CHAPTER II
Off to the Terra Firma
A proud day it was for those who, at the order of the earl, attended atthe door of Greenwich Palace, and great was the emotion of PeterTamworth. He appeared in the most brilliant raiment, borrowed, if thetruth had but been known, from an accommodating dealer, and looking onthis bright morning more weather-beaten than before--his squat figureand his huge nose calling unwonted attention to him. Roger de Lucejoined him as the hour for the interview arrived, looking taller thanever, and more substantial. He, too, had donned his best apparel, andstill carried his crossbow.
"This way. Follow, an it please you," said an attendant, suddenlyopening the gate, to the alarm of Peter, who was more than excited atthe thought of the meeting. "Rub your shoes against the broom, and enterquietly. His grace awaits you within, and will take you to the king.Remember to kneel to his Majesty."
He led the way through a long corridor till he came to a large chamberhung with tapestry, and with an arched exit leading into the interior ofthe palace; and here the Earl of Essex met them.
THE GOLDEN DISK]
"You have the plaque?" he demanded shortly. "Then, keep it covered tillthe king's Majesty makes application for it. Now follow."
He went through the archway, Roger and Peter coming close on his heels,the former cool and unruffled, while Peter grew hot with uneasiness; forhe had fears lest this attack upon the Frenchman should lead to trouble,and lest King Henry the Eighth, whose reputation was well known, shouldtake a fancy to the plaque and insist on keeping it. However, they hadlittle cause to be nervous, for King Hal on this fine morning was in thebest of humour.
"Show this relic, rascal," he said, as he stood beside the earl in awindow niche, "and relate how it came into your hands, leaving nothingof the incidents of the fight to be imagined. By my faith, Essex, 'tis agiant you have here, this crossbow man--or youth, I should have said.How old is the lad?"
He directed his last question at Roger, who fell on his knee, andanswered.
"Eighteen! Then England need have little fear while she continues topossess such sons. A fine body-servant, Essex."
"And an interpreter, sire. He and his father were in service with ourmission at the Court of Spain some years ago."
For an instant a cloud swept across the brow of the king, for at thistime he still remembered the opposition he had met with regard to hischerished wish for a separation from his queen, Catharine of Aragon.Then he stretched out a hand, and took the plaque from Peter.
"A sea dog," he said, in his blunt, loud tones, staring at the sailor,while the latter quaked; "a sea dog who has fought and won, and foughtand lost many a time. Is it not so?"
"And who hopes to fight again, as it please your Majesty. There is newshere which would give fighting to many a man of yours, and some wealthbesides. The Indies are filled with pearls and gold."
"And you would have me take them from my brother of Spain?"
There was a half-smile on the lips of the king as he spoke, and thusencouraged, Peter, who had now lost some little of his nervousness,related all that he knew, and told how the plaque had come to his hands.
"I once fell in with a Spaniard who had served in the Indies," he added."He had been driven from Spain because of some offence to the Church,and therefore he did not hesitate to tell me what he had seen. There arethousands of undiscovered leagues yet, and it may be that some few mightcome to the hands of the mighty king of England. There are men on thesea who could do for you what these others have done and are now doingfor Ferdinand of Spain, if only the permission were given them, and themoney with which to purchase ships and stores at their hand."
"The rascal tempts me to become an adventurer," laughed the king,looking closely at the plaque. "But let us hear about this engraving ofthe sun. 'Tis marvellously wrought, and like you, Essex, I seebuildings, roads, and beasts, and boats upon the water. Let theinterpreter tell us of the writing."
With a nod Roger was beckoned forward, and at once translated, hisfluency delighting the king.
"Truly a valuable man to send on such an expedition," he whispered tothe earl, "for he speaks the Spanish tongue like a native, and he isstalwart and strong. This tale of foreign lands tempts me, for I aspireto extend my dominions. Let this sailor have the plaque and retire withthe youth. We will speak quietly together."
What happened at that interview it would be impossible to state. But theresult was soon felt by Peter Tamworth, and by Roger de Luce; for hardlyhad a week passed, and the memory of their interview with the king wasstill fresh to them, and much in their minds, when a stranger presentedhimself to each in succession. He was a knight in poor circumstances, byname Sir Thomas Brice, and he came armed with authority to speak.
