Roger Willoughby: A Story of the Times of Benbow

  CHAPTER TWELVE.

  We must now return to our hero, Roger Willoughby, who had fortunately,from having joined Captain Benbow, been prevented from being drawn in byStephen to serve the cause of Monmouth. The _Ruby_, after relievingStephen and his companions, continued her course down channel. Rogerearnestly hoped that his friend would be favoured with fine weather, andwould reach a Dutch port in safety. The _Ruby_, on her course down theEnglish Channel, then ran some way up the Irish Channel, according tothe orders her Captain had received, but she fell in with no vessels orboats containing persons whom he considered himself bound to look uponas rebels. He boarded several vessels with passengers bound out to theNew England States, where they said they were going to settle. Some hadtheir families, and, of course, they could not be considered as rebels,while the greater number, who were of all ranks--gentlemen, well-to-doyeomen, and labourers--were single men; but as there was nothing toprove that they had been supporters of Monmouth, whatever the Captainmight have suspected, he resolved to give them the benefit of the doubt,and would not detain them. Thus a good many escaped who would havetended to swell the victims of the Bloody Assize, of which the Captain,to his great indignation, heard when sending occasionally on shore. The_Ruby_, having remained the time she had been directed on the westcoast, returned to Portsmouth, where she waited for orders. Seldom inthose days could a ship's company be allowed on shore without the riskof losing a number of men, but so completely had Benbow ingratiatedhimself with his crew, that when their leave was up they all returned onboard.

  Roger, meantime, was daily gaining nautical skill and knowledge. Likingmore and more the profession he had chosen, he had won the regard andesteem of his Captain, who promised as soon as possible to obtain forhim a lieutenant's commission. Roger had several messmates, with all ofwhom he got on very well, though some of them were jealous of the favourhe received from the Captain. His chief friend was Charles Ross, a ladsomewhat younger than himself, who had come to sea with Captain Benbowfor the first time. He was a little fellow, light-hearted, merry, andfull of fun, though he had his serious moments, which showed that he wasnot as thoughtless as many would have supposed. He and Roger were muchtogether. Roger was always ready to impart to him the knowledge whichhe himself possessed, and especially to teach him navigation. Anothermessmate, who was generally known as Old Dick Kemp, had been aship's-boy, but had been placed on the quarter-deck for his goodbehaviour and gallantry during the last Dutch war, for saving the livesof two shipmates, for behaving with great courage during a heavy gale ona lee shore, when the ship on board which he served narrowly escapedbeing cast away. Since then, however, Dick Kemp had not risen above therank of master's mate, having no friends to plead for his promotion.Captain Benbow appreciated him as being a true tarpaulin, on whom hecould rely at all times, which was more than he would have said for hislieutenants, who were young gentlemen of family sent to sea for thefirst time with that rank. Not having gone through the inferior gradesof the profession of navigation, they knew nothing, and looked upon itas beneath their notice, while they were only slowly learning the art ofseamanship, and could only manage to put a ship about with the aid ofDick Kemp, Roger Willoughby, or one of the other tarpaulins or truesailors. Such was the way ships were manned in those days.

  It is true that many of the shore-going young gentlemen who struttedabout in silk doublets, feathers in their hats, and jewelled swords bytheir sides, fought bravely enough. When they found themselves in thepresence of an enemy, they could ably superintend the working of theguns, which they looked upon as their principal avocation; or whenboarders had to be repelled, or a boarding-party led, they weregenerally found fighting bravely at the head of their men. SinceCharles the Second, however, made peace with the Dutch, the navy ofEngland had seen no fighting except a few engagements with Algerine orSallee rovers.

  Benbow's lieutenants soon learned to respect him. He always treatedthem as gentlemen, though he did not pretend to say that they weresailors. On the contrary, he drew a marked distinction between thegentlemen officers and the tarpaulins, giving the preference undoubtedlyto the latter. The _Ruby_ remained so long at Portsmouth that Roger hadtime to write home, and also to receive a reply. He now heard for thefirst time of Stephen's capture, and of his narrow escape from deaththrough the exertions of Alice.

