diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/7wlnb10.txt | 14815 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/7wlnb10.zip | bin | 0 -> 285804 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8wlnb10.txt | 14815 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8wlnb10.zip | bin | 0 -> 285833 bytes |
4 files changed, 29630 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/7wlnb10.txt b/old/7wlnb10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f24128 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7wlnb10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14815 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of When London Burned, by G. A. Henty + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: When London Burned + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7831] +[This file was first posted on May 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, WHEN LONDON BURNED *** + + + + +Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, S.R. Ellison, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + +WHEN LONDON BURNED + +BY G. A. HENTY + + + + + + + +PREFACE + +We are accustomed to regard the Reign of Charles II. as one of the +most inglorious periods of English History; but this was far from +being the case. It is true that the extravagance and profligacy of +the Court were carried to a point unknown before or since, +forming,--by the indignation they excited among the people at +large,--the main cause of the overthrow of the House of Stuart. But, +on the other hand, the nation made extraordinary advances in commerce +and wealth, while the valour of our sailors was as conspicuous under +the Dukes of York and Albemarle, Prince Rupert and the Earl of +Sandwich, as it had been under Blake himself, and their victories +resulted in transferring the commercial as well as the naval +supremacy of Holland to this country. In spite of the cruel blows +inflicted on the well-being of the country, alike by the extravagance +of the Court, the badness of the Government, the Great Plague, and +the destruction of London by fire, an extraordinary extension of our +trade occurred during the reign of Charles II. Such a period, +therefore, although its brilliancy was marred by dark shadows, cannot +be considered as an inglorious epoch. It was ennobled by the bravery +of our sailors, by the fearlessness with which the coalition of +France with Holland was faced, and by the spirit of enterprise with +which our merchants and traders seized the opportunity, and, in spite +of national misfortunes, raised England in the course of a few years +to the rank of the greatest commercial power in the world. + + G. A. HENTY. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. FATHERLESS + + II. A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER + + III. A THIEF SOMEWHERE + + IV. CAPTURED + + V. KIDNAPPED + + VI. A NARROW ESCAPE + + VII. SAVED FROM A VILLAIN + + VIII. THE CAPTAIN'S YARN + + IX. THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY + + X. HOW JOHN WILKES FOUGHT THE DUTCH + + XI. PRINCE RUPERT + + XII. NEW FRIENDS + + XIII. THE BATTLE OF LOWESTOFT + + XIV. HONOURABLE SCARS + + XV. THE PLAGUE + + XVI. FATHER AND SON + + XVII. SMITTEN DOWN + + XVIII. A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE + + XIX. TAKING POSSESSION + + XX. THE FIGHT OFF DUNKIRK + + XXI. LONDON IN FLAMES + + XXII. AFTER THE FIRE + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"WITH GREAT RAPIDITY THE FLAMES SPREAD FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE" + +"DON'T CRY, LAD; YOU WILL GET ON BETTER WITHOUT ME" + +"THIS IS MY PRINCE OF SCRIVENERS, MARY" + +"ROBERT ASHFORD, KNIFE IN HAND, ATTACKED JOHN WILKES WITH FURY" + +"CYRIL SAT UP AND DRANK OFF THE CONTENTS OF THE PANNIKIN" + +"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, SIR, DO NOT CAUSE TROUBLE" + +"TAKE HER DOWN QUICK, JOHN, THERE ARE THREE OTHERS" + +"CYRIL RAISED THE KING'S HAND TO HIS LIPS" + +"A DUTCH MAN-OF-WAR RAN ALONGSIDE AND FIRED A BROADSIDE" + +"FOR THE LAST TIME: WILL YOU SIGN THE DEED?" + +"WELCOME BACK TO YOUR OWN AGAIN, SIR CYRIL!" + +"WHAT NEWS, JAMES?" THE KING ASKED EAGERLY + + + + +WHEN LONDON BURNED + + + + +CHAPTER I + +FATHERLESS + + +Lad stood looking out of the dormer window in a scantily furnished +attic in the high-pitched roof of a house in Holborn, in September +1664. Numbers of persons were traversing the street below, many of +them going out through the bars, fifty yards away, into the fields +beyond, where some sports were being held that morning, while country +people were coming in with their baskets from the villages of +Highgate and Hampstead, Tyburn and Bayswater. But the lad noted +nothing that was going on; his eyes were filled with tears, and his +thoughts were in the little room behind him; for here, coffined in +readiness for burial, lay the body of his father. + +Sir Aubrey Shenstone had not been a good father in any sense of the +word. He had not been harsh or cruel, but he had altogether neglected +his son. Beyond the virtues of loyalty and courage, he possessed few +others. He had fought, as a young man, for Charles, and even among +the Cavaliers who rode behind Prince Rupert was noted for reckless +bravery. When, on the fatal field of Worcester, the last hopes of the +Royalists were crushed, he had effected his escape to France and +taken up his abode at Dunkirk. His estates had been forfeited; and +after spending the proceeds of his wife's jewels and those he had +carried about with him in case fortune went against the cause for +which he fought, he sank lower and lower, and had for years lived on +the scanty pension allowed by Louis to the King and his adherents. + +Sir Aubrey had been one of the wild, reckless spirits whose conduct +did much towards setting the people of England against the cause of +Charles. He gambled and drank, interlarded his conversation with +oaths, and despised as well as hated the Puritans against whom he +fought. Misfortune did not improve him; he still drank when he had +money to do so, gambled for small sums in low taverns with men of his +own kind, and quarrelled and fought on the smallest provocation. Had +it not been for his son he would have taken service in the army of +some foreign Power; but he could not take the child about with him, +nor could he leave it behind. + +Sir Aubrey was not altogether without good points. He would divide +his last crown with a comrade poorer than himself. In the worst of +times he was as cheerful as when money was plentiful, making a joke +of his necessities and keeping a brave face to the world. + +Wholly neglected by his father, who spent the greater portion of his +time abroad, Cyril would have fared badly indeed had it not been for +the kindness of Lady Parton, the wife of a Cavalier of very different +type to Sir Aubrey. He had been an intimate friend of Lord Falkland, +and, like that nobleman, had drawn his sword with the greatest +reluctance, and only when he saw that Parliament was bent upon +overthrowing the other two estates in the realm and constituting +itself the sole authority in England. After the execution of Charles +he had retired to France, and did not take part in the later risings, +but lived a secluded life with his wife and children. The eldest of +these was of the same age as Cyril; and as the latter's mother had +been a neighbour of hers before marriage, Lady Parton promised her, +on her death-bed, to look after the child, a promise that she +faithfully kept. + +Sir John Parton had always been adverse to the association of his boy +with the son of Sir Aubrey Shenstone; but he had reluctantly yielded +to his wife's wishes, and Cyril passed the greater portion of his +time at their house, sharing the lessons Harry received from an +English clergyman who had been expelled from his living by the +fanatics of Parliament. He was a good and pious man, as well as an +excellent scholar, and under his teaching, aided by the gentle +precepts of Lady Parton, and the strict but kindly rule of her +husband, Cyril received a training of a far better kind than he would +ever have been likely to obtain had he been brought up in his +father's house near Norfolk. Sir Aubrey exclaimed sometimes that the +boy was growing up a little Puritan, and had he taken more interest +in his welfare would undoubtedly have withdrawn him from the healthy +influences that were benefiting him so greatly; but, with the usual +acuteness of children, Cyril soon learnt that any allusion to his +studies or his life at Sir John Parton's was disagreeable to his +father, and therefore seldom spoke of them. + +Sir Aubrey was never, even when under the influence of his potations, +unkind to Cyril. The boy bore a strong likeness to his mother, whom +his father had, in his rough way, really loved passionately. He +seldom spoke even a harsh word to him, and although he occasionally +expressed his disapproval of the teaching he was receiving, was at +heart not sorry to see the boy growing up so different from himself; +and Cyril, in spite of his father's faults, loved him. When Sir +Aubrey came back with unsteady step, late at night, and threw himself +on his pallet, Cyril would say to himself, "Poor father! How +different he would have been had it not been for his misfortunes! He +is to be pitied rather than blamed!" And so, as years went on, in +spite of the difference between their natures, there had grown up a +sort of fellowship between the two; and of an evening sometimes, when +his father's purse was so low that he could not indulge in his usual +stoup of wine at the tavern, they would sit together while Sir Aubrey +talked of his fights and adventures. + +"As to the estates, Cyril," he said one day, "I don't know that +Cromwell and his Roundheads have done you much harm. I should have +run through them, lad--I should have diced them away years ago--and I +am not sure but that their forfeiture has been a benefit to you. If +the King ever gets his own, you may come to the estates; while, if I +had had the handling of them, the usurers would have had such a grip +on them that you would never have had a penny of the income." + +"It doesn't matter, father," the boy replied. "I mean to be a soldier +some day, as you have been, and I shall take service with some of the +Protestant Princes of Germany; or, if I can't do that, I shall be +able to work my way somehow." + +"What can you work at, lad?" his father said, contemptuously. + +"I don't know yet, father; but I shall find some work to do." + +Sir Aubrey was about to burst into a tirade against work, but he +checked himself. If Cyril never came into the estates he would have +to earn his living somehow. + +"All right, my boy. But do you stick to your idea of earning your +living by your sword; it is a gentleman's profession, and I would +rather see you eating dry bread as a soldier of fortune than +prospering in some vile trading business." + +Cyril never argued with his father, and he simply nodded an assent +and then asked some question that turned Sir Aubrey's thoughts on +other matters. + +The news that Monk had declared for the King, and that Charles would +speedily return to take his place on his father's throne, caused +great excitement among the Cavaliers scattered over the Continent; +and as soon as the matter was settled, all prepared to return to +England, in the full belief that their evil days were over, and that +they would speedily be restored to their former estates, with honours +and rewards for their many sacrifices. + +"I must leave you behind for a short time, Cyril," his father said to +the boy, when he came in one afternoon. "I must be in London before +the King arrives there, to join in his welcome home, and for the +moment I cannot take you; I shall be busy from morning till night. Of +course, in the pressure of things at first it will be impossible for +the King to do everything at once, and it may be a few weeks before +all these Roundheads can be turned out of the snug nests they have +made for themselves, and the rightful owners come to their own again. +As I have no friends in London, I should have nowhere to bestow you, +until I can take you down with me to Norfolk to present you to our +tenants, and you would be grievously in my way; but as soon as things +are settled I will write to you or come over myself to fetch you. In +the meantime I must think over where I had best place you. It will +not matter for so short a time, but I would that you should be as +comfortable as possible. Think it over yourself, and let me know if +you have any wishes in the matter. Sir John Parton leaves at the end +of the week, and ere another fortnight there will be scarce another +Englishman left at Dunkirk." + +"Don't you think you can take me with you, father?" + +"Impossible," Sir Aubrey said shortly. "Lodgings will be at a great +price in London, for the city will be full of people from all parts +coming up to welcome the King home. I can bestow myself in a garret +anywhere, but I could not leave you there all day. Besides, I shall +have to get more fitting clothes, and shall have many expenses. You +are at home here, and will not feel it dull for the short time you +have to remain behind." + +Cyril said no more, but went up, with a heavy heart, for his last +day's lessons at the Partons'. Young as he was, he was accustomed to +think for himself, for it was but little guidance he received from +his father; and after his studies were over he laid the case before +his master, Mr. Felton, and asked if he could advise him. Mr. Felton +was himself in high spirits, and was hoping to be speedily reinstated +in his living. He looked grave when Cyril told his story. + +"I think it is a pity that your father, Sir Aubrey, does not take you +over with him, for it will assuredly take longer to bring all these +matters into order than he seems to think. However, that is his +affair. I should think he could not do better for you than place you +with the people where I lodge. You know them, and they are a worthy +couple; the husband is, as you know, a fisherman, and you and Harry +Parton have often been out with him in his boat, so it would not be +like going among strangers. Continue your studies. I should be sorry +to think that you were forgetting all that you have learnt. I will +take you this afternoon, if you like, to my friend, the Cure of St. +Ursula. Although we differ on religion we are good friends, and +should you need advice on any matters he will give it to you, and may +be of use in arranging for a passage for you to England, should your +father not be able himself to come and fetch you." + +Sir Aubrey at once assented to the plan when Cyril mentioned it to +him, and a week later sailed for England; Cyril moving, with his few +belongings, to the house of Jean Baudoin, who was the owner and +master of one of the largest fishing-boats in Dunkirk. Sir Aubrey had +paid for his board and lodgings for two months. + +"I expect to be over to fetch you long before that, Cyril," he had +said, "but it is as well to be on the safe side. Here are four +crowns, which will furnish you with ample pocket-money. And I have +arranged with your fencing-master for you to have lessons regularly, +as before; it will not do for you to neglect so important an +accomplishment, for which, as he tells me, you show great aptitude." + +The two months passed. Cyril had received but one letter from his +father. Although it expressed hopes of his speedy restoration to his +estates, Cyril could see, by its tone, that his father was far from +satisfied with the progress he had made in the matter. Madame Baudoin +was a good and pious woman, and was very kind to the forlorn English +boy; but when a fortnight over the two months had passed, Cyril could +see that the fisherman was becoming anxious. Regularly, on his return +from the fishing, he inquired if letters had arrived, and seemed much +put out when he heard that there was no news. One day, when Cyril was +in the garden that surrounded the cottage, he heard him say to his +wife,-- + +"Well, I will say nothing about it until after the next voyage, and +then if we don't hear, the boy must do something for his living. I +can take him in the boat with me; he can earn his victuals in that +way. If he won't do that, I shall wash my hands of him altogether, +and he must shift for himself. I believe his father has left him with +us for good. We were wrong in taking him only on the recommendation +of Mr. Felton. I have been inquiring about his father, and hear +little good of him." + +Cyril, as soon as the fisherman had gone, stole up to his little +room. He was but twelve years old, and he threw himself down on his +bed and cried bitterly. Then a thought struck him; he went to his +box, and took out from it a sealed parcel; on it was written, "To my +son. This parcel is only to be opened should you find yourself in +great need, Your Loving Mother." He remembered how she had placed it +in his hands a few hours before her death, and had said to him,-- + +"Put this away, Cyril. I charge you let no one see it. Do not speak +of it to anyone--not even to your father. Keep it as a sacred gift, +and do not open it unless you are in sore need. It is for you, and +you alone. It is the sole thing that I have to leave you; use it with +discretion. I fear that hard times will come upon you." + +Cyril felt that his need could hardly be sorer than it was now, and +without hesitation he broke the seals, and opened the packet. He +found first a letter directed to himself. It began,-- + +"MY DARLING CYRIL,--I trust that it will be many years before you +open this parcel and read these words. I have left the enclosed as a +parting gift to you. I know not how long this exile may last, or +whether you will ever be able to return to England. But whether you +do or not, it may well be that the time will arrive when you may find +yourself in sore need. Your father has been a loving husband to me, +and will, I am sure, do what he can for you; but he is not provident +in his habits, and may not, after he is left alone, be as careful in +his expenditure as I have tried to be. I fear then that the time will +come when you will be in need of money, possibly even in want of the +necessaries of life. All my other trinkets I have given to him; but +the one enclosed, which belonged to my mother, I leave to you. It is +worth a good deal of money, and this it is my desire that you shall +spend upon yourself. Use it wisely, my son. If, when you open this, +you are of age to enter the service of a foreign Prince, as is, I +know, the intention of your father, it will provide you with a +suitable outfit. If, as is possible, you may lose your father by +death or otherwise while you are still young, spend it on your +education, which is the best of all heritages. Should your father be +alive when you open this, I pray you not to inform him of it. The +money, in his hands, would last but a short time, and might, I fear, +be wasted. Think not that I am speaking or thinking hardly of him. +All men, even the best, have their faults, and his is a carelessness +as to money matters, and a certain recklessness concerning them; +therefore, I pray you to keep it secret from him, though I do not say +that you should not use the money for your common good, if it be +needful; only, in that case, I beg you will not inform him as to what +money you have in your possession, but use it carefully and prudently +for the household wants, and make it last as long as may be. My good +friend, Lady Parton, if still near you, will doubtless aid you in +disposing of the jewels to the best advantage. God bless you, my son! +This is the only secret I ever had from your father, but for your +good I have hidden this one thing from him, and I pray that this +deceit, which is practised for your advantage, may be forgiven me. +YOUR LOVING MOTHER." + +It was some time before Cyril opened the parcel; it contained a +jewel-box in which was a necklace of pearls. After some consideration +he took this to the Cure of St. Ursula, and, giving him his mother's +letter to read, asked him for his advice as to its disposal. + +"Your mother was a thoughtful and pious woman," the good priest said, +after he had read the letter, "and has acted wisely in your behalf. +The need she foresaw might come, has arisen, and you are surely +justified in using her gift. I will dispose of this trinket for you; +it is doubtless of considerable value. If it should be that your +father speedily sends for you, you ought to lay aside the money for +some future necessity. If he does not come for some time, as may well +be--for, from the news that comes from England, it is like to be many +months before affairs are settled--then draw from it only such +amounts as are needed for your living and education. Study hard, my +son, for so will you best be fulfilling the intentions of your +mother. If you like, I will keep the money in my hands, serving it +out to you as you need it; and in order that you may keep the matter +a secret, I will myself go to Baudoin, and tell him that he need not +be disquieted as to the cost of your maintenance, for that I have +money in hand with which to discharge your expenses, so long as you +may remain with him." + +The next day the Cure informed Cyril that he had disposed of the +necklace for fifty louis. Upon this sum Cyril lived for two years. + +Things had gone very hardly with Sir Aubrey Shenstone. The King had a +difficult course to steer. To have evicted all those who had obtained +possession of the forfeited estates of the Cavaliers would have been +to excite a deep feeling of resentment among the Nonconformists. In +vain Sir Aubrey pressed his claims, in season and out of season. He +had no powerful friends to aid him; his conduct had alienated the men +who could have assisted him, and, like so many other Cavaliers who +had fought and suffered for Charles I., Sir Aubrey Shenstone found +himself left altogether in the cold. For a time he was able to keep +up a fair appearance, as he obtained loans from Prince Rupert and +other Royalists whom he had known in the old days, and who had been +more fortunate than himself; but the money so obtained lasted but a +short time, and it was not long before he was again in dire straits. + +Cyril had from the first but little hope that his father would +recover his estates. He had, shortly before his father left France, +heard a conversation between Sir John Parton and a gentleman who was +in the inner circle of Charles's advisers. The latter had said,-- + +"One of the King's great difficulties will be to satisfy the exiles. +Undoubtedly, could he consult his own inclinations only, he would on +his return at once reinstate all those who have suffered in their +estates from their loyalty to his father and himself. But this will +be impossible. It was absolutely necessary for him, in his +proclamation at Breda, to promise an amnesty for all offences, +liberty of conscience and an oblivion as to the past, and he +specially says that all questions of grants, sales and purchases of +land, and titles, shall be referred to Parliament. The Nonconformists +are at present in a majority, and although it seems that all parties +are willing to welcome the King back, you may be sure that no +Parliament will consent to anything like a general disturbance of the +possessors of estates formerly owned by Royalists. In a vast number +of cases, the persons to whom such grants were made disposed of them +by sale to others, and it would be as hard on them to be ousted as it +is upon the original proprietors to be kept out of their possession. +Truly it is a most difficult position, and one that will have to be +approached with great judgment, the more so since most of those to +whom the lands were granted were generals, officers, and soldiers of +the Parliament, and Monk would naturally oppose any steps to the +detriment of his old comrades. + +"I fear there will be much bitter disappointment among the exiles, +and that the King will be charged with ingratitude by those who think +that he has only to sign an order for their reinstatement, whereas +Charles will have himself a most difficult course to steer, and will +have to govern himself most circumspectly, so as to give offence to +none of the governing parties. As to his granting estates, or +dispossessing their holders, he will have no more power to do so than +you or I. Doubtless some of the exiles will be restored to their +estates; but I fear that the great bulk are doomed to disappointment. +At any rate, for a time no extensive changes can be made, though it +may be that in the distance, when the temper of the nation at large +is better understood, the King will be able to do something for those +who suffered in the cause. + +"It was all very well for Cromwell, who leant solely on the Army, to +dispense with a Parliament, and to govern far more autocratically +than James or Charles even dreamt of doing; but the Army that +supported Cromwell would certainly not support Charles. It is +composed for the most part of stern fanatics, and will be the first +to oppose any attempt of the King to override the law. No doubt it +will erelong be disbanded; but you will see that Parliament will then +recover the authority of which Cromwell deprived it; and Charles is a +far wiser man than his father, and will never set himself against the +feeling of the country. Certainly, anything like a general +reinstatement of the men who have been for the last ten years +haunting the taverns of the Continent is out of the question; they +would speedily create such a revulsion of public opinion as might +bring about another rebellion. Hyde, staunch Royalist as he is, would +never suffer the King to make so grievous an error; nor do I think +for a moment that Charles, who is shrewd and politic, and above all +things a lover of ease and quiet, would think of bringing such a nest +of hornets about his ears." + +When, after his return to England, it became evident that Sir Aubrey +had but small chance of reinstatement in his lands, his former +friends began to close their purses and to refuse to grant further +loans, and he was presently reduced to straits as severe as those he +had suffered during his exile. The good spirits that had borne him up +so long failed now, and he grew morose and petulant. His loyalty to +the King was unshaken; Charles had several times granted him +audiences, and had assured him that, did it rest with him, justice +should be at once dealt to him, but that he was practically powerless +in the matter, and the knight's resentment was concentrated upon +Hyde, now Lord Clarendon, and the rest of the King's advisers. He +wrote but seldom to Cyril; he had no wish to have the boy with him +until he could take him down with him in triumph to Norfolk, and show +him to the tenants as his heir. Living from hand to mouth as he did, +he worried but little as to how Cyril was getting on. + +"The lad has fallen on his feet somehow," he said, "and he is better +where he is than he would be with me. I suppose when he wants money +he will write and say so, though where I should get any to send to +him I know not. Anyhow, I need not worry about him at present." + +Cyril, indeed, had written to him soon after the sale of the +necklace, telling him that he need not distress himself about his +condition, for that he had obtained sufficient money for his present +necessities from the sale of a small trinket his mother had given him +before her death, and that when this was spent he should doubtless +find some means of earning his living until he could rejoin him. His +father never inquired into the matter, though he made a casual +reference to it in his next letter, saying that he was glad Cyril had +obtained some money, as it would, at the moment, have been +inconvenient to him to send any over. + +Cyril worked assiduously at the school that had been recommended to +him by the Cure, and at the end of two years he had still twenty +louis left. He had several conversations with his adviser as to the +best way of earning his living. + +"I do not wish to spend any more, Father," he said, "and would fain +keep this for some future necessity." + +The Cure agreed with him as to this, and, learning from his master +that he was extremely quick at figures and wrote an excellent hand, +he obtained a place for him with one of the principal traders of the +town. He was to receive no salary for a year, but was to learn +book-keeping and accounts. Although but fourteen, the boy was so +intelligent and zealous that his employer told the Cure that he found +him of real service, and that he was able to entrust some of his +books entirely to his charge. + +Six months after entering his service, however, Cyril received a +letter from his father, saying that he believed his affairs were on +the point of settlement, and therefore wished him to come over in the +first ship sailing. He enclosed an order on a house at Dunkirk for +fifty francs, to pay his passage. His employer parted with him with +regret, and the kind Cure bade him farewell in terms of real +affection, for he had come to take a great interest in him. + +"At any rate, Cyril," he said, "your time here has not been wasted, +and your mother's gift has been turned to as much advantage as even +she can have hoped that it would be. Should your father's hopes be +again disappointed, and fresh delays arise, you may, with the +practice you have had, be able to earn your living in London. There +must be there, as in France, many persons in trade who have had but +little education, and you may be able to obtain employment in keeping +the books of such people, who are, I believe, more common in England +than here. Here are the sixteen louis that still remain; put them +aside, Cyril, and use them only for urgent necessity." + +Cyril, on arriving in London, was heartily welcomed by his father, +who had, for the moment, high hopes of recovering his estates. These, +however, soon faded, and although Sir Aubrey would not allow it, even +to himself, no chance remained of those Royalists, who had, like him, +parted with their estates for trifling sums, to be spent in the +King's service, ever regaining possession of them. + +It was not long before Cyril perceived that unless he himself +obtained work of some sort they would soon be face to face with +actual starvation. He said nothing to his father, but started out one +morning on a round of visits among the smaller class of shopkeepers, +offering to make up their books and write out their bills and +accounts for a small remuneration. As he had a frank and pleasant +face, and his foreign bringing up had given him an ease and +politeness of manner rare among English lads of the day, it was not +long before he obtained several clients. To some of the smaller class +of traders he went only for an hour or two, once a week, while others +required their bills and accounts to be made out daily. The pay was +very small, but it sufficed to keep absolute want from the door. When +he told his father of the arrangements he had made, Sir Aubrey at +first raged and stormed; but he had come, during the last year or +two, to recognise the good sense and strong will of his son, and +although he never verbally acquiesced in what he considered a +degradation, he offered no actual opposition to a plan that at least +enabled them to live, and furnished him occasionally with a few +groats with which he could visit a tavern. + +So things had gone on for more than a year. Cyril was now sixteen, +and his punctuality, and the neatness of his work, had been so +appreciated by the tradesmen who first employed him, that his time +was now fully occupied, and that at rates more remunerative than +those he had at first obtained. He kept the state of his resources to +himself, and had no difficulty in doing this, as his father never +alluded to the subject of his work. Cyril knew that, did he hand over +to him all the money he made, it would be wasted in drink or at +cards; consequently, he kept the table furnished as modestly as at +first, and regularly placed after dinner on the corner of the mantel +a few coins, which his father as regularly dropped into his pocket. + +A few days before the story opens, Sir Aubrey had, late one evening, +been carried upstairs, mortally wounded in a brawl; he only recovered +consciousness a few minutes before his death. + +"You have been a good lad, Cyril," he said faintly, as he feebly +pressed the boy's hand; "far better than I deserve to have had. Don't +cry, lad; you will get on better without me, and things are just as +well as they are. I hope you will come to your estates some day; you +will make a better master than I should ever have done. I hope that +in time you will carry out your plan of entering some foreign +service; there is no chance here. I don't want you to settle down as +a city scrivener. Still, do as you like, lad, and unless your wishes +go with mine, think no further of service." + +"I would rather be a soldier, father. I only undertook this work +because I could see nothing else." + +"That is right, my boy, that is right. I know you won't forget that +you come of a race of gentlemen." + +He spoke but little after that. A few broken words came from his lips +that showed that his thoughts had gone back to old times. "Boot and +saddle," he murmured. "That is right. Now we are ready for them. Down +with the prick-eared knaves! God and King Charles!" These were the +last words he spoke. + +Cyril had done all that was necessary. He had laid by more than half +his earnings for the last eight or nine months. One of his clients, +an undertaker, had made all the necessary preparations for the +funeral, and in a few hours his father would be borne to his last +resting-place. As he stood at the open window he thought sadly over +the past, and of his father's wasted life. Had it not been for the +war he might have lived and died a country gentleman. It was the war, +with its wild excitements, that had ruined him. What was there for +him to do in a foreign country, without resource or employment, +having no love for reading, but to waste his life as he had done? Had +his wife lived it might have been different. Cyril had still a vivid +remembrance of his mother, and, though his father had but seldom +spoken to him of her, he knew that he had loved her, and that, had +she lived, he would never have given way to drink as he had done of +late years. + +To his father's faults he could not be blind; but they stood for +nothing now. He had been his only friend, and of late they had been +drawn closer to each other in their loneliness; and although scarce a +word of endearment had passed between them, he knew that his father +had cared for him more than was apparent in his manner. + +A few hours later, Sir Aubrey Shenstone was laid to rest in a little +graveyard outside the city walls. Cyril was the only mourner; and +when it was over, instead of going back to his lonely room, he turned +away and wandered far out through the fields towards Hampstead, and +then sat himself down to think what he had best do. Another three or +four years must pass before he could try to get service abroad. When +the time came he should find Sir John Parton, and beg him to procure +for him some letter of introduction to the many British gentlemen +serving abroad. He had not seen him since he came to England. His +father had met him, but had quarrelled with him upon Sir John +declining to interest himself actively to push his claims, and had +forbidden Cyril to go near those who had been so kind to him. + +The boy had felt it greatly at first, but he came, after a time, to +see that it was best so. It seemed to him that he had fallen +altogether out of their station in life when the hope of his father's +recovering his estates vanished, and although he was sure of a kindly +reception from Lady Parton, he shrank from going there in his present +position. They had done so much for him already, that the thought +that his visit might seem to them a sort of petition for further +benefits was intolerable to him. + +For the present, the question in his mind was whether he should +continue at his present work, which at any rate sufficed to keep him, +or should seek other employment. He would greatly have preferred some +life of action,--something that would fit him better to bear the +fatigues and hardships of war,--but he saw no prospect of obtaining +any such position. + +"I should be a fool to throw up what I have," he said to himself at +last. "I will stick to it anyhow until some opportunity offers; but +the sooner I leave it the better. It was bad enough before; it will +be worse now. If I had but a friend or two it would not be so hard; +but to have no one to speak to, and no one to think about, when work +is done, will be lonely indeed." + +At any rate, he determined to change his room as soon as possible. It +mattered little where he went so that it was a change. He thought +over various tradesmen for whom he worked. Some of them might have an +attic, he cared not how small, that they might let him have in lieu +of paying him for his work. Even if they never spoke to him, it would +be better to be in a house where he knew something of those +downstairs, than to lodge in one where he was an utter stranger to +all. He had gone round to the shops where he worked, on the day after +his father's death, to explain that he could not come again until +after the funeral, and he resolved that next morning he would ask +each in turn whether he could obtain a lodging with them. + +The sun was already setting when he rose from the bank on which he +had seated himself, and returned to the city. The room did not feel +so lonely to him as it would have done had he not been accustomed to +spending the evenings alone. He took out his little hoard and counted +it. After paying the expenses of the funeral there would still remain +sufficient to keep him for three or four months should he fall ill, +or, from any cause, lose his work. He had one good suit of clothes +that had been bought on his return to England,--when his father +thought that they would assuredly be going down almost immediately to +take possession of the old Hall,--and the rest were all in fair +condition. + +The next day he began his work again; he had two visits to pay of an +hour each, and one of two hours, and the spare time between these he +filled up by calling at two or three other shops to make up for the +arrears of work during the last few days. + +The last place he had to visit was that at which he had the longest +task to perform. It was at a ship-chandler's in Tower Street, a large +and dingy house, the lower portion being filled with canvas, cordage, +barrels of pitch and tar, candles, oil, and matters of all sorts +needed by ship-masters, including many cannon of different sizes, +piles of balls, anchors, and other heavy work, all of which were +stowed away in a yard behind it. The owner of this store was a +one-armed man. His father had kept it before him, but he himself, +after working there long enough to become a citizen and a member of +the Ironmongers' Guild, had quarrelled with his father and had taken +to the sea. For twenty years he had voyaged to many lands, +principally in ships trading in the Levant, and had passed through a +great many adventures, including several fights with the Moorish +corsairs. In the last voyage he took, he had had his arm shot off by +a ball from a Greek pirate among the Islands. He had long before made +up his differences with his father, but had resisted the latter's +entreaties that he should give up the sea and settle down at the +shop; on his return after this unfortunate voyage he told him that he +had come home to stay. + +"I shall be able to help about the stores after a while," he said, +"but I shall never be the man I was on board ship. It will be hard +work to take to measuring out canvas and to weighing iron, after a +free life on the sea, but I don't so much mind now I have had my +share of adventures; though I dare say I should have gone on for a +few more years if that rascally ball had not carried away my arm. I +don't know but that it is best as it is, for the older I got the +harder I should find it to fall into new ways and to settle down +here." + +"Anyhow, I am glad you are back, David," his father said. + +"You are forty-five, and though I don't say it would not have been +better if you had remained here from the first, you have learnt many +things you would not have learnt here. You know just the sort of +things that masters of ships require, and what canvas and cables and +cordage will suit their wants. Besides, customers like to talk with +men of their own way of thinking, and sailors more, I think, than +other men. You know, too, most of the captains who sail up the +Mediterranean, and may be able to bring fresh custom into the shop. +Therefore, do not think that you will be of no use to me. As to your +wife and child, there is plenty of room for them as well as for you, +and it will be better for them here, with you always at hand, than it +would be for them to remain over at Rotherhithe and only to see you +after the shutters are up." + +Eight years later Captain Dave, as he was always called, became sole +owner of the house and business. A year after he did so he was +lamenting to a friend the trouble that he had with his accounts. + +"My father always kept that part of the business in his own hands," +he said, "and I find it a mighty heavy burden. Beyond checking a bill +of lading, or reading the marks on the bales and boxes, I never had +occasion to read or write for twenty years, and there has not been +much more of it for the last fifteen; and although I was a smart +scholar enough in my young days, my fingers are stiff with hauling at +ropes and using the marling-spike, and my eyes are not so clear as +they used to be, and it is no slight toil and labour to me to make up +an account for goods sold. John Wilkes, my head shopman, is a handy +fellow; he was my boatswain in the _Kate_, and I took him on when we +found that the man who had been my father's right hand for twenty +years had been cheating him all along. We got on well enough as long +as I could give all my time in the shop; but he is no good with the +pen--all he can do is to enter receipts and sales. + +"He has a man under him, who helps him in measuring out the right +length of canvas and cables or for weighing a chain or an anchor, and +knows enough to put down the figures; but that is all. Then there are +the two smiths and the two apprentices; they don't count in the +matter. Robert Ashford, the eldest apprentice, could do the work, but +I have no fancy for him; he does not look one straight in the face as +one who is honest and above board should do. I shall have to keep a +clerk, and I know what it will be--he will be setting me right, and I +shall not feel my own master; he will be out of place in my crew +altogether. I never liked pursers; most of them are rogues. Still, I +suppose it must come to that." + +"I have a boy come in to write my bills and to make up my accounts, +who would be just the lad for you, Captain Dave. He is the son of a +broken-down Cavalier, but he is a steady, honest young fellow, and I +fancy his pen keeps his father, who is a roystering blade, and spends +most of his time at the taverns. The boy comes to me for an hour, +twice a week; he writes as good a hand as any clerk and can reckon as +quickly, and I pay him but a groat a week, which was all he asked." + +"Tell him to come to me, then. I should want him every day, if he +could manage it, and it would be the very thing for me." + +"I am sure you would like him," the other said; "he is a good-looking +young fellow, and his face speaks for him without any recommendation. +I was afraid at first that he would not do for me; I thought there +was too much of the gentleman about him. He has good manners, and a +gentle sort of way. He has been living in France all his life, and +though he has never said anything about his family--indeed he talks +but little, he just comes in and does his work and goes away--I fancy +his father was one of King Charles's men and of good blood." + +"Well, that doesn't sound so well," the sailor said, "but anyhow I +should like to have a look at him." + +"He comes to me to-morrow at eleven and goes at twelve," the man +said, "and I will send him round to you when he has done." + +Cyril had gone round the next morning to the ships' store. + +"So you are the lad that works for my neighbour Anderson?" Captain +Dave said, as he surveyed him closely. "I like your looks, lad, but I +doubt whether we shall get on together. I am an old sailor, you know, +and I am quick of speech and don't stop to choose my words, so if you +are quick to take offence it would be of no use your coming to me." + +"I don't think I am likely to take offence," Cyril said quietly; "and +if we don't get on well together, sir, you will only have to tell me +that you don't want me any longer; but I trust you will not have +often the occasion to use hard words, for at any rate I will do my +best to please you." + +"You can't say more, lad. Well, let us have a taste of your quality. +Come in here," and he led him into a little room partitioned off from +the shop. "There, you see," and he opened a book, "is the account of +the sales and orders yesterday; the ready-money sales have got to be +entered in that ledger with the red cover; the sales where no money +passed have to be entered to the various customers or ships in the +ledger. I have made out a list--here it is--of twelve accounts that +have to be drawn out from that ledger and sent in to customers. You +will find some of them are of somewhat long standing, for I have been +putting off that job. Sit you down here. When you have done one or +two of them I will have a look at your work, and if that is +satisfactory we will have a talk as to what hours you have got +disengaged, and what days in the week will suit you best." + +It was two hours before Captain Dave came in again. Cyril had just +finished the work; some of the accounts were long ones, and the +writing was so crabbed that it took him some time to decipher it. + +"Well, how are you getting on, lad?" the Captain asked. + +"I have this moment finished the last account." + +"What! Do you mean to say that you have done them all! Why, it would +have taken me all my evenings for a week. Now, hand me the books; it +is best to do things ship-shape." + +He first compared the list of the sales with the entries, and then +Cyril handed him the twelve accounts he had drawn up. Captain David +did not speak until he had finished looking through them. + +"I would not have believed all that work could have been done in two +hours," he said, getting up from his chair. "Orderly and well +written, and without a blot. The King's secretary could not have done +better! Well, now you have seen the list of sales for a day, and I +take it that be about the average, so if you come three times a week +you will always have two days' sales to enter in the ledger. There +are a lot of other books my father used to keep, but I have never had +time to bother myself about them, and as I have got on very well so +far, I do not see any occasion for you to do so, for my part it seems +to me that all these books are only invented by clerks to give +themselves something to do to fill up their time. Of course, there +won't be accounts to send out every day. Do you think with two hours, +three times a week, you could keep things straight?" + +"I should certainly think so, sir, but I can hardly say until I try, +because it seems to me that there must be a great many items, and I +can't say how long it will take entering all the goods received under +their proper headings; but if the books are thoroughly made up now, I +should think I could keep them all going." + +"That they are not," Captain David said ruefully; "they are all +horribly in arrears. I took charge of them myself three years ago, +and though I spend three hours every evening worrying over them, they +get further and further in arrears. Look at those files over there," +and he pointed to three long wires, on each of which was strung a +large bundle of papers; "I am afraid you will have to enter them all +up before you can get matters into ship-shape order. The daily sale +book is the only one that has been kept up regularly." + +"But these accounts I have made up, sir? Probably in those files +there are many other goods supplied to the same people." + +"Of course there are, lad, though I did not think of it before. Well, +we must wait, then, until you can make up the arrears a bit, though I +really want to get some money in." + +"Well, sir, I might write at the bottom of each bill 'Account made up +to,' and then put in the date of the latest entry charged." + +"That would do capitally, lad--I did not think of that. I see you +will be of great use to me. I can buy and sell, for I know the value +of the goods I deal in; but as to accounts, they are altogether out +of my way. And now, lad, what do you charge?" + +"I charge a groat for two hours' work, sir; but if I came to you +three times a week, I would do it for a little less." + +"No, lad, I don't want to beat you down; indeed, I don't think you +charge enough. However, let us say, to begin with, three groats a +week." + +This had been six weeks before Sir Aubrey Shenstone's death; and in +the interval Cyril had gradually wiped off all the arrears, and had +all the books in order up to date, to the astonishment of his +employer. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER + + +"I am glad to see you again, lad," Captain David said, when Cyril +entered his shop. "I have been thinking of the news you gave me last +week, and the mistress and I have been talking it over. Where are you +lodging?" + +"I have been lodging until now in Holborn," Cyril replied; "but I am +going to move." + +"Yes; that is what we thought you would be doing. It is always better +to make a change after a loss. I don't want to interfere in your +business, lad, but have you any friends you are thinking of going +to?" + +"No, sir; I do not know a soul in London save those I work for." + +"That is bad, lad--very bad. I was talking it over with my wife, and +I said that maybe you were lonely. I am sure, lad, you are one of the +right sort. I don't mean only in your work, for as for that I would +back you against any scrivener in London, but I mean about yourself. +It don't need half an eye to see that you have not been brought up to +this sort of thing, though you have taken to it so kindly, but there +is not one in a thousand boys of your age who would have settled down +to work and made their way without a friend to help them as you have +done; it shows that there is right good stuff in you. There, I am so +long getting under weigh that I shall never get into port if I don't +steer a straight course. Now, my ideas and my wife's come to this: if +you have got no friends you will have to take a lodging somewhere +among strangers, and then it would be one of two things--you would +either stop at home and mope by yourself, or you would go out, and +maybe get into bad company. If I had not come across you I should +have had to employ a clerk, and he would either have lived here with +us or I should have had to pay him enough to keep house for himself. +Now in fact you are a clerk; for though you are only here for six +hours a week--you do all the work there is to do, and no clerk could +do more. Well, we have got an attic upstairs which is not used, and +if you like to come here and live with us, my wife and I will make +you heartily welcome." + +"Thank you, indeed," Cyril said warmly. "It is of all things what I +should like; but of course I should wish to pay you for my board. I +can afford to do so if you will employ me for the same hours as at +present." + +"No, I would not have that, lad; but if you like we can reckon your +board against what I now pay you. We feed John Wilkes and the two +apprentices, and one mouth extra will make but little difference. I +don't want it to be a matter of obligation, so we will put your board +against the work you do for me. I shall consider that we are making a +good bargain." + +"It is your pleasure to say so, sir, but I cannot tell you what a +load your kind offer takes off my mind. The future has seemed very +dark to me." + +"Very well. That matter is settled, then. Come upstairs with me and I +will present you to my wife and daughter; they have heard me speak of +you so often that they will be glad to see you. In the first place, +though, I must ask you your name. Since you first signed articles and +entered the crew I have never thought of asking you." + +"My name is Cyril, sir--Cyril Shenstone." + +His employer nodded and at once led the way upstairs. A motherly +looking woman rose from the seat where she was sitting at work, as +they entered the living-room. + +"This is my Prince of Scriveners, Mary, the lad I have often spoken +to you about. His name is Cyril; he has accepted the proposal we +talked over last night, and is going to become one of the crew on +board our ship." + +"I am glad to see you," she said to Cyril, holding out her hand to +him. "I have not met you before, but I feel very grateful to you. +Till you came, my husband was bothered nearly out of his wits; he +used to sit here worrying over his books, and writing from the time +the shop closed till the hour for bed, and Nellie and I dared not to +say as much as a word. Now we see no more of his books, and he is +able to go out for a walk in the fields with us as he used to do +before." + +"It is very kind of you to say so, Mistress," Cyril said earnestly; +"but it is I, on the contrary, who am deeply grateful to you for the +offer Captain Dave has been good enough to make me. You cannot tell +the pleasure it has given me, for you cannot understand how lonely +and friendless I have been feeling. Believe me, I will strive to give +you as little trouble as possible, and to conform myself in all ways +to your wishes." + +At this moment Nellie Dowsett came into the room. She was a pretty +girl some eighteen years of age. + +"This is Cyril, your father's assistant, Nellie," her mother said. + +"You are welcome, Master Cyril. I have been wanting to see you. +Father has been praising you up to the skies so often that I have had +quite a curiosity to see what you could be like." + +"Your father is altogether too good, Mistress Nellie, and makes far +more of my poor ability than it deserves." + +"And is he going to live with us, mother?" Nellie asked. + +"Yes, child; he has accepted your father's offer." + +Nellie clapped her hands. + +"That is good," she said. "I shall expect you to escort me out +sometimes, Cyril. Father always wants me to go down to the wharf to +look at the ships or to go into the fields; but I want to go +sometimes to see the fashions, and there is no one to take me, for +John Wilkes always goes off to smoke a pipe with some sailor or +other, and the apprentices are stupid and have nothing to say for +themselves; and besides, one can't walk alongside a boy in an +apprentice cap." + +"I shall be very happy to, Mistress, when my work is done, though I +fear that I shall make but a poor escort, for indeed I have had no +practice whatever in the esquiring of dames." + +"I am sure you will do very well," Nellie said, nodding approvingly. +"Is it true that you have been in France? Father said he was told +so." + +"Yes; I have lived almost all my life in France." + +"And do you speak French?" + +"Yes; I speak it as well as English." + +"It must have been very hard to learn?" + +"Not at all. It came to me naturally, just as English did." + +"You must not keep him any longer now, Nellie; he has other +appointments to keep, and when he has done that, to go and pack up +his things and see that they are brought here by a porter. He can +answer some more of your questions when he comes here this evening." + +Cyril returned to Holborn with a lighter heart than he had felt for a +long time. His preparations for the move took him but a short time, +and two hours later he was installed in a little attic in the +ship-chandler's house. He spent half-an-hour in unpacking his things, +and then heard a stentorian shout from below,-- + +"Masthead, ahoy! Supper's waiting." + +Supposing that this hail was intended for himself, he at once went +downstairs. The table was laid. Mistress Dowsett took her seat at the +head; her husband sat on one side of her, and Nellie on the other. +John Wilkes sat next to his master, and beyond him the elder of the +two apprentices. A seat was left between Nellie and the other +apprentice for Cyril. + +"Now our crew is complete, John," Captain Dave said. "We have been +wanting a supercargo badly." + +"Ay, ay, Captain Dave, there is no doubt we have been short-handed in +that respect; but things have been more ship-shape lately." + +"That is so, John. I can make a shift to keep the vessel on her +course, but when it comes to writing up the log, and keeping the +reckoning, I make but a poor hand at it. It was getting to be as bad +as that voyage of the _Jane_ in the Levant, when the supercargo had +got himself stabbed at Lemnos." + +"I mind it, Captain--I mind it well. And what a trouble there was +with the owners when we got back again!" + +"Yes, yes," the Captain said; "it was worse work than having a brush +with a Barbary corsair. I shall never forget that day. When I went to +the office to report, the three owners were all in. + +"'Well, Captain Dave, back from your voyage?' said the littlest of +the three. 'Made a good voyage, I hope?' + +"First-rate, says I, except that the supercargo got killed at Lemnos +by one of them rascally Greeks. + +"'Dear, dear,' said another of them--he was a prim, sanctimonious +sort--'Has our brother Jenkins left us?' + +"I don't know about his leaving us, says I, but we left him sure +enough in a burying-place there. + +"'And how did you manage without him?' + +"I made as good a shift as I could, I said. I have sold all the +cargo, and I have brought back a freight of six tons of Turkey figs, +and four hundred boxes of currants. And these two bags hold the +difference. + +"'Have you brought the books with you, Captain?' + +"Never a book, said I. I have had to navigate the ship and to look +after the crew, and do the best I could at each port. The books are +on board, made out up to the day before the supercargo was killed, +three months ago; but I have never had time to make an entry since. + +"They looked at each other like owls for a minute or two, and then +they all began to talk at once. How had I sold the goods? had I +charged the prices mentioned in the invoice? what percentage had I +put on for profit? and a lot of other things. I waited until they +were all out of breath, and then I said I had not bothered about +invoices. I knew pretty well the prices such things cost in England. +I clapped on so much more for the expenses of the voyage and a fair +profit. I could tell them what I had paid for the figs and the +currants, and for some bags of Smyrna sponges I had bought, but as to +the prices I had charged, it was too much to expect that I could +carry them in my head. All I knew was I had paid for the things I had +bought, I had paid all the port dues and other charges, I had +advanced the men one-fourth of their wages each month, and I had +brought them back the balance. + +"Such a hubbub you never heard. One would have thought they would +have gone raving mad. The sanctimonious partner was the worst of the +lot. He threatened me with the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen, and went +on till I thought he would have had a fit. + +"Look here, says I, at last, I'll tell you what I will do. You tell +me what the cargo cost you altogether, and put on so much for the +hire of the ship. I will pay you for them and settle up with the +crew, and take the cargo and sell it. That is a fair offer. And I +advise you to keep civil tongues in your heads, or I will knock them +off and take my chance before the Lord Mayor for assault and battery. + +"With that I took off my coat and laid it on a bench. I reckon they +saw that I was in earnest, and they just sat as mum as mice. Then the +little man said, in a quieter sort of voice,-- + +"'You are too hasty, Captain Dowsett. We know you to be an honest man +and a good sailor, and had no suspicion that you would wrong us; but +no merchant in the City of London could hear that his business had +been conducted in such a way as you have carried it through without +for a time losing countenance. Let us talk the matter over reasonably +and quietly.' + +"That is just what I am wanting, I said; and if there hasn't been +reason and quiet it is from no fault of mine. + +"'Well, please to put your coat on again, Captain, and let us see how +matters stand!' + +"Then they took their ink-horns and pens, and, on finding out what I +had paid for the figs and other matters, they reckoned them up; then +they put down what I said was due to the sailors and the mate and +myself; then they got out some books, and for an hour they were busy +reckoning up figures; then they opened the bags and counted up the +gold we had brought home. Well, when they had done, you would hardly +have known them for the same men. First of all, they went through all +their calculations again to be sure they had made no mistake about +them; then they laid down their pens, and the sanctimonious man +mopped the perspiration from his face, and the others smiled at each +other. Then the biggest of the three, who had scarcely spoken before, +said,-- + +"'Well, Captain Dowsett, I must own that my partners were a little +hasty. The result of our calculations is that the voyage has been a +satisfactory one, I may almost say very satisfactory, and that you +must have disposed of the goods to much advantage. It has been a new +and somewhat extraordinary way of doing business, but I am bound to +say that the result has exceeded our expectations, and we trust that +you will command the _Jane_ for many more voyages.' + +"Not for me, says I. You can hand me over the wages due to me, and +you will find the _Jane_ moored in the stream just above the Tower. +You will find her in order and shipshape; but never again do I set my +foot on board her or on any other vessel belonging to men who have +doubted my honesty. + +"Nor did I. I had a pretty good name among traders, and ten days +later I started for the Levant again in command of a far smarter +vessel than the _Jane_ had ever been." + +"And we all went with you, Captain," John Wilkes said, "every man +jack of us. And on her very next voyage the _Jane_ was captured by +the Algerines, and I reckon there are some of the poor fellows +working as slaves there now; for though Blake did blow the place +pretty nigh out of water a few years afterwards, it is certain that +the Christian slaves handed over to him were not half those the Moors +had in their hands." + +"It would seem, Captain Dowsett, from your story, that you can manage +very well without a supercargo?" Cyril said quietly. + +"Ay, lad; but you see that was a ready-money business. I handed over +the goods and took the cash; there was no accounts to be kept. It was +all clear and above board. But it is a different thing in this ship +altogether, when, instead of paying down on the nail for what they +get, you have got to keep an account of everything and send in all +their items jotted down in order. Why, Nellie, your tongue seems +quieter than usual." + +"You have not given me a chance, father. You have been talking ever +since we sat down to table." + +Supper was now over. The two apprentices at once retired. Cyril would +have done the same, but Mistress Dowsett said,-- + +"Sit you still, Cyril. The Captain says that you are to be considered +as one of the officers of the ship, and we shall be always glad to +have you here, though of course you can always go up to your own +room, or go out, when you feel inclined." + +"I have to go out three times a week to work," Cyril said; "but all +the other evenings I shall be glad indeed to sit here, Mistress +Dowsett. You cannot tell what a pleasure it is to me to be in an +English home like this." + +It was not long before John Wilkes went out. + +"He is off to smoke his pipe," the Captain said. "I never light mine +till he goes. I can't persuade him to take his with me; he insists it +would not be manners to smoke in the cabin." + +"He is quite right, father," Nellie said. "It is bad enough having +you smoke here. When mother's friends or mine come in they are +well-nigh choked; they are not accustomed to it as we are, for a +respectable London citizen does not think of taking tobacco." + +"I am a London citizen, Nellie, but I don't set up any special claim +to respectability. I am a sea-captain, though that rascally Greek +cannon-ball and other circumstances have made a trader of me, sorely +against my will; and if I could not have my pipe and my glass of grog +here I would go and sit with John Wilkes in the tavern at the corner +of the street, and I suppose that would not be even as respectable as +smoking here." + +"Nellie doesn't mean, David, that she wants you to give up smoking; +only she thinks that John is quite right to go out to take his pipe. +And I must say I think so too. You know that when you have +sea-captains of your acquaintance here, you always send the maid off +to bed and smoke in the kitchen." + +"Ay, ay, my dear, I don't want to turn your room into a fo'castle. +There is reason in all things. I suppose you don't smoke, Master +Cyril?" + +"No, Captain Dave, I have never so much as thought of such a thing. +In France it is the fashion to take snuff, but the habit seemed to me +a useless one, and I don't think that I should ever have taken to +it." + +"I wonder," Captain Dave said, after they had talked for some time, +"that after living in sight of the sea for so long your thoughts +never turned that way." + +"I cannot say that I have never thought of it," Cyril said. "I have +thought that I should greatly like to take foreign voyages, but I +should not have cared to go as a ship's boy, and to live with men so +ignorant that they could not even write their own names. My thoughts +have turned rather to the Army; and when I get older I think of +entering some foreign service, either that of Sweden or of one of the +Protestant German princes. I could obtain introductions through which +I might enter as a cadet, or gentleman volunteer. I have learnt +German, and though I cannot speak it as I can French or English, I +know enough to make my way in it." + +"Can you use your sword, Cyril?" Nellie Dowsett asked. + +"I have had very good teaching," Cyril replied, "and hope to be able +to hold my own." + +"Then you are not satisfied with this mode of life?" Mistress Dowsett +said. + +"I am satisfied with it, Mistress, inasmuch as I can earn money +sufficient to keep me. But rather than settle down for life as a city +scrivener, I would go down to the river and ship on board the first +vessel that would take me, no matter where she sailed for." + +"I think you are wrong," Mistress Dowsett said gravely. "My husband +tells me how clever you are at figures, and you might some day get a +good post in the house of one of our great merchants." + +"Maybe it would be so," Cyril said; "but such a life would ill suit +me. I have truly a great desire to earn money: but it must be in some +way to suit my taste." + +"And why do you want to earn a great deal of money, Cyril?" Nellie +laughed, while her mother shook her head disapprovingly. + +"I wish to have enough to buy my father's estate back again," he +said, "and though I know well enough that it is not likely I shall +ever do it, I shall fight none the worse that I have such a hope in +my mind." + +"Bravo, lad!" Captain Dave said. "I knew not that there was an estate +in the case, though I did hear that you were the son of a Royalist. +It is a worthy ambition, boy, though if it is a large one 'tis scarce +like that you will get enough to buy it back again." + +"It is not a very large one," Cyril said. "'Tis down in Norfolk, but +it was a grand old house--at least, so I have heard my father say, +though I have but little remembrance of it, as I was but three years +old when I left it. My father, who was Sir Aubrey Shenstone, had +hoped to recover it; but he was one of the many who sold their +estates for far less than their value in order to raise money in the +King's service, and, as you are aware, none of those who did so have +been reinstated, but only those who, having had their land taken from +them by Parliament, recovered them because their owners had no +title-deeds to show, save the grant of Parliament that was of no +effect in the Courts. Thus the most loyal men--those who sold their +estates to aid the King--have lost all, while those that did not so +dispossess themselves in his service are now replaced on their land." + +"It seems very unfair," Nellie said indignantly. + +"It is unfair to them, assuredly, Mistress Nellie. And yet it would +be unfair to the men who bought, though often they gave but a tenth +of their value, to be turned out again unless they received their +money back. It is not easy to see where that money could come from, +for assuredly the King's privy purse would not suffice to pay all the +money, and equally certain is it that Parliament would not vote a +great sum for that purpose." + +"It is a hard case, lad--a hard case," Captain Dave said, as he +puffed the smoke from his pipe. "Now I know how you stand, I blame, +you in no way that you long more for a life of adventure than to +settle down as a city scrivener. I don't think even my wife, much as +she thinks of the city, could say otherwise." + +"It alters the case much," Mistress Dowsett said. "I did not know +that Cyril was the son of a Knight, though it was easy enough to see +that his manners accord not with his present position. Still there +are fortunes made in the city, and no honest work is dishonouring +even to a gentleman's son." + +"Not at all, Mistress," Cyril said warmly. "'Tis assuredly not on +that account that I would fain seek more stirring employment; but it +was always my father's wish and intention that, should there be no +chance of his ever regaining the estate, I should enter foreign +service, and I have always looked forward to that career." + +"Well, I will wager that you will do credit to it, lad," Captain Dave +said. "You have proved that you are ready to turn your hand to any +work that may come to you. You have shown a manly spirit, my boy, and +I honour you for it; and by St. Anthony I believe that some day, +unless a musket-ball or a pike-thrust brings you up with a round +turn, you will live to get your own back again." + +Cyril remained talking for another two hours, and then betook himself +to bed. After he had gone, Mistress Dowsett said, after a pause,-- + +"Do you not think, David, that, seeing that Cyril is the son of a +Knight, it would be more becoming to give him the room downstairs +instead of the attic where he is now lodged?" + +The old sailor laughed. + +"That is woman-kind all over," he said. "It was good enough for him +before, and now forsooth, because the lad mentioned, and assuredly in +no boasting way, that his father had been a Knight, he is to be +treated differently. He would not thank you himself for making the +change, dame. In the first place, it would make him uncomfortable, +and he might make an excuse to leave us altogether; and in the +second, you may be sure that he has been used to no better quarters +than those he has got. The Royalists in France were put to sore +shifts to live, and I fancy that he has fared no better since he came +home. His father would never have consented to his going out to earn +money by keeping the accounts of little city traders like myself had +it not been that he was driven to it by want. No, no, wife; let the +boy go on as he is, and make no difference in any way. I liked him +before, and I like him all the better now, for putting his +gentlemanship in his pocket and setting manfully to work instead of +hanging on the skirts of some Royalist who has fared better than his +father did. He is grateful as it is--that is easy to see--for our +taking him in here. We did that partly because he proved a good +worker and has taken a lot of care off my shoulders, partly because +he was fatherless and alone. I would not have him think that we are +ready to do more because he is a Knight's son. Let the boy be, and +suffer him to steer his ship his own course. If, when the time comes, +we can further his objects in any way we will do it with right good +will. What do you think of him, Nellie?" he asked, changing the +subject. + +"He is a proper young fellow, father, and I shall be well content to +go abroad escorted by him instead of having your apprentice, Robert +Ashford, in attendance on me. He has not a word to say for himself, +and truly I like him not in anyway." + +"He is not a bad apprentice, Nellie, and John Wilkes has but seldom +cause to find fault with him, though I own that I have no great +liking myself for him; he never seems to look one well in the face, +which, I take it, is always a bad sign. I know no harm of him; but +when his apprenticeship is out, which it will be in another year, I +shall let him go his own way, for I should not care to have him on +the premises." + +"Methinks you are very unjust, David. The lad is quiet and regular in +his ways; he goes twice every Sunday to the Church of St. Alphage, +and always tells me the texts of the sermons." + +The Captain grunted. + +"Maybe so, wife; but it is easy to get hold of the text of a sermon +without having heard it. I have my doubts whether he goes as +regularly to St. Alphage's as he says he does. Why could he not go +with us to St. Bennet's?" + +"He says he likes the administrations of Mr. Catlin better, David. +And, in truth, our parson is not one of the stirring kind." + +"So much the better," Captain Dave said bluntly. "I like not these +men that thump the pulpit and make as if they were about to jump out +head foremost. However, I don't suppose there is much harm in the +lad, and it may be that his failure to look one in the face is not so +much his fault as that of nature, which endowed him with a villainous +squint. Well, let us turn in; it is past nine o'clock, and high time +to be a-bed." + +Cyril seemed to himself to have entered upon a new life when he +stepped across the threshold of David Dowsett's store. All his cares +and anxieties had dropped from him. For the past two years he had +lived the life of an automaton, starting early to his work, returning +in the middle of the day to his dinner,--to which as often as not he +sat down alone,--and spending his evenings in utter loneliness in the +bare garret, where he was generally in bed long before his father +returned. He blamed himself sometimes during the first fortnight of +his stay here for the feeling of light-heartedness that at times came +over him. He had loved his father in spite of his faults, and should, +he told himself, have felt deeply depressed at his loss; but nature +was too strong for him. The pleasant evenings with Captain Dave and +his family were to him delightful; he was like a traveller who, after +a cold and cheerless journey, comes in to the warmth of a fire, and +feels a glow of comfort as the blood circulates briskly through his +veins. Sometimes, when he had no other engagements, he went out with +Nellie Dowsett, whose lively chatter was new and very amusing to him. +Sometimes they went up into Cheapside, and into St. Paul's, but more +often sallied out of the city at Aldgate, and walked into the fields. +On these occasions he carried a stout cane that had been his +father's, for Nellie tried in vain to persuade him to gird on a +sword. + +"You are a gentleman, Cyril," she would argue, "and have a right to +carry one." + +"I am for the present a sober citizen, Mistress Nellie, and do not +wish to assume to be of any other condition. Those one sees with +swords are either gentlemen of the Court, or common bullies, or maybe +highwaymen. After nightfall it is different; for then many citizens +carry their swords, which indeed are necessary to protect them from +the ruffians who, in spite of the city watch, oftentimes attack quiet +passers-by; and if at any time I escort you to the house of one of +your friends, I shall be ready to take my sword with me. But in the +daytime there is no occasion for a weapon, and, moreover, I am full +young to carry one, and this stout cane would, were it necessary, do +me good service, for I learned in France the exercise that they call +the _baton_, which differs little from our English singlestick." + +While Cyril was received almost as a member of the family by Captain +Dave and his wife, and found himself on excellent terms with John +Wilkes, he saw that he was viewed with dislike by the two +apprentices. He was scarcely surprised at this. Before his coming, +Robert Ashford had been in the habit of escorting his young mistress +when she went out, and had no doubt liked these expeditions, as a +change from the measuring out of ropes and weighing of iron in the +store. Then, again, the apprentices did not join in the conversation +at table unless a remark was specially addressed to them; and as +Captain Dave was by no means fond of his elder apprentice, it was but +seldom that he spoke to him. Robert Ashford was between eighteen and +nineteen. He was no taller than Cyril, but it would have been +difficult to judge his age by his face, which had a wizened look; +and, as Nellie said one day, in his absence, he might pass very well +for sixty. + +It was easy enough for Cyril to see that Robert Ashford heartily +disliked him; the covert scowls that he threw across the table at +meal-time, and the way in which he turned his head and feigned to be +too busy to notice him as he passed through the shop, were sufficient +indications of ill-will. The younger apprentice, Tom Frost, was but a +boy of fifteen; he gave Cyril the idea of being a timid lad. He did +not appear to share his comrade's hostility to him, but once or +twice, when Cyril came out from the office after making up the +accounts of the day, he fancied that the boy glanced at him with an +expression of anxiety, if not of terror. + +"If it were not," Cyril said to himself, "that Tom is clearly too +nervous and timid to venture upon an act of dishonesty, I should say +that he had been pilfering something; but I feel sure that he would +not attempt such a thing as that, though I am by no means certain +that Robert Ashford, with his foxy face and cross eyes, would not +steal his master's goods or any one else's did he get the chance. +Unless he were caught in the act, he could do it with impunity, for +everything here is carried on in such a free-and-easy fashion that +any amount of goods might be carried off without their being missed." + +After thinking the matter over, he said, one afternoon when his +employer came in while he was occupied at the accounts,-- + +"I have not seen anything of a stock-book, Captain Dave. Everything +else is now straight, and balanced up to to-day. Here is the book of +goods sold, the book of goods received, and the ledger with the +accounts; but there is no stock-book such as I find in almost all the +other places where I work." + +"What do I want with a stock-book?" Captain Dave asked. + +"You cannot know how you stand without it," Cyril replied. "You know +how much you have paid, and how much you have received during the +year; but unless you have a stock-book you do not know whether the +difference between the receipts and expenditure represents profit, +for the stock may have so fallen in value during the year that you +may really have made a loss while seeming to make a profit." + +"How can that be?" Captain Dave asked. "I get a fair profit on every +article." + +"There ought to be a profit, of course," Cyril said; "but sometimes +it is found not to be so. Moreover, if there is a stock-book you can +tell at any time, without the trouble of opening bins and weighing +metal, how much stock you have of each article you sell, and can +order your goods accordingly." + +"How would you do that?" + +"It is very simple, Captain Dave," Cyril said. "After taking stock of +the whole of the goods, I should have a ledger in which each article +would have a page or more to itself, and every day I should enter +from John Wilkes's sales-book a list of the goods that have gone out, +each under its own heading. Thus, at any moment, if you were to ask +how much chain you had got in stock I could tell you within a fathom. +When did you take stock last?" + +"I should say it was about fifteen months since. It was only +yesterday John Wilkes was saying we had better have a thorough +overhauling." + +"Quite time, too, I should think, Captain Dave. I suppose you have +got the account of your last stock-taking, with the date of it?" + +"Oh, yes, I have got that;" and the Captain unlocked his desk and +took out an account-book. "It has been lying there ever since. It +took a wonderful lot of trouble to do, and I had a clerk and two men +in for a fortnight, for of course John and the boys were attending to +their usual duties. I have often wondered since why I should have had +all that trouble over a matter that has never been of the slightest +use to me." + +"Well, I hope you will take it again, sir; it is a trouble, no doubt, +but you will find it a great advantage." + +"Are you sure you think it needful, Cyril?" + +"Most needful, Captain Dave. You will see the advantage of it +afterwards." + +"Well, if you think so, I suppose it must be done," the Captain said, +with a sigh; "but it will be giving you a lot of trouble to keep this +new book of yours." + +"That is nothing, sir. Now that I have got all the back work up it +will be a simple matter to keep the daily work straight. I shall find +ample time to do it without any need of lengthening my hours." + +Cyril now set to work in earnest, and telling Mrs. Dowsett he had +some books that he wanted to make up in his room before going to bed, +he asked her to allow him to keep his light burning. + +Mrs. Dowsett consented, but shook her head and said he would +assuredly injure his health if he worked by candle light. + +Fortunately, John Wilkes had just opened a fresh sales-book, and +Cyril told him that he wished to refer to some particulars in the +back books. He first opened the ledger by inscribing under their +different heads the amount of each description of goods kept in stock +at the last stock-taking, and then entered under their respective +heads all the sales that had been made, while on an opposite page he +entered the amount purchased. It took him a month's hard work, and he +finished it on the very day that the new stock-taking concluded. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A THIEF SOMEWHERE + + +Two days after the conclusion of the stock-taking, Cyril said, after +breakfast was over,-- + +"Would it trouble you, Captain Dave, to give me an hour up here +before you go downstairs to the counting-house. I am free for two +hours now, and there is a matter upon which I should like to speak to +you privately." + +"Certainly, lad," the old sailor said, somewhat surprised. "We shall +be quiet enough here, as soon as the table is cleared. My dame and +Nellie will be helping the maid do up the cabins, and will then be +sallying out marketing." + +When the maid had cleared the table, Cyril went up to his room and +returned with a large ledger and several smaller books. + +"I have, for the last month, Captain Dave, been making up this +stock-book for my own satisfaction." + +"Bless me, lad, why have you taken all that trouble? This accounts, +then, for your writing so long at night, for which my dame has been +quarrelling with you!" + +"It was interesting work," Cyril said quietly. "Now, you see, sir," +he went on, opening the big ledger, "here are the separate accounts +under each head. These pages, you see, are for heavy cables for +hawsers; of these, at the date of the last stock-taking, there were, +according to the book you handed to me, five hundred fathoms in +stock. These are the amounts you have purchased since. Now, upon the +other side are all the sales of this cable entered in the sales-book. +Adding them together, and deducting them from the other side, you +will see there should remain in stock four hundred and fifty fathoms. +According to the new stock-taking there are four hundred and +thirty-eight. That is, I take it, as near as you could expect to get, +for, in the measuring out of so many thousand fathoms of cable during +the fifteen months between the two stock-takings, there may well have +been a loss of the twelve fathoms in giving good measurement." + +"That is so," Captain Dave said. "I always say to John Wilkes, 'Give +good measurement, John--better a little over than a little under.' +Nothing can be clearer or more satisfactory." + +Cyril closed the book. + +"I am sorry to say, Captain Dave, all the items are not so +satisfactory, and that I greatly fear that you have been robbed to a +considerable amount." + +"Robbed, lad!" the Captain said, starting up from his chair. "Who +should rob me? Not John Wilkes, I can be sworn! Not the two +apprentices for a surety, for they never go out during the day, and +John keeps a sharp look-out upon them, and the entrance to the shop +is always locked and barred after work is over, so that none can +enter without getting the key, which, as you know, John always brings +up and hands to me as soon as he has fastened the door! You are +mistaken, lad, and although I know that your intentions are good, you +should be careful how you make a charge that might bring ruin to +innocent men. Carelessness there may be; but robbery! No; assuredly +not." + +"I have not brought the charge without warrant, Captain Dave," Cyril +said gravely, "and if you will bear with me for a few minutes, I +think you will see that there is at least something that wants +looking into." + +"Well, it is only fair after the trouble you have taken, lad, that I +should hear what you have to say; but it will need strong evidence +indeed to make me believe that there has been foul play." + +"Well, sir," Cyril said, opening the ledger again, "in the first +place, I would point out that in all the heavy articles, such as +could not conveniently be carried away, the tally of the stock-takers +corresponds closely with the figures in this book. In best bower +anchors the figures are absolutely the same and, as you have seen, in +heavy cables they closely correspond. In the large ship's compasses, +the ship's boilers, and ship's galleys, the numbers tally exactly. So +it is with all the heavy articles; the main blocks are correct, and +all other heavy gear. This shows that John Wilkes's book is carefully +kept, and it would be strange indeed if heavy goods had all been +properly entered, and light ones omitted; but yet when we turn to +small articles, we find that there is a great discrepancy between the +figures. Here is the account, for instance, of the half-inch rope. +According to my ledger, there should be eighteen hundred fathoms in +stock, whereas the stock-takers found but three hundred and eighty. +In two-inch rope there is a deficiency of two hundred and thirty +fathoms, in one-inch rope of six hundred and twenty. These sizes, as +you know, are always in requisition, and a thief would find ready +purchasers for a coil of any of them. But, as might be expected, it +is in copper that the deficiency is most serious. Of fourteen-inch +bolts, eighty-two are short, of twelve-inch bolts a hundred and +thirty, of eight-inch three hundred and nine; and so on throughout +almost all the copper stores. According to your expenditure and +receipt-book, Captain Dave, you have made, in the last fifteen +months, twelve hundred and thirty pounds; but according to this book +your stock is less in value, by two thousand and thirty-four pounds, +than it should have been. You are, therefore, a poorer man than you +were at the beginning of this fifteen months' trading, by eight +hundred and four pounds." + +Captain Dave sat down in his chair, breathing hard. He took out his +handkerchief and wiped the drops of perspiration from his forehead. + +"Are you sure of this, boy?" he said hoarsely. "Are you sure that you +have made no mistake in your figures?" + +"Quite sure," Cyril said firmly. "In all cases in which I have found +deficiencies I have gone through the books three times and compared +the figures, and I am sure that if you put the books into the hands +of any city accountant, he will bear out my figures." + +For a time Captain Dave sat silent. + +"Hast any idea," he said at last, "how this has come about?" + +"I have none," Cyril replied. "That John Wilkes is not concerned in +it I am as sure as you are; and, thinking the matter over, I see not +how the apprentices could have carried off so many articles, some +heavy and some bulky, when they left the shop in the evening, without +John Wilkes noticing them. So sure am I, that my advice would be that +you should take John Wilkes into your confidence, and tell him how +matters stand. My only objection to that is that he is a hasty man, +and that I fear he would not be able to keep his countenance, so that +the apprentices would remark that something was wrong. I am far from +saying that they have any hand in it; it would be a grievous wrong to +them to have suspicions when there is no shadow of evidence against +them; but at any rate, if this matter is to be stopped and the +thieves detected, it is most important that they should have, if they +are guilty, no suspicion that they are in any way being watched, or +that these deficiencies have been discovered. If they have had a hand +in the matter they most assuredly had accomplices, for such goods +could not be disposed of by an apprentice to any dealer without his +being sure that they must have been stolen." + +"You are right there, lad--quite right. Did John Wilkes know that I +had been robbed in this way he would get into a fury, and no words +could restrain him from falling upon the apprentices and beating them +till he got some of the truth out of them." + +"They may be quite innocent," Cyril said. "It may be that the thieves +have discovered some mode of entry into the store either by opening +the shutters at the back, or by loosening a board, or even by delving +up under the ground. It is surely easier to believe this than that +the boys can have contrived to carry off so large a quantity of goods +under John Wilkes's eye." + +"That is so, lad. I have never liked Robert Ashford, but God forbid +that I should suspect him of such crime only because his forehead is +as wrinkled as an ape's, and Providence has set his eyes crossways in +his head. You cannot always judge a ship by her upper works; she may +be ugly to the eye and yet have a clear run under water. Still, you +can't help going by what you see. I agree with you that if we tell +John Wilkes about this, those boys will know five minutes afterwards +that the ship is on fire; but if we don't tell him, how are we to get +to the bottom of what is going on?" + +"That is a difficult question, but a few days will not make much +difference, when we know that it has been going on for over a year, +and may, for aught we know, have been going on much longer. The first +thing, Captain Dave, is to send these books to an accountant, for him +to go through them and check my figures." + +"There is no need for that, lad. I know how careful you are, and you +cannot have gone so far wrong as all this." + +"No, sir, I am sure that there is no mistake; but, for your own sake +as well as mine, it were well that you should have the signature of +an accountant to the correctness of the books. If you have to lay the +matter before the magistrates, they would not take my testimony as to +your losses, and might even say that you were rash in acting upon the +word of a boy like myself, and you might then be obliged to have the +accounts made up anew, which would cost you more, and cause much +delay in the process; whereas, if you put in your books and say that +their correctness is vouched for by an accountant, no question would +arise on it; nor would there be any delay now, for while the books +are being gone into, we can be trying to get to the bottom of the +matter here." + +"Ay, ay, it shall be done, Master Cyril, as you say. But for the life +of me I don't see how we are to get at the bottom of the ship to find +out where she is leaking!" + +"It seems to me that the first thing, Captain Dave, is to see to the +warehouse. As we agreed that the apprentices cannot have carried out +all these goods under John Wilkes's eye, and cannot have come down +night after night through the house, the warehouse must have been +entered from without. As I never go in there, it would be best that +you should see to this matter yourself. There are the fastenings of +the shutters in the first place, then the boardings all round. As for +me, I will look round outside. The window of my room looks into the +street, but if you will take me to one of the rooms at the back we +can look at the surroundings of the yard, and may gather some idea +whether the goods can have been passed over into any of the houses +abutting on it, or, as is more likely, into the lane that runs up by +its side." + +The Captain led the way into one of the rooms at the back of the +house, and opening the casement, he and Cyril leaned out. The store +occupied fully half the yard, the rest being occupied by anchors, +piles of iron, ballast, etc. There were two or three score of guns of +various sizes piled on each other. A large store of cannon-ball was +ranged in a great pyramid close by. A wall some ten feet high +separated the yard from the lane Cyril had spoken of. On the left, +adjoining the warehouse, was the yard of the next shop, which +belonged to a wool-stapler. Behind were the backs of a number of +small houses crowded in between Tower Street and Leadenhall Street. + +"I suppose you do not know who lives in those houses, Captain Dave?" + +"No, indeed. The land is not like the sea. Afloat, when one sees a +sail, one wonders what is her nationality, and whither she is bound, +and still more whether she is an honest trader or a rascally pirate; +but here on land, one scarcely gives a thought as to who may dwell in +the houses round." + +"I will walk round presently," Cyril said, "and gather, as far as I +can, who they are that live there; but, as I have said, I fancy it is +over that wall and into the alley that your goods have departed. The +apprentices' room is this side of the house, is it not?" + +"Yes; John Wilkes sleeps in the room next to yours, and the door +opposite to his is that of the lads' room." + +"Do the windows of any of the rooms look into that lane?" + +"No; it is a blank wall on that side." + +"There is the clock striking nine," Cyril said, starting. "It is time +for me to be off. Then you will take the books to-day, Captain Dave?" + +"I will carry them off at once, and when I return will look narrowly +into the fastenings of the two windows and door from the warehouse +into the yard; and will take care to do so when the boys are engaged +in the front shop." + +When his work was done, Cyril went round to the houses behind the +yard, and he found that they stood in a small court, with three or +four trees growing in the centre, and were evidently inhabited by +respectable citizens. Over the door of one was painted, "Joshua +Heddings, Attorney"; next to him was Gilbert Gushing, who dealt in +jewels, silks, and other precious commodities from the East; next to +him was a doctor, and beyond a dealer in spices. This was enough to +assure him that it was not through such houses as these that the +goods had been carried. + +Cyril had not been back at the mid-day meal, for his work that day +lay up by Holborn Bar, where he had two customers whom he attended +with but half an hour's interval between the visits, and on the days +on which he went there he was accustomed to get something to eat at a +tavern hard by. + +Supper was an unusually quiet meal. Captain Dave now and then asked +John Wilkes a question as to the business matters of the day, but +evidently spoke with an effort. Nellie rattled on as usual; but the +burden of keeping up the conversation lay entirely on her shoulders +and those of Cyril. After the apprentices had left, and John Wilkes +had started for his usual resort, the Captain lit his pipe. Nellie +signed to Cyril to come and seat himself by her in the window that +projected out over the street, and enabled the occupants of the seats +at either side to have a view up and down it. + +"What have you been doing to father, Cyril?" she asked, in low tones; +"he has been quite unlike himself all day. Generally when he is out +of temper he rates everyone heartily, as if we were a mutinous crew, +but to-day he has gone about scarcely speaking; he hasn't said a +cross word to any of us, but several times when I spoke to him I got +no answer, and it is easy to see that he is terribly put out about +something. He was in his usual spirits at breakfast; then, you know, +he was talking with you for an hour, and it does not take much +guessing to see that it must have been something that passed between +you that has put him out. Now what was it?" + +"I don't see why you should say that, Mistress Nellie. It is true we +did have a talk together, and he examined some fresh books I have +been making out and said that he was mightily pleased with my work. I +went away at nine o'clock, and something may have occurred to upset +him between that and dinner." + +"All which means that you don't mean to tell me anything about it, +Master Cyril. Well, then, you may consider yourself in my black books +altogether," she said petulantly. + +"I am