"There is a large brigantine lying in the river," he said, "and I am inwant of men to man her. Her mission is a secret one, at which you canguess. She is bound for the Indies. At this moment all manner of storesare being loaded aboard her, together with guns and weapons. Will youcome with me and form part of my crew?"
Sir Thomas, a tall and courageous-looking man, who had already won areputation in the wars with France, waited to see what effect hismessage had, and then commenced to speak again.
"There is no need to decide at once," he said quietly. "Meet me to-nightat the Swan Tavern, in Cheapside, and there we will discuss the matter.For you, Roger de Luce, I have the Earl of Essex's sanction for yourabsence, and his wishes for you to form one of the exploration. We goto discover this city which was engraved on the plaque, and also to seewhether we cannot oust these Spaniards."
Acknowledging Roger's salutation he strode away again, leaving thelatter to think the question over, and discuss it with his father.
"'Tis a chance which may not occur again," said the latter, though Rogerneeded no encouragement, for he was eager to go. "There is a plan, whichshould take you to this part, and maybe you will arrive there beforethis Spaniard who is known as Fernando Cortes. Then there will be richesfor all, and you will win back for our family the position which it onceheld. For we were not always servants, or soldiers in subordinatepositions. Time was when the de Luces held their lands and vassals, andjested with the best."
That night Roger kept the appointment at the Swan Tavern, a famoushostelry, where he met Sir Thomas, with whom was Peter Tamworth and someten others.
"We sail within the week," said the knight, "and your answer must begiven now. There is the share of treasure which you will receive shouldthe expedition prove successful, and then there will be the honour whichhis Majesty will do to each one of us. In all there will be a hundredgentlemen and men-at-arms, whom the brigantine can just accommodate.Now, will you come?"
"Willingly," said Roger. "The share which is promised will be suitable,and I promise to do all that I can to make the expedition successful.Should we fall in with the Spaniards, I shall be able to deal with them,for I speak the language."
"And if the tongue fails, I warrant he will be able to deal with them inother ways," laughed one of the gentlemen present. "We are fortunate inhaving this young giant. Now, Sir Thomas, we have to find a sailingmaster, and our crew is completed, for the men-at-arms have already beenenrolled."
In fact, those who were leading this expedition had little difficulty.There were too many applicants, for it wanted but a day for the secretto leak out, and it flew swiftly through the city of London. Seafaringmen, old sailors, and adventurers came forward in scores, and fromamongst them the most suitable were chosen. Then, having filled up withprovisions and water, and having taken aboard a plentiful supply ofgunpowder and arms, the brigantine slipped from her moorings, and sliddown the River Thames. A thousand eyes followed her as she went. Nor didthe knight, who commanded her, and his crew meet with the smallestadventure till they had crossed the Atlantic Ocean, then an almostunknown sea, at least to the English, and come into the neighbourhood ofthe island of Cuba. A fair wind carried them directly on their course,and during the voyage they met with few matters of great i
nterest. Asfor Roger, once he had recovered from his sea-sickness, he found thelife delightful. In spite of his height and his look of age, he was asmuch a boy as any young fellow of eighteen years, and skylarked aboutthe vessel with Philip Heasman, son of one of the gentlemen adventurerswho had taken shares in the ship.
"I love to look over the side and see the water running past us,Philip," he said, once they were out of the channel, and had come to apart where the sea ran in long low swells. "Then at night I lie in mybunk and listen to the swish of the water alongside, and that sends meto sleep."
"And keeps you so till some one has kicked you to awaken you again,"laughed his friend. "I declare that I have a big task every day andnight, for when we are off watch you seem to sleep all the time, and Ihave to look to it that you turn up on deck at the appointed hour. Isuppose it's because you are so long, and have overgrown your strength."
"Hardly that. Look here, Philip. That doesn't look like overgrownstrength. At any rate, it doesn't seem to be what one could callweakness."
As Roger spoke, he seized one of the small cannon by the muzzle with onehand, and with a heave lifted the gun and its attached carriage till themuzzle stared up at the sky, while the base rested on the deck. Then heset it down again in its old position as gently as though it had been afeatherweight.
"A fine performance; but still, not as much as you will be able to doone of these days," said Philip, critically; "and I maintain that youare grown too much, and that the rapid spring-up which you have made hasrobbed you of strength. That is why you are for ever sleeping, and whyyou loll and rest at all times. Why, in a matter of a year or so, youwill be able to do what you have done without an effort, and with twofingers. You will even be able to lift the portly Peter Tamworth rightover your head."