  "Bless her!" he exclaimed. "She was always a true girl, and I knewthat, should occasion require, she would prove a real heroine. Fancyher bearding that monster Jeffreys, and winning her cause, though I amafraid he will suffer fearfully, and be sent out to the West Indies; buthe got accustomed to a hot climate in Africa, and will stand it betterthan most people; but poor Andrew! sad to think that he should have losthis life, after so nearly escaping. I wish I could have been on shoreto help them, though I do not know that I could have done much; but I doknow that I would have run every risk. I would have insisted on theirmaking their escape when they were shut up at Eversden. I am sure thatmy uncle and Madam Pauline would not have found fault with me."

  All he could learn of Stephen was that he sailed a short time beforewith many hundred slaves from the Thames bound out to the West Indies.His father, who wrote, told him of the hapless Maids of Taunton, who hadpresented the banners to the Duke of Monmouth, being sold to the Queenand the Maids of Honour, who were making what money they could out oftheir parents and friends; but one poor little girl had died from frightat being so roughly addressed by Jeffreys. Many thousand pounds hadbeen obtained by the courtiers to whom the slaves had been awarded,while the King had managed to get his share of profit out of therebellion. These details, which were pretty well known on board, didnot tend to increase the loyalty of the officers and seamen of the_Ruby_. The Captain himself, as became him, expressed no opinion, butDick Kemp did not conceal his sentiments on the subject. Though he didnot venture to say that he wished Monmouth had succeeded, he expressedhis opinion that the King and his courtiers were as vile a set ofragamuffins as ever sat in high places, and that the Queen and Maids ofHonour were well worthy of them.

  At length the _Ruby_ had orders to proceed to the West Indies to lookafter certain piratical craft, under the leadership of a daringFrenchman, who were infesting those seas.

  "It is just the part of the world I want to go to," cried Roger. "Ihave heard a great deal of the beautiful scenery, of their strangetrees, curious productions of all sorts, and if we touch at Jamaica,which we are sure to do, I will make inquiries for my old friend StephenBattiscombe; if I can hear anything of him, I will do my utmost toredeem him."

  "I will help you," said Charlie Ross.

  "So will I," said Dick Kemp. "I should not be surprised that theCaptain would exert himself, since as you say he sailed with him."

  With a fair breeze the _Ruby_ sailed down Channel, carrying the fineweather some way into the Atlantic and then encountered a heavy gale;but her hull was tight, and her Captain had seen that she was wellfitted, having carefully inspected her masts and spars, and everystanding and running rope of her rigging before they were set up androve. Escaping from the gale without damage, she ran into southernlatitudes. She had a fair breeze. One day, with all sail set below andaloft, carrying her along at the rate of seven or eight knots an hour,Dick Kemp, Charlie, and Roger were on deck together, when, as they werelooking over the side, they observed a dark triangular object cuttingrapidly through the water.

  "Hilloa! what is that curious thing?" asked Charlie.

  "That is the fin of Jack Shark," said Kemp, "the vilest brute thatexists; the hated foe of us sailors. I don't know how many fine fellowshe has not grabbed by the leg, and gobbled up."

  "I wish that I had a gun, I would shoot him," said Charlie, "and hewould do no more mischief; but unfortunately he has plenty of brothersand sisters like him; as soon as he sees the gun he will be off like ashot."

  "I will borrow a musket, and see if I cannot hit him," cried Roger.Roger was not long in getting the gun, while Kemp, hurrying forward,obtained a piece
of rancid pork, which he fastened to the end of a line.

  "Now, Roger, look out," he said, as he threw the pork overboard, andRoger held his gun in readiness. Presently the fin disappeared; a whiteglistening object rose to the surface; off went Roger's musket.

  "I hit him, I am sure," cried Roger, as the shark sank.

  "I think you did, and right through the head. I saw a tinge of red, butit went in a moment," said Kemp. "We have settled the brute, and I wishwe could settle every other that comes alongside. We will keep thepork, and if we can find a hook, we will have the next on board."