sorry that you should say so," he said. "If it were true that +anything that I had said to him had ruffled him, it would be for him +to tell you, and not for me." + +"Methinks I have treated Robert Ashford scurvily, and I shall take +him for my escort to see His Majesty attend service at St. Paul's +to-morrow." + +Cyril smiled. + +"I think it would be fair to give him a turn, Mistress, and I am glad +to see that you have such a kind thought." + +Nellie rose indignantly, and taking her work sat down by the side of +her mother. + +"It is a fine evening," Cyril said to Captain Dave, "and I think I +shall take a walk round. I shall return in an hour." + +The Captain understood, by a glance Cyril gave him, that he was going +out for some purpose connected with the matter they had in hand. + +"Ay, ay, lad," he said. "It is not good for you to be sitting moping +at home every evening. I have often wondered before that you did not +take a walk on deck before you turned in. I always used to do so +myself." + +"I don't think there is any moping in it, Captain Dave," Cyril said, +with a laugh. "If you knew how pleasant the evenings have been to me +after the life I lived before, you would not say so." + +Cyril's only object in going out, however, was to avoid the necessity +of having to talk with Dame Dowsett and Nellie. His thoughts were +running on nothing but the robbery, and he had found it very +difficult to talk in his usual manner, and to answer Nellie's +sprightly sallies. It was dark already. A few oil lamps gave a feeble +light here and there. At present he had formed no plan whatever of +detecting the thieves; he was as much puzzled as the Captain himself +as to how the goods could have been removed. It would be necessary, +of course, to watch the apprentices, but he did not think that +anything was likely to come out of this. It was the warehouse itself +that must be watched, in order to discover how the thieves made an +entry. His own idea was that they got over the wall by means of a +rope, and in some way managed to effect an entry into the warehouse. +The apprentices could hardly aid them unless they came down through +the house. + +If they had managed to get a duplicate key of the door leading from +the bottom of the stairs to the shop, they could, of course, unbar +the windows, and pass things out--that part of the business would be +easy; but he could not believe that they would venture frequently to +pass down through the house. It was an old one, and the stairs +creaked. He himself was a light sleeper; he had got into the way of +waking at the slightest sound, from the long watches he had had for +his father's return, and felt sure that he should have heard them +open their door and steal along the passage past his room, however +quietly they might do it. He walked up the Exchange, then along +Cheapside as far as St. Paul's, and back. Quiet as it was in Thames +Street there was no lack of animation elsewhere. Apprentices were +generally allowed to go out for an hour after supper, the regulation +being that they returned to their homes by eight o'clock. Numbers of +these were about. A good many citizens were on their way home after +supping with friends. The city watch, with lanterns, patrolled the +streets, and not infrequently interfered in quarrels which broke out +among the apprentices. Cyril felt more solitary among the knots of +laughing, noisy lads than in the quiet streets, and was glad to be +home again. Captain Dave himself came down to open the door. + +"I have just sent the women to bed," he said. "The two boys came in +five minutes ago. I thought you would not be long." + +"I did not go out for anything particular," Cyril said; "but Mistress +Nellie insisted that there was something wrong with you, and that I +must know what it was about, so, feeling indeed indisposed to talk, I +thought it best to go out for a short time." + +"Yes, yes. Women always want to know, lad. I have been long enough at +sea, you may be sure, to know that when anything is wrong, it is the +best thing to keep it from the passengers as long as you can." + +"You took the books away this morning, Captain Dave?" Cyril asked as +they sat down. + +"Ay, lad, I took them to Master Skinner, who bears as good a +reputation as any accountant in the city, and he promised to take +them in hand without loss of time; but I have been able to do nothing +here. John, or one or other of the boys, was always in the warehouse, +and I have had no opportunity of examining the door and shutters +closely. When the house is sound asleep we will take a lantern and go +down to look at them. I have been thinking that we must let John +Wilkes into this matter; it is too much to bear on my mind by myself. +He is my first mate, you see, and in time of danger, the first mate, +if he is worth anything, is the man the captain relies on for help." + +"By all means tell him, then," Cyril said. "I can keep books, but I +have no experience in matters like this, and shall be very glad to +have his opinion and advice." + +"There he is--half-past eight. He is as punctual as clockwork." + +Cyril ran down and let John in. + +"The Captain wants to speak to you," he said, "before you go up to +bed." + +John, after carefully bolting the door, followed him upstairs. + +"I have got some bad news for you, John. There, light your pipe +again, and sit down. My good dame has gone off to bed, and we have +got the cabin to ourselves." + +John touched an imaginary hat and obeyed orders. + +"The ship has sprung a bad leak, John. This lad here has found it +out, and it is well he did, for unless he had done so we should have +had her foundering under our feet without so much as suspecting +anything was going wrong." + +The sailor took his newly-lighted pipe from between his lips and +stared at the Captain in astonishment. + +"Yes, it is hard to believe, mate, but, by the Lord Harry, it is as I +say. There is a pirate about somewhere, and the books show that, +since the stock-taking fifteen months ago, he has eased the craft of +her goods to the tune of two thousand pounds and odd." + +John Wilkes flung his pipe on to the table with such force that it +shivered into fragments. + +"Dash my timbers!" he exclaimed. "Who is the man? You only give me +the orders, sir, and I am ready to range alongside and board him." + +"That is what we have got to find out, John. That the goods have gone +is certain, but how they can have gone beats us altogether." + +"Do you mean to say, Captain, that they have stolen them out of the +place under my eyes and me know nothing about it? It can't be, sir. +There must be some mistake. I know naught about figures, save enough +to put down the things I sell, but I don't believe as a thing has +gone out of the shop unbeknown to me. That yarn won't do for me, +sir," and he looked angrily at Cyril. + +"It is true enough, John, for all that. The books have been balanced +up. We knew what was in stock fifteen months ago, and we knew from +your sale-book what has passed out of the shop, and from your +entry-book what has come in. We know now what there is remaining. We +find that in bulky goods, such as cables and anchors and ships' +boilers and suchlike, the accounts tally exactly, but in the small +rope, and above all in the copper, there is a big shrinkage. I will +read you the figures of some of them." + +John's face grew longer and longer as he heard the totals read. + +"Well, I'm jiggered!" he said, when the list was concluded. "I could +have sworn that the cargo was right according to the manifest. Well, +Captain, all I can say is, if that 'ere list be correct, the best +thing you can do is to send me adrift as a blind fool. I have kept my +tallies as correct as I could, and I thought I had marked down every +package that has left the ship, and here they must have been passing +out pretty nigh in cart-loads under my very eyes, and I knew nothing +about it." + +"I don't blame you, John, more than I blame myself. I am generally +about on deck, and had no more idea that the cargo was being meddled +with than you had. I have been wrong in letting matters go on so long +without taking stock of them and seeing that it was all right; but I +never saw the need for it. This is what comes of taking to a trade +you know nothing about; we have just been like two children, thinking +that it was all plain and above board, and that we had nothing to do +but to sell our goods and to fill up again when the hold got empty. +Well, it is of no use talking over that part of the business. What we +have got to do is to find out this leak and stop it. We are pretty +well agreed, Cyril and me, that the things don't go out of the shop +by daylight. The question is, how do they go out at night?" + +"I always lock up the hatches according to orders, Captain." + +"Yes, I have no doubt you do, John; but maybe the fastenings have +been tampered with. The only way in which we see it can have been +managed is that someone has been in the habit of getting over the +wall between the yard and the lane, and then getting into the +warehouse somehow. It must have been done very often, for if the +things had been taken in considerable quantities you would have +noticed that the stock was short directly the next order came in. Now +I propose we light these two lanterns I have got here, and that we go +down and have a look round the hold." + +Lighting the candles, they went downstairs. The Captain took out the +key and turned the lock. It grated loudly as he did so. + +"That is a noisy lock," Cyril said. + +"It wants oiling," John replied. "I have been thinking of doing it +for the last month, but it has always slipped out of my mind." + +"At any rate," Cyril said, "it is certain that thieves could not have +got into the shop this way, for the noise would have been heard all +over the house." + +The door between the shop and the warehouse was next unlocked. The +fastenings of the shutters and doors were first examined; there was +no sign of their having been tampered with. Each bolt and hasp was +tried, and the screws examined. Then they went round trying every one +of the stout planks that formed the side; all were firm and in good +condition. + +"It beats me altogether," the Captain said, when they had finished +their examination. "The things cannot walk out of themselves; they +have got to be carried. But how the fellows who carry them get in is +more than I can say. There is nowhere else to look, is there, John?" + +"Not that I can see, Captain." + +They went to the door into the shop, and were about to close it, when +Cyril said,-- + +"Some of the things that are gone are generally kept in here, +Captain--the rope up to two inch, for example, and a good deal of +canvas, and most of the smaller copper fittings; so that, whoever the +thief is, he must have been in the habit of coming in here as well as +into the warehouse." + +"That is so, lad. Perhaps they entered from this side." + +"Will you hold the lantern here, John?" Cyril said. + +The sailor held the lantern to the lock. + +"There are no scratches nor signs of tools having been used here," +Cyril said, examining both the lock and the door-post. "Whether the +thief came into the warehouse first, or not, he must have had a key." + +The Captain nodded. + +"Thieves generally carry a lot of keys with them, Cyril; and if one +does not quite fit they can file it until it does." + +The shutters of the shop window and its fastenings, and those of the +door, were as secure as those of the warehouse, and, completely +puzzled, the party went upstairs again. + +"There must be some way of getting in and out, although we can't find +it," Captain Dave said. "Things can't have gone off by themselves." + +"It may be, Captain," John Wilkes said, "that some of the planks may +be loose." + +"But we tried them all, John." + +"Ay, they seem firm enough, but it may be that one of them is wedged +in, and that when the wedges are taken out it could be pulled off." + +"I think you would have noticed it, John. If there was anything of +that sort it must be outside. However, we will take a good look round +the yard to-morrow. The warehouse is strongly built, and I don't +believe that any plank could be taken off and put back again, time +after time, without making a noise that would be heard in the house. +What do you think, Cyril?" + +"I agree with you, Captain Dave. How the thieves make an entry I +can't imagine, but I don't believe that it is through the wall of the +warehouse. I am convinced that the robberies must have been very +frequent. Had a large amount been taken at a time, John Wilkes would +have been sure to notice it. Then, again, the thieves would not come +so often, and each time for a comparatively small amount of booty, +unless it could be managed without any serious risk or trouble. +However, now that we do know that they come, we shall have, I should +think, very little difficulty in finding out how it is done." + +"You may warrant we will keep a sharp look-out," John Wilkes said +savagely. "If the Captain will give me the use of a room at the back +of the house, you may be sure I shan't close an eye till I have got +to the bottom of the matter. I am responsible for the cargo below, +and if I had kept as sharp an eye on the stores as I ought to have +done, this would not have happened. Only let me catch them trying to +board, and I will give them such a reception that I warrant me they +will sheer off with a bullet or two in them. I have got that pair of +boarding pistols, and a cutlass, hung up over my bed." + +"You must not do that, John," the Captain said. "It isn't a matter of +beating off the pirates by pouring a broadside into them. Maybe you +might cripple them, more likely they would make off, and we want to +capture them. Therefore, I say, let us watch, and find out how they +do it. When we once know that, we can lay our plans for capturing +them the next time they come. I will take watch and watch with you." + +"Well, if it goes on long, Captain, I won't say no to that; but for +to-night anyhow I will sit up alone." + +"Very well, let it be so, John. But mind, whatever you see, you keep +as still as a mouse. Just steal to my room in your stockinged feet +directly you see anything moving. Open the door and say, 'Strange +sail in sight!' and I will be over at your window in no time. And +now, Cyril, you and I may as well turn in." + +The night passed quietly. + +"You saw nothing, I suppose, John?" the Captain said next morning, +after the apprentices had gone down from breakfast. + +"Not a thing, Captain." + +"Now we will go and have a look in the yard. Will you come, Cyril?" + +"I should like to come," Cyril replied, "but, as I have never been +out there before, had you not better make some pretext for me to do +so. You might say, in the hearing of the apprentices, 'We may as well +take the measurements for that new shed we were talking about, and +see how much boarding it will require.' Then you can call to me out +from the office to come and help you to measure." + +"Then you still think the apprentices are in it?" John Wilkes asked +sharply. + +"I don't say I think so, John. I have nothing against them. I don't +believe they could come down at night without being heard; I feel +sure they could not get into the shop without that stiff bolt making +a noise. Still, as it is possible they may be concerned in the +matter, I think that, now we have it in good train for getting to the +bottom of it, it would be well to keep the matter altogether to +ourselves." + +"Quite right," Captain Dave said approvingly. "When you suspect +treachery, don't let a soul think that you have got such a matter in +your mind, until you are in a position to take the traitor by the +collar and put a pistol to his ear. That idea of yours is a very good +one; I will say something about the shed to John this morning, and +then when you go down to the counting-house after dinner I will call +to you to come out to the yard with us." + +After dinner, Captain Dave went with Cyril into the counting-house. + +"We had an order in this morning for a set of ship's anchors, and +John and I have been in the yard looking them out; we looked over the +place pretty sharply, as you may be sure, but as far as we could see +the place is as solid as when it was built, fifty years ago, by my +father." + +The Captain went out into the store, and ten minutes afterwards +re-entered the shop and shouted,-- + +"Come out here, Cyril, and lend a hand. We are going to take those +measurements. Bring out your ink-horn, and a bit of paper to put them +down as we take them." + +The yard was some sixty feet long by twenty-five broad, exclusive of +the space occupied by the warehouse. This, as Cyril had observed from +the window above, did not extend as far as the back wall; but on +walking round there with the two men, he found that the distance was +greater than he had expected, and that there was a space of some +twenty feet clear. + +"This is where we are thinking of putting the shed," the Captain said +in a loud voice. + +"But I see that you have a crane and door into the loft over the +warehouse there," Cyril said, looking up. + +"We never use that now. When my father first began business, he used +to buy up old junk and such-like stores, and store them up there, but +it didn't pay for the trouble; and, besides, as you see, he wanted +every foot of the yard room, and of course at that time they had to +leave a space clear for the carts to come up from the gate round +here, so it was given up, and the loft is empty now." + +Cyril looked up at the crane. It was swung round so as to lie flat +against the wooden shutters. The rope was still through the block, +and passed into the loft through a hole cut at the junction of the +shutters. + +They now measured the space between the warehouse and the wall, the +Captain repeating the figures, still in a loud voice; then they +discussed the height of the walls, and after some argument between +the Captain and John Wilkes agreed that this should be the same as +the rest of the building. Still talking on the subject, they returned +through the warehouse, Cyril on the way taking a look at the massive +gate that opened into the lane. In addition to a heavy bar it had a +strong hasp, fastened by a great padlock. The apprentices were busy +at work coiling up some rope when they passed by. + +"When we have knocked a door through the end there, John," Captain +Dave said, "it will give you a deal more room, and you will be able +to get rid of all these cables and heavy dunnage, and to have matters +more ship-shape here." + +While they had been taking the measurements, all three had carefully +examined the wall of the warehouse. + +"There is nothing wrong there, Cyril," his employer said, as, leaving +John Wilkes in the warehouse, they went through the shop into the +little office. + +"Certainly nothing that I could see, Captain Dave. I did not before +know the loft had any opening to the outside. Of course I have seen +the ladder going up from the warehouse to that trap-door; but as it +was closed I thought no more of it." + +"I don't suppose anyone has been up there for years, lad. What, are +you thinking that someone might get in through those shutters? Why, +they are twenty feet from the ground, so that you would want a long +ladder, and when you got up there you would find that you could not +open the shutters. I said nobody had been up there, but I did go up +myself to have a look round when I first settled down here, and there +is a big bar with a padlock." + +Cyril thought no more about it, and after supper it was arranged that +he and Captain Dave should keep watch by turns at the window of the +room that had been now given to John Wilkes, and that the latter +should have a night in his berth, as the Captain expressed it. John +Wilkes had made some opposition, saying that he would be quite +willing to take his watch. + +"You will just obey orders, John," the Captain said. "You have had +thirty-six hours off the reel on duty, and you have got to be at work +all day to-morrow again. You shall take the middle watch to-morrow +night if you like, but one can see with half an eye that you are not +fit to be on the lookout to-night. I doubt if any of us could see as +far as the length of the bowsprit. It is pretty nearly pitch dark; +there is not a star to be seen, and it looked to me, when I turned +out before supper, as if we were going to have a storm." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURED + + +It was settled that Cyril was to take the first watch, and that the +Captain should relieve him at one o'clock. At nine, the family went +to bed. A quarter of an hour later, Cyril stole noiselessly from his +attic down to John Wilkes's room. The door had been left ajar, and +the candle was still burning. + +"I put a chair by the window," the sailor said, from his bed, "and +left the light, for you might run foul of something or other in the +dark, though I have left a pretty clear gangway for you." + +Cyril blew out the candle, and seated himself at the window. For a +time he could see nothing, and told himself that the whole contents +of the warehouse might be carried off without his being any the +wiser. + +"I shall certainly see nothing," he said to himself; "but, at least, +I may hear something." + +So saying, he turned the fastening of the casement and opened it +about half an inch. As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he +was able to make out the line of the roof of the warehouse, which was +some three or four feet below the level of his eyes, and some twenty +feet away on his left. The time passed slowly. He kept himself awake +by thinking over the old days in France, the lessons he had learnt +with his friend, Harry Parton, and the teaching of the old clergyman. + +He heard the bell of St. Paul's strike ten and eleven. The last +stroke had scarcely ceased to vibrate when he rose to his feet +suddenly. He heard, on his left, a scraping noise. A moment later it +ceased, and then was renewed again. It lasted but a few seconds; then +he heard an irregular, shuffling noise, that seemed to him upon the +roof of the warehouse. Pressing his face to the casement, he suddenly +became aware that the straight line of the ridge was broken by +something moving along it, and a moment later he made out a second +object, just behind the first. Moving with the greatest care, he made +his way out of the room, half closed the door behind him, crossed the +passage, and pushed at a door opposite. + +"Captain Dave," he said, in a low voice, "get up at once, and please +don't make a noise." + +"Ay, ay, lad." + +There was a movement from the bed, and a moment later the Captain +stood beside him. + +"What is it, lad?" he whispered. + +"There are two figures moving along on the ridge of the roof of the +warehouse. I think it is the apprentices. I heard a slight noise, as +if they were letting themselves down from their window by a rope. It +is just over that roof, you know." + +There was a rustling sound as the Captain slipped his doublet on. + +"That is so. The young scoundrels! What can they be doing on the +roof?" + +They went to the window behind. Just as they reached it there was a +vivid flash of lightning. It sufficed to show them a figure lying at +full length at the farther end of the roof; then all was dark again, +and a second or two later came a sharp, crashing roar of thunder. + +"We had better stand well back from the window," Cyril whispered. +"Another flash might show us to anyone looking this way." + +"What does it mean, lad? What on earth is that boy doing there? I +could not see which it was." + +"I think it is Ashford," Cyril said. "The figure in front seemed the +smaller of the two." + +"But where on earth can Tom have got to?" + +"I should fancy, sir, that Robert has lowered him so that he can get +his feet on the crane and swing it outwards; then he might sit down +on it and swing himself by the rope into the loft if the doors are +not fastened inside. Robert, being taller, would have no difficulty +in lowering himself--There!" he broke off, as another flash of +lightning lit up the sky. "He has gone, now; there is no one on the +roof." + +John Wilkes was by this time standing beside them, having started up +at the first flash of lightning. + +"Do you go up, John, into their room," the Captain said. "I think +there can be no doubt that these fellows on the roof are Ashford and +Frost, but it is as well to be able to swear to it." + +The foreman returned in a minute or two. + +"The room is empty, Captain; the window is open, and there is a rope +hanging down from it. Shall I cast it adrift?" + +"Certainly not, John. We do not mean to take them tonight, and they +must be allowed to go back to their beds without a suspicion that +they have been watched. I hope and trust that it is not so bad as it +looks, and that the boys have only broken out from devilry. You know, +boys will do things of that sort just because it is forbidden." + +"There must be more than that," John Wilkes said. "If it had been +just after they went to their rooms, it might be that they went to +some tavern or other low resort, but the town is all asleep now." + +They again went close to the window, pushed the casement a little +more open, and stood listening there. In two or three minutes there +was a very slight sound heard. + +"They are unbolting the door into the yard," John Wilkes whispered. +"I would give a month's pay to be behind them with a rope's end." + +Half a minute later there was a sudden gleam of light below, and they +could see the door open. The light disappeared again, but they heard +footsteps; then they saw the light thrown on the fastening to the +outer gate, and could make out that two figures below were applying a +key to the padlock. This was taken off and laid down; then the heavy +wooden bar was lifted, and also laid on the ground. The gate opened +as if pushed from the other side. The two figures went out; the sound +of a low murmur of conversation could be heard; then they returned, +the gate was closed and fastened again, they entered the warehouse, +the light disappeared, and the door was closed. + +"That's how the things went, John." + +"Ay, ay, sir," the foreman growled. + +"As they were undoing the gate, the light fell on a coil of rope they +had set down there, and a bag which I guess had copper of some kind +in it. They have done us cleverly, the young villains! There was not +noise enough to wake a cat. They must have had every bolt and hinge +well oiled." + +"We had better close the casement now, sir, for as they come back +along the ridge they will be facing it, and if a flash of lightning +came they would see that it was half open, and even if they did not +catch sight of our faces they would think it suspicious that the +window should be open, and it might put them on their guard." + +"Yes; and we may as well turn in at once, John. Like enough when they +get back they will listen for a bit at their door, so as to make sure +that everything is quiet before they turn in. There is nothing more +to see now. Of course they will get in as they got out. You had +better turn in as you are, Cyril; they may listen at your door." + +Cyril at once went up to his room, closed the door, placed a chair +against it, and then lay down on his bed. He listened intently, and +four or five minutes later thought that he heard a door open; but he +could not be sure, for just at that moment heavy drops began to +patter down upon the tiles. The noise rose louder and louder until he +could scarce have heard himself speak. Then there was a bright flash +and the deep rumble of the thunder mingled with the sharp rattle of +the raindrops overhead. He listened for a time to the storm, and then +dropped off to sleep. + +Things went on as usual at breakfast the next morning. During the +meal, Captain Dave gave the foreman several instructions as to the +morning's work. + +"I am going on board the _Royalist_," he said. "John Browning wants +me to overhaul all the gear, and see what will do for another voyage +or two, and what must be new. His skipper asked for new running +rigging all over, but he thinks that there can't be any occasion for +its all being renewed. I don't expect I shall be in till dinner-time, +so anyone that wants to see me must come again in the afternoon." + +Ten minutes later, Cyril went out, on his way to his work. Captain +Dave was standing a few doors away. + +"Before I go on board the brig, lad, I am going up to the Chief +Constable's to arrange about this business. I want to get four men of +the watch. Of course, it may be some nights before this is tried +again, so I shall have the men stowed away in the kitchen. Then we +must keep watch, and as soon as we see those young villains on the +roof, we will let the men out at the front door. Two will post +themselves this end of the lane, and two go round into Leadenhall +Street and station themselves at the other end. When the boys go out +after supper we will unlock the door at the bottom of the stairs into +the shop, and the door into the warehouse. Then we will steal down +into the shop and listen there until we hear them open the door into +the yard, and then go into the warehouse and be ready to make a rush +out as soon as they get the gate open. John will have his boatswain's +whistle ready, and will give the signal. That will bring the watch +up, so they will be caught in a trap." + +"I should think that would be a very good plan, Captain Dave, though +I wish that it could have been done without Tom Frost being taken. He +is a timid sort of boy, and I have no doubt that he has been entirely +under the thumb of Robert." + +"Well, if he has he will get off lightly," the Captain said. "Even if +a boy is a timid boy, he knows what will be the consequences if he is +caught robbing his master. Cowardice is no excuse for crime, lad. The +boys have always been well treated, and though I dare say Ashford is +the worst of the two, if the other had been honest he would not have +seen him robbing me without letting me know." + +For six nights watch was kept without success. Every evening, when +the family and apprentices had retired to rest, John Wilkes went +quietly downstairs and admitted the four constables, letting them out +in the morning before anyone was astir. Mrs. Dowsett had been taken +into her husband's confidence so far as to know that he had +discovered he had been robbed, and was keeping a watch for the +thieves. She was not told that the apprentices were concerned in the +matter, for Captain Dave felt sure that, however much she might try +to conceal it, Robert Ashford would perceive, by her looks, that +something was wrong. + +Nellie was told a day or two later, for, although ignorant of her +father's nightly watchings, she was conscious from his manner, and +that of her mother, that something was amiss, and was so persistent +in her inquiries, that the Captain consented to her mother telling +her that he had a suspicion he was being robbed, and warning her that +it was essential that the subject must not be in any way alluded to. + +"Your father is worrying over it a good deal, Nellie, and it is +better that he should not perceive that you are aware of it. Just let +things go on as they were." + +"Is the loss serious, mother?" + +"Yes; he thinks that a good deal of money has gone. I don't think he +minds that so much as the fact that, so far, he doesn't know who the +people most concerned in it may be. He has some sort of suspicion in +one quarter, but has no clue whatever to the men most to blame." + +"Does Cyril know anything about it?" Nellie asked suddenly. + +"Yes, he knows, my dear; indeed, it was owing to his cleverness that +your father first came to have suspicions." + +"Oh! that explains it," Nellie said. "He had been talking to father, +and I asked what it was about and he would not tell me, and I have +been very angry with him ever since." + +"I have noticed that you have been behaving very foolishly," Mrs. +Dowsett said quietly, "and that for the last week you have been +taking Robert with you as an escort when you went out of an evening. +I suppose you did that to annoy Cyril, but I don't think that he +minded much." + +"I don't think he did, mother," Nellie agreed, with a laugh which +betrayed a certain amount of irritation. "I saw that he smiled, two +or three evenings back, when I told Robert at supper that I wanted +him to go out with me, and I was rarely angry, I can tell you." + +Cyril had indeed troubled himself in no way about Nellie's coolness; +but when she had so pointedly asked Robert to go with her, he had +been amused at the thought of how greatly she would be mortified, +when Robert was haled up to the Guildhall for robbing her father, at +the thought that he had been accompanying her as an escort. + +"I rather hope this will be our last watch, Captain Dave," he said, +on the seventh evening. + +"Why do you hope so specially to-night, lad?" + +"Of course I have been hoping so every night. But I think it is +likely that the men who take the goods come regularly once a week; +for in that case there would be no occasion for them to meet at other +times to arrange on what night they should be in the lane." + +"Yes, that is like enough, Cyril; and the hour will probably be the +same, too. John and I will share your watch to-night, so as to be +ready to get the men off without loss of time." + +Cyril had always taken the first watch, which was from half-past nine +till twelve. The Captain and Wilkes had taken the other watches by +turns. + +As before, just as the bell finished striking eleven, the three +watchers again heard through the slightly open casement the scraping +noise on the left. It had been agreed that they should not move, lest +the sound should be heard outside. Each grasped the stout cudgel he +held in his hand, and gazed at the roof of the warehouse, which could +now be plainly seen, for the moon was half full and the sky was +clear. As before, the two figures went along, and this time they +could clearly recognise them. They were both sitting astride of the +ridge tiles, and moved themselves along by means of their hands. They +waited until they saw one after the other disappear at the end of the +roof, and then John Wilkes quietly stole downstairs. The four +constables had been warned to be specially wakeful. + +"They are at it again to-night," John said to them, as he entered. +"Now, do you two who go round into Leadenhall Street start at once, +but don't take your post at the end of the lane for another five or +six minutes. The thieves outside may not have come up at present. As +you go out, leave the door ajar; in five minutes you others should +stand ready. Don't go to the corner, but wait in the doorway below +until you hear the whistle. They will be only fifteen or twenty yards +up the lane, and would see you if you took up your station at the +corner; but the moment you hear the whistle, rush out and have at +them. We shall be there before you will." + +John went down with the last two men, entered the shop, and stood +there waiting until he should be joined by his master. The latter and +Cyril remained at the window until they saw the door of the warehouse +open, and then hurried downstairs. Both were in their stockinged +feet, so that their movements should be noiseless. + +"Come on, John; they are in the yard," the Captain whispered; and +they entered the warehouse and went noiselessly on, until they stood +at the door. The process of unbarring the gate was nearly +accomplished. As it swung open, John Wilkes put his whistle to his +lips and blew a loud, shrill call, and the three rushed forward. +There was a shout of alarm, a fierce imprecation, and three of the +four figures at the gate sprang at them. Scarce a blow had been +struck when the two constables ran up and joined in the fray. Two men +fought stoutly, but were soon overpowered. Robert Ashford, knife in +hand, had attacked John Wilkes with fury, and would have stabbed him, +as his attention was engaged upon one of the men outside, had not +Cyril brought his cudgel down sharply on his knuckles, when, with a +yell of pain, he dropped the knife and fled up the lane. He had gone +but a short distance, however, when he fell into the hands of the two +constables, who were running towards him. One of them promptly +knocked him down with his cudgel, and then proceeded to bind his +hands behind him, while the other ran on to join in the fray. It was +over before he got there, and his comrades were engaged in binding +the two robbers. Tom Frost had taken no part in the fight. He stood +looking on, paralysed with terror, and when the two men were +overpowered he fell on his knees beseeching his master to have mercy +on him. + +"It is too late, Tom," the Captain said. "You have been robbing me +for months, and now you have been caught in the act you will have to +take your share in the punishment. You are a prisoner of the +constables here, and not of mine, and even if I were willing to let +you go, they would have their say in the matter. Still, if you make a +clean breast of what you know about it, I will do all I can to get +you off lightly; and seeing that you are but a boy, and have been, +perhaps, led into this, they will not be disposed to be hard on you. +Pick up that lantern and bring it here, John; let us see what +plunder, they were making off with." + +There was no rope this time, but a bag containing some fifty pounds' +weight of brass and copper fittings. One of the constables took +possession of this. + +"You had better come along with us to the Bridewell, Master Dowsett, +to sign the charge sheet, though I don't know whether it is +altogether needful, seeing that we have caught them in the act; and +you will all three have to be at the Court to-morrow at ten o'clock." + +"I will go with you," the Captain said; "but I will first slip in and +put my shoes on; I brought them down in my hand and shall be ready in +a minute. You may as well lock up this gate again, John. I will go +out through the front door and join them in the lane." As he went +into the house, John Wilkes closed the gate and put up the bar, then +took up the lantern and said to Cyril,-- + +"Well, Master Cyril, this has been a good night's work, and mighty +thankful I am that we have caught the pirates. It was a good day for +us all when you came to the Captain, or they might have gone on +robbing him till the time came that there was nothing more to rob; +and I should never have held up my head again, for though the Captain +would never believe that I had had a hand in bringing him to ruin, +other people would not have thought so, and I might never have got a +chance of proving my innocence. Now we will just go to the end of the +yard and see if they did manage to get into the warehouse by means of +that crane, as you thought they did." + +They found that the crane had been swung out just far enough to +afford a foot-hold to those lowering themselves on to it from the +roof. The door of the loft stood open. + +"Just as you said. You could not have been righter, not if you had +seen them at it. And now I reckon we may as well lock up the place +again, and turn in. The Captain has got the key of the front door, +and we will leave the lantern burning at the bottom of the stairs." + +Cyril got up as soon as he heard a movement in the house, and went +down to the shop, which had been already opened by John Wilkes. + +"It seems quiet here, without the apprentices, John. Is there any way +in which I can help?" + +"No, thank you, sir. We shan't be moving the goods about till after +breakfast, and then, no doubt, the Captain will get an extra man in +to help me. I reckon he will have to get a neighbour in to give an +eye to the place while we are all away at the Court." + +"I see there is the rope still hanging from their window," Cyril +said, as he went out into the yard. + +"I thought it best to leave it there," John Wilkes replied, "and I +ain't been up into the loft either. It is best to leave matters just +as they were. Like enough, they will send an officer down from the +Court to look at them." + +When the family assembled at breakfast, Mrs. Dowsett was looking very +grave. The Captain, on the other hand, was in capital spirits. +Nellie, as usual, was somewhat late. + +"Where is everybody?" she asked in surprise, seeing that Cyril alone +was in his place with her father and mother. + +"John Wilkes is downstairs, looking after the shop, and will come up +and have his breakfast when we have done," her father replied. + +"Are both the apprentices out, then?" she asked. + +"The apprentices are in limbo," the Captain said grimly. + +"In limbo, father! What does that mean?" + +"It means that they are in gaol, my dear." + +Nellie put down the knife and fork that she had just taken up. + +"Are you joking, father?" + +"Very far from it, my dear; it is no joke to any of us--certainly not +to me, and not to Robert Ashford, or Tom Frost. They have been +robbing me for the last year, and, for aught I know, before that. If +it had not been for Master Cyril it would not have been very long +before I should have had to put my shutters up." + +"But how could they rob you, father?" + +"By stealing my goods, and selling them, Nellie. The way they did it +was to lower themselves by a rope from their window on to the roof of +the warehouse, and to get down at the other end on to the crane, and +then into the loft. Then they went down and took what they had a +fancy to, undid the door, and went into the yard, and then handed +over their booty to the fellows waiting at the gate for it. Last +night we caught them at it, after having been on the watch for ten +days." + +"That is what I heard last night, then," she said. "I was woke by a +loud whistle, and then I heard a sound of quarrelling and fighting in +the lane. I thought it was some roysterers going home late. Oh, +father, it is dreadful to think of! And what will they do to them?" + +"It is a hanging matter," the Captain said; "it is not only theft, +but mutiny. No doubt the judges will take a lenient view of Tom +Frost's case, both on the ground of his youth, and because, no doubt, +he was influenced by Ashford; but I would not give much for Robert's +chances. No doubt it will be a blow to you, Nellie, for you seem to +have taken to him mightily of late." + +Nellie was about to give an emphatic contradiction, but as she +remembered how pointedly she had asked for his escort during the last +few days, she flushed up, and was silent. + +"It is terrible to think of," she said, after a pause. "I suppose +this is what you and Cyril were consulting about, father. I have to +ask your pardon, Master Cyril, for my rudeness to you; but of course +I did not think it was anything of consequence, or that you could not +have told me if you had wished to do so." + +"You need not beg my pardon, Mistress Nellie. No doubt you thought it +churlish on my part to refuse to gratify your curiosity, and I am not +surprised that you took offence. I knew that when you learned how +important it was to keep silence over the matter, that you would +acquit me of the intention of making a mystery about nothing." + +"I suppose you knew, mother?" Nellie asked. + +"I knew that your father believed that he was being robbed, Nellie, +and that he was keeping watch for some hours every night, but I did +not know that he suspected the apprentices. I am glad that we did +not, for assuredly we should have found it very hard to school our +faces so that they should not guess that aught was wrong." + +"That was why we said nothing about it, Nellie. It has been as much +as I have been able to do to sit at table, and talk in the shop as +usual, with boys I knew were robbing me; and I know honest John +Wilkes must have felt it still more. But till a week ago we would not +believe that they had a hand in the matter. It is seven nights since +Cyril caught them creeping along the roof, and called me to the +window in John Wilkes's room, whence he was watching the yard, not +thinking the enemy was in the house." + +"And how did you come to suspect that robbery was going on, Cyril?" + +"Simply because, on making up the books, I found there was a great +deficiency in the stores." + +"That is what he was doing when he was sitting up at night, after you +were in bed, Miss Nellie," her father said. "You may thank your stars +that he took a berth in this ship, for the scoundrels would have +foundered her to a certainty, if he had not done so. I tell you, +child, he has saved this craft from going to the bottom. I have not +said much to him about it, but he knows that I don't feel it any the +less." + +"And who were the other men who were taken, father?" + +"That I can't tell you, Nellie. I went to the Bridewell with them, +and as soon as I saw them safely lodged there I came home. They will +be had up before the Lord Mayor this morning, and then I dare say I +shall know all about them. Now I must go and take my watch below, and +let John Wilkes come off duty." + +"Why, John, what is the matter?" Mrs. Dowsett said, when the foreman +entered. + +"Nothing worth speaking of, Mistress. I got a clip over the eye from +one of the pirates we were capturing. The thing mattered nothing, one +way or the other, but it might have cost me my life, because, for a +moment, it pretty well dazed me. That young villain, Bob, was just +coming at me with his knife, and I reckon it would have gone hard +with me if Master Cyril here hadn't, just in the nick of time, +brought his stick down on Robert's knuckles, and that so sharply that +the fellow dropped his knife with a yell, and took to his heels, only +to fall into the hands of two of the watch coming from the other end +of the lane. You did me a good turn, lad, and if ever I get the +chance of ranging up alongside of you in a fray, you may trust me to +return it." + +He held out his hand to Cyril, and gave a warm grip to the hand the +latter laid in it. + +"It is a rum start, Mistress," John went on, as he sat down to his +meal, "that two old hands like the Captain and I were sailing on, not +dreaming of hidden rocks or sand-banks, when this lad, who I used to +look upon as a young cockerel who was rather above his position, +should come forward and have saved us all from shipwreck." + +"It is indeed, John," his mistress said earnestly, "and I thank God +indeed that He put the thought into the minds of Captain Dave and +myself to ask him to take up his abode with us. It seemed to us then +that we were doing a little kindness that would cost us nothing, +whereas it has turned out the saving of us." + +"Dear, dear!" Nellie, who had been sitting with a frown on her pretty +face, said pettishly. "What a talk there will be about it all, and +how Jane Greenwood and Martha Stebbings and the rest of them will +laugh at me! They used to say they wondered how I could go about with +such an ugly wretch behind me, and of course I spoke up for him and +said that he was an honest knave and faithful; and now it turns out +that he is a villain and a robber. I shall never hear the last of +him." + +"You will get over that, Nellie," her mother said severely. "It would +be much better if, instead of thinking of such trifles, you would +consider how sad a thing it is that two lads should lose their +character, and perhaps their lives, simply for their greed of other +people's goods. I could cry when I think of it. I know that Robert +Ashford has neither father nor mother to grieve about him, for my +husband's father took him out of sheer charity; but Tom's parents are +living, and it will be heart-breaking indeed to them when they hear +of their son's misdoings." + +"I trust that Captain Dave will get him off," Cyril said. "As he is +so young he may turn King's evidence, and I feel sure that he did not +go willingly into the affair. I have noticed many times that he had a +frightened look, as if he had something on his mind. I believe that +he acted under fear of the other." + +As soon as John Wilkes had finished his breakfast he went with +Captain Dave and Cyril to the Magistrates' Court at the Guildhall. +Some other cases were first heard, and then the apprentices, with the +two men who had been captured in the lane, were brought in and placed +in the dock. The men bore marks that showed they had been engaged in +a severe struggle, and that the watch had used their staves with +effect. One was an elderly man with shaggy grey eyebrows; the other +was a very powerfully built fellow, who seemed, from his attire, to +follow the profession of a sailor. Tom Frost was sobbing bitterly. +One of Robert Ashford's hands was bandaged up. As he was placed in +the dock he cast furtive glances round with his shifty eyes, and as +they fell upon Cyril an expression of deadly hate came over his face. +The men of the watch who had captured them first gave their evidence +as to finding them in the act of robbery, and testified to the +desperate resistance they had offered to capture. Captain Dave then +entered the witness-box, and