The little sailor happened to be passing along the deck at that moment,and Roger seized upon the opportunity with eagerness.
"Lift Peter!" he cried, with a derisive laugh. "He is but a child. Seehim soar aloft."
He swung round and seized the sailor by his clothing. Then, with aswing, he tossed him into the air, and held him at arms' length abovehis head, while Peter shouted angrily.
"What fool's work is this?" he demanded, as Roger set him down again,while the men-at-arms, who had watched the little exhibition ofstrength, roared with laughter. For Peter was a character, a jollyfellow, apt to cultivate a bosom acquaintance with all with whom hesailed. But, on this occasion, dignity had in some small measure alteredhis habit, and he stood aloof, as far as his merry nature would allow.
"Would you toss our leader so into the air? Then, why choose me? Myfaith, were I in command, I would send you to the peak in the bight of arope, and let you swelter there for a day."
"If you could get him to the rope, well and good, Peter," laughedPhilip, patting the angry sailor. "But, think of the strength of thisyoung bull. I warrant, he could hold you with one hand, and lash youwith the other. Mayhap, seeing that you do not lead this expedition, hemay feel desirous of sending you to the peak to see how the trick looks.But be not angry. Our friend was just trying his strength or weakness,for I maintain that he is weak rather than strong."
"Then let him keep this weakness for the Spaniards," grumbled Peter,"and try not his strength on me. Look over there, comrades. Cuba is insight--the island where it is said these Spaniards caused the natives toslave so that they died within a few years. 'Tis well for us that weare away in the offing, for there will be ships there, and many men toman them. If they caught sight of us, we should be surrounded, and thenwhere would be this city on the Terra Firma, and the treasure we seek?"
His words brought the men-at-arms, Philip and Roger, to the side of thevessel, leaning against which, they fixed their eyes upon the speck ofblue in the distance, which they were told was Cuba.
"Perhaps another week will take us to the north of Yucatan," said Peter."After that no one can say how long it will be before we run on to themain land. But we shall doubtless halt at Yucatan and take in water andfresh food, if the latter can be found. Does any one see a sail?"
All stared out across the water, but though they watched for many hours,nothing was seen save the land in the distance. And as evening came thelatter became larger, and those gifted with the best sight could makeout hills and mountain chains. Roger even thought that he caught thewhite sheen of a sail. But it was getting dusk, and he could not becertain.
"As like as not it was one," said Sir Thomas, when our hero brought thereport to him, "for I have information that the Spaniards keep manyships here, and that they are making large preparations to reinforcethis Fernando Cortes with men and ships. But we shall be far along thecoast by to-morrow, and our course will take us out more. Did you think,Roger de Luce, that we should have accomplished so much in one singlemonth from our sailing from the port of London?"
"I had expected to be many weeks on the voyage, sir, though I amignorant of the time usually taken. But I remember that while in Spainit was told me that the great Columbus had taken a very long time, andthat when in these parts his men had begged of him to turn back, forthey thought that they had gone so far that to proceed would make returnimpossible."
"And yet he persevered against their wishes, and discovered Hispaniola,and afterwards Cuba. And he took many weeks, while we are but four fromLondon. We are fortunate, and in two weeks from this should be on thecoast for which we aim. Then we must search for natives, and a captiveSpaniard would be of service, for then you could question him."
Roger made his salute, and retired to the lower deck, where he soonturned in. At midnight he and Philip came on the deck again, to taketheir watch, and strolled up and down. A fine moon was up, and the seacould be observed for miles around them, looking silvery white in therays.
"Wait," said Roger, after they had trudged up and down for nearly anhour, both busy with their thoughts, "I fancied that I saw another ship.Perhaps it is the light given by the moon, which is rather deceptive,but--look yonder. Is that a sail?"
"I also thought so," was the hesitating answer. "But I could not becertain, and now there seems to be nothing. Listen! Did you hear acall?"
They stood at the rail, staring out at the water and listening. But itmust have been their fancy, for though an hour passed and still foundthem attentive, they neither heard nor saw anything to arouse theirsuspicions.
"We imagined the whole thing, then," said Roger, "though I fancy stillthat I actually caught sight of a sail. Suppose these Spanish fellowshad heard of our coming, and were lying in wait."