  On sailed the ship. The Captain, however, coming on deck, observedindications of a change, and ordered canvas to be reduced. Roger's dutyrequired him to remain on deck; Charlie Ross ran up with the two othermidshipmen to the foreyard to superintend the operation of taking in areef. Roger was looking forward when he observed an object fall fromthe yard; at the same time a cry burst forth from the throats of severalof the crew, "A man overboard!" As Roger ran to the side he had seenCharlie Ross on the yard-arm, but he was not there now, and as theperson floated by he felt sure that he was his friend. Withoutrecollecting the shark they had seen in the morning, without thinking ofany danger to himself, his ardent desire being to save his friend, heplunged overboard. Charlie had struck the water on his side, and wasapparently senseless, for he made no attempt to save himself; but stillhe floated. The ship running fast at the time, and only part of thesails having been furled, Roger heard the Captain give the order toheave her to, as he struck out towards his friend, whom he reached justas he appeared on the point of sinking. At that moment Charlie'sconsciousness had returned.

  "Never fear, you are all right," cried Roger. "Let me put my arms underyou, and do not attempt to swim till you are better. I will treadwater, and easily keep you and myself up."

  "Where am I?" asked Charlie, in a very faint voice.

  "Somewhere out in the middle of the Atlantic," said Roger, in a cheerfultone. "But the ship's not far off, and help will come to us as soon asa boat can be lowered; she's rounding-to, though she had so much way onher that she shot somewhat far ahead."

  Charlie was slowly recovering his senses, and did as he desired; butwhen Roger looked up, the ship seemed a long long way off; not till thendid the thought of sharks occur to him. Though he had fortunately shotthe one which had been following the ship, there might be many others.He, however, did not let this idea damp his courage, but kept treadingwater with might and main, and singing out at the top of his voice, asif he were hailing his shipmates, and urging them to come faster to hisassistance. At length he saw a boat lowered, and pulling towards them,but she was still far away; the thought of the abominable sharks wouldcome back. As Charlie was recovering, he told him to sing out, and atthe same time to splash with his feet. "Just to keep away the cramps,Charlie," he said; for he did not wish to frighten him with the thoughtof the sharks. He looked round, and fancied he saw a dark fin in thedistance, but he might, he knew, be mistaken. The boat drew nearer, thecrew were giving way with all their might. Old Dick Kemp was steeringher, standing up to observe the spot where the two lads were floating.Between her and them Roger observed that dark fin. "I hope that Dickwill see it too, and if he has a musket in the boat, will try to hitit." Roger forgot, if he did, that the bullet would very likely strikethem. He shouted and splashed, and bade Charlie do the same, till hewas nearly exhausted. The fin disappeared; perhaps the brute had beenfrightened away; he hoped so, but it did not make him relax in hisefforts. It is our best chance to keep the monster off, he thought; hecould scarcely have struck out five minutes longer, when the boat gotup.

  "Take him on board first," he cried, pushing forward Charlie.

  "We will have both of you together," said Kemp. Scarcely was he in theboat when a white glistening object appeared, and its huge mouth gapedwide, half leaping out of the water. It got many a blow from theseamen's oars; this had, however, no other effect than making it plungedown and make the water with its tail fly over them.

  "Now, lads, pull back as fast as you can," cried old Kemp. "We must putthe boys under the doctor's care as soon as possible. You are a bravefellow, Roger; I always thought so, now I know it; and the Captain willsay so too. I only wish that I were in your place."

  The Scotch doctor, Macpherson, who knew that his services would berequired, was standing ready to order the lads to be carried to the sickbay.

  "I do not think there is much the matter with me," said Roger; but histrembling knees and pale face showed that he required care, whileCharlie had scarcely yet recovered from the blow he had experienced onfalling into the water. The gale seemed to have hung, back till Charlieand his gallant preserver were safe on board,--the ship was under snugcanvas, and rode it out well. Roger was a whole day getting round.When he appeared on deck he was warmly praised by the Captain, and hereceived the compliments of the other officers, even the gentlemenlieutenants.

  "Faith," said the honourable Lieutenant Delamere, "it is more than Icould have done if I had expected to be made Lord High Admiral forthwithfor doing it."

  "It seemed to me," said Roger, "that it was just the thing to be done,and so I did it."

  "You tarpaulins are accustomed to the water; it is an advantage you haveover us," remarked the lieutenant.