swore first to the goods that were found +on them being his property, and then related how, it having come to +his knowledge that he was being robbed, he had set a watch, and had, +eight days previously, seen his two apprentices getting along the +roof, and how they had come out from the warehouse door, had opened +the outer gate, and had handed over some goods they had brought out +to persons unknown waiting to receive them. + +"Why did you not stop them in their commission of the theft?" the +Alderman in the Chair asked. + +"Because, sir, had I done so, the men I considered to be the chief +criminals, and who had doubtless tempted my apprentices to rob me, +would then have made off. Therefore, I thought it better to wait +until I could lay hands on them also, and so got four men of the +watch to remain in the house at night." + +Then he went on to relate how, after watching seven nights, he had +again seen the apprentices make their way along the roof, and how +they and the receivers of their booty were taken by the watch, aided +by himself, his foreman, and Master Cyril Shenstone, who was dwelling +in his house. + +After John Wilkes had given his evidence, Cyril went into the box and +related how, being engaged by Captain David Dowsett to make up his +books, he found, upon stock being taken, that there was a deficiency +to the amount of many hundreds of pounds in certain stores, notably +such as were valuable without being bulky. + +"Is anything known as to the prisoners?" the magistrate asked the +officer of the city watch in charge of the case. + +"Nothing is known of the two boys, your honour; but the men are well +known. The elder, who gave the name of Peter Johnson, is one Joseph +Marner; he keeps a marine shop close to the Tower. For a long time he +has been suspected of being a receiver of stolen goods, but we have +never been able to lay finger on him before. The other man has, for +the last year, acted as his assistant in the shop; he answers closely +to the description of a man, Ephraim Fowler, who has long been +wanted. This man was a seaman in a brig trading to Yarmouth. After an +altercation with the captain he stabbed him, and then slew the mate +who was coming to his assistance; then with threats he compelled the +other two men on board to let him take the boat. When they were off +Brightlingsea he rowed away, and has not been heard of since. If you +will remand them, before he comes up again I hope to find the men who +were on board, and see if they identify him. We are in possession of +Joseph Marner's shop, and have found large quantities of goods that +we have reason to believe are the proceeds of these and other +robberies." + +After the prisoners had left the dock, Captain Dave went up to the +officer. + +"I believe," he said, "that the boy has not voluntarily taken part in +these robberies, but has been led away, or perhaps obliged by threats +to take part in them; he may be able to give you some assistance, for +maybe these men are not the only persons to whom the stolen goods +have been sold, and he may be able to put you on the track of other +receivers." + +"The matter is out of my hands now," the officer said, "but I will +represent what you say in the proper quarter; and now you had better +come round with me; you may be able to pick out some of your +property. We only made a seizure of the place an hour ago. I had all +the men who came in on duty this morning to take a look at the +prisoners. Fortunately two or three of them recognised Marner, and +you may guess we lost no time in getting a search warrant and going +down to his place. It is the most important capture we have made for +some time, and may lead to the discovery of other robberies that have +been puzzling us for months past. There is a gang known as the Black +Gang, but we have never been able to lay hands on any of their +leaders, and such fellows as have been captured have refused to say a +word, and have denied all knowledge of it. There have been a number +of robberies of a mysterious kind, none of which have we been able to +trace, and they have been put down to the same gang. The Chief +Constable is waiting for me there, and we shall make a thorough +search of the premises, and it is like enough we shall come across +some clue of importance. At any rate, if we can find some of the +articles stolen in the robberies I am speaking of, it will be a +strong proof that Marner is one of the chiefs of the gang, and that +may lead to further discoveries." + +"You had better come with us, John," Captain Dave said. "You know our +goods better than I do myself. Will you come, Cyril?" + +"I should be of no use in identifying the goods, sir, and I am due in +half an hour at one of my shops." + +The search was an exhaustive one. There was no appearance of an +underground cellar, but on some of the boards of the shop being taken +up, it was found that there was a large one extending over the whole +house. This contained an immense variety of goods. In one corner was +a pile of copper bolts that Captain Dave and John were able to claim +at once, as they bore the brand of the maker from whom they obtained +their stock. There were boxes of copper and brass ship and house +fittings, and a very large quantity of rope, principally of the sizes +in which the stock had been found deficient; but to these Captain +Dave was unable to swear. In addition to these articles the cellar +contained a number of chests, all of which were found to be filled +with miscellaneous articles of wearing apparel--rolls of silk, +velvet, cloth, and other materials--curtains, watches, clocks, +ornaments of all kinds, and a considerable amount of plate. As among +these were many articles which answered to the descriptions given of +goods that had been stolen from country houses, the whole were +impounded by the Chief Constable, and carried away in carts. The +upper part of the house was carefully searched, the walls tapped, +wainscotting pulled down, and the floors carefully examined. Several +hiding-places were found, but nothing of any importance discovered in +them. + +"I should advise you," the Chief Constable said to Captain Dave, "to +put in a claim for every article corresponding with those you have +lost. Of course, if anyone else comes forward and also puts in a +claim, the matter will have to be gone into, and if neither of you +can absolutely swear to the things, I suppose you will have to settle +it somehow between you. If no one else claims them, you will get them +all without question, for you can swear that, to the best of your +knowledge and belief, they are yours, and bring samples of your own +goods to show that they exactly correspond with them. I have no doubt +that a good deal of the readily saleable stuff, such as ropes, brass +sheaves for blocks, and things of that sort, will have been sold, but +as it is clear that there is a good deal of your stuff in the stock +found below, I hope your loss will not be very great. There is no +doubt it has been a splendid find for us. It is likely enough that we +shall discover among those boxes goods that have been obtained from a +score of robberies in London, and likely enough in the country. We +have arrested three men we found in the place, and two women, and may +get from some of them information that will enable us to lay hands on +some of the others concerned in these robberies." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +KIDNAPPED + + +That afternoon Captain Dave went down to the Bridewell, and had an +interview with Tom Frost, in the presence of the Master of the +prison. + +"Well, Tom, I never expected to have to come to see you in a place +like this." + +"I am glad I am here, master," the boy said earnestly, with tears in +his eyes. "I don't mind if they hang me; I would rather anything than +go on as I have been doing. I knew it must come, and whenever I heard +anyone walk into the shop I made sure it was a constable. I am ready +to tell everything, master; I know I deserve whatever I shall get, +but that won't hurt me half as much as it has done, having to go on +living in the house with you, and knowing I was helping to rob you +all along." + +"Anything that you say must be taken down," the officer said; "and I +can't promise that it will make any difference in your sentence." + +"I do not care anything about that; I am going to tell the truth." + +"Very well, then, I will take down anything you say. But wait a +minute." + +He went to the door of the room and called. + +"Is the Chief Constable in?" he asked a man who came up. "If he is, +ask him to step here." + +A minute later the Chief Constable came in. + +"This prisoner wishes to make a confession, Master Holmes. I thought +it best that you should be here. You can hear what he says then, and +it may help you in your inquiry. Besides, you may think of questions +on points he may not mention; he understands that he is speaking +entirely of his own free will, and that I have given him no promise +whatever that his so doing will alter his sentence, although no doubt +it will be taken into consideration." + +"Quite so," the constable said. "This is not a case where one +prisoner would be ordinarily permitted to turn King's evidence +against the others, because, as they were caught in the act, no such +evidence is necessary. We know all about how the thing was done, and +who did it." + +"I want to tell how I first came to rob my master," the boy said. "I +never thought of robbing him. When I came up to London, my father +said to me, 'Whatever you do, Tom, be honest. They say there are +rogues up in London; don't you have anything to do with them.' One +evening, about a year ago I went out with Robert, and we went to a +shop near the wall at Aldgate. I had never been there before, but +Robert knew the master, who was the old man that was taken in the +lane. Robert said the man was a relation of his father's, and had +been kind to him. We sat down and talked for a time, and then Robert, +who was sitting close to me, moved for something, and put his hand +against my pocket. + +"'Hullo!' he said; 'what have you got there?' + +"'Nothing,' I said. + +"'Oh, haven't you?' and he put his hand in my pocket, and brought out +ten guineas. 'Hullo!' he said; 'where did you get these? You told me +yesterday you had not got a groat. Why, you young villain, you must +have been robbing the till!' + +"I was so frightened that I could not say anything, except that I did +not know how they came there and I could swear that I had not touched +the till. I was too frightened to think then, but I have since +thought that the guineas were never in my pocket at all, but were in +Robert's hand. + +"'That won't do, boy,' the man said. 'It is clear that you are a +thief. I saw Robert take them from your pocket, and, as an honest +man, it is my duty to take you to your master and tell him what sort +of an apprentice he has. You are young, and you will get off with a +whipping at the pillory, and that will teach you that honesty is the +best policy.' + +"So he got his hat and put it on, and took me by the collar as if to +haul me out into the street. I went down on my knees to beg for +mercy, and at last he said that he would keep the matter quiet if I +would swear to do everything that Robert told me; and I was so +frightened that I swore to do so. + +"For a bit there wasn't any stealing, but Robert used to take me out +over the roof, and we used to go out together and go to places where +there were two or three men, and they gave us wine. Then Robert +proposed that we should have a look through the warehouse. I did not +know what he meant, but as we went through he filled his pockets with +things and told me to take some too. I said I would not. Then he +threatened to raise the alarm, and said that when Captain Dave came +down he should say he heard me get up to come down by the rope on to +the warehouse, and that he had followed me to see what I was doing, +and had found me in the act of taking goods, and that, as he had +before caught me with money stolen from the till, as a friend of his +could testify, he felt that it was his duty to summon you at once. I +know I ought to have refused, and to have let him call you down, but +I was too frightened. At last I agreed to do what he told me, and +ever since then we have been robbing you." + +"What have you done with the money you got for the things?" the +constable asked. + +"I had a groat sometimes," the boy said, "but that is all. Robert +said first that I should have a share, but I said I would have +nothing to do with it. I did as he ordered me because I could not +help it. Though I have taken a groat or two sometimes, that is all I +have had." + +"Do you know anything about how much Robert had?" + +"No, sir; I never saw him paid any money. I supposed that he had some +because he has said sometimes he should set up a shop for himself, +down at some seaport town, when he was out of his apprenticeship; but +I have never seen him with any money beyond a little silver. I don't +know what he used to do when we had given the things to the men that +met us in the lane. I used always to come straight back to bed, but +generally he went out with them. I used to fasten the gate after him, +and he got back over the wall by a rope. Most times he didn't come in +till a little before daybreak." + +"Were they always the same men that met you in the lane?" + +"No, sir. The master of the shop was very seldom there. The big man +has come for the last three or four months, and there were two other +men. They used to be waiting for us together until the big man came, +but since then one or other of them came with him, except when the +master of the shop was there himself." + +"Describe them to me." + +The boy described them as well as he could. + +"Could you swear to them if you saw them?" + +"I think so. Of course, sometimes it was moonlight, and I could see +their faces well; and besides, the light of the lantern often fell +upon their faces." + +The constable nodded. + +"The descriptions answer exactly," he said to Captain Dave, "to the +two men we found in the shop. The place was evidently the +headquarters of a gang of thieves." + +"Please, sir," the boy said, "would you have me shut up in another +place? I am afraid of being with the others. They have sworn they +will kill me if I say a word, and when I get back they will ask me +who I have seen and what I have said." + +Captain Dave took the other two men aside. + +"Could you not let the boy come home with me?" he said. "I believe +his story is a true one. He has been terrified into helping that +rascal, Robert Ashford. Of course he himself was of no good to them, +but they were obliged to force him into it, as otherwise he would +have found out Robert's absences and might have reported them to me. +I will give what bail you like, and will undertake to produce him +whenever he is required." + +"I could not do that myself," the constable said, "but I will go +round to the Court now with the boy's confession, and I have no doubt +the Alderman will let him go. But let me give you a word of advice: +don't let him stir out of the house after dark. We have no doubt that +there is a big gang concerned in this robbery, and the others of +which we found the booty at the receiver's. They would not know how +much this boy could tell about them, but if he went back to you they +would guess that he had peached. If he went out after dark, the +chances would be against his ever coming back again. No, now I think +of it, I am sure you had better let him stay where he is. The Master +will put him apart from the others, and make him comfortable. You +see, at present we have no clue as to the men concerned in the +robberies. You may be sure that they are watching every move on our +part, and if they knew that this boy was out, they might take the +alarm and make off." + +"Well, if you think so, I will leave him here." + +"I am sure that it would be the best plan." + +"You will make him comfortable, Master Holroyd?" + +"Yes; you need not worry about him, Captain Dowsett." + +They then turned to the boy. + +"You will be moved away from the others, Tom," Captain Dave said, +"and Mr. Holroyd has promised to make you comfortable." + +"Oh, Captain Dave," the boy burst out, "will you forgive me? I don't +mind being punished, but if you knew how awfully miserable I have +been all this time, knowing that I was robbing you while you were so +kind to me, I think you would forgive me." + +"I forgive you, Tom," Captain Dave said, putting his hand on the +boy's shoulder. "I hope that this will be a lesson to you, all your +life. You see all this has come upon you because you were a coward. +If you had been a brave lad you would have said, 'Take me to my +master.' You might have been sure that I would have heard your story +as well as theirs, and I don't think I should have decided against +you under the circumstances. It was only your word against Robert's; +and his taking you to this man's, and finding the money in your +pocket in so unlikely a way, would certainly have caused me to have +suspicions. There is nothing so bad as cowardice; it is the father of +all faults. A coward is certain to be a liar, for he will not +hesitate to tell any falsehood to shelter him from the consequences +of a fault. In your case, you see, cowardice has made you a thief; +and in some cases it might drive a man to commit a murder. However, +lad, I forgive you freely. You have been weak, and your weakness has +made you a criminal; but it has been against your own will. When all +this is over, I will see what can be done for you. You may live to be +an honest man and a good citizen yet." + +Two days later Cyril was returning home late in the evening after +being engaged longer than usual in making up a number of accounts for +one of his customers. He had come through Leadenhall Street, and had +entered the lane where the capture of the thieves had been made, when +he heard a footstep behind him. He turned half round to see who was +following him, when he received a tremendous blow on the head which +struck him senseless to the ground. + +After a time he was dimly conscious that he was being carried along. +He was unable to move; there was something in his mouth that +prevented him from calling out, and his head was muffled in a cloak. +He felt too weak and confused to struggle. A minute later he heard a +voice, that sounded below him, say,-- + +"Have you got him?" + +"I have got him all right," was the answer of the man who was +carrying him. + +Then he felt that he was being carried down some stairs. + +Someone took him, and he was thrown roughly down; then there was a +slight rattling noise, followed by a regular sound. He wondered +vaguely what it was, but as his senses came back it flashed upon him; +it was the sound of oars; he was in a boat. It was some time before +he could think why he should be in a boat. He had doubtless been +carried off by some of the friends of the prisoners', partly, +perhaps, to prevent his giving evidence against them, partly from +revenge for the part he had played in the discovery of the crime. + +In a few minutes the sound of oars ceased, and there was a bump as +the boat struck against something hard. Then he was lifted up, and +someone took hold of him from above. He was carried a few steps and +roughly thrust in somewhere. There was a sound of something heavy +being thrown down above him, and then for a long time he knew nothing +more. + +When he became conscious again, he was able, as he lay there, to come +to a distinct conclusion as to where he was. He had been kidnapped, +carried off, taken out in a boat to some craft anchored in the river, +and was now in the hold. He felt almost suffocated. The wrap round +his head prevented his breathing freely, the gag in his mouth pressed +on his tongue, and gave him severe pain, while his head ached acutely +from the effects of the blow. + +The first thing to do was, if possible, to free his hands, so as to +relieve himself from the gag and muffling. An effort or two soon +showed him that he was but loosely bound. Doubtless the man who had +attacked him had not wasted much time in securing his arms, believing +that the blow would be sufficient to keep him quiet until he was safe +on board ship. It was, therefore, without much difficulty that he +managed to free one of his hands, and it was then an easy task to get +rid of the rope altogether. The cloak was pulled from his face, and, +feeling for his knife, he cut the lashings of the gag and removed it +from his mouth. He lay quiet for a few minutes, panting from his +exhaustion. Putting up his hand he felt a beam about a foot above his +body. He was, then, in a hold already stored with cargo. The next +thing was to shift his position among the barrels and bales upon +which he was lying, until he found a comparatively level spot. He was +in too great pain to think of sleep; his head throbbed fiercely, and +he suffered from intense thirst. + +From time to time heavy footsteps passed overhead. Presently he heard +a sudden rattling of blocks, and the flapping of a sail. Then he +noticed that there was a slight change in the level of his position, +and knew that the craft was under way on her voyage down the river. + +It seemed an immense time to him before he saw a faint gleam of +light, and edging himself along, found himself again under the +hatchway, through a crack in which the light was shining. It was some +hours before the hatch was lifted off, and he saw two men looking +down. + +"Water!" he said. "I am dying of thirst." + +"Bring a pannikin of water," one of the men said, "but first give us +a hand, and we will have him on deck." + +Stooping down, they took Cyril by the shoulders and hoisted him out. + +"He is a decent-looking young chap," the speaker went on. "I would +have seen to him before, if I had known him to be so bad. Those +fellows didn't tell us they had hurt him. Here is the water, young +fellow. Can you sit up to drink it?" + +Cyril sat up and drank off the contents of the pannikin. + +"Why, the back of your head is all covered with blood!" the man who +had before spoken said. "You must have had an ugly knock?" + +"I don't care so much for that," Cyril replied. "It's the gag that +hurt me. My tongue is so much swollen I can hardly speak." + +"Well, you can stay here on deck if you will give me your promise not +to hail any craft we may pass. If you won't do that I must put you +down under hatches again." + +"I will promise that willingly," Cyril said; "the more so that I can +scarce speak above a whisper." + +"Mind, if you as much as wave a hand, or do anything to bring an eye +on us, down you go into the hold again, and when you come up next +time it will be to go overboard. Now just put your head over the +rail, and I will pour a few buckets of water over it. I agreed to get +you out of the way, but I have got no grudge against you, and don't +want to do you harm." + +Getting a bucket with a rope tied to the handle, he dipped it into +the river, and poured half-a-dozen pailfuls over Cyril's head. The +lad felt greatly refreshed, and, sitting down on the deck, was able +to look round. The craft was a coaster of about twenty tons burden. +There were three men on deck besides the man who had spoken to him, +and who was evidently the skipper. Besides these a boy occasionally +put up his head from a hatchway forward. There was a pile of barrels +and empty baskets amidship, and the men presently began to wash down +the decks and to tidy up the ropes and gear lying about. The shore on +both sides was flat, and Cyril was surprised at the width of the +river. Behind them was a small town, standing on higher ground. + +"What place is that?" he asked a sailor who passed near him. + +"That is Gravesend." + +A few minutes afterwards the boy again put his head out of the +hatchway and shouted,-- + +"Breakfast!" + +"Can you eat anything, youngster?" the skipper asked Cyril. + +"No, thank you, my head aches too much; and my mouth is so sore I am +sure I could not get anything down." + +"Well, you had best lie down, then, with your head on that coil of +rope; I allow you did not sleep much last night." + +In a few minutes Cyril was sound asleep, and when he awoke the sun +was setting. + +"You have had a good bout of it, lad," the skipper said, as he raised +himself on his elbow and looked round. "How are you feeling now?" + +"A great deal better," Cyril said, as he rose to his feet. + +"Supper will be ready in a few minutes, and if you can manage to get +a bit down it will do you good." + +"I will try, anyhow," Cyril said. "I think that I feel hungry." + +The land was now but a faint line on either hand. A gentle breeze was +blowing from the south-west, and the craft was running along over the +smooth water at the rate of three or four miles an hour. Cyril +wondered where he was being taken to, and what was going to be done +with him, but determined to ask no questions. The skipper was +evidently a kind-hearted man, although he might be engaged in lawless +business, but it was as well to wait until he chose to open the +subject. + +As soon as the boy hailed, the captain led the way to the hatchway. +They descended a short ladder into the fo'castle, which was low, but +roomy. Supper consisted of boiled skate--a fish Cyril had never +tasted before--oaten bread, and beer. His mouth was still sore, but +he managed to make a hearty meal of fish, though he could not manage +the hard bread. One of the men was engaged at the helm, but the other +two shared the meal, all being seated on lockers that ran round the +cabin. The fish were placed on an earthenware dish, each man cutting +off slices with his jack-knife, and using his bread as a platter. +Little was said while the meal went on; but when they went on deck +again, the skipper, having put another man at the tiller, while the +man released went forward to get his supper, said,-- + +"Well, I think you are in luck, lad." + +Cyril opened his eyes in surprise. + +"You don't think so?" the man went on. "I don't mean that you are in +luck in being knocked about and carried off, but that you are not +floating down the river at present instead of walking the deck here. +I can only suppose that they thought your body might be picked up, +and that it would go all the harder with the prisoners, if it were +proved that you had been put out of the way. You don't look like an +informer either!" + +"I am not an informer," Cyril said indignantly. "I found that my +employer was being robbed, and I aided him to catch the thieves. I +don't call that informing. That is when a man betrays others engaged +in the same work as himself." + +"Well, well, it makes no difference to me," the skipper said. "I was +engaged by a man, with whom I do business sometimes, to take a fellow +who had been troublesome out of the way, and to see that he did not +come back again for some time. I bargained that there was to be no +foul play; I don't hold with things of that sort. As to carrying down +a bale of goods sometimes, or taking a few kegs of spirits from a +French lugger, I see no harm in it; but when it comes to cutting +throats, I wash my hands of it. I am sorry now I brought you off, +though maybe if I had refused they would have put a knife into you, +and chucked you into the river. However, now that I have got you I +must go through with it. I ain't a man to go back from my word, and +what I says I always sticks to. Still, I am sorry I had anything to +do with the business. You look to me a decent young gentleman, though +your looks and your clothes have not been improved by what you have +gone through. Well, at any rate, I promise you that no harm shall +come to you as long as you are in my hands." + +"And how long is that likely to be, captain?" + +"Ah! that is more than I can tell you. I don't want to do you harm, +lad, and more than that, I will prevent other people from doing you +harm as long as you are on board this craft. But more than that I +can't say. It is likely enough I shall have trouble in keeping that +promise, and I can't go a step farther. There is many a man who would +have chucked you overboard, and so have got rid of the trouble +altogether, and of the risk of its being afterwards proved that he +had a hand in getting you out of the way." + +"I feel that, captain," Cyril said, "and I thank you heartily for +your kind treatment of me. I promise you that if at any time I am set +ashore and find my way back to London, I will say no word which can +get you into trouble." + +"There is Tom coming upon deck. You had better turn in. You have had +a good sleep, but I have no doubt you can do with some more, and a +night's rest will set you up. You take the left-hand locker. The boy +sleeps on the right hand, and we have bunks overhead." + +Cyril was soon soundly asleep, and did not wake when the others +turned in. He was alone in the cabin when he opened his eyes, but the +sun was shining brightly through the open hatchway. He sprang up and +went on deck. The craft was at anchor. No land could be seen to the +south, but to the north a low shore stretched away three or four +miles distant. There was scarcely a breath of wind. + +"Well, you have had a good sleep, lad," the captain said. "You had +best dip that bucket overboard and have a wash; you will feel better +after it. Now, boy, slip down and get your fire going; we shall be +ready for breakfast as soon as it is ready for us." + +Cyril soused his head with the cold water, and felt, as the captain +had said, all the better for it, for the air in the little cabin was +close and stuffy, and he had felt hot and feverish before his wash. + +"The wind died out, you see," the captain said, "and we had to anchor +when tide turned at two o'clock. There is a dark line behind us, and +as soon as the wind reaches us, we will up anchor. The force of the +tide is spent." + +The wind, however, continued very light, and the vessel did little +more than drift with the tide, and when it turned at two o'clock they +had to drop anchor again close under some high land, on the top of +which stood a lofty tower. + +"That is a land-mark," the captain said. "There are some bad sands +outside us, and that stands as a mark for vessels coming through." + +Cyril had enjoyed the quiet passage much. The wound at the back of +his head still smarted, and he had felt disinclined for any exertion. +More than once, in spite of the good allowance of sleep he had had, +he dozed off as he sat on the deck with his back against the bulwark, +watching the shore as they drifted slowly past it, and wondering +vaguely, how it would all end. They had been anchored but half an +hour when the captain ordered the men to the windlass. + +"There is a breeze coming, lads," he said; "and even if it only lasts +for an hour, it will take us round the head and far enough into the +bay to get into the tide running up the rivers." + +The breeze, however, when it came, held steadily, and in two hours +they were off Harwich; but on coming opposite the town they turned +off up the Orwell, and anchored, after dark, at a small village some +six miles up the river. + +"If you will give me your word, lad, that you will not try to escape, +and will not communicate with anyone who may come off from the shore, +I will continue to treat you as a passenger; but if not, I must +fasten you up in the cabin, and keep a watch over you." + +"I will promise, captain. I should not know where to go if I landed. +I heard you say, 'There is Harwich steeple,' when we first came in +sight of it, but where that is I have no idea, nor how far we are +from London. As I have not a penny in my pocket, I should find it +well-nigh impossible to make my way to town, which may, for aught I +know, be a hundred miles away; for, in truth, I know but little of +the geography of England, having been brought up in France, and not +having been out of sight of London since I came over." + +Just as he was speaking, the splash of an oar was heard close by. + +"Up, men," the captain said in a low tone to those in the fo'castle. +"Bring up the cutlasses. Who is that?" he called, hailing the boat. + +"Merry men all," was the reply. + +"All right. Come alongside. You saw our signal, then?" + +"Ay, ay, we saw it; but there is an officer with a boat-load of +sailors ashore from the King's ship at Harwich. He is spending the +evening with the revenue captain here, and we had to wait until the +two men left in charge of the boat went up to join their comrades at +the tavern. What have you got for us?" + +"Six boxes and a lot of dunnage, such as cables, chains, and some +small anchors." + +"Well, you had better wait for an hour before you take the hatches +off. You will hear the gig with the sailors row past soon. The tide +has begun to run down strong, and I expect the officer won't be long +before he moves. As soon as he has gone we will come out again. We +shall take the goods up half a mile farther. The revenue man on that +beat has been paid to keep his eyes shut, and we shall get them all +stored in a hut, a mile away in the woods, before daybreak. You know +the landing-place; there will be water enough for us to row in there +for another two hours." + +The boat rowed away to the shore, which was not more than a hundred +yards distant. A little later they heard a stir on the strand, then +came the sound of oars, and two minutes later a boat shot past close +to them, and then, bearing away, rowed down the river. + +"Now, lads," the captain said, "get the hatches off. The wind is +coming more offshore, which is all the better for us, but do not make +more noise than you can help." + +The hatches were taken off, and the men proceeded to get up a number +of barrels and bales, some sail-cloth being thrown on the deck to +deaden the sound. Lanterns, passed down into the hold, gave them +light for their operations. + +"This is the lot," one of the sailors said presently. + +Six large boxes were then passed up and put apart from the others. +Then followed eight or ten coils of rope, a quantity of chain, some +kedge anchors, a number of blocks, five rolls of canvas, and some +heavy bags that, by the sound they made when they were laid down, +Cyril judged to contain metal articles of some sort. Then the other +goods were lowered into the hold and the hatches replaced. The work +had scarcely concluded when the boat again came alongside, this time +with four men on board. Scarcely a word was spoken as the goods were +transferred to the boat. + +"You will be going to-morrow?" one of the men in the boat asked. + +"Yes, I shall get up to Ipswich on the top of the tide--that is, if I +don't stick fast in this crooked channel. My cargo is all either for +Ipswich or Aldborough. Now let us turn in," as the boatmen made their +way up the river. "We must be under way before daylight, or else we +shall not save the tide down to-morrow evening. I am glad we have got +that lot safely off. I always feel uncomfortable until we get rid of +that part of the cargo. If it wasn't that it paid better than all the +rest together I would not have anything to do with it." + +Cyril was very glad to lie down on the locker, while the men turned +into their berths overhead. He had not yet fully recovered from the +effects of the blow he had received, but in spite of the aching of +his head he was soon sound asleep. It seemed to him that he had +scarcely closed his eyes when he was roused by the captain's voice,-- + +"Tumble up, lads. The light is beginning to show." + +Ten minutes later they were under way. The breeze had almost died +out, and after sailing for some two miles in nearly a straight +course, the boat was thrown over, two men got into it, and, fastening +a rope to the ketch's bow, proceeded to tow her along, the captain +taking the helm. + +To Cyril's surprise, they turned off almost at right angles to the +course they had before been following, and made straight for the +opposite shore. They approached it so closely that Cyril expected +that in another moment the craft would take ground, when, at a shout +from the captain, the men in the boat started off parallel with the +shore, taking the craft's head round. For the next three-quarters of +an hour they pursued a serpentine course, the boy standing in the +chains and heaving the lead continually. At last the captain +shouted,--"You can come on board now, lads. We are in the straight +channel at last." Twenty minutes later they again dropped their +anchor opposite a town of considerable size. + +"That is Ipswich, lad," the captain said. "It is as nasty a place to +get into as there is in England, unless you have got the wind due +aft." + +The work of unloading began at once, and was carried on until after +dark. + +"That is the last of them," the captain said, to Cyril's +satisfaction. "We can be off now when the tide turns, and if we +hadn't got clear to-night we might have lost hours, for there is no +getting these people on shore to understand that the loss of a tide +means the loss of a day, and that it is no harder to get up and do +your work at one hour than it is at another. I shall have a clean up, +now, and go ashore. I have got your promise, lad, that you won't try +to escape?" + +Cyril assented. Standing on the deck there, with the river bank but +twenty yards away, it seemed hard that he should not be able to +escape. But, as he told himself, he would not have been standing +there if it had not been for that promise, but would have been lying, +tightly bound, down in the hold. + +Cyril and the men were asleep when the captain came aboard, the boy +alone remaining up to fetch him off in the boat when he hailed. + +"There is no wind, captain," Cyril said, as the anchor was got up. + +"No, lad, I am glad there is not. We can drop down with the tide and +the boat towing us, but if there was a head wind we might have to +stop here till it either dropped or shifted. I have been here three +weeks at a spell. I got some news ashore," he went on, as he took his +place at the helm, while the three men rowed the boat ahead. "A man I +sometimes bring things to told me that he heard there had been an +attempt to rescue the men concerned in that robbery. I heard, before +I left London, it was likely that it would be attempted." + +There were a lot of people concerned in that affair, one way and +another, and I knew they would move heaven and earth to get them out, +for if any of them peached there would be such a haul as the +constables never made in the city before. Word was passed to the +prisoners to be ready, and as they were being taken from the +Guildhall to Newgate there was a sudden rush made. The constables +were not caught napping, and there was a tough fight, till the +citizens ran out of their shops and took part with them, and the men, +who were sailors, watermen, 'longshore-men, and rascals of all sorts, +bolted. + +"But two of the prisoners were missing. One was, I heard, an +apprentice who was mixed up in the affair, and no one saw him go. +They say he must have stooped down and wriggled away into the crowd. +The other was a man they called Black Dick; he struck down two +constables, broke through the crowd, and got clean away. There is a +great hue and cry, but so far nothing has been heard of them. They +will be kept in hiding somewhere till there is a chance of getting +them through the gates or on board a craft lying in the river. Our +men made a mess of it, or they would have got them all off. I hear +that they are all in a fine taking that Marner is safely lodged in +Newgate with the others taken in his house; he knows so much that if +he chose to peach he could hang a score of men. Black Dick could tell +a good deal, but he wasn't in all the secrets, and they say Marner is +really the head of the band and had a finger in pretty nigh every +robbery through the country. All those taken in his place are also in +Newgate, and they say the constables are searching the city like +ferrets in a rabbit-warren, and that several other arrests have been +made." + +"I am not sorry the apprentice got away," Cyril said. "He is a bad +fellow, there is no doubt, and, by the look he gave me, he would do +me harm if he got a chance, but I suppose that is only natural. As to +the other man, he looked to me to be a desperate villain, and he also +gave me so evil a look that, though he was in the dock with a +constable on either side of him, I felt horribly uncomfortable, +especially when I heard what sort of man he was." + +"What did they say of him?" + +"They said they believed he was a man named Ephraim Fowler, who had +murdered the skipper and mate of a coaster and then went off in the +boat." + +"Is that the man? Then truly do I regret that he has escaped. I knew +both John Moore, the master, and George Monson, the mate, and many a +flagon of beer we have emptied together. If I had known the fellow's +whereabouts, I would have put the constables on his track. I am +heartily sorry now, boy, that I had a hand in carrying you off, +though maybe it is best for you that it has been so. If I hadn't +taken you someone else would, and more than likely you would not have +fared so well as you have done, for some of them would have saved +themselves all further trouble and risk, by chucking you overboard as +soon as they were well out of the Pool." + +"Can't you put me ashore now, captain?" + +"No, boy; I have given my word and taken my money, and I am not one +to fail to carry out a bargain because I find that I have made a bad +one. They have trusted me with thousands of pounds' worth of goods, +and I have no reason to complain of their pay, and am not going to +turn my back on them now they have got into trouble; besides, though +I would trust you not to round upon me, I would not trust them. If +you were to turn up in London they would know that I had sold them, +and Marner would soon hear of it. There is a way of getting messages +to a man even in prison. Then you may be sure that, if he said +nothing else, he would take good care to let out that I was the man +who used to carry their booty away, sometimes to quiet places on the +coast, and sometimes across to Holland, and the first time I dropped +anchor in the Pool I should find myself seized and thrown into limbo. +No, lad; I must carry out my agreement--which is that I am not to +land you in England, but that I am to take you across to Holland or +elsewhere--the elsewhere meaning that if you fall overboard by the +way there will be no complaints as to the breach of the agreement. +That is, in fact, what they really meant, though they did not +actually put it into words. They said, 'We have a boy who is an +informer, and has been the means of Marner being seized and his place +broken up, and there is no saying that a score of us may not get a +rope round our necks. In consequence, we want him carried away. What +you do with him is nothing to us so long as he don't set foot in +England again.' 'Will Holland suit you? I am going across there,' I +said, 'after touching at Ipswich and Aldborough.' 'It would be much +safer for you and everyone else if it happen that he falls over +before he gets there. However, we will call it Holland.'" + +"Then if I were to fall overboard," Cyril said, with a smile, "you +would not be breaking your agreement, captain? I might fall overboard +to-night, you know." + +"I would not advise it, lad. You had much better stay where you are. +I don't say I mightn't anchor off Harwich, and that if you fell +overboard you couldn't manage to swim ashore, but I tell you I would +not give twopence for your life when you got back to London. It is to +the interest of a score of men to keep Marner's mouth shut. They have +shown their willingness to help him as far as they could, by getting +you out of the way, and if you got back they would have your life the +first time you ventured out of doors after dark; they would be afraid +Marner would suppose they had sold him if you were to turn up at his +trial, and as like as not he would round on the whole lot. Besides, I +don't think it would be over safe for me the first time I showed +myself in London afterwards, for, though I never said that I would do +it, I have no doubt they reckoned that I should chuck you overboard, +and if you were to make your appearance in London they would +certainly put it down that I had sold them. You keep yourself quiet, +and I will land you in Holland, but not as they would expect, without +a penny or a friend; I will put you into good hands, and arrange that +you shall be sent back again as soon as the trial is over." + +"Thank you very much, captain. I have no relations in London, and no +friends, except my employer, Captain David Dowsett, and by this time +he will have made up his mind that I am dead, and it won't make much +difference whether I return in four or five days or as many weeks." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +The _Eliza_, for this Cyril, after leaving Ipswich, learnt was her +name, unloaded the rest of her cargo at Aldborough, and then sailed +across to Rotterdam. The skipper fulfilled his promise by taking +Cyril to the house of one of the men with whom he did business, and +arranging with him to board the boy until word came that he could +safely return to England. The man was a diamond-cutter, and to him +packets of jewellery and gems that could not be disposed of in +England had often been brought over by the captain. The latter had +nothing to do with the pecuniary arrangements, which were made direct +by Marner, and he had only to hand over the packets and take back +sums of money to England. + +"You understand," the captain said to Cyril, "that I have not said a +word touching the matter for which you are here. I have only told him +that it had been thought it was as well you should be out of England +for a time. Of course, he understood that you were wanted for an +affair in which you had taken part; but it matters not what he +thinks. I have paid him for a month's board for you, and here are +three pounds, which will be enough to pay for your passage back if I +myself should not return. If you do not hear from me, or see the +_Eliza_, within four weeks, there is no reason why you should not +take passage back. The trial will be over by that time, and as the +members of the gang have done their part in preventing you from +appearing, I see not why they should have further grudge against +you." + +"I cannot thank you too much for your kindness, captain. I trust that +when I get back you will call at Captain Dowsett's store in Tower +Street, so that I may see you and again thank you; I know that the +Captain himself will welcome you heartily when I tell him how kindly +you have treated me. He will be almost as glad as I shall myself to +see you. I suppose you could not take him a message or letter from me +now?" + +"I think not, lad. It would never do for him to be able to say at the +trial that he had learnt you had been kidnapped. They might write +over here to the Dutch authorities about you. There is one thing +further. From what I heard when I landed yesterday, it seems that +there is likely to be war between Holland and England." + +"I heard a talk of it in London," Cyril said, "but I do not rightly +understand the cause, nor did I inquire much about the matter." + +"It is something about the colonies, and our taxing their goods, but +I don't rightly understand the quarrel, except that the Dutch think, +now that Blake is gone and our ships for the most part laid up, they +may be able to take their revenge for the lickings we have given +them. Should there be war, as you say you speak French as well as +English, I should think you had best make your way to Dunkirk as a +young Frenchman, and from there you would find no difficulty in +crossing to England." + +"I know Dunkirk well, captain, having indeed lived there all my life. +I should have no difficulty in travelling through Holland as a French +boy." + +"If there is a war," the captain said, "I shall, of course, come here +no more; but it may be that you will see me at Dunkirk. French brandy +sells as well as Dutch Schiedam, and if I cannot get the one I may +perhaps get the other; and there is less danger in coming to Dunkirk +and making across to Harwich than there is in landing from Calais or +Nantes on the south coast, where the revenue men are much more on the +alert than they are at Harwich." + +"Are you not afraid of getting your boat captured? You said it was +your own." + +"Not much, lad. I bring over a regular cargo, and the kegs are stowed +away under the floor of the cabin, and I run them at Pin-mill--that +is the place we anchored the night before we got to Ipswich. I have +been overhauled a good many times, but the cargo always looks right, +and after searching it for a bit, they conclude it is all regular. +You see, I don't bring over a great quantity--fifteen or twenty kegs +is as much as I can stow away--and it is a long way safer being +content with a small profit than trying to make a big one." + +Cyril parted with regret from the captain, whose departure had been +hastened by a report that war might be declared at any moment, in +which case the _Eliza_ might have been detained for a considerable +time. He had, therefore, been working almost night and day to get in +his cargo, and Cyril had remained on board until the last moment. He +had seen the diamond dealer but once, and hoped that he should not +meet him often, for he felt certain that awkward questions would be +asked him. This man was in the habit of having dealings with Marner, +and had doubtless understood from the captain that he was in some way +connected with his gang; and were he to find out the truth he would +view him with the reverse of a friendly eye. He had told him that he +was to take his meals with his clerk, and Cyril hoped, therefore, +that he should seldom see him. + +He wandered about the wharf until it became dark. Then he went in and +took supper with the clerk. As the latter spoke Dutch only, there was +no possibility of conversation. Cyril was thinking of going up to his +bed when there was a ring at the bell. The clerk went to answer it, +leaving the door open as he went out, and Cyril heard a voice ask, in +English, if Herr Schweindorf was in. The clerk said something in +Dutch. + +"The fool does not understand English, Robert," the man said. + +"Tell him," he said, in a louder voice, to the clerk, "that two +persons from England--England, you understand--who have only just +arrived, want to see him on particular business. There, don't be +blocking up the door; just go and tell your master what I told you." + +He pushed his way into the passage, and the clerk, seeing that there +was nothing else to do, went upstairs. + +A minute later he came down again, and made a sign for them to follow +him. As they went up Cyril stole out and looked after them. The fact +that they had come from England, and that one of them was named +Robert, and that they had business with this man, who was in +connection with Marner, had excited his suspicions, but he felt a +shiver of fear run through him as he recognised the figures of Robert +Ashford and the man who was called Black Dick. He remembered the +expression of hatred with which they had regarded him in the Court, +and felt that his danger would be great indeed did they hear that he +was in Rotterdam. A moment's thought convinced him that they would +almost certainly learn this at once from his host. The letter would +naturally mention that the captain had left a lad in his charge who +was, as he believed, connected with them. They would denounce him as +an enemy instead of a friend. The diamond merchant would expel him +from his house, terrified at the thought that he possessed +information as to his dealings with this band in England; and once +beyond the door he would, in this strange town, be at the mercy of +his enemies. Cyril's first impulse was to run back into the room, +seize his cap, and fly. He waited, however, until the clerk came down +again; then he put his cap carelessly on his head. + +"I am going for a walk," he said, waving his hand vaguely. + +The man nodded, went with him to the door, and Cyril heard him put up +the bar after he had gone out. He walked quietly away, for there was +no fear of immediate pursuit. + +Black Dick had probably brought over some more jewels to dispose of, +and that business would be transacted, before there would be any talk +of other matters. It might be a quarter of an hour before they heard +that he was an inmate of the house; then, when they went downstairs +with the dealer, they would hear that he had gone out for a walk and +would await his return, so that he had two or three hours at least +before there would be any search. + +It was early yet. Some of the boats might be discharging by +torchlight. At any rate, he might hear of a ship starting in the +morning. He went down to the wharf. There was plenty of bustle here; +boats were landing fish, and larger craft were discharging or taking +in cargo; but his inability to speak Dutch prevented his asking +questions. He crossed to the other side of the road. The houses here +were principally stores or drinking taverns. In the window of one was +stuck up, "English and French Spoken Here." He went inside, walked up +to the bar, and called for a glass of beer in English. + +"You speak English, landlord?" he asked, as the mug was placed before +him. + +The latter nodded. + +"I want to take passage either to England or to France," he said. "I +came out here but a few days ago, and I hear that there is going to +be trouble between the two countries. It will therefore be of no use +my going on to Amsterdam. I wish to get back again, for I am told +that if I delay I may be too late. I cannot speak Dutch, and +therefore cannot inquire if any boat will be sailing in the morning +for England or Dunkirk. I have acquaintances in Dunkirk, and speak +French, so it makes no difference to me whether I go there or to +England." + +"My boy speaks French," the landlord said, "and if you like he can go +along the port with you. Of course, you will give him something for +his trouble?" + +"Willingly," Cyril said, "and be much obliged to you into the +bargain." + +The landlord left the bar and returned in a minute with a boy twelve +years old. + +"He does not speak French very well," he said, "but I dare say it +will be enough for your purpose. I have told him that you want to +take ship to England, or that, if you cannot find one, to Dunkirk. If +that will not do, Ostend might suit you. They speak French there, and +there are boats always going between there and England." + +"That would do; though I should prefer the other." + +"There would be no difficulty at any other time in getting a boat for +England, but I don't know whether you will do so now. They have been +clearing off for some days, and I doubt if you will find an English +ship in port now, though of course there may be those who have been +delayed for their cargo." + +Cyril went out with the boy, and after making many inquiries learnt +that there was but one English vessel still in port. However, Cyril +told his guide that he would prefer one for Dunkirk if they could +find one, for if war were declared before the boat sailed, she might +be detained. After some search they found a coasting scow that would +sail in the morning. + +"They will touch at two or three places," the boy said to Cyril, +after a talk with the captain; "but if you are not in a hurry, he +will take you and land you at Dunkirk for a pound--that is, if he +finds food; if you find food he will take you for eight shillings. He +will start at daybreak." + +"Tell him that I agree to his price. I don't want the trouble of +getting food. As he will be going so early, I will come on board at +once. I will get my bundle, and will be back in half an hour." + +He went with the boy to one of the sailors' shops near, bought a +rough coat and a thick blanket, had them wrapped up into a parcel, +and then, after paying the boy, went on board. + +As he expected, he found there were no beds or accommodation for +passengers, so he stretched himself on a locker in the cabin, covered +himself with his blanket, and put the coat under his head for a +pillow. His real reason for choosing this craft in preference to the +English ship was that he thought it probable that, when he did not +return to the house, it would at once be suspected that he had +recognised the visitors, and was not going to return at all. In that +case, they might suspect that he would try to take passage to +England, and would, the first thing in the morning, make a search for +him on board any English vessels that might be in the port. + +It would be easy then for them to get him ashore, for the diamond +merchant might accuse him of theft, and so get him handed over to +him. Rather than run that risk, he would have started on foot had he +not been able to find a native craft sailing early in the morning. +Failing Dunkirk and Ostend, he would have taken a passage to any +other Dutch port, and run his chance of getting a ship from there. +The great point was to get away from Rotterdam. + +The four men forming the crew of the scow returned late, and by their +loud talk Cyril, who kept his eyes closed, judged that they were in +liquor. In a short time they climbed up into their berths, and all +was quiet. At daybreak they were called up by the captain. Cyril lay +quiet until, by the rippling of the water against the side, he knew +that the craft was under way. He waited a few minutes, and then went +up on deck. The scow, clumsy as she looked, was running along fast +before a brisk wind, and in an hour Rotterdam lay far behind them. + +The voyage was a pleasant one. They touched at Dordrecht, at +Steenbergen on the mainland, and Flushing, staying a few hours in +each place to take in or discharge cargo. After this, they made out +from the Islands, and ran along the coast, putting into Ostend and +Nieuport, and, four days after starting, entered the port of Dunkirk. + +Cyril did not go ashore at any of the places at which they stopped. +It was possible that war might have been declared with England, and +as it might be noticed that he was a foreigner he would in that case +be questioned and arrested. As soon, therefore, as they neared a +quay, he went down to the cabin and slept until they got under way +again. The food was rough, but wholesome; it consisted entirely of +fish and black bread; but the sea air gave him a good appetite, and +he was in high spirits at the thought that he had escaped from danger +and was on his way back again. At Dunkirk he was under the French +flag, and half an hour after landing had engaged a passage to London +on a brig that was to sail on the following day. The voyage was a +stormy one, and he rejoiced in the possession of his great-coat, +which he had only bought in order that he might have a packet to +bring on board the scow, and so avoid exciting any suspicion or +question as to his being entirely unprovided with luggage. + +It was three days before the brig dropped anchor in the Pool. As soon +as she did so, Cyril hailed a waterman, and spent almost his last +remaining coin in being taken to shore. He was glad that it was late +in the afternoon and so dark that his attire would not be noticed. +His clothes had suffered considerably from his capture and +confinement on board the _Eliza_, and his great-coat was of a rough +appearance that was very much out of character in the streets of +London. He had, however, but a short distance to traverse before he +reached the door of the house. He rang at the bell, and the door was +opened by John Wilkes. + +"What is it?" the latter asked. "The shop is shut for the night, and +I ain't going to open for anyone. At half-past seven in the morning +you can get what you want, but not before." + +"Don't you know me, John?" Cyril laughed. The old sailor stepped back +as if struck with a blow. + +"Eh, what?" he exclaimed. "Is it you, Cyril? Why, we had all thought +you dead! I did not know you in this dim light and in that big coat +you have got on. Come upstairs, master. Captain Dave and the ladies +will be glad indeed to see you. They have been mourning for you +sadly, I can tell you." + +Cyril took off his wrap and hung it on a peg, and then followed John +upstairs. + +"There, Captain Dave," the sailor said, as he opened the door of the +sitting-room. "There is a sight for sore eyes!--a sight you never +thought you would look on again." + +For a moment Captain Dave, his wife, and daughter stared at Cyril as +if scarce believing their eyes. Then the Captain sprang to his feet. + +"It's the lad, sure enough. Why, Cyril," he went on, seizing him by +the hand, and shaking it violently, "we had never thought to see you +alive again; we made sure that those pirates had knocked you on the +head, and that you were food for fishes by this time. There has been +no comforting my good wife; and as to Nellie, if it had been a +brother she had lost, she could not have taken it more hardly." + +"They did knock me on the head, and very hard too, Captain Dave. If +my skull hadn't been quite so thick, I should, as you say, have been +food for fishes before now, for that is what they meant me for, and +there is no thanks to them that I am here at present. I am sorry that +you have all been made so uncomfortable about me." + +"We should have been an ungrateful lot indeed if we had not, +considering that in the first place you saved us from being ruined by +those pirates, and that it was, as we thought, owing to the services +you had done us that you had come to your end." + + "But where have you been, Master Cyril?" Nellie broke in. "What has +happened to you? We have been picturing all sorts of horrors, mother +and I. That evil had befallen you we were sure, for we knew that you +would not go away of a sudden, in this fashion, without so much as +saying goodbye. We feared all the more when, two days afterwards, the +wretches were so bold as to attack the constables, and to rescue +Robert Ashford and another from their hands. Men who would do this in +broad daylight would surely hesitate at nothing." + +"Let him eat his supper without asking further questions, Nellie," +her father said. "It is ill asking one with victuals before him to +begin a tale that may, for aught I know, last an hour. Let him have +his food, lass, and then I will light my pipe, and John Wilkes shall +light his here instead of going out for it, and we will have the yarn +in peace and comfort. It spoils a good story to hurry it through. +Cyril is here, alive and well; let that content you for a few +minutes." + +"If I must, I must," Nellie said, with a little pout. "But you should +remember, father, that, while you have been all your life having +adventures of some sort, this is the very first that I have had; for +though Cyril is the one to whom it befell, it is all a parcel with +the robbery of the house and the capture of the thieves." + +"When does the trial come off, Captain Dave?" + +"It came off yesterday. Marner is to be hung at the end of the week. +He declared that he was but in the lane by accident when two lads +opened the gate. He and the man with him, seeing that they were laden +with goods, would have seized them, when they themselves were +attacked and beaten down. But this ingenuity did not save him. Tom +Frost had been admitted as King's evidence, and testified that Marner +had been several times at the gate with the fellow that escaped, to +receive the stolen goods. Moreover, there were many articles among +those found at his place that I was able to swear to, besides the +proceeds of over a score of burglaries. The two men taken in his +house will have fifteen years in gaol. The women got off scot-free; +there was no proof that they had taken part in the robberies, though +there is little doubt they knew all about them." + +"But how did they prove the men were concerned?" + +"They got all the people whose property had been found there, and +four of these, on seeing the men in the yard at Newgate, were able to +swear to them as having been among those who came into their rooms +and frightened them well-nigh to death. It was just a question +whether they should be hung or not, and there was some wonder that +the Judge let them escape the gallows." + +"And what has become of Tom?" + +"They kept Tom in the prison till last night. I saw him yesterday, +and I am sure the boy is mighty sorry for having been concerned in +the matter, being, as I truly believe, terrified into it. I had +written down to an old friend of mine who has set up in the same way +as myself at Plymouth. Of course I told him all the circumstances, +but assured him, that according to my belief, the boy was not so much +to blame, and that I was sure the lesson he had had, would last him +for life; so I asked him to give Tom another chance, and if he did +so, to keep the knowledge of this affair from everyone. I got his +answer yesterday morning, telling me to send him down to him; he +would give him a fair trial, and if he wasn't altogether satisfied +with him, would then get him a berth as ship's boy. So, last night +after dark, he was taken down by John Wilkes, and put on board a +coaster bound for Plymouth. I would have taken him back here, but +after your disappearance I feared that his life would not be safe; +for although they had plenty of other cases they could have proved +against Marner, Tom's evidence brought this business home to him." + +Captain Dave would not allow Cyril to begin his story until the table +had been cleared and he and John Wilkes had lighted their pipes. Then +Cyril told his adventure, the earlier part of which elicited many +exclamations of pity from Dame Dowsett and Mistress Nellie, and some +angry ejaculations from the Captain when he heard that Black Dick and +Robert Ashford had got safely off to Holland. + +"By St. Anthony, lad," he broke out, when the story was finished, +"you had a narrow escape from those villains at Rotterdam. Had it +chanced that you were out at the time they came, I would not have +given a groat for your life. By all accounts, that fellow Black Dick +is a desperate villain. They say that they had got hold of evidence +enough against him to hang a dozen men, and it seems that there is +little doubt that he was concerned in several cases, where, not +content with robbing, the villain had murdered the inmates of lonely +houses round London. He had good cause for hating you. It was through +you that he had been captured, and had lost his share in all that +plunder at Marner's. Well, I trust the villain will never venture to +show his face in London again; but there is never any saying. I +should like to meet that captain who behaved so well to you, and I +will meet him too, and shake him by the hand and tell him that any +gear he may want for that ketch of his, he is free to come in here to +help himself. There is another thing to be thought of. I must go +round in the morning to the Guildhall and notify the authorities that +you have come back. There has been a great hue and cry for you. They +have searched the thieves' dens of London from attic to cellar; there +have been boats out looking for your body; and on the day after you +were missing they overhauled all the ships in the port. Of course the +search has died out now, but I must go and tell them, and you will +have to give them the story of the affair." + +"I shan't say a word that will give them a clue that will help them +to lay hands on the captain. He saved my life, and no one could have +been kinder than he was. I would rather go away for a time +altogether, for I don't see how I am to tell the story without +injuring him." + +"No; it is awkward, lad. I see that, even if you would not give them +the name of the craft, they might find out what vessels went into +Ipswich on that morning, and also the names of those that sailed from +Rotterdam on the day she left." + +"It seems to me, Captain, that the only way will be for me to say the +exact truth, namely, that I gave my word to the captain that I would +say naught of the matter. I could tell how I was struck down, and how +I did not recover consciousness until I found myself in a boat, and +was lifted on board a vessel and put down into the hold, and was +there kept until morning. I could say that when I was let out I found +we were far down the river, that the captain expressed great regret +when he found that I had been hurt so badly, that he did everything +in his power for me, and that after I had been some days on board the +ship he offered to land me in Holland, and to give me money to pay my +fare back here if I would give him my word of honour not to divulge +his name or the name of the ship, or that of the port at which he +landed me. Of course, they can imprison me for a time if I refuse to +tell, but I would rather stay in gaol for a year than say aught that +might set them upon the track of Captain Madden. It was not until the +day he left me in Holland that I knew his name, for of course the men +always called him captain, and so did I." + +"That is the only way I can see out of it, lad. I don't think they +will imprison you after the service you have done in enabling them to +break up this gang, bring the head of it to justice, and recover a +large amount of property." + +So indeed, on their going to the Guildhall next morning, it turned +out. The sitting Alderman threatened Cyril with committal to prison +unless he gave a full account of all that had happened to him, but +Captain Dowsett spoke up for him, and said boldly that instead of +punishment he deserved honour for the great service he had done to +justice, and that, moreover, if he were punished for refusing to keep +the promise of secrecy he had made, there was little chance in the +future of desperate men sparing the lives of those who fell into +their hands. They would assuredly murder them in self-defence if they +knew that the law would force them to break any promise of silence +they might have made. The Magistrate, after a consultation with the +Chief Constable, finally came round to this view, and permitted Cyril +to leave the Court, after praising him warmly for the vigilance he +had shown in the protection of his employer's interests. He regretted +that he had not been able to furnish them with the name of a man who +had certainly been, to some extent, an accomplice of those who had +assaulted him, but this was not, however, so much to be regretted, +since the man had done all in his power to atone for his actions. + +"There is no further information you can give us, Master Cyril?" + +"Only this, your worship: that on the day before I left Holland, I +caught sight of the two persons who had escaped from the constables. +They had just landed." + +"I am sorry to hear it," the Alderman said. "I had hoped that they +were still in hiding somewhere in the City, and that the constables +might yet be able to lay hands on them. However, I expect they will +be back again erelong. Your ill-doer is sure to return here sooner or +later, either with the hope of further gain, or because he cannot +keep away from his old haunts and companions. If they fall into the +hands of the City Constables, I will warrant they won't escape +again." + +He nodded to Cyril, who understood that his business was over and +left the Court with Captain Dave. + +"I am not so anxious as the Alderman seemed to be that Black Dick and +Robert Ashford should return to London, Captain Dave." + +"No; I can understand that, Cyril. And even now that you know they +are abroad, it would be well to take every precaution, for the others +whose business has been sorely interrupted by the capture of that +villain Marner may again try to do you harm. No doubt other receivers +will fill his place in time, but the loss of a ready market must +incommode them much. Plate they can melt down themselves, and I +reckon they would have but little difficulty in finding knaves ready +to purchase the products of the melting-pot; but it is only a man +with premises specially prepared for it who will buy goods of all +kinds, however bulky, without asking questions about them." + +Cyril was now in high favour with Mistress Nellie, and whenever he +was not engaged when she went out he was invited to escort her. + +One day he went with her to hear a famous preacher hold forth at St. +Paul's. Only a portion of the cathedral was used for religious +services; the rest was utilised as a sort of public promenade, and +here people of all classes met--gallants of the Court, citizens, +their wives and daughters, idlers and loungers, thieves and +mendicants. + +As Nellie walked forward to join the throng gathered near the pulpit, +Cyril noticed a young man in a Court suit, standing among a group who +were talking and laughing much louder than was seemly, take off his +plumed hat, and make a deep bow, to which she replied by a slight +inclination of the head, and passed on with somewhat heightened +colour. + +Cyril waited until the service was over, when, as he left the +cathedral with her, he asked,-- + +"Who was that ruffler in gay clothes, who bowed so deeply to you, +Mistress Nellie?--that is, if there is no indiscretion in my asking." + +"I met him in a throng while you were away," she said, with an +attempt at carelessness which he at once detected. "There was a great +press, and I well-nigh fainted, but he very courteously came to my +assistance, and brought me safely out of the crowd." + +"And doubtless you have seen him since, Mistress?" + +Nellie tossed her head. + +"I don't see what right you have to question me, Master Cyril?" + +"No right at all," Cyril replied good-temperedly, "save that I am an +inmate of your father's house, and have received great kindness from +him, and I doubt if he would be pleased if he knew that you bowed to +a person unknown to him and unknown, I presume, to yourself, save +that he has rendered you a passing service." + +"He is a gentleman of the Court, I would have you know," she said +angrily. + +"I do not know that that is any great recommendation if the tales one +hears about the Court are true," Cyril replied calmly. "I cannot say +I admire either his companions or his manners, and if he is a +gentleman he should know that if he wishes to speak to an honest +citizen's daughter it were only right that he should first address +himself to her father." + +"Heigh ho!" Nellie exclaimed, with her face flushed with indignation. +"Who made you my censor, I should like to know? I will thank you to +attend to your own affairs, and to leave mine alone." + +"The affairs of Captain Dave's daughter are mine so long as I am +abroad with her," Cyril said firmly. "I am sorry to displease you, +but I am only doing what I feel to be my duty. Methinks that, were +John Wilkes here in charge of you, he would say the same, only +probably he would express his opinion as to yonder gallant more +strongly than I do;" he nodded in the direction of the man, who had +followed them out of the cathedral, and was now walking on the other +side of the street and evidently trying to attract Nellie's +attention. + +Nellie bit her lips. She was about to answer him passionately, but +restrained herself with a great effort. + +"You are mistaken in the gentleman, Cyril," she said, after a pause; +"he is of a good family, and heir to a fine estate." + +"Oh, he has told you as much as that, has he? Well, Mistress Nellie, +it may be as he says, but surely it is for your father to inquire +into that, when the gentleman comes forward in due course and +presents himself as a suitor. Fine feathers do not always make fine +birds, and a man may ruffle it at King Charles's Court without ten +guineas to shake in his purse." + +At this moment the young man crossed the street, and, bowing deeply +to Nellie, was about to address her when Cyril said gravely,-- + +"Sir, I am not acquainted with your name, nor do I know more about +you save that you are a stranger to this lady's family. That being +so, and as she is at present under my escort, I must ask you to +abstain from addressing her." + +"You insolent young varlet!" the man said furiously. "Had I a cane +instead of a sword I would chastise you for your insolence." + +"That is as it may be," Cyril said quietly. "That sort of thing may +do down at Whitehall, but if you attempt to make trouble here in +Cheapside you will very speedily find yourself in the hands of the +watch." + +"For Heaven's sake, sir," Nellie said anxiously, as several +passers-by paused to see what was the matter, "do not cause trouble. +For my sake, if not for your own, pray leave me." + +"I obey you, Mistress," the man said again, lifting his hat and +bowing deeply. "I regret that the officiousness of this blundering +varlet should have mistaken my intentions, which were but to salute +you courteously." + +So saying, he replaced his hat, and, with a threatening scowl at +Cyril, pushed his way roughly through those standing round, and +walked rapidly away. + +Nellie was very pale, and trembled from head to foot. + +"Take me home, Cyril," she murmured. + +He offered her his arm, and he made his way along the street, while +his face flushed with anger at some jeering remarks he heard from one +or two of those who looked on at the scene. It was not long before +Nellie's anger gained the upper hand of her fears. + +"A pretty position you have placed me in, with your interference!" + +"You mean, I suppose, Mistress Nellie, a pretty position that man +placed you in, by his insolence. What would Captain Dave say if he +heard that his daughter had been accosted by a Court gallant in the +streets?" + +"Are you going to tell him?" she asked, removing her hand sharply +from his arm. + +"I have no doubt I ought to do so, and if you will take my advice you +will tell him yourself as soon as you reach home, for it may be that +among those standing round was someone who is acquainted with both +you and your father; and you know as well as I do what Captain Dave +would say if it came to his ears in such fashion." + +Nellie walked for some time in silence. Her anger rose still higher +against Cyril at the position in which his interference had placed +her, but she could not help seeing that his advice was sound. She had +indeed met this man several times, and had listened without chiding +to his protestations of admiration and love. Nellie was ambitious. +She had been allowed to have her own way by her mother, whose sole +companion she had been during her father's absence at sea. She knew +that she was remarkably pretty, and saw no reason why she, like many +another citizen's daughter, should not make a good match. She had +readily given the man her promise to say nothing at home until he +gave her leave to do so, and she had been weak, enough to take all +that he said for gospel. Now she felt that, at any rate, she must +smooth matters over and put it so that as few questions as possible +should be asked. After a long pause, then, she said,-- + +"Perhaps you are right, Cyril. I will myself tell my father and +mother. I can assure you that I had no idea I should meet him +to-day." + +This Cyril could readily believe, for certainly she would not have +asked him to accompany her if she had known. However, he only replied +gravely,-- + +"I am glad to hear that you will tell them, Mistress Nellie, and +trust that you will take them entirely into your confidence." + +This Nellie had no idea of doing; but she said no further word until +they reached home. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAVED FROM A VILLAIN + + +"I find that I have to give you thanks for yet another service, +Cyril," Captain Dave said heartily, when they met the next morning. +"Nellie tells me a young Court gallant had the insolence to try to +address her yesterday in Cheapside, on her way back from St. Paul's, +that you prevented his doing so, and that there was quite a scene in +the street. If I knew who he was I would break his sconce for him, +were he Rochester himself. A pretty pass things have come to, when a +citizen's daughter cannot walk home from St. Paul's without one of +these impudent vagabonds of the Court venturing to address her! Know +you who he was?" + +"No; I have never seen the fellow before, Captain Dave. I do know +many of the courtiers by sight, having, when we first came over, +often gone down to Whitehall with my father when he was seeking to +obtain an audience with the King; but this man's face is altogether +strange to me." + +"Well, well! I will take care that Nellie shall not go abroad again +except under her mother's escort or mine. I know, Cyril, that she +would be as safe under your charge as in ours, but it is better that +she should have the presence of an older person. It is not that I +doubt your courage or your address, lad, but a ruffling gallant of +this sort would know naught of you, save that you are young, and +besides, did you interfere, there might be a scene that would do +serious harm to Nellie's reputation." + +"I agree with you thoroughly, Captain Dave," Cyril said warmly. "It +will be far better that you or Mrs. Dowsett should be by her side as +long as there is any fear of further annoyance from this fellow. I +should ask nothing better than to try a bout with him myself, for I +have been right well taught how to use my sword; but, as you say, a +brawl in the street is of all things to be avoided." + +Three or four weeks passed quietly. Nellie seldom went abroad; when +she did so her mother always accompanied her if it were in the +daytime, and her father whenever she went to the house of any friend +after dusk. + +Cyril one day caught sight of the gallant in Tower Street, and +although he was on his way to one of his customers, he at once +determined to break his appointment and to find out who the fellow +was. The man sauntered about looking into the shops for full half an +hour, but it was apparent to Cyril that he paid little attention to +their contents, and was really waiting for someone. When the clock +struck three he started, stamped his foot angrily on the ground, and, +walking away rapidly to the stairs of London Bridge, took a seat in a +boat, and was rowed up the river. + +Cyril waited until he had gone a short distance, and then hailed a +wherry rowing two oars. + +"You see that boat over there?" he said. "I don't wish to overtake it +at present. Keep a hundred yards or so behind it, but row inshore so +that it shall not seem that you are following them." + +The men obeyed his instructions until they had passed the Temple; +then, as the other boat still kept in the middle of the stream, Cyril +had no doubt that it would continue its course to Westminster. + +"Now stretch to your oars," he said to the watermen. "I want to get +to Westminster before the other boat, and to be well away from the +stairs before it comes up." + +The rest of the journey was performed at much greater speed, and +Cyril alighted at Westminster while the other boat was some three or +four hundred yards behind. Paying the watermen, he went up the +stairs, walked away fifty or sixty yards, and waited until he saw the +man he was following appear. The latter walked quietly up towards +Whitehall and entered a tavern frequented by young bloods of the +Court. Cyril pressed his hat down over his eyes. His dress was not +the same as that in which he had escorted Nellie to the cathedral, +and he had but small fear of being recognised. + +When he entered he sat down at a vacant table, and, having ordered a +stoup of wine, looked round. The man had joined a knot of young +fellows like himself, seated at a table. They were dissipated-looking +blades, and were talking loudly and boisterously. + +"Well, Harvey, how goes it? Is the lovely maiden we saw when we were +with you at St. Paul's ready to drop into your arms?" + +"Things are going on all right," Harvey said, with an air of +consciousness; "but she is watched by two griffins, her father and +mother. 'Tis fortunate they do not know me by sight, and I have thus +chances of slipping a note in her hand when I pass her. I think it +will not be long before you will have to congratulate me." + +"She is an heiress and only daughter, is she not, honest John?" +another asked. + +"She is an only child, and her father bears the reputation of doing a +good business; but as to what I shall finally do, I shall not yet +determine. As to that, I shall be guided by circumstances." + +"Of course, of course," the one who had first spoken said. + +Cyril had gained the information he required. The man's name was John +Harvey, and Nellie was keeping up a clandestine correspondence with +him. Cyril felt that were he to listen longer he could not restrain +his indignation, and, without touching the wine he had paid for, he +hastily left the tavern. + +As he walked towards the city, he was unable to decide what he had +better do. Were he to inform Captain Dave of what he had heard there +would be a terrible scene, and there was no saying what might happen. +Still, Nellie must be saved from falling into the hands of this +fellow, and if he abstained from telling her father he must himself +take steps to prevent the possibility of such a thing taking place. +The more he thought of it the more he felt of the heavy +responsibility it would be. Anxious as he was to save Nellie from the +anger of her father, it was of far greater consequence to save her +from the consequences of her own folly. At last he resolved to take +John Wilkes into his counsels. John was devoted to his master, and +even if his advice were not of much value, his aid in keeping watch +would be of immense service. Accordingly, that evening, when John +went out for his usual pipe after supper, Cyril, who had to go to a +trader in Holborn, followed him out quickly and overtook him a few +yards from the door. + +"I want to have a talk with you, John." + +"Ay, ay, sir. Where shall it be? Nothing wrong, I hope? That new +apprentice looks to me an honest sort of chap, and the man we have +got in the yard now is an old mate of mine. He was a ship's boy on +board the _Dolphin_ twenty-five years back, and he sailed under the +Captain till he left the sea. I would trust that chap just as I would +myself." + +"It is nothing of that sort, John. It is another sort of business +altogether, and yet it is quite as serious as the last. I have got +half an hour before I have to start to do those books at Master +Hopkins'. Where can we have a talk in a quiet place where there is no +chance of our being overheard?" + +"There is a little room behind the bar at the place I go to, and I +have no doubt the landlord will let us have it, seeing as I am a +regular customer." + +"At any rate we can see, John. It is too cold for walking about +talking here; and, besides, I think one can look at a matter in all +lights much better sitting down than one can walking about." + +"That is according to what you are accustomed to," John said, shaking +his head. "It seems to me that I can look further into the innards of +a question when I am walking up and down the deck on night watch with +just enough wind aloft to take her along cheerful, and not too much +of it, than I can at any other time; but then, you see, that is just +what one is accustomed to. This is the place." + +He entered a quiet tavern, and, nodding to five or six +weather-beaten-looking men, who were sitting smoking long pipes, each +with a glass of grog before him, went up to the landlord, who formed +one of the party. He had been formerly the master of a trader, and +had come into the possession of the tavern by marriage with its +mistress, who was still the acting head of the establishment. + +"We have got a piece of business we want to overhaul, Peter. I +suppose we can have that cabin in yonder for a bit?" + +"Ay, ay. There is a good fire burning. You will find pipes on the +table. You will want a couple of glasses of grog, of course?" + +John nodded, and then led the way into the little snuggery at the end +of the room. It had a glass door, so that, if desired, a view could +be obtained of the general room, but there was a curtain to draw +across this. There was a large oak settle on either side of the fire, +and there was a table, with pipes and a jar of tobacco standing +between them. + +"This is a tidy little crib," John said, as he seated himself and +began to fill a pipe. "There is no fear of being disturbed here. +There has been many a voyage talked over and arranged in this 'ere +room. They say that Blake himself, when the Fleet was in the river, +would drop in here sometimes, with one of his captains, for a quiet +talk." + +A minute later a boy entered and placed two steaming glasses of grog +on the table. The door closed after him, and John said,-- + +"Now you can get under way, Master Cyril. You have got a fair course +now, and nothing to bring you up." + +"It is a serious matter, John. And before I begin, I must tell you +that I rely on your keeping absolute silence as to what I am going to +tell you." + +"That in course," John said, as he lifted his glass to his lips. "You +showed yourself a first-rate pilot in that last job, and I am content +to sail under you this time without asking any questions as to the +ship's course, and to steer according to orders." + +Cyril told the story, interrupted frequently by angry ejaculations on +the part of the old bo'swain. + +"Dash my wig!" he exclaimed, when Cyril came to an end. "But this is +a bad business altogether, Master Cyril. One can engage a pirate and +beat him off if the crew is staunch, but when there is treason on +board ship, it makes it an awkward job for those in command." + +"The question is this, John: ought we to tell the Captain, or shall +we try to take the affair into our own hands, and so to manage it +that he shall never know anything about it?" + +The sailor was silent for a minute or two, puffing his pipe +meditatively. + +"I see it is an awkward business to decide," he said. "On one side, +it would pretty nigh kill Captain Dave to know that Mistress Nellie +has been steering wild and has got out of hand. She is just the apple +of his eye. Then, on the other hand, if we undertook the job without +telling him, and one fine morning we was to find out she was gone, we +should be in a mighty bad fix, for the Captain would turn round and +say, 'Why didn't you tell me? If you had done so, I would have locked +her up under hatches, and there she would be, safe now.'" + +"That is just what I see, and it is for that reason I come to you. I +could not be always on the watch, but I think that you and I together +would keep so sharp a look-out that we might feel pretty sure that +she could not get away without our knowledge." + +"We could watch sharply enough at night, Master Cyril. There would be +no fear of her getting away then without our knowing it. But how +would it be during the day? There am I in the shop or store from +seven in the morning until we lock up before supper-time. You are out +most of your time, and when you are not away, you are in the office +at the books, and she is free to go in and out of the front door +without either of us being any the wiser." + +"I don't think he would venture to carry her off by daylight," Cyril +said. "She never goes out alone now, and could scarcely steal away +unnoticed. Besides, she would know that she would be missed directly, +and a hue and cry set up. I should think she would certainly choose +the evening, when we are all supposed to be in bed. He would have a +chair waiting somewhere near; and there are so often chairs going +about late, after city entertainments, that they would get off +unnoticed. I should say the most dangerous time is between nine +o'clock and midnight. She generally goes off to bed at nine or soon +after, and she might very well put on her hood and cloak and steal +downstairs at once, knowing that she would not be missed till +morning. Another dangerous time would be when she goes out to a +neighbour's. The Captain always takes her, and goes to fetch her at +nine o'clock, but she might make some excuse to leave quite early, +and go off in that way." + +"That would be awkward, Mr. Cyril, for neither you nor I could be +away at supper-time without questions being asked. It seems to me +that I had better take Matthew into the secret. As he don't live in +the house he could very well watch wherever she is, till I slip round +after supper to relieve him, and he could watch outside here in the +evening till either you or I could steal downstairs and take his +place. You can count on him keeping his mouth shut just as you can on +me. The only thing is, how is he to stop her if he finds her coming +out from a neighbour's before the Captain has come for her?" + +"If he saw her coming straight home he could follow her to the door +without being noticed, John, but if he found her going some other way +he must follow her till he sees someone speak to her, and must then +go straight up and say, 'Mistress Dowsett, I am ready to escort you +home.' If she orders him off, or the man she meets threatens him, as +is like enough, he must say, 'Unless you come I shall shout for aid, +and call upon passers-by to assist me'; and, rather than risk the +exposure, she would most likely return with him. Of course, he would +carry with him a good heavy cudgel, and choose a thoroughfare where +there are people about to speak to her, and not an unfrequented +passage, for you may be sure the fellow would have no hesitation in +running him through if he could do so without being observed." + +"Matthew is a stout fellow," John Wilkes said, "and was as smart a +sailor as any on board till he had his foot smashed by being jammed +by a spare spar that got adrift in a gale, so that the doctors had to +cut off the leg under the knee, and leave him to stump about on a +timber toe for the rest of his life. I tell you what, Master Cyril: +we might make the thing safer still if I spin the Captain a yarn as +how Matthew has strained his back and ain't fit to work for a bit; +then I can take on another hand to work in the yard, and we can put +him on watch all day. He might come on duty at nine o'clock in the +morning, and stop until I relieve him as soon as supper is over. Of +course, he would not keep opposite the house, but might post himself +a bit up or down the street, so that he could manage to keep an eye +on the door." + +"That would be excellent," Cyril said. "Of course, at the supper-hour +he could go off duty, as she could not possibly leave the house +between that time and nine o'clock. You always come in about that +hour, and I hear you go up to bed. When you get there, you should at +once take off your boots, slip downstairs again with them, and go +quietly out. I often sit talking with Captain Dave till half-past +nine or ten, but directly I can get away I will come down and join +you. I think in that way we need feel no uneasiness as to harm coming +from our not telling Captain Dave, for it would be impossible for her +to get off unnoticed. Now that is all arranged I must be going, for I +shall be late at my appointment unless I hurry." + +"Shall I go round and begin my watch at once, Master Cyril?". + +"No, there is no occasion for that. We know that he missed her +to-day, and therefore can have made no appointment; and I am +convinced by what he said to the fellows he met, that matters are not +settled yet. However, we will begin to-morrow. You can take an +opportunity during the day to tell Matthew about it, and he can +pretend to strain his back in the afternoon, and you can send him +away. He can come round again next morning early, and when the +Captain comes down you can tell him that you find that Matthew will +not be able to work for the present, and ask him to let you take +another man on until he can come back again." + +Cyril watched Nellie closely at meal-times and in the evening for the +next few days. He thought that he should be certain to detect some +slight change in her manner, however well she might play her part, +directly she decided on going off with this man. She would not dream +that she was suspected in any way, and would therefore be the less +cautious. Matthew kept watch during the day, and followed if she went +out with her father to a neighbour's, remaining on guard outside the +house until John Wilkes relieved him as soon as he had finished his +supper. If she remained at home in the evening John went out +silently, after his return at his usual hour, and was joined by Cyril +as soon as Captain Dave said good-night and went in to his bedroom. +At midnight they re-entered the house and stole up to their rooms, +leaving their doors open and listening attentively for another hour +before they tried to get to sleep. + +On the sixth morning Cyril noticed that Nellie was silent and +abstracted at breakfast-time. She went out marketing with her mother +afterwards, and at dinner her mood had changed. She talked and +laughed more than usual. There was a flush of excitement on her +cheeks, and he drew the conclusion that in the morning she had not +come to an absolute decision, but had probably given an answer to the +man during the time she was out with her mother, and that she felt +the die was now cast. + +"Pass the word to Matthew to keep an extra sharp watch this afternoon +and to-morrow, John. I think the time is close at hand," he said, as +they went downstairs together after dinner. + +"Do you think so? Well, the sooner the better. It is trying work, +this here spying, and I don't care how soon it is over. I only hope +it will end by our running down this pirate and engaging him." + +"I hope so too, John. I feel it very hard to be sitting at table with +her and Captain Dave and her mother, and to know that she is +deceiving them." + +"I can't say a word for her," the old sailor said, shaking his head. +"She has as good parents as a girl could want to have. They would +give their lives for her, either of them, cheerful, and there she is +thinking of running away from them with a scamp she knows nothing of +and has probably never spoken with for