"If they had heard they would certainly be on the look out for us. Butyou forget, Roger. Our expedition was planned not more than five weeksago; and it is said that the king commanded secrecy then. Who could havesent the news to Spain? And granted that it reached the court at Madrid,how would a boat have sailed to Cuba in time to bring the information?For we have made a rapid voyage, quicker, we are told, than is usuallyaccomplished by the Spaniards."
The argument seemed conclusive, and Roger sought for some other means ofexplaining the sail which he thought he had seen. Had he and the otherswho took part in this expedition but known it, the suspected sail was aship in actual fact, which for many a week had been cruising off thecoast of Cuba. For Spain jealously guarded these new possessions ofhers, and the governor of Cuba and of Hispaniola had orders to watch thenarrow seas about them. Then, too, it happened that one of the prisonerstaken aboard the Spanish treasure ship had contrived to send informationof the capture to Ferdinand, and had narrated how the plaque and theother valuables had fallen into the hands of the French, and afterwardsinto those of the English. It was a serious loss, and steps were at oncetaken to oppose any who might be tempted to find the land of gold andthe city referred to on the plaque.
Early on the following morning, when Roger lay coiled up in his bunk, ashout startled the ship and brought all to the deck.
"A sail! A sail! A Spanish ship!"
It was Peter Tamworth who had made the discovery, and he voiced it atth
e top of his power.
"A Spaniard, bearing down upon us from under the land."
"Then I was right," whispered Roger in Philip's ear. "There was a shipnear us last night. Look now! One can see her fairly well, running fromthe land. We seem to be nearer in than we had intended to be. She is alarge vessel, I should say, and therefore we shall have to fight."
That this was so became clear to all aboard in the next half-hour, forthe Spaniard, a big vessel, with prow which stood high out of the water,bore down upon the brigantine, sailing two feet to her one, and to showthe feeling aboard her, fired a gun as soon as she was in range.
"A queer sound, and one which makes one feel inclined to dip below therail," said Philip, with a laugh, as the cumbersome ball skipped alongthe surface of the water, and sank at the forefoot of the brigantine."What answer will our leader give?"
"The one you might expect. We have as much right here as any, and arenot to be ousted because the Spaniards happened to be here first. But weshall not waste powder. Our guns are far too small. Let them get toclose quarters, and then I warrant we shall talk to them. Give me acrossbow before all."
Roger swung his weapon from his shoulder, and looked to the locks.
"One of these days it will happen, perhaps, that the arquebus will beimproved, and made easier to carry. It is too heavy by far now, andtakes too long to fire. For those reasons it cannot compare with thisweapon. At one hundred yards I will guarantee to bring down a man if hedoes not move."
"You will hardly find one willing to oblige you," was the answer. "Ho!That was a close one. I should think that we shall be badly poundedbefore we get the range of them."
"Unless we run up towards the enemy, and so get to action sooner,"remarked Roger. "That is what I should do, and I think our leader will.Yes. There goes the tiller, and the master is calling to us to shift thebraces."
In those days every ship carried her fighting crew, who also saw to thesails; and it happened that aboard the brigantine, amongst theadventurers were many who were sailors as well. And thanks to that fact,those who, like Roger, had been ignorant when they first embarked, hadquickly picked up the mysteries of sailing. They obeyed the master'sorder, therefore, and very soon the brigantine was heading for theSpaniard.
"Let every man lie down behind the rail till I shout," called out SirThomas, stationing himself on the lofty stern of the brigantine, "andcome hither, Roger de Luce. It may be that they will desire a parley,though it hardly seems so, considering that they have fired upon us soearly. Now," he said, when Roger had clambered to his side, "how manymen does yonder vessel carry?"
"That I cannot say, sir," answered our hero, "for I spent the greaterpart of my life in Spain, at Madrid, though once I was at Cadiz. Butshe is a large vessel, Sir Thomas; and seeing that she has been cruisinghere, for I am sure now that I caught a glimpse of her last night, I amsure that she will have many men."
"Then their numbers shall confuse them. We will carry them by the board,and so escape their shot. Move the tiller over, master, so as to puttheir aim out."
Bang! crash! It was very certain that the Spaniard carried heavy metal,for one of her shots came aboard the brigantine at that moment, andploughed through the deck, rending the timbers, and scattering splinterson either side. Then a second hulled the Englishman, stripping away alength of bulwark, and killing or disabling half a dozen men. Rogerlooked down at the scene of havoc for a little while, feeling dizzy andupset at the sight; for huge though he was, and a powerful fellow, hewas a child in experience--a light-hearted, overgrown fellow, who had asyet seen little of the rough side of the world.