  The _Ruby_ remained hove-to under storm canvas for five days, when, theweather moderating, she once more made sail and stood on her course.She had been running on for several days, the wind had fallen to a lightbreeze, and the sea was smooth; it was soon after down. Charlie Ross,who was one of the midshipmen of the watch, was stationed on thetopgallant forecastle. He had been looking out for some time when hewas joined by Roger.

  "There is something away there on the starboard bow which puzzles me,"he said. "It looks like the body of a huge whale."

  "It is either that or the hull of a dismasted vessel," observed Roger."I think it the latter. You should have reported it to the officer ofthe watch. I will go and do so."

  Dick Kemp had charge of the deck, for the lieutenants in those days,unless they were tarpaulins or brought up in the service, did notperform that duty. Kemp came forward with his spy-glass, and soonpronounced the object seen to be--as Roger supposed--the hull of adismasted vessel He at once sent below to obtain permission from theCaptain to steer towards it.

  "Though she looks in a fearfully battered condition, there may still bepeople on board, and we must try to rescue them," he observed.

  As the _Ruby_ drew nearer a man could be seen on the deck holding on toa part of the shattered bulwarks and waving a flag.

  "There is one man on board at all events," observed Kemp; "there may bemore. Willoughby, do you get a boat ready to lower, and I will let theCaptain know that it is time to heave-to."

  Captain Benbow just then made his appearance, and at once issued theorder to bring the ship to the wind. The boat was quickly alongside thestranger, a rope was thrown over the side by the man who had been seenwaving the flag, and Roger scrambled on board. He and two other menwere on foot, weak, and pale, and reduced almost to skeletons, whilemore lay about the deck unable to raise themselves.

  "We are dying of hunger and thirst," exclaimed the stranger, whoappeared to be an officer. "For two days not a particle of food have weeaten, nor has a drop of water moistened our lips; for mercy's sakebring us some at once."

  "The quickest way would be to take you to our ship," said Roger, and heordered his men to come up to carry the sufferers into the boat. Whilehe was speaking, it struck him, in spite of his pale cadaverouscountenance and emaciated appearance, that the officer was his oldfriend Stephen Battiscombe; yet he did not like to ask him, for, ifStephen Battiscombe, he was a convict, and might desire to remainunknown. He treated him therefore as a stranger when the _Ruby's_ mencame to assist the officer.

  "No, no," he said, "take the remnant of my crew first, and then thosepoor fellows who are passengers. I have endured hunger this far, andcan hold out a l
ittle longer, while I do not think the vessel will go tothe bottom just yet."

  Roger directed that the two seamen should be lifted into the boat, andthe two passengers; promising to return immediately for the remainder,he pulled back to the ship as speedily as his crew could urge theiroars. On the way, he asked the two seamen who the person was who hadwaved the flag.

  "He was the mate of our vessel," answered one of the men.

  "What is his name?" inquired Roger, eagerly.

  "Simon Bates, I fancy," replied the other; "but we always called himmate."

  As he came alongside he sang out, "Half a beaker of water and somebiscuit, or any food to be found."

  The water and some food were handed into the boat; and the moment thepeople he had brought were hoisted up on deck, he made his way back forthe remainder.

  "Come along now, Mr Bates," he said, addressing the officer; "it is allright. The men say you are mate of this vessel."

  Before taking the perishing people into the boat, Roger offered themsome water and food. The water was eagerly drunk, but one of the poorsufferers was too far gone to swallow the food. Still, as there waslife in him, Roger hoped that the doctor might bring him round.

  "There are some more below, though I fear they are past help," said themate, in a low voice, for he was but just able to speak.

  Roger descended into the cabin. There lay two more persons, but onlifting their hands he saw at once they were dead. In a berth on oneside was another who seemed to retain some sparks of life, but he wastoo far gone to speak. Roger immediately sang out for some food andwater, which was handed down to him. He administered a little to thesufferer in the hopes that he might be revived sufficiently to becarried on deck. Though he drank the water eagerly, just as he placedthe food between his lips a deep sigh escaped him, his jaw dropped, andhe was dead. No other persons being found alive below, Roger, withthose he had rescued, shoved off from the sinking wreck, and from herappearance he judged she would not keep afloat many hours longer.