an hour. I knew her head was a +bit turned with young fellows dangling after her, and by being +noticed by some of the Court gallants at the last City ball, and by +being made the toast by many a young fellow in City taverns--'Pretty +Mistress Nellie Dowsett'; but I did not think her head was so turned +that she would act as she is doing. Well, well, we must hope that +this will be a lesson, Master Cyril, that she will remember all her +life." + +"I hope so, John, and I trust that we shall be able to manage it all +so that the matter will never come to her parents' ears." + +"I hope so, and I don't see why it should. The fellow may bluster, +but he will say nothing about it because he would get into trouble +for trying to carry off a citizen's daughter." + +"And besides that, John,--which would be quite as serious in the eyes +of a fellow of this sort,--he would have the laugh against him among +all his companions for having been outwitted in the City. So I think +when he finds the game is up he will be glad enough to make off +without causing trouble." + +"Don't you think we might give him a sound thrashing? It would do him +a world of good." + +"I don't think it would do a man of that sort much good, John, and he +would be sure to shout, and then there would be trouble, and the +watch might come up, and we should all get hauled off together. In +the morning the whole story would be known, and Mistress Nellie's +name in the mouth of every apprentice in the City. No, no; if he is +disposed to go off quietly, by all means let him go." + +"I have no doubt that you are right, Master Cyril, but it goes +mightily against the grain to think that a fellow like that is to get +off with a whole skin. However, if one should fall foul of him some +other time, one might take it out of him." + +Captain Dave found Cyril but a bad listener to his stories that +evening, and, soon after nine, said he should turn in. + +"I don't know what ails you to-night, Cyril," he said. "Your wits are +wool-gathering, somewhere. I don't believe that you heard half that +last story I was telling you." + +"I heard it all, sir; but I do feel a little out of sorts this +evening." + +"You do too much writing, lad. My head would be like to go to pieces +if I were to sit half the hours that you do at a desk." + +When Captain Dave went into his room, Cyril walked upstairs and +closed his bedroom door with a bang, himself remaining outside. Then +he took off his boots, and, holding them in his hand, went +noiselessly downstairs to the front door. The lock had been carefully +oiled, and, after putting on his boots again, he went out. + +"You are right, Master Cyril, sure enough," John Wilkes said when he +joined him, fifty yards away from the house. "It is to-night she is +going to try to make off. I thought I had best keep Matthew at hand, +so I bid him stop till I came out, then sent him round to have a pint +of ale at the tavern, and when he came back told him he had best +cruise about, and look for signs of pirates. He came back ten minutes +ago, and told me that a sedan chair had just been brought to the +other end of the lane. It was set down some thirty yards from +Fenchurch Street. There were the two chairmen and three fellows +wrapped up in cloaks." + +"That certainly looks like action, John. Well, I should say that +Matthew had better take up his station at the other end of the lane, +there to remain quiet until he hears an uproar at the chair; then he +can run up to our help if we need it. We will post ourselves near the +door. No doubt Harvey, and perhaps one of his friends, will come and +wait for her. We can't interfere with them here, but must follow and +come up with her just before they reach the chair. The further they +are away from the house the better. Then if there is any trouble +Captain Dave will not hear anything of it." + +"That will be a good plan of operations," John agreed. "Matthew is +just round the next corner. I will send him to Fenchurch Street at +once." + +He went away, and rejoined Cyril in two or three minutes. They then +went along towards the house, and took post in a doorway on the other +side of the street, some thirty yards from the shop. They had +scarcely done so, when they heard footsteps, and presently saw two +men come along in the middle of the street. They stopped and looked +round. + +"There is not a soul stirring," one said. "We can give the signal." + +So saying, he sang a bar or two of a song popular at the time, and +they then drew back from the road into a doorway and waited. + +Five minutes later, Cyril and his fellow-watcher heard a very slight +sound, and a figure stepped out from Captain Dowsett's door. The two +men crossed at once and joined her. A few low words were spoken, and +they moved away together, and turned up the lane. + +As soon as they disappeared from sight, Cyril and John Wilkes issued +out. The latter had produced some long strips of cloth, which he +wound round both their boots, so as, he said, to muffle the oars. +Their steps, therefore, as they followed, were almost noiseless. +Walking fast, they came up to the three persons ahead of them just as +they reached the sedan chair. The two chairmen were standing at the +poles, and a third man was holding the door open with his hat in his +hand. + +"Avast heaving, mates!" John Wilkes said. "It seems to me as you are +running this cargo without proper permits." + +Nellie gave a slight scream on hearing the voice, while the man +beside her stepped forward, exclaiming furiously: + +"S" death, sir! who are you, and what are you interfering about?" + +"I am an honest man I hope, master. My name is John Wilkes, and, as +that young lady will tell you, I am in the employ of her father." + +"Then I tell you, John Wilkes, or John the Devil, or whatever your +name maybe, that if you don't at once take yourself off, I will let +daylight into you," and he drew his sword, as did his two companions. + +John gave a whistle, and the wooden-legged man was heard hurrying up +from Fenchurch Street. + +"Cut the scoundrel down, Penrose," Harvey exclaimed, "while I put the +lady into the chair." + +The man addressed sprang at Wilkes, but in a moment his Court sword +was shivered by a blow from the latter's cudgel, which a moment later +fell again on his head, sending him reeling back several paces. + +"Stay, sir, or I will run you through," Cyril said, pricking Harvey +sharply in the arm as he was urging Nellie to enter the chair. + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" the other exclaimed, in a tone of fury. "My +boy of Cheapside! Well, I can spare a moment to punish you." + +"Oh, do not fight with him, my lord!" Nellie exclaimed. + +"My lord!" Cyril laughed. "So he has become a lord, eh?" + +Then he changed his tone. + +"Mistress Nellie, you have been deceived. This fellow is no lord. He +is a hanger-on of the Court, one John Harvey, a disreputable +blackguard whom I heard boasting to his boon-companions of his +conquest. I implore you to return home as quietly as you went. None +will know of this." + +He broke off suddenly, for, with an oath, Harvey rushed at him. Their +swords clashed, there was a quick thrust and parry, and then Harvey +staggered back with a sword-wound through the shoulder, dropping his +sword to the ground. + +"Your game is up, John Harvey," Cyril said. "Did you have your +deserts I would pass my sword through your body. Now call your +fellows off, or it will be worse for them." + +"Oh, it is not true? Surely it cannot be true?" Nellie cried, +addressing Harvey. "You cannot have deceived me?" + +The fellow, smarting with pain, and seeing that the game was up, +replied with a savage curse. + +"You may think yourself lucky that you are only disabled, you +villain!" Cyril said, taking a step towards him with his sword +menacingly raised. "Begone, sir, before my patience is exhausted, or, +by heaven! it will be your dead body that the chairmen will have to +carry away." + +"Disabled or not," John Wilkes exclaimed, "I will have a say in the +matter;" and, with a blow with his cudgel, he stretched Harvey on the +ground, and belaboured him furiously until Cyril dragged him away by +force. Harvey rose slowly to his feet. + +"Take yourself off, sir," Cyril said. "One of your brave companions +has long ago bolted; the other is disarmed, and has his head broken. +You may thank your stars that you have escaped with nothing worse +than a sword-thrust through your shoulder, and a sound drubbing. +Hanging would be a fit punishment for knaves like you. I warn you, if +you ever address or in any way molest this lady again, you won't get +off so easily." + +Then he turned and offered his arm to Nellie, who was leaning against +the wall in a half-fainting state. Not a word was spoken until they +emerged from the lane. + +"No one knows of this but ourselves, Mistress Nellie, and you will +never hear of it from us. Glad indeed I am that I have saved you from +the misery and ruin that must have resulted from your listening to +that plausible scoundrel. Go quietly upstairs. We will wait here till +we are sure that you have gone safely into your room; then we will +follow. I doubt not that you are angry with me now, but in time you +will feel that you have been saved from a great danger." + +The door was not locked. He lifted the latch silently, and held the +door open for her to pass in. Then he closed it again, and turned to +the two men who followed them. + +"This has been a good night's work, John." + +"That has it. I don't think that young spark will be coming after +City maidens again. Well, it has been a narrow escape for her. It +would have broken the Captain's heart if she had gone in that way. +What strange things women are! I have always thought Mistress Nellie +as sensible a girl as one would want to see. Given a little +over-much, perhaps, to thinking of the fashion of her dress, but that +was natural enough, seeing how pretty she is and how much she is made +of; and yet she is led, by a few soft speeches from a man she knows +nothing of, to run away from home, and leave father, and mother, and +all. Well, Matthew, lad, we sha'n't want any more watching. You have +done a big service to the master, though he will never know it. I +know I can trust you to keep a stopper on your jaws. Don't you let a +soul know of this--not even your wife." + +"You trust me, mate," the man replied. "My wife is a good soul, but +her tongue runs nineteen to the dozen, and you might as well shout a +thing out at Paul's Cross as drop it into her ear. I think my back +will be well enough for me to come to work again to-morrow," he +added, with a laugh. + +"All right, mate. I shall be glad to have you again, for the chap who +has been in your place is a landsman, and he don't know a +marling-spike from an anchor. Good-night, mate." + +"Well, Master Cyril," he went on, as the sailor walked away, "I don't +think there ever was such a good wind as that which blew you here. +First of all you saved Captain Dave's fortune, and now you save his +daughter. I look on Captain Dave as being pretty nigh the same as +myself, seeing as I have been with him man and boy for over thirty +years, and I feel what you have done for him just as if you had done +it for me. I am only a rough sailor-man, and I don't know how to put +it in words, but I feel just full up with a cargo of thankfulness." + +"That is all right," Cyril said, holding out his hand, which John +Wilkes shook with a heartiness that was almost painful. "Captain Dave +offered me a home when I was alone without a friend in London, and I +am glad indeed that I have been able to render him service in return. +I myself have done little enough, though I do not say that the +consequences have not been important. It has been just taking a +little trouble and keeping a few watches--a thing not worth talking +about one way or the other. I hope this will do Mistress Nellie good. +She is a nice girl, but too fond of admiration, and inclined to think +that she is meant for higher things than to marry a London citizen. I +think to-night's work will cure her of that. This fellow evidently +made himself out to her to be a nobleman of the Court. Now she sees +that he is neither a nobleman nor a gentleman, but a ruffian who took +advantage of her vanity and inexperience, and that she would have +done better to have jumped down the well in the yard than to have put +herself in his power. Now we can go up to bed. There is no more +probability of our waking the Captain than there has been on other +nights; but mind, if we should do so, you stick to the story we +agreed on, that you thought there was someone by the gate in the lane +again, and so called me to go down with you to investigate, not +thinking it worth while to rouse up the Captain on what might be a +false alarm." + +Everything remained perfectly quiet as they made their way upstairs +to their rooms as silently as possible. + +"Where is Nellie?" Captain Dave asked, when they assembled at +breakfast. + +"She is not well," his wife replied, "I went to her room just now and +found that she was still a-bed. She said that she had a bad headache, +and I fear that she is going to have a fever, for her face is pale +and her eyes red and swollen, just as if she had been well-nigh +crying them out of her head; her hands are hot and her pulse fast. +Directly I have had breakfast I shall make her some camomile tea, and +if that does not do her good I shall send for the doctor." + +"Do so, wife, without delay. Why, the girl has never ailed a day for +years! What can have come to her?" + +"She says it is only a bad headache--that all she wants is to be left +alone." + +"Yes, yes; that is all very well, but if she does not get better soon +she must be seen to. They say that there were several cases last week +of that plague that has been doing so much harm in foreign parts, and +if that is so it behoves us to be very careful, and see that any +illness is attended to without delay." + +"I don't think that there is any cause for alarm," his wife said +quietly. "The child has got a headache and is a little feverish, but +there is no occasion whatever for thinking that it is anything more. +There is nothing unusual in a girl having a headache, but Nellie has +had such good health that if she had a prick in the finger you would +think it was serious." + +"By the way, John," Captain Dave said suddenly, "did you hear any +noise in the lane last night? Your room is at the back of the house, +and you were more likely to have heard it than I was. I have just +seen one of the watch, and he tells me that there was a fray there +last night, for there is a patch of blood and marks of a scuffle. It +was up at the other end. There is some mystery about it, he thinks, +for he says that one of his mates last night saw a sedan chair +escorted by three men turn into the lane from Fenchurch Street just +before ten o'clock, and one of the neighbours says that just after +that hour he heard a disturbance and a clashing of swords there. On +looking out, he saw something dark that might have been a chair +standing there, and several men engaged in a scuffle. It seemed soon +over, and directly afterwards three people came down the lane this +way. Then he fancied that someone got into the chair, which was +afterwards carried out into Fenchurch Street." + +"I did hear something that sounded like a quarrel or a fray," John +Wilkes said, "but there is nothing unusual about that. As everything +was soon quiet again, I gave no further thought to it." + +"Well, it seems a curious affair, John. However, it is the business +of the City watch and not mine, so we need not bother ourselves about +it. I am glad to see you have got Matthew at work again this morning. +He tells me that he thinks he has fairly got over that sprain in his +back." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CAPTAIN'S YARN + + +Mindful of the fact that this affair had added a new enemy to those +he had acquired by the break-up of the Black Gang, Cyril thought it +as well to go round and give notice to the two traders whose books he +attended to in the evening, that unless they could arrange for him to +do them in the daytime he must give up the work altogether. Both +preferred the former alternative, for they recognised the advantage +they had derived from his work, and that at a rate of pay for which +they could not have obtained the services of any scrivener in the +City. + +It was three or four days before Nellie Dowsett made her appearance +at the general table. + +"I can't make out what ails the girl," her mother said, on the +previous evening. "The fever speedily left her, as I told you, but +she is weak and languid, and seems indisposed to talk." + +"She will soon get over that, my dear," Captain Dave said. "Girls are +not like men. I have seen them on board ship. One day they are +laughing and fidgeting about like wild things, the next day they are +poor, woebegone creatures. If she gets no better in a few days, I +will see when my old friend, Jim Carroll, is starting in his brig for +Yarmouth, and will run down with her myself--and of course with you, +wife, if you will go--and stay there a few days while he is unloading +and filling up again. The sea-air will set her up again, I warrant." + +"Not at this time of year," Dame Dowsett said firmly. "With these +bitter winds it is no time for a lass to go a-sailing; and they say +that Yarmouth is a great deal colder than we are here, being exposed +to the east winds." + +"Well, well, Dame, then we will content ourselves with a run in the +hoy down to Margate. If we choose well the wind and tide we can start +from here in the morning and maybe reach there late in the evening, +or, if not, the next morning to breakfast. Or if you think that too +far we will stop at Sheerness, where we can get in two tides easily +enough if the wind be fair." + +"That would be better, David; but it were best to see how she goes +on. It may be, as you say, that she will shortly gain her strength +and spirits again." + +It was evident, when Nellie entered the room at breakfast-time the +next morning, that her mother's reports had not been exaggerated. She +looked, indeed, as if recovering from a severe illness, and when she +said good-morning to her father her voice trembled and her eyes +filled with tears. + +"Tut, tut, lass! This will never do. I shall soon hardly own you for +my Nellie. We shall have to feed you up on capons and wine, child, or +send you down to one of the baths for a course of strengthening +waters." + +She smiled faintly, and then turning, gave her hand to Cyril. As she +did so, a slight flush of colour came into her cheeks. + +"I am heartily glad to see you down again, Mistress Nellie," he said, +"and wish you a fair and speedy recovery." + +"I shall be better presently," she replied, with an effort. +"Good-morning, John." + +"Good-morning, Mistress Nellie. Right glad are we to see you down +again, for it makes but a dull table without your merry laugh to give +an edge to our appetites." + +She sat down now, and the others, seeing that it was best to let her +alone for a while, chatted gaily together. + +"There is no talk in the City but of the war, Cyril," the Captain +said presently. "They say that the Dutch make sure of eating us up, +but they won't find it as easy a job as they fancy. The Duke of York +is to command the Fleet. They say that Prince Rupert will be second. +To my mind they ought to have entrusted the whole matter to him. He +proved himself as brave a captain at sea as he was on land, and I +will warrant he would lead his ships into action as gallantly as he +rode at the head of his Cavaliers on many a stricken field. The ships +are fitting out in all haste, and they are gathering men at every +sea-port. I should say they will have no lack of hands, for there are +many ships laid up, that at other times trade with Holland, and +Dantzic, and Dunkirk, and many a bold young sailor who will be glad +to try whether he can fight as stoutly against the Dutch under York +and Rupert as his father did under Blake." + +"For my part," Cyril said, "I cannot understand it; for it seems to +me that the English and Dutch have been fighting for the last year. I +have been too busy to read the Journal, and have not been in the way +of hearing the talk of the coffeehouses and taverns; but, beyond that +it is some dispute about the colonies, I know little of the matter." + +"I am not greatly versed in it myself, lad. Nellie here reads the +Journal, and goes abroad more than any of us, and should be able to +tell us something about it. Now, girl, can't you do something to set +us right in this matter, for I like not to be behind my neighbours, +though I am such a stay-at-home, having, as I thank the Lord, much +happiness here, and no occasion to go out to seek it." + +"There was much discourse about it, father, the evening I went to +Dame King's. There were several gentlemen there who had trade with +the East, and one of them held shares in the English Company trading +thither. After supper was over, they discoursed more fully on the +matter than was altogether pleasing to some of us, who would much +rather that, as we had hoped, we might have dancing or singing. I +could see that Dame King herself was somewhat put out that her +husband should have, without her knowing of his intention, brought in +these gentlemen. Still, the matter of their conversation was new to +us, and we became at last so mightily interested in it that we +listened to the discourse without bemoaning ourselves that we had +lost the amusement we looked for. I know I wished at the time that +you had been there. I say not that I can repeat all that I heard, but +as I had before read some of the matters spoken of in the Journal, I +could follow what the gentlemen said more closely. Soon after the +coming of the King to the throne the friendship between us and the +Spaniards, that had been weakened during the mastership of Cromwell, +was renewed, and they gave our ships many advantages at their ports, +while, on the other hand, they took away the privileges the Dutch had +enjoyed there, and thus our commerce with Spain increased, while that +of the Dutch diminished." + +"That is certainly true, Nellie," her father said. "We have three +ships sailing through the Mediterranean now to one that sailed there +ten years ago, and doubtless the Dutch must have suffered by the +increase in our trade." + +"Then he said that, as we had obtained the Island of Bombay in the +East Indies and the City of Tangier in Africa as the dowry of the +Queen, and had received the Island of Poleron for our East India +Company by the treaty with Holland, our commerce everywhere +increased, and raised their jealousy higher and higher. There was +nothing in this of which complaint could be made by the Dutch +Government, but nevertheless they gave encouragement to their East +and West India Companies to raise trouble. Their East India Company +refused to hand over the Island, and laid great limitations as to the +places at which our merchants might trade in India. The other Company +acted in the same manner, and lawlessly took possession of Cape Coast +Castle, belonging to our English Company. + +"The Duke of York, who was patron and governor of our African +Company, sent Sir Robert Holmes with four frigates to Guinea to make +reprisals. He captured a place from the Dutch and named it James's +Fort, and then, proceeding to the river Gambia, he turned out the +Dutch traders there and built a fort. A year ago, as the Dutch still +held Cape Coast Castle, Sir Robert was sent out again with orders to +take it by force, and on the way he overhauled a Dutch ship and found +she carried a letter of secret instructions from the Dutch Government +to the West India Company to take the English Fort at Cormantin. +Seeing that the Hollanders, although professing friendship, were thus +treacherously inclined, he judged himself justified in exceeding the +commission he had received, and on his way south he touched at Cape +Verde. There he first captured two Dutch ships and then attacked +their forts on the Island of Gorse and captured them, together with a +ship lying under their guns. + +"In the fort he found a great quantity of goods ready to be shipped. +He loaded his own vessels, and those that he had captured, with the +merchandise, and carried it to Sierra Leone. Then he attacked the +Dutch fort of St. George del Mena, the strongest on the coast, but +failed there; but he soon afterwards captured Cape Coast Castle, +though, as the gentlemen said, a mightily strong place. Then he +sailed across to America, and, as you know, captured the Dutch +Settlements of New Netherlands, and changed the name into that of New +York. He did this not so much out of reprisal for the misconduct of +the Dutch in Africa, but because the land was ours by right, having +been discovered by the Cabots and taken possession of in the name of +King Henry VII., and our title always maintained until the Dutch +seized it thirty years ago. + +"Then the Dutch sent orders to De Ruyter, who commanded the fleet +which was in the Mediterranean, to sail away privately and to make +reprisals on the Coast of Guinea and elsewhere. He first captured +several of our trading forts, among them that of Cormantin, taking +great quantities of goods belonging to our Company; he then sailed to +Barbadoes, where he was beaten off by the forts. Then he captured +twenty of our ships off Newfoundland, and so returned to Holland, +altogether doing damage, as the House of Commons told His Majesty, to +the extent of eight hundred thousand pounds. All this time the Dutch +had been secretly preparing for war, which they declared in January, +which has forced us to do the same, although we delayed a month in +hopes that some accommodation might be arrived at. I think, father, +that is all that he told us, though there were many details that I do +not remember." + +"And very well told, lass, truly. I wonder that your giddy head +should have taken in so much matter. Of course, now you tell them +over, I have heard these things before--the wrong that the Dutch did +our Company by seizing their post at Cape Coast, and the reprisals +that Sir Robert Holmes took upon them with our Company's ships--but +they made no great mark on my memory, for I was just taking over my +father's work when the first expedition took place. At any rate, none +can say that we have gone into this war unjustly, seeing that the +Dutch began it, altogether without cause, by first attacking our +trading posts." + +"It seems to me, Captain Dave," John Wilkes said, "that it has been +mighty like the war that our English buccaneers waged against the +Spaniards in the West Indies, while the two nations were at peace at +home." + +"It is curious," Cyril said, "that the trouble begun in Africa should +have shifted to the other side of the Atlantic." + +"Ay, lad; just as that first trouble was at last fought out in the +English Channel, off the coast of France, so this is likely to be +decided in well-nigh the same waters." + +"The gentlemen, the other night, were all of opinion," Nellie said, +"that the matter would never have come to such a head had it not been +that De Witt, who is now the chief man in Holland, belongs to the +French party there, and has been urged on by King Louis, for his own +interest, to make war with us." + +"That may well be, Nellie. In all our English wars France has ever +had a part either openly or by intrigues. France never seems to be +content with attending to her own business, but is ever meddling with +her neighbours', and, if not fighting herself, trying to set them by +the ears against each other. If I were a bit younger, and had not +lost my left flipper, I would myself volunteer for the service. As +for Master Cyril here, I know he is burning to lay aside the pen and +take to the sword." + +"That is so, Captain Dave. As you know, I only took up the pen to +keep me until I was old enough to use a sword. I have been two years +at it now, and I suppose it will be as much longer before I can think +of entering the service of one of the Protestant princes; but as soon +as I am fit to do so, I shall get an introduction and be off; but I +would tenfold rather fight for my own country, and would gladly sail +in the Fleet, though I went but as a ship's boy." + +"That is the right spirit, Master Cyril," John Wilkes exclaimed. "I +would go myself if the Captain could spare me and they would take +such a battered old hulk." + +"I couldn't spare you, John," Captain Dave said. "I have been mighty +near making a mess of it, even with you as chief mate, and I might as +well shut up shop altogether if you were to leave me. I should miss +you, too, Cyril," he went on, stretching his arm across the table to +shake hands with the lad. "You have proved a real friend and a true; +but were there a chance of your going as an officer, I would not balk +you, even if I could do so. It is but natural that a lad of spirit +should speak and think as you do; besides, the war may not last for +long, and when you come back, and the ships are paid off, you would +soon wipe off the arrears of work, and get the books into ship-shape +order. But, work or no work, that room of yours will always stand +ready for you while I live, and there will always be a plate for you +on this table." + +"Thank you, Captain Dave. You always overrate my services, and forget +that they are but the consequence of the kindness that you have shown +to me. But I have no intention of going. It was but a passing +thought. I have but one friend who could procure me a berth as a +volunteer, and as it is to him I must look for an introduction to +some foreign prince, I would not go to him twice for a favour, +especially as I have no sort of claim on his kindness. To go as a +cabin boy would be to go with men under my own condition, and +although I do not shirk hard work and rough usage, I should not care +for them in such fashion. Moreover, I am doing work which, even +without your hospitality, would suffice to keep me comfortably, and +if I went away, though but for a month, I might find that those for +whom I work had engaged other assistance. Spending naught, I am +laying by money for the time when I shall have to travel at my own +expense and to provide myself necessaries, and, maybe, to keep myself +for a while until I can procure employment. I have the prospect that, +by the end of another two years, I shall have gathered a sufficient +store for all my needs, and I should be wrong to throw myself out of +employment merely to embark on an adventure, and so to make a break, +perhaps a long one, in my plans." + +"Don't you worry yourself on that score," Captain Dave said warmly, +and then checked himself. "It will be time to talk about that when +the time comes. But you are right, lad. I like a man who steadfastly +holds on the way he has chosen, and will not turn to the right or +left. There is not much that a man cannot achieve if he keeps his aim +steadily in view. Why, Cyril, if you said you had made up your mind +to be Lord Mayor of London, I would wager that you would some day be +elected." + +Cyril laughed. + +"I shall never set my eyes in that direction, nor do I think the +thing I have set myself to do will ever be in my power--that is, to +buy back my father's estate; but so long as I live I shall keep that +in view." + +"More unlikely things have happened, lad. You have got first to rise +to be a General; then, what with your pay and your share in the sack +of a city or two, and in other ways, you may come home with a purse +full enough even for that. But it is time for us to be going down +below. Matthew will think that we have forgotten him altogether." + +Another fortnight passed. Nellie had, to a considerable extent, +recovered from the shock that she had suffered, but her manner was +still quiet and subdued, her sallies were less lively, and her father +noticed, with some surprise, that she no longer took any great +interest in the gossip he retailed of the gay doings of the Court. + +"I can't think what has come over the girl," he said to his wife. +"She seems well in health again, but she is changed a good deal, +somehow. She is gentler and softer. I think she is all the better for +it, but I miss her merry laugh and her way of ordering things about, +as if her pleasure only were to be consulted." + +"I think she is very much improved," Mrs. Dowsett said decidedly; +"though I can no more account for it than you can. She never used to +have any care about the household, and now she assists me in my work, +and is in all respects dutiful and obedient, and is not for ever bent +upon gadding about as she was before. I only hope it will continue +so, for, in truth, I have often sighed over the thought that she +would make but a poor wife for an honest citizen." + +"Tut, tut, wife. It has never been as bad as that. Girls will be +girls, and if they are a little vain of their good looks, that will +soften down in time, when they get to have the charge of a household. +You yourself, dame, were not so staid when I first wooed you, as you +are now; and I think you had your own little share of vanity, as was +natural enough in the prettiest girl in Plymouth." + +When Nellie was in the room Cyril did his best to save her from being +obliged to take part in the conversation, by inducing Captain Dave to +tell him stories of some of his adventures at sea. + +"You were saying, Captain Dave, that you had had several engagements +with the Tunis Rovers," he said one evening. "Were they ever near +taking you?" + +"They did take me once, lad, and that without an engagement; but, +fortunately, I was not very long a prisoner. It was not a pleasant +time though, John, was it?" + +"It was not, Captain Dave. I have been in sore danger of wreck +several times, and in three big sea-fights; but never did I feel so +out of heart as when I was lying, bound hand and foot, on the ballast +in the hold of that corsair. No true sailor is afraid of being +killed; but the thought that one might be all one's life a slave +among the cruel heathen was enough to take the stiffness out of any +man's courage." + +"But how was it that you were taken without an engagement, Captain +Dave? And how did you make your escape?" + +"Well, lad, it was the carelessness of my first mate that did it; but +as he paid for his fault with his life let us say naught against him. +He was a handsome, merry young fellow, and had shipped as second +mate, but my first had died of fever in the Levant, and of course he +got the step, though all too young for the responsibility. We had met +with some bad weather when south of Malta, and had had a heavy gale +for three days, during which time we lost our main topmast, and badly +strained the mizzen. The weather abated when we were off Pantellaria, +which is a bare rock rising like a mountain peak out of the sea, and +with only one place where a landing can be safely effected. As the +gale had blown itself out, and it was likely we should have a spell +of settled weather, I decided to anchor close in to the Island, and +to repair damages. + +"We were hard at work for two days. All hands had had a stiff time of +it, and the second night, having fairly repaired damages, I thought +to give the crew a bit of a rest, and, not dreaming of danger, +ordered that half each watch might remain below. John Wilkes was +acting as my second mate. Pettigrew took the first watch; John had +the middle watch; and then the other came up again. I turned out once +or twice, but everything was quiet--we had not seen a sail all day. +There was a light breeze blowing, but no chance of its increasing, +and as we were well sheltered in the only spot where the anchorage +was good, I own that I did not impress upon Pettigrew the necessity +for any particular vigilance. Anyhow, just as morning was breaking I +was woke by a shout. I ran out on deck, but as I did so there was a +rush of dark figures, and I was knocked down and bound before I knew +what had happened. As soon as I could think it over, it was clear +enough. The Moor had been coming into the anchorage, and, catching +sight of us in the early light, had run alongside and boarded us. + +"The watch, of course, must have been asleep. There was not a shot +fired nor a drop of blood shed, for those on deck had been seized and +bound before they could spring to their feet, and the crew had all +been caught in their bunks. It was bitter enough. There was the +vessel gone, and the cargo, and with them my savings of twenty years' +hard work, and the prospect of slavery for life. The men were all +brought aft and laid down side by side. Young Pettigrew was laid next +to me. + +"'I wish to heaven, captain,' he said, 'you had got a pistol and your +hand free, and would blow out my brains for me. It is all my fault, +and hanging at the yard-arm is what I deserve. I never thought there +was the slightest risk--not a shadow of it--and feeling a bit dozy, +sat down for five minutes' caulk. Seeing that, no doubt the men +thought they might do the same; and this is what has come of it. I +must have slept half an hour at least, for there was no sail in sight +when I went off, and this Moor must have come round the point and +made us out after that.' + +"The corsair was lying alongside of us, her shrouds lashed to ours. +There was a long jabbering among the Moors when they had taken off +our hatches and seen that we were pretty well full up with cargo; +then, after a bit, we were kicked, and they made signs for us to get +on our feet and to cross over into their ship. The crew were sent +down into the forward hold, and some men went down with them to tie +them up securely. John Wilkes, Pettigrew, and myself were shoved down +into a bit of a place below the stern cabin. Our legs were tied, as +well as our arms. The trap was shut, and there we were in the dark. +Of course I told Pettigrew that, though he had failed in his duty, +and it had turned out badly, he wasn't to be blamed as if he had gone +to sleep in sight of an enemy. + +"'I had never given the Moors a thought myself,' I said, 'and it was +not to be expected that you would. But no sailor, still less an +officer, ought to sleep on his watch, even if his ship is anchored in +a friendly harbour, and you are to blame that you gave way to +drowsiness. Still, even if you hadn't, it might have come to the same +thing in the long run, for the corsair is a large one, and might have +taken us even if you had made her out as she rounded the point.' + +"But, in spite of all I could say to cheer him, he took it to heart +badly, and was groaning and muttering to himself when they left us in +the dark, so I said to him,-- + +"'Look here, lad, the best way to retrieve the fault you have +committed is to try and get us out of the scrape. Set your brains to +work, and let us talk over what had best be done. There is no time to +be lost, for with a fair wind they can run from here to Tunis in +four-and-twenty hours, and once there one may give up all hope. There +are all our crew on board this ship. The Moor carried twice as many +men as we do, but we may reckon they will have put more than half of +them on board our barque; they don't understand her sails as well as +they do their own, and will therefore want a strong prize crew on +board.' + +"'I am ready to do anything, captain,' the young fellow said firmly. +'If you were to give me the word, I would get into their magazine if +I could, and blow the ship into the air.' + +"'Well, I don't know that I will give you that order, Pettigrew. To +be a heathen's slave is bad, but, at any rate, I would rather try +that life for a bit than strike my colours at once. Now let us think +it over. In the first place we have to get rid of these ropes; then +we have to work our way forward to the crew; and then to get on deck +and fight for it. It is a stiff job, look at it which way one will, +but at any rate it will be better to be doing something--even if we +find at last that we can't get out of this dog-kennel--than to lie +here doing nothing.' + +"After some talk, we agreed that it was not likely the Moors would +come down to us for a long time, for they might reckon that we could +hold on without food or water easy enough until they got to Tunis; +having agreed as to that point, we set to work to get our ropes +loose. Wriggling wouldn't do it, though we tried until the cords cut +into our flesh. + +"At last Pettigrew said,-- + +"'What a fool I am! I have got my knife hanging from a lanyard round +my neck. It is under my blouse, so they did not notice it when they +turned my pockets out.' + +"It was a long job to get at that knife. At last I found the string +behind his neck, and, getting hold of it with my teeth, pulled till +the knife came up to his throat. Then John got it in his teeth, and +the first part of the job was done. The next was easy enough. John +held the handle of the knife in his teeth and Pettigrew got hold of +the blade in his, and between them they made a shift to open it; +then, after a good deal of trouble, Pettigrew shifted himself till he +managed to get the knife in his hands. I lay across him and worked +myself backwards and forwards till the blade cut through the rope at +my wrist; then, in two more minutes, we were free. Then we felt +about, and found that the boarding between us and the main hold was +old and shaky, and, with the aid of the knife and of our three +shoulders, we made a shift at last to wrench one of the boards from +its place. + +"Pettigrew, who was slightest, crawled through, and we soon got +another plank down. The hold was half full of cargo, which, no doubt, +they had taken out of some ship or other. We made our way forward +till we got to the bulkhead, which, like the one we had got through, +was but a make-shift sort of affair, with room to put your fingers +between the planks. So we hailed the men and told them how we had got +free, and that if they didn't want to work all their lives as slaves +they had best do the same. They were ready enough, you may be sure, +and, finding a passage between the planks wider in one place than the +rest, we passed the knife through to them, and told them how to set +about cutting the rope. They were a deal quicker over it than we had +been, for in our place there had been no height where we could stand +upright, but they were able to do so. Two men, standing back to back +and one holding the knife, made quick work of cutting the rope. + +"We had plenty of strength now, and were not long in getting down a +couple of planks. The first thing was to make a regular overhaul of +the cargo--as well as we could do it, without shifting things and +making a noise--to look for weapons or for anything that would come +in handy for the fight. Not a thing could we find, but we came upon a +lot of kegs that we knew, by their feel, were powder. If there had +been arms and we could have got up, we should have done it at once, +trusting to seize the ship before the other could come up to her +help. But without arms it would be madness to try in broad daylight, +and we agreed to wait till night, and to lie down again where we were +before, putting the ropes round our legs again and our hands behind +our backs, so that, if they did look in, everything should seem +secure. + +"'We shall have plenty of time,' one of the sailors said, 'for they +have coiled a big hawser down on the hatch.' + +"When we got back to our lazaret, we tried the hatch by which we had +been shoved down, but the three of us couldn't move it any more than +if it had been solid stone. We had a goodish talk over it, and it was +clear that the hatchway of the main hold was our only chance of +getting out; and we might find that a tough job. + +"'If we can't do it in any other way,' Pettigrew said, 'I should say +we had best bring enough bales and things to fill this place up to +within a foot of the top; then on that we might put a keg of powder, +bore a hole in it, and make a slow match that would blow the cabin +overhead into splinters, while the bales underneath it would prevent +the force of the explosion blowing her bottom out.' + +"We agreed that, if the worst came to the worst, we would try this, +and having settled that, went back to have a look at the main hatch. +Feeling about round it, we found the points of the staple on which +the hatchway bar worked above; they were not fastened with nuts as +they would have been with us, but were simply turned over and +clinched. We had no means of straightening them out, but we could cut +through the woodwork round them. Setting to work at that, we took it +by turns till we could see the light through the wood; then we left +it to finish after dark. All this time we knew we were under sail by +the rippling of the water along the sides. The men on board were +evidently in high delight at their easy capture, and kicked up so +much noise that there was no fear of their hearing any slight stir we +made below. + +"Very carefully we brought packages and bales under the hatchway, +till we built up a sort of platform about four feet below it. We +reckoned that, standing as thick as we could there, and all lifting +together, we could make sure of hoisting the hatchway up, and could +then spring out in a moment. + +"Pettigrew still stuck to his plan, and talked us into carrying it +out, both under the fore and aft hatches, pointing out that the two +explosions would scare the crew out of their wits, that some would be +killed, and many jump overboard in their fright. We came to see that +the scheme was really a good one, so set all the crew to carry out +the business, and they, working with stockinged feet, built up a +platform under their hatch, as well as in our den aft. Then we made +holes in two of the kegs of powder, and, shaking a little out, damped +it, and rubbed it into two strips of cotton. Putting an end of a slow +match into each of the holes, we laid the kegs in their places and +waited. + +"We made two other fuses, so that a man could go forward, and another +aft, to fire them both together. Two of the men were told off for +this job, and the rest of us gathered under the main hatch, for we +had settled now that if we heard them making any move to open the +hatches we would fire the powder at once, whatever hour it was. In +order to be ready, we cut deeper into the woodwork round the staple +till there was but the thickness of a card remaining, and we could +tell by this how light it was above. + +"It don't take long to tell you, but all this had taken us a good +many hours; and so baked were we by the heat down below, and parched +by thirst, that it was as much as I could do to persuade the men to +wait until nightfall. At last we saw the light in the cut fade and +darken. Again the men wanted to be at work, but I pointed out that if +we waited till the crew had laid down on the deck, we might carry it +through without losing a life, but if they were all awake, some of +them would be sure to come at us with their weapons, and, unarmed as +we were, might do us much harm. Still, though I succeeded in keeping +the men quiet, I felt it was hard work to put a stopper on my own +impatience. + +"At last even John here spoke up for action. + +"'I expect those who mean to sleep are off by this time,' he said. +'As to reckoning upon them all going off, there ain't no hope of it; +they will sit and jabber all night. They have made a good haul, and +have taken a stout ship with a full hold, and five-and-twenty stout +slaves, and that without losing a man. There won't be any sleep for +most of them. I reckon it is two bells now. I do think, Captain, we +might as well begin, for human nature can't stand this heat and +thirst much longer.' + +"'All right, John,' I said. 'Now, lads, remember that when the first +explosion comes--for we can't reckon on the two slow matches burning +just the same time--we all heave together till we find the hatch +lifts; then, when the second comes, we chuck it over and leap out. If +you see a weapon, catch it up, but don't waste time looking about, +but go at them with your fists. They will be scared pretty well out +of their senses, and you will not be long before you all get hold of +weapons of some sort. Now, Pettigrew, shove your blade up through the +wood and cut round the staple. Now, Jack Brown, get out that +tinder-box you said you had about you, and get a spark going.' + +"Three or four clicks were heard as the sailor struck his flint +against the steel lid of the tinder-box. + +"'All right, yer honour,' he said, 'I have got the spark.' + +"Then the two hands we had given the slow matches to, lit them at the +tinder-box, and went fore and aft, while as many of the rest of us as +could crowded under the hatch. + +"'Are you ready, fore and aft?' I asked. + +"The two men hailed in reply. + +"'Light the matches, then, and come here.' + +"I suppose it was not above a minute, but it seemed ten before there +was a tremendous explosion aft. The ship shook from stem to stern. +There was a moment's silence, and then came yells and screams mixed +with the sound of timbers and wreckage falling on the deck. + +"'Now lift,' I said. 