"An ugly sight, which makes the head swim," said the voice of SirThomas. "But use makes one hardened. When you have seen all that I have,you will pity those who are hurt, but will let your feelings go nofurther. Ah! we are likely to suffer heavily, unless we can soon come toclose quarters."
For ten minutes and more the Spaniard hulled the brigantine, while thelatter made fruitless efforts to come close to her adversary, and had,so far, not returned a shot. Meanwhile, her crew had suffered heavily,and many of the men-at-arms and the adventurers had been killed orseverely wounded.
"She is playing with us!" shouted Sir Thomas, at length, seeing that theSpaniard did not approach closer. "She relies upon her superior sailing,and is trying to circle about us. Bring her about, master, and jamb usinto this craft."
He stamped on the deck with vexation, for it was maddening to see hismen thus cut down without being able to retaliate. However, a craftymove on the part of the master met a change of course of the Spaniard,and at once the ships began to run towards one another, the brigantinelooking ridiculously small beside the Spaniard.
"Shall I keep an eye on their steersman?" asked Roger, seeing that amove on the latter's part might yet take the enemy away. "If he puts hishelm over, we shall have their guns pouring their shot down our decks,while our own small cannon will hardly serve better than my crossbow.See, Sir Thomas, a shaft from my weapon would reach from here."
"'Tis a good thought. Hold the fellow in your eye, and if he makes amove to throw us apart, fire at him. Stay here while I go to thegunners."
By now the crew of the brigantine were overflowing with eagerness, forit had been hard work lying behind the rail to be fired at without hopeof retaliation. Now the chance was coming, and the men could be seenmoistening their hands ere they seized their pikes or cutlasses, whilethe gunners blew at their port-fires and squinted along the cannon. Notthat they could take aim yet at the enemy, for the latter was on acourse which would take her across the bows of the brigantine, and itwas impossible to slew the guns round sufficiently.
"We must make the most of the opportunity when we are near," said SirThomas, as he returned. "But I fancy that they will run on this coursetill almost crossing our stem. Then they will come over and sail on ourcourse, while their stern guns pour shot into us. You must see that themovement is not carried out."
Roger nodded, and drew back the bow of his weapon, fitting a shaft withcare and accuracy. He had been accustomed to the weapon from hisearliest days, since he had had the strength to use one, and he was afine shot.
"He is about to move, sir," he suddenly exclaimed, bringing the crossbowto his shoulder. "Yes, he is pushing at the helm."
Thanks to the high stern of the enemy, it was easy to pick out thesteersman and to observe his movements. By now the Spaniard was about topass the bows of the brigantine, and as she came to that position, thesteersman pushed at the helm, while men were seen running to the braces.Roger took a quick aim and fired.
"Hit!" shouted Sir Thomas. "A brave shot, and see what it brings us."
He pointed excitedly, for the tiller had fallen from the hands of theSpanish steersman, while the unhappy fellow, struck in the breast byRoger's shaft, staggered against the rail of the vessel. The failure tosteer at that moment was fatal, for instead of coming up into her newcourse, the prow of the Spanish ship paid off at once, and she swungacross the stem of the brigantine. Instantly the master aboard thelatter put his helm over a little, and ere the enemy could recover fromtheir astonishment, or send a relief to the helm, the English ship wasforging along on an almost parallel course which, thanks to the factthat the other vessel had almost lost way, brought her quickly intorange. Then, indeed, did the men-at-arms and the adventurers give backwhat they had received. Crossbow bolts and arquebus bullets flew at theSpaniards, while the little cannon shot forth their missiles. Then theprow of the brigantine struck the enemy heavily on the beam, and,sheering off a few feet, came into contact again.
"Aboard her! To the rails!" shouted the English leader.
He seized his cutlass, and sprang on to the rail. A rope gave him anopportunity of clambering up the high sides of the enemy, while Roger'sstalwart arm gave him a heave which sent him with a swing on to thehigher deck. Then our hero followed, Philip hard on his heels, while theremainder of the ship's company swarmed up wherever and whenever theycould, leaving a few to lash the vessels
together. A moment later allwere engaged in a fierce struggle with the Spaniards, at whose headfought a noble in complete armour.