  When he had given an account of what had occurred on board, CaptainBenbow inquired if he knew the name of the mate.

  "The men call him Simon Bates, sir," answered Roger.

  "Then let him be entered by that name among those saved from the wreck,"said the Captain. "And who are the other people?" he asked.

  "They are passengers, sir," said Roger. "The ship's papers show thatshe was bound out from London to Jamaica."

  "There is nothing, I suppose, to show who the passengers are?" said theCaptain.

  "I could discover no paper, sir," answered Roger.

  The people were soon brought on board, and placed under the care of thedoctor, who attended to them assiduously. Just as sail was made, Roger,who was on deck, observed the bow of the craft from which the people hadbeen rescued rise slightly in the water, then down she went, sternfirst, and nothing was seen on the spot where she had floated, her hullbeing the coffin of the rest of her passengers.

  After some time Captain Benbow summoned Roger, to learn what he couldmake out respecting the passengers. "With regard to the two seamen andthe officer, the matter is clear enough," he said. "They say that hebelonged to their vessel, and by his coolness and bravery saved theirlives, so that if he likes to enter on board the _Ruby_ he shall bewelcome to do so. I cannot give the seamen their choice when theyrecover. They will prove to be stout fellows I hope, and will be aswell off with us as anywhere else; but with regard to the passengers thematter is doubtful. I fear that they are slaves destined to be sold tothe planters of Jamaica, but I cannot bear the thought of handing themover to so cruel a fate. Do you, Willoughby, speak to the men. If anyof them have served at sea the matter will be more easy, as I can thenenter them among the crew of the _Ruby_. It will be far better for themthan labouring in the plantations of Jamaica."

  "Ay, ay," answered Roger, clearly understanding the drift of theCaptain's remarks. He first visited the mate and the two seamen, andtold them that if they chose to volunteer, the Captain would receivethem on board the _Ruby_.

  "With all my heart," said the mate, in a low voice, taking Roger's handand pressing it. "Does he suspect who I am, for I am very sure that youknow me?"

  "What he suspects I don't know, but he asks no questions," answeredRoger; "and whoever you are, you will enter under the name the man gaveyou--Simon Bates."

  "Thank you, Roger, thank you," said the mate. "I little expected suchgood fortune; but the poor passengers! What is to be done with them?"

  "If they have served at sea, the Captain will allow them to enter onboard the _Ruby_," said Roger.

  "Yes, that they have, and very useful they made themselves; indeed,without them the vessel must have gone down," said the mate. "From whatI saw of them, I should say they have the making of good seamen in themwhen they regain their health and strength."

  "That is all right," said Roger. "I will speak to the men, and advisethem to choose names under which they can enter."

  He found them, however, scarcely sufficiently recovered to understandhim, much less to say anything, so that there was no hurry. He leftthem under the care of the doctor and his assistants. The crew of the_Ruby_ were chiefly west-country folk, and even had it been known onboard that the rescued people were slaves condemned for joiningMonmouth's rebellion, they would have gained the sympathy of those onboard, with the exception, perhaps, of the gentlemen lieutenants and afew others. Nearly a week passed before the mate was able to leave hishammock. The Captain, on seeing him, beckoned him to approach.

  "I understand," he said, "that you have served long at sea, and I shallbe glad, as I doubt not you will prove yourself worthy of it, to placeyou on the quarter-deck. Your men, I understand, have entered as of thepeople you were carrying out as passengers. We shall, I hope, haveopportunities in which you can distinguish yourself and make your namewell known."

  "Thank you, sir, I am grateful to you," said Simon Bates, of whoseidentity there could be no doubt, now that he had so much recovered, andwas dressed in a becoming costume, obtained for him by Roger. "I willdo my best, as you suggest, sir, to make the name of Simon Bates wellknown."

  A couple of weeks after this the _Ruby_ entered Port Royal, in Jamaica.As she was not to remain long, none of the crew were allowed to go onshore. A certain portion seemed to have no wish to do so; althoughSimon Bates might have walked the streets of Kingston with impunity,there was a risk that he might be recognised by some traitor anddenounced. He therefore thought it prudent to remain on board.