'But not too high. That is enough--she is free. +Wait for the other.' + +"There was a rush of feet overhead as the Moors ran forward. Then +came the other explosion. + +"'Off with her, lads!' I shouted, and in a moment we flung the hatch +off and leapt out with a cheer. There was no fighting to speak of. +The officers had been killed by the first explosion under their +cabin, and many of the men had either been blown overboard or lay +crushed under the timber and wreckage. + +"The second explosion had been even more destructive, for it happened +just as the crew, in their terror, had rushed forward. Many of those +unhurt had sprung overboard at once, and as we rushed up most of the +others did the same. There was no difficulty about arms, for the deck +was strewn with weapons. Few of us, however, stopped to pick one up, +but, half mad with rage and thirst, rushed forward at the Moors. That +finished them; and before we got to them the last had sprung +overboard. There was a rush on the part of the men to the scuttle +butt. + +"'Take one drink, lads,' I shouted, 'and then to the buckets.' + +"It took us a quarter of an hour's hard work to put out the flames, +and it was lucky the powder had blown so much of the decks up that we +were enabled to get at the fire without difficulty, and so extinguish +it before it got any great hold. + +"As soon as we had got it out I called a muster. There was only one +missing;--it was Pettigrew, he being the first to leap out and rush +aft. There had been but one shot fired by the Moors. One fellow, as +he leapt on to the rail, drew his pistol from his belt and fired +before he sprang overboard. In the excitement and confusion no one +had noticed whether the shot took effect, for two or three men had +stumbled and fallen over fragments of timber or bodies as we rushed +aft. But now we searched, and soon came on the poor young fellow. The +ball had struck him fair on the forehead, and he had fallen dead +without a word or a cry. + +"There was, however, no time to grieve. We had got to re-capture the +barque, which had been but a cable's length away when we rushed on +deck; while we had been fighting the fire she had sailed on, +regardless of the shrieks and shouts of the wretches who had sprung +overboard from us. But she was still near us; both vessels had been +running before the wind, for I had sent John Wilkes to the tiller the +moment that we got possession of the corsair, and the barque was but +about a quarter of a mile ahead. + +"The wind was light, and we were running along at four knots an hour. +The Moors on board the _Kate_ had, luckily, been too scared by the +explosion to think of getting one of the guns aft and peppering us +while we were engaged in putting out the fire; and indeed, they could +not have done us much harm if they had, for the high fo'castle hid us +from their view. + +"As soon as we had found Pettigrew's body and laid it on the hatch we +had thrown off, I went aft to John. + +"'Are we gaining on her, John?' + +"'No; she has drawn away a little. But this craft is not doing her +best. I expect they wanted to keep close to the barque, and so kept +her sheets in. If you square the sails, captain, we shall soon be +upon her.' + +"That was quickly done, and then the first thing was to see that the +men were all armed. We could have got a gun forward, but I did not +want to damage the _Kate_, and we could soon see that we were +closing on her. We shoved a bag of musket-balls into each cannon, so +as to sweep her decks as we came alongside, for we knew that her crew +was a good deal stronger than we were. Still, no one had any doubt as +to the result, and it was soon evident that the Moors had got such a +scare from the fate of their comrades that they had no stomach for +fighting. + +"'They are lowering the boats,' John shouted. + +"'All the better,' I said. 'They would fight like rats caught in a +trap if we came up to them, and though we are men enough to capture +her, we might lose half our number.' + +"As soon as the boats reached the water they were all pulled up to +the starboard side, and then the helm was put down, and the barque +came round till she was broadside on to us. + +"'Down with your helm, John Wilkes!' I shouted. 'Hard down, man!' + +"John hesitated, for he had thought that I should have gone round to +the other side of her and so have caught all the boats; but, in +truth, I was so pleased at the thought of getting the craft back +again that I was willing to let the poor villains go, since they were +of a mind to do so without giving us trouble. We had punished them +enough, and the shrieks and cries of those left behind to drown were +ringing in my ears then. So we brought the corsair up quietly by the +side of the _Kate_, lashed her there, and then, with a shout of +triumph, sprang on board the old barky. + +"Not a Moor was left on board. The boats were four or five hundred +yards away, rowing at the top of their speed. The men would have run +to the guns, but I shouted,-- + +"'Let them go, lads. We have punished them heavily enough; we have +taken their ship, and sent half of them to Eternity. Let them take +the tale back to Tunis how a British merchantman re-captured their +ship. Now set to work to get some of the sail off both craft, and +then, when we have got things snug, we will splice the main brace and +have a meal.' + +"There is no more to tell. We carried the rover into Gibraltar and +sold her and her cargo there. It brought in a good round sum, and, +except for the death of Pettigrew, we had no cause to regret the +corsair having taken us by surprise that night off Pantellaria." + +"That was an exciting business, indeed, Captain Dave," Cyril said, +when the Captain brought his story to a conclusion. "If it had not +been for your good fortune in finding those kegs of powder, and +Pettigrew's idea of using them as he did, you and John might now, if +you had been alive, have been working as slaves among the Moors." + +"Yes, lad. And not the least lucky thing was that Pettigrew's knife +and Jack Brown's tinder-box had escaped the notice of the Moors. Jack +had it in an inside pocket sewn into his shirt so as to keep it dry. +It was a lesson to me, and for the rest of the time I was at sea I +always carried a knife, with a lanyard round my neck, and stowed away +in an inside pocket of my shirt, together with a tinder-box. They are +two as useful things as a sailor can have about him, for, if cast +upon a desert shore after a wreck, a man with a knife and tinder-box +may make shift to live, when, without them, he and his comrades might +freeze to death." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY + + +The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an +hour. + +"Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe! Did you not find +your cronies there?" + +"I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the +Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it +seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of +the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask +Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening." + +"I should like it much, John. I saw a great fire in Holborn just +after I came over from France, and a brave sight it was, though very +terrible; and I would willingly see one again." + +He took his hat and cloak and was about to be off, when Captain Dave +called after him,-- + +"Buckle on your sword, lad, and leave your purse behind you. A fire +ever attracts thieves and cut-throats, who flock round in hopes of +stealing something in the confusion. Besides, as I have told you +before, you should never go out after dark without your sword, even +were it but to cross the road." + +Cyril ran upstairs to his room, buckled on his weapon, and ran down +again. + +"The Captain is right," John Wilkes said, as he joined him at the +door. "After your two adventures, it would be folly for you to go out +unarmed." + +"Oh, I expect they have forgotten about me long ago," Cyril laughed +lightly. + +"I don't know," John Wilkes said seriously. "As to Marner's gang, I +think that there is not much fear from them, unless that young rascal +Robert and the scoundrel who was with him have returned from Holland; +and that they are not likely to do for some time to come. But it +would not be in human nature if the man you call John Harvey should +take his defeat without trying to pay you back for that wound you +gave him, for getting Mistress Nellie out of his hands, and for +making him the laughing-stock of his comrades. I tell you that there +is scarce an evening that I have gone out but some fellow passes me +before I have gone twenty yards, and, as he brushes my sleeve, turns +his head to look at me. But yesternight I said to one who so behaved, +'Look here, mate, this is not the first time you have run against me. +I warn you that if it happens again I will crack your head with my +cudgel.' The fellow went off, muttering and grumbling, but I have no +doubt that he and the others, for it certainly was not always the +same man, were watching for you. To-night there was no one about, or, +if there was, he did not come near me, and it may be that, finding +you never leave the house after nightfall, they have decided to give +it up for the present. But I thought I heard a footfall lower down +the street, just as we came out of the house, and it is like enough +that we are followed now." + +"At any rate, they would scarce attack two of us, John, and I should +not mind if they did. It is a stab in the back that I am afraid of +more than an open quarrel." + +"You may have a better swordsman to deal with next time. The fellow +himself would scarcely care to cross swords with you again, but he +would have no difficulty in getting half-a-dozen cut-throats from the +purlieus of the Temple or Westminster, professional bullies, who are +ready to use their swords to those who care to purchase them, and who +would cut a throat for a few crowns, without caring a jot whose +throat it was. Some of these fellows are disbanded soldiers. Some are +men who were ruined in the wars. Some are tavern bullies--broken men, +reckless and quarrelsome gamblers so long as they have a shilling in +their pockets, but equally ready to take to the road or to rob a +house when their pockets are empty." + +By this time they had passed the Exchange into Cheapside. Many people +were hurrying in the same direction and wondering where the fire was. +Presently one of the Fire Companies, with buckets, ladders, and axes, +passed them at a run. Even in Cheapside the glow in the sky ahead +could be plainly seen, but it was not until they passed St. Paul's +and stood at the top of Ludgate Hill that the flames, shooting up +high in the air, were visible. They were almost straight ahead. + +"It must be at the other end of Fleet Street," Cyril said, as they +broke into a run. + +"Farther than that, lad. It must be one of the mansions along the +Strand. A fire always looks closer than it is. I have seen a ship in +flames that looked scarce a mile away, and yet, sailing with a brisk +wind, it took us over an hour to come up to it." + +The crowd became thicker as they approached Temple Bar. The upper +windows of the houses were all open, and women were leaning out +looking at the sight. From every lane and alley men poured into the +street and swelled the hurrying current. They passed through the Bar, +expecting to find that the fire was close at hand. They had, however, +some distance farther to go, for the fire was at a mansion in the +Savoy. Another Fire Company came along when they were within a +hundred yards of the spot. + +"Join in with them," Cyril said; and he and John Wilkes managed to +push their way into the ranks, joining in the shout, "Way there, way! +Make room for the buckets!" + +Aided by some of the City watch the Company made its way through the +crowd, and hurried down the hill from the Strand into the Savoy. A +party of the King's Guard, who had just marched up, kept back the +crowd, and, when once in the open space, Cyril and his companion +stepped out from the ranks and joined a group of people who had +arrived before the constables and soldiers had come up. + +The mansion from which the fire had originated was in flames from top +to bottom. The roof had fallen in. Volumes of flame and sparks shot +high into the air, threatening the safety of several other houses +standing near. The Fire Companies were working their hand-pumps, +throwing water on to the doors and woodwork of these houses. Long +lines of men were extended down to the edge of the river and passed +the buckets backwards and forwards. City officials, gentlemen of the +Court, and officers of the troops, moved to and fro shouting +directions and superintending the work. From many of the houses the +inhabitants were bringing out their furniture and goods, aided by the +constables and spectators. + +"It is a grand sight," Cyril said, as, with his companion, he took +his place in a quiet corner where a projecting portico threw a deep +shadow. + +"It will soon be grander still. The wind is taking the sparks and +flames westwards, and nothing can save that house over there. Do you +see the little jets of flame already bursting through the roof?" + +"The house seems empty. There is not a window open." + +"It looks so, Cyril, but there may be people asleep at the back. Let +us work round and have a look from behind." + +They turned down an alley, and in a minute or two came out behind the +house. There was a garden and some high trees, but it was surrounded +by a wall, and they could not see the windows. + +"Here, Cyril, I will give you a hoist up. If you stand on my +shoulders, you can reach to the top of the wall and pull yourself up. +Come along here to where that branch projects over. That's it. Now +drop your cloak, and jump on to my back. That is right. Now get on to +my shoulders." + +Cyril managed to get up. + +"I can just touch the top, but I can't get my fingers on to it." + +"Put your foot on my head. I will warrant it is strong enough to bear +your weight." + +Cyril did as he was told, grasped the top of the wall, and, after a +sharp struggle, seated himself astride on it. Just as he did so, a +window in a wing projecting into the garden was thrown open, and a +female voice uttered a loud scream for help. There was light enough +for Cyril to see that the lower windows were all barred. He shouted +back,-- + +"Can't you get down the staircase?" + +"No; the house is full of smoke. There are some children here. Help! +Help!" and the voice rose in a loud scream again. + +Cyril dropped down into the roadway by the side of John Wilkes. + +"There are some women and children in there, John. They can't get +out. We must go round to the other side and get some axes and break +down the door." + +Snatching up his cloak, he ran at full speed to his former position, +followed by Wilkes. The roof of the house was now in flames. Many of +the shutters and window-frames had also caught fire, from the heat. +He ran up to two gentlemen who seemed to be directing the operations. + +"There are some women and children in a room at the back of that +house," he said. "I have just been round there to see. They are in +the second storey, and are crying for help." + +"I fear the ladders are too short." + +"I can tie two or three of them together," Wilkes said. "I am an old +sailor and can answer for the knots." + +The firemen were already dashing water on the lower windows of the +front of the house. A party with axes were cutting at the door, but +this was so massive and solid that it resisted their efforts. One of +the gentlemen went down to them. At his orders eight or ten men +seized ladders. Cyril snatched some ropes from a heap that had been +thrown down by the firemen, and the party, with one of the gentlemen, +ran round to the back of the house. Two ladders were placed against +the wall. John Wilkes, running up one of them, hauled several of the +others up, and lowered them into the garden. + +The flames were now issuing from some of the upper windows. Cyril +dropped from the wall into the garden, and, running close up to the +house, shouted to three or four women, who were screaming loudly, and +hanging so far out that he thought they would fall, that help was at +hand, and that they would be speedily rescued. John Wilkes rapidly +tied three of the short ladders together. These were speedily raised, +but it was found that they just reached the window. One of the +firemen ran up, while John set to work to prepare another long +ladder. As there was no sign of life at any other window he laid it +down on the grass when finished. + +"If you will put it up at the next window," Cyril said, "I will mount +it. The woman said there were children in the house, and possibly I +may find them. Those women are so frightened that they don't know +what they are doing." + +One woman had already been got on to the other ladder, but instead of +coming down, she held on tightly, screaming at the top of her voice, +until the fireman with great difficulty got up by her side, wrenched +her hands from their hold, threw her across his shoulder, and carried +her down. + +The room was full of smoke as Cyril leapt into it, but he found that +it was not, as he had supposed, the one in which the women at the +next window were standing. Near the window, however, an elderly woman +was lying on the floor insensible, and three girls of from eight to +fourteen lay across her. Cyril thrust his head out of the window. + +"Come up, John," he shouted. "I want help." + +He lifted the youngest of the girls, and as he got her out of the +window, John's head appeared above the sill. + +"Take her down quick, John," he said, as he handed the child to him. +"There are three others. They are all insensible from the smoke." + +Filling his lungs with fresh air, he turned into the blinding smoke +again, and speedily reappeared at the window with another of the +girls. John was not yet at the bottom; he placed her with her head +outside the window, and was back with the eldest girl by the time +Wilkes was up again. He handed her to him, and then, taking the +other, stepped out on to the ladder and followed Wilkes down. + +"Brave lad!" the gentleman said, patting him on the shoulder. "Are +there any more of them?" + +"One more--a woman, sir. Do you go up, John. I will follow, for I +doubt whether I can lift her by myself." + +He followed Wilkes closely up the ladder. There was a red glow now in +the smoke. Flames were bursting through the door. John was waiting at +the window. + +"Which way, lad? There is no seeing one's hand in the smoke." + +"Just in front, John, not six feet away. Hold your breath." + +They dashed forward together, seized the woman between them, and, +dragging her to the window, placed her head and shoulders on the +sill. + +"You go first, John. She is too heavy for me," Cyril gasped. + +John stumbled out, half suffocated, while Cyril thrust his head as +far as he could outside the window. + +"That is it, John; you take hold of her shoulder, and I will help you +get her on to your back." + +Between them they pushed her nearly out, and then, with Cyril's +assistance, John got her across his shoulders. She was a heavy woman, +and the old sailor had great difficulty in carrying her down. Cyril +hung far out of the window till he saw him put his foot on the +ground; then he seized a rung of the ladder, swung himself out on to +it, and was soon down. + +For a time he felt confused and bewildered, and was conscious that if +he let go the ladder he should fall. He heard a voice say, "Bring one +of those buckets of water," and directly afterwards, "Here, lad, put +your head into this," and a handful of water was dashed into his +face. It revived him, and, turning round, he plunged his head into a +bucket that a man held up for him. Then he took a long breath or two, +pressed the water from his hair, and felt himself again. The women at +the other window had by this time been brought down. A door in the +garden wall had been broken down with axes, and the women and girls +were taken away to a neighbouring house. + +"There is nothing more to do here," the gentlemen said. "Now, men, +you are to enter the houses round about. Wherever a door is fastened, +break it in. Go out on to the roofs with buckets, put out the sparks +as fast as they fall. I will send some more men to help you at once." +He then put his hand on Cyril's shoulder, and walked back with him to +the open space. + +"We have saved them all," he said to the other gentleman who had now +come up, "but it has been a close touch, and it was only by the +gallantry of this young gentleman and another with him that the lives +of three girls and a woman were rescued. I think all the men that can +be spared had better go round to the houses in that direction. You +see, the wind is setting that way, and the only hope of stopping the +progress of the fire is to get plenty of men with buckets out on the +roofs and at all the upper windows." + +The other gentleman gave the necessary orders to an officer. + +"Now, young sir, may I ask your name?" the other said to Cyril. + +"Cyril Shenstone, sir," he replied respectfully; for he saw that the +two men before him were persons of rank. + +"Shenstone? I know the name well. Are you any relation of Sir Aubrey +Shenstone?" + +"He was my father, sir." + +"A brave soldier, and a hearty companion," the other said warmly. "He +rode behind me scores of times into the thick of the fight. I am +Prince Rupert, lad." + +Cyril doffed his hat in deep respect. His father had always spoken of +the Prince in terms of boundless admiration, and had over and over +again lamented that he had not been able to join the Prince in his +exploits at sea. + +"What has become of my old friend?" the Prince asked. + +"He died six months ago, Prince." + +"I am sorry to hear it. I did hear that, while I was away, he had +been suing at Court. I asked for him, but could get no tidings of his +whereabouts. But we cannot speak here. Ask for me to-morrow at +Whitehall. Do you know this gentleman?" + +"No, sir, I have not the honour." + +"This is the Duke of Albemarle, my former enemy, but now my good +friend. You will like the lad no worse, my Lord, because his father +more than once rode with me into the heart of your ranks." + +"Certainly not," the Duke said. "It is clear that the son will be as +gallant a gentleman as his father was before him, and, thank God! it +is not against Englishmen that he will draw his sword. You may count +me as your friend, sir, henceforth." + +Cyril bowed deeply and retired, while Prince Rupert and the Duke +hurried away again to see that the operations they had directed were +properly carried out. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW JOHN WILKES FOUGHT THE DUTCH + + +After leaving Prince Rupert, Cyril returned to John Wilkes, who was +standing a short distance away. + +"John! John!" he said eagerly, as he joined him. "Who do you think +those gentlemen are?" + +"I don't know, lad. It is easy to see that they are men of importance +by the way they order everyone about." + +"The one who went with us to the garden is Prince Rupert; the other +is the Duke of Albemarle. And the Prince has told me to call upon him +to-morrow at Whitehall." + +"That is a stroke of luck, indeed, lad, and right glad am I that I +took it into my head to fetch you out to see the fire. But more than +that, you have to thank yourself, for, indeed, you behaved right +gallantly. You nearly had the Prince for your helper, for just before +I went up the ladder the last time he stepped forward and said to me, +'You must be well-nigh spent, man. I will go up this time.' However, +I said that I would finish the work, and so, without more ado, I +shook off the hand he had placed on my arm, and ran up after you. +Well, it is a stroke of good fortune to you, lad, that you should +have shown your courage under his eye--no one is more able to +appreciate a gallant action. This may help you a long way towards +bringing about the aim you were talking about the other night, and I +may live to see you Sir Cyril Shenstone yet." + +"You can see me that now," Cyril said, laughing. "My father was a +baronet, and therefore at his death I came into the title, though I +am not silly enough to go about the City as Sir Cyril Shenstone when +I am but a poor clerk. It will be time enough to call myself 'Sir' +when I see some chance of buying back our estate, though, indeed, I +have thought of taking the title again when I embark on foreign +service, as it may help me somewhat in obtaining promotion. But do +not say anything about it at home. I am Cyril Shenstone, and have +been fortunate enough to win the friendship of Captain Dave, and I +should not be so comfortable were there any change made in my +position in the family. A title is an empty thing, John, unless there +are means to support it, and plain Cyril Shenstone suits my position +far better than a title without a guinea in my purse. Indeed, till +you spoke just now, I had well-nigh forgotten that I have the right +to call myself 'Sir.'" + +They waited for two hours longer. At the end of that time four +mansions had been burnt to the ground, but the further progress of +the flames had been effectually stayed. The crowd had already begun +to scatter, and as they walked eastward the streets were full of +people making their way homeward. The bell of St. Paul's was striking +midnight as they entered. The Captain and his family had long since +gone off to bed. + +"This reminds one of that last business," John whispered, as they +went quietly upstairs. + +"It does, John. But it has been a pleasanter evening in every way +than those fruitless watches we kept in the street below." + +The next morning the story of the fire was told, and excited great +interest. + +"Who were the girls you saved, Cyril?" Nellie asked. + +"I don't know. I did not think of asking to whom the house belonged, +nor, indeed, was there anyone to ask. Most of the people were too +busy to talk to, and the rest were spectators who had, like +ourselves, managed to make their way in through the lines of the +soldiers and watch." + +"Were they ladies?" + +"I really don't know," Cyril laughed. "The smoke was too thick to see +anything about them, and I should not know them if I met them to-day; +and, besides, when you only see a young person in her nightdress, it +is hard to form any opinion as to her rank." + +Nellie joined in the laugh. + +"I suppose not, Cyril. It might make a difference to you, though. +Those houses in the Savoy are almost all the property of noblemen, +and you might have gained another powerful friend if they had been +the daughters of one." + +"I should not think they were so," Cyril said. "There seemed to be no +one else in the house but three maid servants and the woman who was +in the room with them. I should say the family were all away and the +house left in charge of servants. The woman may have been a +housekeeper, and the girls her children; besides, even had it been +otherwise, it was merely by chance that I helped them out. It was +John who tied the ladders together and who carried the girls down, +one by one. If I had been alone I should only have had time to save +the youngest, for I am not accustomed to running up and down ladders, +as he is, and by the time I had got her down it would have been too +late to have saved the others. Indeed, I am not sure that we did save +them; they were all insensible, and, for aught I know, may not have +recovered from the effects of the smoke. My eyes are smarting even +now." + +"And so you are to see Prince Rupert to-day, Cyril?" Captain Dave +said. "I am afraid we shall be losing you, for he will, I should say, +assuredly appoint you to one of his ships if you ask him." + +"That would be good fortune indeed," Cyril said. "I cannot but think +myself that he may do so, though it would be almost too good to be +true. Certainly he spoke very warmly, and, although he may not +himself have the appointment of his officers, a word from him at the +Admiralty would, no doubt, be sufficient. At any rate, it is a great +thing indeed to have so powerful a friend at Court. It may be that, +at the end of another two years, we may be at war with some other +foreign power, and that I may be able to enter our own army instead +of seeking service abroad. If not, much as I should like to go to sea +to fight against the Dutch, service in this Fleet would be of no real +advantage to me, for the war may last but for a short time, and as +soon as it is over the ships will be laid up again and the crews +disbanded." + +"Ay, but if you find the life of a sailor to your liking, Cyril, you +might do worse than go into the merchant service. I could help you +there, and you might soon get the command of a trader. And, let me +tell you, it is a deal better to walk the decks as captain than it is +to be serving on shore with twenty masters over you; and there is +money to be made, too. A captain is always allowed to take in a +certain amount of cargo on his own account; that was the way I +scraped together money enough to buy my own ship at last, and to be +master as well as owner, and there is no reason why you should not do +the same." + +"Thank you, Captain Dave. I will think it over when I find out +whether I like a sea life, but at present it seems to me that my +inclinations turn rather towards the plan that my father recommended, +and that, for the last two years, I have always had before me. You +said, the other day, you had fought the Dutch, John?" + +"Ay, ay, Master Cyril; but, in truth, it was from no wish or desire +on my part that I did so. I had come ashore from Captain Dave's ship +here in the Pool, and had been with some of my messmates who had +friends in Wapping and had got three days' leave ashore, as the cargo +we expected had not come on board the ship. We had kept it up a bit, +and it was latish when I was making my way down to the stairs. I +expect that I was more intent on making a straight course down the +street than in looking about for pirates, when suddenly I found +myself among a lot of men. One of them seized me by the arm. + +"'Hands off, mate!' says I, and I lifted my fist to let fly at him, +when I got a knock at the back of the head. The next thing I knew +was, I was lying in the hold of a ship, and, as I made out presently, +with a score of others, some of whom were groaning, and some cursing. + +"'Hullo, mates!' says I. 'What port is this we are brought up in?' + +"'We are on board the _Tartar_,' one said. + +"I knew what that meant, for the _Tartar_ was the receiving hulk +where they took the pressed men. + +"The next morning, without question asked, we were brought up on +deck, tumbled into a small sloop, and taken down to Gravesend, and +there put, in batches of four or five, into the ships of war lying +there. It chanced that I was put on board Monk's flagship the +_Resolution_. And that is how it was I came to fight the Dutch." + +"What year was that in, John?" + +"'53--in May it was. Van Tromp, at that time, with ninety-eight ships +of war, and six fire-ships, was in the Downs, and felt so much Master +of the Sea that he sailed in and battered Dover Castle." + +"Then you were in the fight of the 2nd of June?" + +"Ay; and in that of the 31st of July, which was harder still." + +"Tell me all about it, John." + +"Lor' bless you, sir, there is nothing to tell as far as I was +concerned. I was at one of the guns on the upper deck, but I might as +well have been down below for anything I saw of it. It was just load +and fire, load and fire. Sometimes, through the clouds of smoke, one +caught a sight of the Dutchman one was firing at; more often one +didn't. There was no time for looking about, I can tell you, and if +there had been time there was nothing to see. It was like being in a +big thunderstorm, with thunderbolts falling all round you, and a +smashing and a grinding and a ripping that would have made your hair +stand on end if you had only had time to think of it. But we hadn't +time. It was 'Now then, my hearties, blaze away! Keep it up, lads! +The Dutchmen have pretty near had enough of it!' And then, at last, +'They are running, lads. Run in your guns, and tend the sails.' And +then a cheer as loud as we could give--which wasn't much, I can tell +you, for we were spent with labour, and half choked with powder, and +our tongues parched up with thirst." + +"How many ships had you?" + +"We had ninety-five war-ships, and five fire-ships, so the game was +an equal one. They had Tromp and De Ruyter to command them, and we +had Monk and Deane. Both Admirals were on board our ship, and in the +very first broadside the Dutch fired a chain-shot, and pretty well +cut Admiral Deane in two. I was close to him at the time. Monk, who +was standing by his side, undid his own cloak in a moment, threw it +over his comrade, and held up his hand to the few of us that had seen +what had happened, to take no notice of it. + +"It was a good thing that Deane and Monk were on board the same ship. +If it had not been so, Deane's flag would have been hauled down and +all the Fleet would have known of his death, which, at the +commencement of the fight, would have greatly discouraged the men. + +"They told me, though I know naught about it, that Rear-Admiral +Lawson charged with the Blue Squadron right through the Dutch line, +and so threw them into confusion. However, about three o'clock, the +fight having begun at eleven, Van Tromp began to draw off, and we got +more sail on the _Resolution_ and followed them for some hours, they +making a sort of running fight of it, till one of their big ships +blew up, about nine in the evening, when they laid in for shore. +Blake came up in the night with eighteen ships. The Dutch tried to +draw off, but at eight o'clock we came up to them, and, after +fighting for four hours, they hauled off and ran, in great confusion, +for the flats, where we could not follow them, and so they escaped to +Zeeland. We heard that they had six of their best ships sunk, two +blown up and eleven taken, but whether it was so or not I knew not, +for, in truth, I saw nothing whatever of the matter. + +"We sailed to the Texel, and there blocked in De Ruyter's squadron of +twenty-five large ships, and we thought that there would be no more +fighting, for the Dutch had sent to England to ask for terms of +peace. However, we were wrong, and, to give the Dutchmen their due, +they showed resolution greater than we gave them credit for, for we +were astonished indeed to hear, towards the end of July, that Van +Tromp had sailed out again with upwards of ninety ships. + +"On the 29th they came in view, and we sailed out to engage them, but +they would not come to close quarters, and it was seven at night +before the _Resolution_, with some thirty other ships, came up to +them and charged through their line. By the time we had done that it +was quite dark, and we missed them altogether and sailed south, +thinking Van Tromp had gone that way; but, instead, he had sailed +north, and in the morning we found he had picked up De Ruyter's +fleet, and was ready to fight. But we had other things to think of +besides fighting that day, for the wind blew so hard that it was as +much as we could do to keep off the shore, and if the gale had +continued a good part of the ships would have left their bones there. +However, by nightfall the gale abated somewhat, and by the next +morning the sea had gone down sufficient for the main deck ports to +be opened. So the Dutch, having the weather gauge, sailed down to +engage us. + +"I thought it rough work in the fight two months before, but it was +as nothing to this. To begin with, the Dutch fire-ships came down +before the wind, and it was as much as we could do to avoid them. +They did, indeed, set the _Triumph_ on fire, and most of the crew +jumped overboard; but those that remained managed to put out the +flames. + +"Lawson, with the Blue Squadron, began the fighting, and that so +briskly, that De Ruyter's flagship was completely disabled and towed +out of the fight. However, after I had seen that, our turn began, and +I had no more time to look about. I only know that ship after ship +came up to engage us, seeming bent upon lowering Monk's flag. Three +Dutch Admirals, Tromp, Evertson, and De Ruyter, as I heard +afterwards, came up in turn. We did not know who they were, but we +knew they were Admirals by their flags, and pounded them with all our +hearts; and so good was our aim that I myself saw two of the +Admirals' flags brought down, and they say that all three of them +were lowered. But you may guess the pounding was not all on our side, +and we suffered very heavily. + +"Four men were hurt at the gun I worked, and nigh half the crew were +killed or wounded. Two of our masts were shot away, many of our guns +disabled, and towards the end of the fight we were towed out of the +line. How the day would have gone if Van Tromp had continued in +command of the Dutch, I cannot say, but about noon he was shot +through the body by a musket-ball, and this misfortune greatly +discouraged the Dutchmen, who fight well as long as things seem to be +going their way, but lose heart very easily when they think the +matter is going against them. + +"By about two o'clock the officers shouted to us that the Dutch were +beginning to draw off, and it was not long before they began to fly, +each for himself, and in no sort of order. Some of our light +frigates, that had suffered less than the line-of-battle ships, +followed them until the one Dutch Admiral whose flag was left flying, +turned and fought them till two or three of our heavier ships came up +and he was sunk. + +"We could see but little of the chase, having plenty of work, for, +had a gale come on, our ship, and a good many others, would assuredly +have been driven ashore, in the plight we were in. Anyhow, at night +their ships got into the Texel, and our vessels, which had been +following them, anchored five or six leagues out, being afraid of the +sands. Altogether we had burnt or sunk twenty-six of their ships of +war, while we lost only two frigates, both of which were burnt by +their fire-ships. + +"As it was certain that they would not come out for some time again, +and many of our ships being unfit for further contention until +repaired, we returned to England, and I got my discharge and joined +Captain Dave again a fortnight later, when his ship came up the +river. + +"Monk is a good fighter, Master Cyril, and should have the command of +the Fleet instead of, as they say, the Duke of York. Although he is +called General, and not Admiral, he is as good a sea-dog as any of +them, and he can think as well as fight. + +"Among our ships that day were several merchantmen that had been +taken up for the service at the last moment and had guns slapped on +board, with gunners to work them. Some of them had still their +cargoes in the hold, and Monk, thinking that it was likely the +captains would think more of saving their ships and goods than of +fighting the Dutch, changed the captains all round, so that no man +commanded his own vessel. And the consequence was that, as all +admitted, the merchantmen were as willing to fight as any, and bore +themselves right stoutly. + +"Don't you think, Master Cyril, if you go with the Fleet, that you +are going to see much of what goes on. It will be worse for you than +it was for me, for there was I, labouring and toiling like a dumb +beast, with my mind intent upon working the gun, and paying no heed +to the roar and confusion around, scarce even noticing when one +beside me was struck down. You will be up on the poop, having naught +to do but to stand with your hand on your sword hilt, and waiting to +board an enemy or to drive back one who tries to board you. You will +find that you will be well-nigh dazed and stupid with the din and +uproar." + +"It does not sound a very pleasant outlook, John," Cyril laughed. +"However, if I ever do get into an engagement, I will think of what +you have said, and will try and prevent myself from getting either +dazed or stupid; though, in truth, I can well imagine that it is +enough to shake anyone's nerves to stand inactive in so terrible a +scene." + +"You will have to take great care of yourself, Cyril," Nellie said +gravely. + +Captain Dave and John Wilkes both burst into a laugh. + +"How is he to take care of himself, Nellie?" her father said. "Do you +suppose that a man on deck would be any the safer were he to stoop +down with his head below the rail, or to screw himself up on the +leeward side of a mast? No, no, lass; each man has to take his share +of danger, and the most cowardly runs just as great a risk as the man +who fearlessly exposes himself." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +PRINCE RUPERT + + +The next day Cyril went down to breakfast in what he had often +called, laughingly, his Court suit. This suit he had had made for him +a short time before his father's death, to replace the one he had +when he came over, that being altogether outgrown. He had done so to +please Sir Aubrey, who had repeatedly expressed his anxiety that +Cyril should always be prepared to take advantage of any good fortune +that might befall him. This was the first time he had put it on. + +"Well, truly you look a pretty fellow, Cyril," the Captain said, as +he entered. "Don't you think so, Nellie?" + +The girl nodded. + +"I don't know that I like him better than in his black suit, father. +But he looks very well." + +"Hullo, lass! This is a change of opinion, truly! For myself I care +not one jot for the fashion of a man's clothes, but I had thought +that you always inclined to gay attire, and Cyril now would seem +rather to belong to the Court than to the City." + +"If it had been any other morning, father, I might have thought more +of Cyril's appearance; but what you were telling us but now of the +continuance of the Plague is so sad, that mourning, rather than Court +attire, would seem to be the proper wear." + +"Is the Plague spreading fast, then, Captain Dave?" + +"No; but it is not decreasing, as we had hoped it would do. From the +beginning of December the deaths rose steadily until the end of +January. While our usual death-rate is under three hundred it went to +four hundred and seventy-four. Then the weather setting in very +severe checked it till the end of February, and we all hoped that the +danger was over, and that we should be rid of the distemper before +the warm weather set in; but for the last fortnight there has been a +rise rather than a fall--not a large one, but sufficient to cause +great alarm that it will continue until warm weather sets in, and may +then grow into terrible proportions. So far, there has been no case +in the City, and it is only in the West that it has any hold, the +deaths being altogether in the parishes of St. Giles's, St. Andrew's, +St. Bride's, and St. James's, Clerkenwell. Of course, there have been +cases now and then for many years past, and nine years ago it spread +to a greater extent than now, and were we at the beginning of winter +instead of nearing summer there would be no occasion to think much of +the matter; but, with the hot weather approaching, and the tales we +hear of the badness of the Plague in foreign parts one cannot but +feel anxious." + +"And they say, too, that there have been prophecies of grievous evils +in London," Nellie put in. + +"We need not trouble about that," her father replied. "The +Anabaptists prophesied all sorts of evils in Elizabeth's time, but +naught came of it. There are always men and women with disordered +minds, who think that they are prophets, and have power to see +further into the future than other people, but no one minds them or +thinks aught of their wild words save at a time like the present, +when there is a danger of war or pestilence. You remember Bill Vokes, +John?" + +"I mind him, yer honour. A poor, half-crazed fellow he was, and yet a +good seaman, who would do his duty blow high or blow low. He sailed +six voyages with us, Captain." + +"And never one of them without telling the crew that the ship would +never return to port. He had had dreams about it, and the black cat +had mewed when he left home, and he saw the three magpies in a tree +hard by when he stepped from the door, and many other portents of +that kind. The first time he well-nigh scared some of the crew, but +after the first voyage--from which we came back safely, of +course--they did but laugh at him; and as in all other respects he +was a good sailor, and a willing fellow, I did not like to discharge +him, for, once the men found out that his prophecies came to naught, +they did no harm, and, indeed, they afforded them much amusement. +Just as it is on board a ship, so it is elsewhere. If our vessel had +gone down that first voyage, any man who escaped drowning would have +said that Bill Vokes had not been without reason in his warnings, and +that it was nothing less than flying in the face of Providence, to +put to sea when the loss of the ship had been so surely foretold. So, +on shore, the fools or madmen who have dreams and visions are not +heeded when times are good, and men's senses sound, whereas, in +troubled times, men take their ravings to heart. If all the +scatterbrains had a good whipping at the pillory it would be well, +both for them and for the silly people who pay attention to their +ravings." + +A few minutes later, Cyril took a boat to the Whitehall steps, and +after some delay was shown up to Prince Rupert's room. + +"None the worse for your exertions yester-even, young gentleman, I +hope?" the Prince said, shaking hands with him warmly. + +"None, sir. The exertion was not great, and it was but the +inconvenience of the smoke that troubled me in any way." + +"Have you been to inquire after the young ladies who owe their lives +to you?" + +"No, sir; I know neither their names nor their condition, nor, had I +wished it, could I have made inquiries, for I know not whither they +were taken." + +"I sent round early this morning," the Prince said, "and heard that +they were as well as might be expected after the adventure they went +through. And now tell me about yourself, and what you have been +doing. 'Tis one of the saddest things to me, since I returned to +England, that so many good men who fought by my side have been made +beggars in the King's service, and that I could do naught for them. +'Tis a grievous business, and yet I see not how it is to be mended. +The hardest thing is, that those who did most for the King's service +are those who have suffered most deeply. None of those who were +driven to sell their estates at a fraction of their value, in order +to raise money for the King's treasury or to put men into the field, +have received any redress. It would need a vast sum to buy back all +their lands, and Parliament would not vote money for that purpose; +nor would it be fair to turn men out of the estates that they bought +and paid for. Do you not think so?" he asked suddenly, seeing, by the +lad's face, that he was not in agreement with him. + +"No, sir; it does not seem to me that it would be unfair. These men +bought the lands for, as you say, but a fraction of their value; they +did so in the belief that Parliament would triumph, and their +purchase was but a speculation grounded on that belief. They have had +the enjoyment of the estates for years, and have drawn from them an +income which has, by this time, brought them in a sum much exceeding +that which they have adventured, and it does not seem to me that +there would be any hardship whatever were they now called upon to +restore them to their owners. 