unparalleled ferocity.