'Tis as when a man risks his money in a +venture at sea. If all goes as he hopes he will make a great profit +on his money. If the ship is cast away or taken by pirates, it is +unfortunate, but he has no reason to curse his ill-luck if the ship +had already made several voyages which have more than recouped the +money he ventured." + +"Well and stoutly argued!" the Prince said approvingly. "But you must +remember, young sir, that the King, on his return, was by no means +strongly seated on the throne. There was the Army most evilly +affected towards him; there were the Puritans, who lamented the upset +of the work they or their fathers had done. All those men who had +purchased the estates of the Royalists had families and friends, and, +had these estates been restored to their rightful owners, there might +have been an outbreak that would have shaken the throne again. Many +would have refused to give up possession, save to force; and where +was the force to come from? Even had the King had troops willing to +carry out such a measure, they might have been met by force, and had +blood once been shed, none can say how the trouble might have spread, +or what might have been the end of it. And now, lad, come to your own +fortunes." + +Cyril briefly related the story of his life since his return to +London, stating his father's plan that he should some day take +foreign service. + +"You have shown that you have a stout heart, young sir, as well as a +brave one, and have done well, indeed, in turning your mind to earn +your living by such talents as you have, rather than in wasting your +time in vain hopes and in ceaseless importunities for justice. It may +be that you have acted wisely in thinking of taking service on the +Continent, seeing that we have no Army; and when the time comes, I +will further your wishes to the utmost of my power. But in the +meantime there is opportunity for service at home, and I will gladly +appoint you as a Volunteer in my own ship. There are many gentlemen +going with me in that capacity, and it would be of advantage to you, +if, when I write to some foreign prince on your behalf, I can say +that you have fought under my eye." + +"Thank you greatly, Prince. I have been wishing, above all things, +that I could join the Fleet, and it would be, indeed, an honour to +begin my career under the Prince of whom I heard so often from my +father." + +Prince Rupert looked at his watch. + +"The King will be in the Mall now," he said. "I will take you across +and present you to him. It is useful to have the _entree_ at Court, +though perhaps the less you avail yourself of it the better." + +So saying, he rose, put on his hat, and, throwing his cloak over his +shoulder, went across to the Mall, asking questions of Cyril as he +went, and extracting from him a sketch of the adventure of his being +kidnapped and taken to Holland. + +Presently they arrived at the spot where the King, with three or four +nobles and gentlemen, had been playing. Charles was in a good humour, +for he had just won a match with the Earl of Rochester. + +"Well, my grave cousin," he said merrily, "what brings you out of +your office so early? No fresh demands for money, I hope?" + +"Not at present. And indeed, it is not to you that I should come on +such a quest, but to the Duke of York." + +"And he would come to me," said the King; "so it is the same thing." + +"I have come across to present to your Majesty a very gallant young +gentleman, who yesterday evening, at the risk of his life, saved the +three daughters of the Earl of Wisbech from being burned at the fire +in the Savoy, where his Lordship's mansion was among those that were +destroyed. I beg to present to your Majesty Sir Cyril Shenstone, the +son of the late Sir Aubrey Shenstone, a most gallant gentleman, who +rode under my banner in many a stern fight in the service of your +royal father." + +"I knew him well," the King said graciously, "but had not heard of +his death. I am glad to hear that his son inherits his bravery. I +have often regretted deeply that it was out of my power to requite, +in any way, the services Sir Aubrey rendered, and the sacrifices he +made for our House." + +His brow clouded a little, and he looked appealingly at Prince +Rupert. + +"Sir Cyril Shenstone has no more intention of asking for favours than +I have, Charles," the latter said. "He is going to accompany me as a +Volunteer against the Dutch, and if the war lasts I shall ask for a +better appointment for him." + +"That he shall have," the King said warmly. "None have a better claim +to commissions in the Navy and Army than sons of gentlemen who fought +and suffered in the cause of our royal father. My Lords," he said to +the little group of gentlemen, who had been standing a few paces away +while this conversation had been going on, "I would have you know Sir +Cyril Shenstone, the son of a faithful adherent of my father, and +who, yesterday evening, saved the lives of the three daughters of My +Lord of Wisbech in the fire at the Savoy. He is going as a Volunteer +with my cousin Rupert when he sails against the Dutch." + +The gentlemen all returned Cyril's salute courteously. + +"He will be fortunate in beginning his career under the eyes of so +brave a Prince," the Earl of Rochester said, bowing to Prince Rupert. + +"It would be well if you all," the latter replied bluntly, "were to +ship in the Fleet for a few months instead of wasting your time in +empty pleasures." + +The Earl smiled. Prince Rupert's extreme disapproval of the life at +Court was well known. + +"We cannot all be Bayards, Prince, and most of us would, methinks, be +too sick at sea to be of much assistance, were we to go. But if the +Dutchmen come here, which is not likely--for I doubt not, Prince, +that you will soon send them flying back to their own ports--we shall +all be glad to do our best to meet them when they land." + +The Prince made no reply, but, turning to the King, said,-- + +"We will not detain you longer from your game, Cousin Charles. I have +plenty to do, with all the complaints as to the state of the ships, +and the lack of stores and necessaries." + +"Remember, I shall be glad to see you at my _levees_, Sir Cyril," +the King said, holding out his hand. "Do not wait for the Prince to +bring you, for if you do you will wait long." + +Cyril doffed his hat, raised the King's hand to his lips, then, with +a deep bow and an expression of thanks, followed Prince Rupert, who +was already striding away. + +"You might have been better introduced," the Prince said when he +overtook him. "Still it is better to be badly introduced than to have +no introduction at all. I am too old for the flippancies of the +Court. You had better show yourself there sometimes; you will make +friends that may be useful. By the way, I have not your address, and +it may be a fortnight or more before the _Henrietta_ is ready to +take her crew on board." He took out his tablet and wrote down the +address. "Come and see me if there is anything you want to ask me. Do +not let the clerks keep you out with the pretence that I am busy, but +send up your name to me, and tell them that I have ordered it shall +be taken up, however I may be engaged." + +Having no occasion for haste, Cyril walked back to the City after +leaving Prince Rupert. A great change had taken place in his fortunes +in the last twenty-four hours. Then he had no prospects save +continuing his work in the City for another two years, and even after +that time he foresaw grave difficulties in the way of his obtaining a +commission in a foreign army; for Sir John Parton, even if ready to +carry out the promise he had formerly made him, might not have +sufficient influence to do so. Now he was to embark in Prince +Rupert's own ship. He would be the companion of many other gentlemen +going out as Volunteers, and, at a bound, spring from the position of +a writer in the City to that occupied by his father before he became +involved in the trouble between King and Parliament. He was already +admitted to Court, and Prince Rupert himself had promised to push his +fortunes abroad. + +And yet he felt less elated than he would have expected from his +sudden change. The question of money was the cloud that dulled the +brightness of his prospects. As a Volunteer he would receive no pay, +and yet he must make a fair show among the young noblemen and +gentlemen who would be his companions. Doubtless they would be +victualled on board, but he would have to dress well and probably pay +a share in the expenses that would be incurred for wine and other +things on board. Had it not been for the future he would have been +inclined to regret that he had not refused the tempting offer; but +the advantages to be gained by Prince Rupert's patronage were so +large that he felt no sacrifice would be too great to that end--even +that of accepting the assistance that Captain Dave had more than once +hinted he should give him. It was just the dinner-hour when he +arrived home. + +"Well, Cyril, I see by your face that the Prince has said nothing in +the direction of your wishes," Captain Dave said, as he entered. + +"Then my face is a false witness, Captain Dave, for Prince Rupert has +appointed me a Volunteer on board his own ship." + +"I am glad, indeed, lad, heartily glad, though your going will be a +heavy loss to us all. But why were you looking so grave over it?" + +"I have been wondering whether I have acted wisely in accepting it," +Cyril said. "I am very happy here, I am earning my living, I have no +cares of any sort, and I feel that it is a very serious matter to +make a change. The Prince has a number of noblemen and gentlemen +going with him as Volunteers, and I feel that I shall be out of my +element in such company. At the same time I have every reason to be +thankful, for Prince Rupert has promised that he will, after the war +is over, give me introductions which will procure me a commission +abroad." + +"Well, then, it seems to me that things could not look better," +Captain Dave said heartily. "When do you go on board?" + +"The Prince says it may be another fortnight; so that I shall have +time to make my preparations, and warn the citizens I work for, that +I am going to leave them." + +"I should say the sooner the better, lad. You will have to get your +outfit and other matters seen to. Moreover, now that you have been +taken under Prince Rupert's protection, and have become, as it were, +an officer on his ship--for gentlemen Volunteers, although they have +no duties in regard to working the ship, are yet officers--it is +hardly seemly that you should be making up the accounts of bakers and +butchers, ironmongers, and ship's storekeepers." + +"The work is honest, and I am in no way ashamed of it," Cyril said; +"but as I have many things to see about, I suppose I had better give +them notice at once. Prince Rupert presented me to the King to-day, +and His Majesty requested me to attend at Court, which I should be +loath to do, were it not that the Prince urged upon me that it was of +advantage that I should make myself known." + +"One would think, Master Cyril, that this honour which has suddenly +befallen you is regarded by you as a misfortune," Mrs. Dowsett said, +laughing. "Most youths would be overjoyed at such a change in their +fortune." + +"It would be all very pleasant," Cyril said, "had I the income of my +father's estate at my back; but I feel that I shall be in a false +position, thus thrusting myself among men who have more guineas in +their pockets than I have pennies. However, it seems that the matter +has been taken out of my own hands, and that, as things have turned +out, so I must travel. Who would have thought, when John Wilkes +fetched me out last night to go to the fire, it would make an +alteration in my whole life, and that such a little thing as climbing +up a ladder and helping to get three girls out of a room full of +smoke--and John Wilkes did the most difficult part of the work--was +to change all my prospects?" + +"There was a Providence in it, Cyril," Mrs. Dowsett said gently. +"Why, else, should you have gone up that ladder, when, to all +seeming, there was no one there. The maids were so frightened, John +says, that they would never have said a word about there being anyone +in that room, and the girls would have perished had you not gone up. +Now as, owing to that, everything has turned out according to your +wishes, it would be a sin not to take advantage of it, for you may be +sure that, as the way has thus been suddenly opened to you, so will +all other things follow in due course." + +"Thank you, madam," Cyril said simply. "I had not thought of it in +that light, but assuredly you are right, and I will not suffer myself +to be daunted by the difficulties there may be in my way." + +John Wilkes now came in and sat down to the meal. He was vastly +pleased when he heard of the good fortune that had befallen Cyril. + +"It seems to me," Cyril said, "that I am but an impostor, and that at +least some share in the good luck ought to have fallen to you, John, +seeing that you carried them all down the ladder." + +"I have carried heavier bales, many a time, much longer distances +than that--though I do not say that the woman was not a tidy weight, +for, indeed, she was; but I would have carried down ten of them for +the honour I had in being shaken by the hand by Prince Rupert, as +gallant a sailor as ever sailed a ship. No, no; what I did was all in +a day's work, and no more than lifting anchors and chains about in +the storehouse. As for honours, I want none of them. I am moored in a +snug port here, and would not leave Captain Dave if they would make a +Duke of me." + +Nellie had said no word of congratulation to Cyril, but as they rose +from dinner, she said, in low tones,-- + +"You know I am pleased, and hope that you will have all the good +fortune you deserve." + +Cyril set out at once to make a round of the shops where he worked. +The announcement that he must at once terminate his connection with +them, as he was going on board the Fleet, was everywhere received +with great regret. + +"I would gladly pay double," one said, "rather than that you should +go, for, indeed, it has taken a heavy load off my shoulders, and I +know not how I shall get on in the future." + +"I should think there would be no difficulty in getting some other +young clerk to do the work," Cyril said. + +"Not so easy," the man replied. "I had tried one or two before, and +found they were more trouble than they were worth. There are not many +who write as neatly as you do, and you do as much in an hour as some +would take a day over. However, I wish you good luck, and if you +should come back, and take up the work again, or start as a scrivener +in the City, I can promise you that you shall have my books again, +and that among my friends I can find you as much work as you can get +through." + +Something similar was said to him at each of the houses where he +called, and he felt much gratified at finding that his work had given +such satisfaction. + +When he came in to supper, Cyril was conscious that something had +occurred of an unusual nature. Nellie's eyes were swollen with +crying; Mrs. Dowsett had also evidently been in tears; while Captain +Dave was walking up and down the room restlessly. + +The servant was placing the things upon the table, and, just as they +were about to take their seats, the bell of the front door rang +loudly. + +"See who it is, John," Captain Dave said. "Whoever it is seems to be +in a mighty hurry." + +In a minute or two John returned, followed by a gentleman. The latter +paused at the door, and then said, bowing courteously, as he +advanced, to Mrs. Dowsett,-- + +"I must ask pardon for intruding on your meal, madam, but my business +is urgent. I am the Earl of Wisbech, and I have called to see Sir +Cyril Shenstone, to offer him my heartfelt thanks for the service he +has rendered me by saving the lives of my daughters." + +All had risen to their feet as he entered, and there was a slight +exclamation of surprise from the Captain, his wife, and daughter, as +the Earl said "Sir Cyril Shenstone." + +Cyril stepped forward. + +"I am Cyril Shenstone, my Lord," he said, "and had the good fortune +to be able, with the assistance of my friend here, John Wilkes, to +rescue your daughters, though, at the time, indeed, I was altogether +ignorant of their rank. It was a fortunate occurrence, but I must +disclaim any merit in the action, for it was by mere accident that, +mounting to the window by a ladder, I saw them lying insensible on +the ground." + +"Your modesty does you credit, sir," the Earl said, shaking him +warmly by the hand. "But such is not the opinion of Prince Rupert, +who described it to me as a very gallant action; and, moreover, he +said that it was you who first brought him the news that there were +females in the house, which he and others had supposed to be empty, +and that it was solely owing to you that the ladders were taken +round." + +"Will you allow me, my Lord, to introduce to you Captain Dowsett, his +wife, and daughter, who have been to me the kindest of friends?" + +"A kindness, my Lord," Captain Dave said earnestly, "that has been +repaid a thousandfold by this good youth, of whose rank we were +indeed ignorant until you named it. May I ask you to honour us by +joining in our meal?" + +"That will I right gladly, sir," the Earl said, "for, in truth, I +have scarce broke my fast to-day. I was down at my place in Kent when +I was awoke this morning by one of my grooms, who had ridden down +with the news that my mansion in the Savoy had been burned, and that +my daughters had had a most narrow escape of their lives. Of course, +I mounted at once and rode to town, where I was happy in finding that +they had well-nigh recovered from the effects of their fright and the +smoke. Neither they nor the nurse who was with them could give me any +account of what had happened, save that they had, as they supposed, +become insensible from the smoke. When they recovered, they found +themselves in the Earl of Surrey's house, to which it seems they had +been carried. After inquiry, I learned that the Duke of Albemarle and +Prince Rupert had both been on the scene directing operations. I went +to the latter, with whom I have the honour of being well acquainted, +and he told me the whole story, saying that had it not been for Sir +Cyril Shenstone, my daughters would certainly have perished. He gave +credit, too, to Sir Cyril's companion, who, he said, carried them +down the ladder, and himself entered the burning room the last time, +to aid in bringing out the nurse, who was too heavy for the rescuer +of my daughters to lift. Save a cup of wine and a piece of bread, +that I took on my first arrival, I have not broken my fast to-day." + +Then he seated himself on a chair that Cyril had placed for him +between Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie. + +Captain Dave whispered to John Wilkes, who went out, and returned in +two or three minutes with three or four flasks of rare Spanish wine +which the Captain had brought back on his last voyage, and kept for +drinking on special occasions. The dame always kept an excellent +table, and although she made many apologies to the Earl, he assured +her that none were needed, for that he could have supped no better in +his own house. + +"I hear," he said presently to Cyril, "that you are going out as a +Volunteer in Prince Rupert's ship. My son is also going with him, and +I hope, in a day or two, to introduce him to you. He is at present at +Cambridge, but, having set his mind on sailing with the Prince, I +have been fain to allow him to give up his studies. I heard from +Prince Rupert that you had recently been kidnapped and taken to +Holland. He gave me no particulars, nor did I ask them, being +desirous of hurrying off at once to express my gratitude to you. How +was it that such an adventure befell you--for it would hardly seem +likely that you could have provoked the enmity of persons capable of +such an outrage?" + +"It was the result of his services to me, my Lord," Captain Dave +said. "Having been a sea-captain, I am but a poor hand at accounts; +but, having fallen into this business at the death of my father, it +seemed simple enough for me to get on without much book-learning. I +made but a bad shape at it; and when Master Shenstone, as he then +called himself, offered to keep my books for me, it seemed to me an +excellent mode of saving myself worry and trouble. However, when he +set himself to making up the accounts of my stock, he found that I +was nigh eight hundred pounds short; and, setting himself to watch, +discovered that my apprentices were in alliance with a band of +thieves, and were nightly robbing me. We caught them and two of the +thieves in the act. One of the latter was the receiver, and on his +premises the proceeds of a great number of robberies were found, and +there was no doubt that he was the chief of a notorious gang, called +the 'Black Gang,' which had for a long time infested the City and the +surrounding country. It was to prevent Sir Cyril from giving evidence +at the trial that he was kidnapped and sent away. He was placed in +the house of a diamond merchant, to whom the thieves were in the +habit of consigning jewels; and this might well have turned out fatal +to him, for to the same house came my elder apprentice and one of the +men captured with him--a notorious ruffian--who had been rescued from +the constables by a gang of their fellows, in open daylight, in the +City. These, doubtless, would have compassed his death had he not +happily seen them enter the house, and made his escape, taking +passage in a coaster bound for Dunkirk, from which place he took +another ship to England. Thus you see, my Lord, that I am indebted to +him for saving me from a further loss that might well have ruined +me." + +He paused, and glanced at Nellie, who rose at once, saying to the +Earl,-- + +"I trust that your Lordship will excuse my mother and myself. My +father has more to tell you; at least, I should wish him to do so." + +Then, taking her mother's hand, she curtsied deeply, and they left +the room together. + +"Such, my Lord, as I have told you, is the service, so far as I knew +till this afternoon, Sir Cyril Shenstone has rendered me. That was no +small thing, but it is very little to what I know now that I am +indebted to him. After he went out I was speaking with my wife on +money matters, desiring much to be of assistance to him in the matter +of the expedition on which he is going. Suddenly my daughter burst +into tears and left the room. I naturally bade my wife follow her and +learn what ailed her. Then, with many sobs and tears, she told her +mother that we little knew how much we were indebted to him. She said +she had been a wicked girl, having permitted herself to be accosted +several times by a well-dressed gallant, who told her that he was the +Earl of Harwich, who had professed great love for her, and urged her +to marry him privately. + +"He was about to speak to her one day when she was out under Master +Cyril's escort. The latter interfered, and there was well-nigh a +_fracas_ between them. Being afraid that some of the lookers-on +might know her, and bring the matter to our ears, she mentioned so +much to us, and, in consequence, we did not allow her to go out +afterwards, save in the company of her mother. Nevertheless, the man +continued to meet her, and, as he was unknown to her mother, passed +notes into her hand. To these she similarly replied, and at last +consented to fly with him. She did so at night, and was about to +enter a sedan chair in the lane near this house when they were +interrupted by the arrival of Master Shenstone and my friend John +Wilkes. The former, it seems, had his suspicions, and setting himself +to watch, had discovered that she was corresponding with this +man--whom he had found was not the personage he pretended to be, but +a disreputable hanger-on of the Court, one John Harvey--and had then +kept up an incessant watch, with the aid of John Wilkes, outside the +house at night, until he saw her come out and join the fellow with +two associates, when he followed her to the chair they had in +readiness for her. + +"There was, she says, a terrible scene. Swords were drawn. John +Wilkes knocked down one of the men, and Master Shenstone ran John +Harvey through the shoulder. Appalled now at seeing how she had been +deceived, and how narrowly she had escaped destruction, she returned +with her rescuers to the house, and no word was ever said on the +subject until she spoke this afternoon. We had noticed that a great +change had come over her, and that she seemed to have lost all her +tastes for shows and finery, but little did we dream of the cause. +She said that she could not have kept the secret much longer in any +case, being utterly miserable at the thought of how she had degraded +herself and deceived us. + +"It was a sad story to have to hear, my Lord, but we have fully +forgiven her, having, indeed, cause to thank God both for her +preservation and for the good that this seems to have wrought in her. +She had been a spoilt child, and, being well-favoured, her head had +been turned by flattery, and she indulged in all sorts of foolish +dreams. Now she is truly penitent for her folly. Had you not arrived, +my Lord, I should, when we had finished our supper, have told Master +Shenstone that I knew of this vast service he has rendered us--a +service to which the other was as nothing. That touched my pocket +only; this my only child's happiness. I have told you the story, my +Lord, by her consent, in order that you might know what sort of a +young fellow this gentleman who has rescued your daughter is. John, I +thank you for your share in this matter," and, with tears in his +eyes, he held out his hand to his faithful companion. + +"I thank you deeply, Captain Dowsett, for having told me this story," +the Earl said gravely. "It was a painful one to tell, and I feel sure +that the circumstance will, as you say, be of lasting benefit to your +daughter. It shows that her heart is a true and loyal one, or she +would not have had so painful a story told to a stranger, simply that +the true character of her preserver should be known. I need not say +that it has had the effect she desired of raising Sir Cyril Shenstone +highly in my esteem. Prince Rupert spoke of him very highly and told +me how he had been honourably supporting himself and his father, +until the death of the latter. Now I see that he possesses unusual +discretion and acuteness, as well as bravery. Now I will take my +leave, thanking you for the good entertainment that you have given +me. I am staying at the house of the Earl of Surrey, Sir Cyril, and I +hope that you will call to-morrow morning, in order that my daughters +may thank you in person." + +Captain Dave and Cyril escorted the Earl to the door and then +returned to the chamber above. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +NEW FRIENDS + + +On arriving at the room upstairs, Captain Dave placed his hand on +Cyril's shoulder and said: + +"How can I thank you, lad, for what you have done for us?" + +"By saying nothing further about it, Captain Dave. I had hoped that +the matter would never have come to your ears, and yet I rejoice, for +her own sake, that Mistress Nellie has told you all. I thought that +she would do so some day, for I, too, have seen how much she has been +changed since then, and though it becomes me not to speak of one +older than myself, I think that the experience has been for her good, +and, above all, I am rejoiced to find that you have fully forgiven +her, for indeed I am sure that she has been grievously punished." + +"Well, well, lad, it shall be as you say, for indeed I am but a poor +hand at talking, but believe me that I feel as grateful as if I could +express myself rightly, and that the Earl of Wisbech cannot feel one +whit more thankful to you for having saved the lives of his three +children than I do for your having saved my Nellie from the +consequences of her own folly. There is one thing that you must let +me do--it is but a small thing, but at present I have no other way of +showing what I feel: you must let me take upon myself, as if you had +been my son, the expenses of this outfit of yours. I was talking of +the matter, as you may have guessed by what I said to the Earl, when +Nellie burst into tears; and if I contemplated this when I knew only +you had saved me from ruin, how much more do I feel it now that you +have done this greater thing? I trust that you will not refuse me and +my wife this small opportunity of showing our gratitude. What say +you, John Wilkes?" + +"I say, Captain Dave, that it is well spoken, and I am sure Master +Cyril will not refuse your offer." + +"I will not, Captain Dave, providing that you let it be as a loan +that I may perhaps some day be enabled to repay you. I feel that it +would be churlish to refuse so kind an offer, and it will relieve me +of the one difficulty that troubled me when the prospects in all +other respects seemed so fair." + +"That is right, lad, and you have taken a load off my mind. You have +not acted quite fairly by us in one respect, Master Cyril!" + +"How is that?" Cyril asked in surprise. + +"In not telling us that you were Sir Cyril Shenstone, and in letting +us put you up in an attic, and letting you go about as Nellie's +escort, as if you had been but an apprentice." + +Cyril laughed. + +"I said that my father was Sir Aubrey Shenstone, though I own that I +did not say so until I had been here some time; but the fact that he +was a Baronet and not a Knight made little difference. It was a +friendless lad whom you took in and gave shelter to, Captain Dave, +and--it mattered not whether he was plain Cyril or Sir Cyril. I had +certainly no thought of taking my title again until I entered a +foreign army, and indeed it would have been a disservice to me here +in London. I should have cut but a poor figure asking for work and +calling myself Sir Cyril Shenstone. I should have had to enter into +all sorts of explanations before anyone would have believed me, and I +don't think that, even with you, I should have been so comfortable as +I have been." + +"Well, at any rate, no harm has been done," Captain Dave said; "but I +think you might have told me." + +"If I had, Captain Dave, you would assuredly have told your wife and +Mistress Nellie; and it was much more pleasant for me that things +should be as they were." + +"Well, perhaps you were right, lad. And I own that I might not have +let you work at my books, and worry over that robbery, had I known +that you were of a station above me." + +"That you could never have known," Cyril said warmly. "We have been +poor ever since I can remember. I owed my education to the kindness +of friends of my mother, and in no way has my station been equal to +that of a London trader like yourself. As to the title, it was but a +matter of birth, and went but ill with an empty purse and a shabby +doublet. In the future it may be useful, but until now, it has been +naught, and indeed worse than naught, to me." + +The next morning when Cyril went into the parlour he found that +Nellie was busy assisting the maid to lay the table. When the latter +had left the room, the girl went up to Cyril and took his hand. + +"I have never thanked you yet," she said. "I could not bring myself +to speak of it, but now that I have told them I can do so. Ever since +that dreadful night I have prayed for you, morning and evening, and +thanked God for sending you to my rescue. What a wicked girl you must +have thought me--and with reason! But you could not think of me worse +than I thought of myself. Now that my father and mother have forgiven +me I shall be different altogether. I had before made up my mind to +tell them. Still, it did not seem to me that I should ever be happy +again. But now that I have had the courage to speak out, and they +have been so good to me, a great weight is lifted off my mind, and I +mean to learn to be a good housewife like my mother, and to try to be +worthy, some day, of an honest man's love." + +"I am sure you will be," Cyril said warmly. "And so, Mistress Nellie, +it has all turned out for the best, though it did not seem so at one +time." + +At this moment Captain Dave came in. "I am glad to see you two +talking together as of old," he said. "We had thought that there must +be some quarrel between you, for you had given up rating him, Nellie. +Give her a kiss, Cyril; she is a good lass, though she has been a +foolish one. Nay, Nellie, do not offer him your cheek--it is the +fashion to do that to every idle acquaintance. Kiss him heartily, as +if you loved him. That is right, lass. Now let us to breakfast. Where +is your mother? She is late." + +"I told her that I would see after the breakfast in future, father, +and I have begun this morning--partly because it is my duty to take +the work off her hands, and partly because I wanted a private talk +with Sir Cyril." + +"I won't be called Sir Cyril under this roof," the lad said, +laughing. "And I warn you that if anyone calls me so I will not +answer. I have always been Cyril with you all, and I intend to remain +so to the end, and you must remember that it is but a few months that +I have had the right to the title, and was never addressed by it +until by Prince Rupert. I was for the moment well nigh as much +surprised as you were last night." + +An hour later Cyril again donned his best suit, and started to pay +his visit to the Earl. Had he not seen him over-night, he would have +felt very uncomfortable at the thought of the visit; but he had found +him so pleasant and friendly, and so entirely free from any air of +pride or condescension, that it seemed as if he were going to meet a +friend. He was particularly struck with the manner in which he had +placed Captain Dave and his family at their ease, and got them to +talk as freely and naturally with him as if he had been an +acquaintance of long standing. It seemed strange to him to give his +name as Sir Cyril Shenstone to the lackeys at the door, and he almost +expected to see an expression of amusement on their faces. They had, +however, evidently received instructions respecting him, for he was +without question at once ushered into the room in which the Earl of +Wisbech and his daughters were sitting. + +The Earl shook him warmly by the hand, and then, turning to his +daughters, said,-- + +"This is the gentleman to whom you owe your lives, girls. Sir Cyril, +these are my daughters--Lady Dorothy, Lady Bertha, and Lady Beatrice. +It seems somewhat strange to have to introduce you, who have saved +their lives, to them; but you have the advantage of them, for you +have seen them before, but they have not until now seen your face." + +Each of the girls as she was named made a deep curtsey, and then +presented her cheek to be kissed, as was the custom of the times. + +"They are somewhat tongue-tied," the Earl said, smiling, as the +eldest of the three cast an appealing glance to him, "and have begged +me to thank you in their names, which I do with all my heart, and beg +you to believe that their gratitude is none the less deep because +they have no words to express it. They generally have plenty to say, +I can assure you, and will find their tongues when you are a little +better acquainted." + +"I am most happy to have been of service to you, ladies," Cyril said, +bowing deeply to them. "I can hardly say that I have the advantage +your father speaks of, for in truth the smoke was so thick, and my +eyes smarted so with it, that I could scarce see your faces." + +"Their attire, too, in no way helped you," the Earl said, with a +laugh, "for, as I hear, their costume was of the slightest. I believe +that Dorothy's chief concern is that she did not have time to attire +herself in a more becoming toilette before the smoke overpowered +her." + +"Now, father," the girl protested, with a pretty colour in her +cheeks, "you know I have never said anything of the sort, though I +did say that I wished I had thrown a cloak round me. It is not +pleasant, whatever you may think, to know that one was handed down a +ladder in one's nightdress." + +"I don't care about that a bit," Beatrice said; "but you did not say, +father, that it was a young gentleman, no older than Sydney, who +found us and carried us out. I had expected to see a great big man." + +"I don't think I said anything about his age, Beatrice, but simply +told you that I had found out that it was Sir Cyril Shenstone that +had saved you." + +"Is the nurse recovering, my Lord?" + +"She is still in bed, and the doctor says she will be some time +before she quite recovers from the fright and shock. They were all +sleeping in the storey above. It was Dorothy who first woke, and, +after waking her sisters, ran into the nurse's room, which was next +door, and roused her. The silly woman was so frightened that she +could do nothing but stand at the window and scream until the girls +almost dragged her away, and forced her to come downstairs. The +smoke, however, was so thick that they could get no farther than the +next floor; then, guided by the screams of the other servants, they +opened a door and ran in, but, as you know, it was not the room into +which the women had gone. The nurse fell down in a faint as soon as +she got in. The girls, as it seems, dragged her as far as they could +towards the window, but she was too heavy for them; and as they had +not shut the door, the smoke poured in and overpowered them, and they +fell beside her. The rest you know. She is a silly woman, and she has +quite lost my confidence by her folly and cowardice, but she has been +a good servant, and the girls, all of whom she nursed, were fond of +her. Still, it is evident that she is not to be trusted in an +emergency, and it was only because the girls' governess is away on a +visit to her mother that she happened to be left in charge of them. +Now, young ladies, you can leave us, as I have other matters to talk +over with Sir Cyril." + +The three girls curtsied deeply, first to their father, and then to +Cyril, who held the door for them to pass out. + +"Now, Sir Cyril," the Earl said, as the door closed behind them, "we +must have a talk together. You may well believe that, after what has +happened, I look upon you almost as part of my family, and that I +consider you have given me the right to look after your welfare as if +you were a near relation of my own; and glad I am to have learned +yesterday evening that you are, in all respects, one whom I might be +proud indeed to call a kinsman. Had you been a cousin of mine, with +parents but indifferently off in worldly goods, it would have been my +duty, of course, to push you forward and to aid you in every way to +make a proper figure on this expedition. I think that, after what has +happened, I have equally the right to do so, and what would have been +my duty, had you been a relation, is no less a duty, and will +certainly be a great gratification to me to do now. You understand +me, do you not? I wish to take upon myself all the charges connected +with your outfit, and to make you an allowance, similar to that which +I shall give to my son, for your expenses on board ship. All this is +of course but a slight thing, but, believe me, that when the +expedition is over it will be my pleasure to help you forward to +advancement in any course which you may choose." + +"I thank you most heartily, my Lord," Cyril said, "and would not +hesitate to accept your help in the present matter, did I need it. +However, I have saved some little money during the past two years, +and Captain Dowsett has most generously offered me any sum I may +require for my expenses, and has consented to allow me to take it as +a loan to be repaid at some future time, should it be in my power to +do so. Your offer, however, to aid me in my career afterwards, I most +thankfully accept. My idea has always been to take service under some +foreign prince, and Prince Rupert has most kindly promised to aid me +in that respect; but after serving for a time at sea I shall be +better enabled to judge than at present as to whether that course is +indeed the best, and I shall be most thankful for your counsel in +this and all other matters, and feel myself fortunate indeed to have +obtained your good will and patronage." + +"Well, if it must be so, it must," the Earl said. "Your friend +Captain Dowsett seems to me a very worthy man. You have placed him +under an obligation as heavy as my own, and he has the first claim to +do you service. In this matter, then, I must be content to stand +aside, but on your return from sea it will be my turn, and I shall be +hurt and grieved indeed if you do not allow me an opportunity of +proving my gratitude to you. As to the career you speak of, it is a +precarious one. There are indeed many English and Scotch officers who +have risen to high rank and honour in foreign service; but to every +one that so succeeds, how many fall unnoticed, and lie in unmarked +graves, in well-nigh every country in Europe? Were you like so many +of your age, bent merely on adventure and pleasure, the case would be +different, but it is evident that you have a clear head for business, +that you are steady and persevering, and such being the case, there +are many offices under the Crown in which you might distinguish +yourself and do far better than the vast majority of those who sell +their swords to foreign princes, and become mere soldiers of fortune, +fighting for a cause in which they have no interest, and risking +their lives in quarrels that are neither their own nor their +country's. + +"However, all this we can talk over when you come back after having, +as I hope, aided in destroying the Dutch Fleet. I expect my son up +to-morrow, and trust that you will accompany him to the King's +_levee_, next Monday. Prince Rupert tells me that he has already +presented you to the King, and that you were well received by him, as +indeed you had a right to be, as the son of a gentleman who had +suffered and sacrificed much in the Royal cause. But I will take the +opportunity of introducing you to several other gentlemen who will +sail with you. On the following day I shall be going down into Kent, +and shall remain there until it is time for Sydney to embark. If you +can get your preparations finished by that time, I trust that you +will give us the pleasure of your company, and will stay with me +until you embark with Sydney. In this way you will come to know us +better, and to feel, as I wish you to feel, as one of the family." + +Cyril gratefully accepted the invitation, and then took his leave. + +Captain Dave was delighted when he heard the issue of his visit to +the Earl. + +"I should never have forgiven you, lad, if you had accepted the +Earl's offer to help you in the matter of this expedition. It is no +great thing, and comes well within my compass, and I should have been +sorely hurt had you let him come between us; but in the future I can +do little, and he much. I have spoken to several friends who are +better acquainted with public affairs than I am, and they all speak +highly of him. He holds, for the most part, aloof from Court, which +is to his credit seeing how matters go on there; but he is spoken of +as a very worthy gentleman and one of merit, who might take a +prominent part in affairs were he so minded. He has broad estates in +Kent and Norfolk, and spends the greater part of his life at one or +other of his country seats. Doubtless, he will be able to assist you +greatly in the future." + +"I did not like to refuse his offer to go down with him to Kent," +Cyril said, "though I would far rather have remained here with you +until we sail." + +"You did perfectly right, lad. It will cut short your stay here but a +week, and it would be madness to refuse the opportunity of getting to +know him and his family better. The Countess died three years ago, I +hear, and he has shown no disposition to take another wife, as he +might well do, seeing he is but a year or two past forty, and has as +pleasant a face and manner as I have ever seen. He is not the sort of +man to promise what he will not perform, Cyril, and more than ever do +I think that it was a fortunate thing for you that John Wilkes +fetched you to that fire in the Savoy. And now, lad, you have no time +to lose. You must come with me at once to Master Woods, the tailor, +in Eastcheap, who makes clothes not only for the citizens but for +many of the nobles and gallants of the Court. In the first place, you +will need a fitting dress for the King's _levee_; then you will need +at least one more suit similar to that you now wear, and three for on +board ship and for ordinary occasions, made of stout cloth, but in +the fashion; then you must have helmet, and breast- and back-pieces +for the fighting, and for these we will go to Master Lawrence, the +armourer, in Cheapside. All these we will order to-day in my name, +and put them down in your account to me. As to arms, you have your +sword, and there is but a brace of pistols to be bought. You will +want a few things such as thick cloaks for sea service; for though I +suppose that Volunteers do not keep their watch, you may meet with +rains and heavy weather, and you will need something to keep you +dry." + +They sallied out at once. So the clothes were ordered, and the Court +suit, with the best of the others promised by the end of the week; +the armour was fitted on and bought, and a stock of fine shirts with +ruffles, hose, and shoes, was also purchased. The next day Sydney +Oliphant, the Earl's son, called upon Cyril. He was a frank, pleasant +young fellow, about a year older than Cyril. He was very fond of his +sisters, and expressed in lively terms his gratitude for their +rescue. + +"This expedition has happened in the nick of time for me," he said, +when, in accordance with his invitation, Cyril and he embarked in the +Earl's boat in which he had been rowed to the City, "for I was in bad +odour with the authorities, and was like, erelong, to have been sent +home far less pleasantly; and although the Earl, my father, is very +indulgent, he would have been terribly angry with me had it been so. +To tell you the truth, at the University we are divided into two +sets--those who read and those who don't--and on joining I found +myself very soon among the latter. I don't think it was quite my +fault, for I naturally fell in with companions whom I had known +before, and it chanced that some of these were among the wildest +spirits in the University. + +"Of course I had my horses, and, being fond of riding, I was more +often in the saddle than in my seat in the college schools. Then +there were constant complaints against us for sitting up late and +disturbing the college with our melodies, and altogether we stood in +bad odour with the Dons; and when they punished us we took our +revenge by playing them pranks, until lately it became almost open +war, and would certainly have ended before long in a score or more of +us being sent down. I should not have minded that myself, but it +would have grieved the Earl, and I am not one of the new-fashioned +ones who care naught for what their fathers may say. He has been +praising you up to the skies this morning, I can tell you--I don't +mean only as to the fire but about other things--and says he hopes we +shall be great friends, and I am sure I hope so too, and think so. He +had been telling me about your finding out about their robbing that +good old sea-captain you live with, and how you were kidnapped +afterwards, and sent to Holland; and how, in another adventure, +although he did not tell me how that came about, you pricked a +ruffling gallant through the shoulder; so that you have had a larger +share of adventure, by a great deal, than I have. I had expected to +see you rather a solemn personage, for the Earl told me you had more +sense in your little finger than I had in my whole body, which was +not complimentary to me, though I dare say it is true." + +"Now, as a rule, they say that sensible people are very disagreeable; +but I hope I shall not be disagreeable," Cyril laughed, "and I am +certainly not aware that I am particularly sensible." + +"No, I am sure you won't be disagreeable, but I should have been +quite nervous about coming to see you if it had not been for the +girls. Little Beatrice told me she thought you were a prince in +disguise, and had evidently a private idea that the good fairies had +sent you to her rescue. Bertha said that you were a very proper young +gentleman, and that she was sure you were nice. Dorothy didn't say +much, but she evidently approved of the younger girls' sentiments, so +I felt that you must be all right, for the girls are generally pretty +severe critics, and very few of my friends stand at all high in their +good graces. What amusement are you most fond of?" + +"I am afraid I have had very little time for amusements," Cyril said. +"I was very fond of fencing when I was in France, but have had no +opportunity of practising since I came to England. I went to a +bull-bait once, but thought it a cruel sport." + +"I suppose you go to a play-house sometimes?" + +"No; I have never been inside one. A good deal of my work has been +done in the evening, and I don't know that the thought ever occurred +to me to go. I know nothing of your English sports, and neither ride +nor shoot, except with a pistol, with which I used to be a good shot +when I was in France." + +They rowed down as low as Greenwich, then, as the tide turned, made +their way back; and by the time Cyril alighted from the boat at +London Bridge stairs the two young fellows had become quite intimate +with each other. + +Nellie looked with great approval at Cyril as he came downstairs in a +full Court dress. Since the avowal she had made of her fault she had +recovered much of her brightness. She bustled about the house, intent +upon the duties she had newly taken up, to the gratification of Mrs. +Dowsett, who protested that her occupation was gone. + +"Not at all, mother. It is only that you are now captain of the ship, +and have got to give your orders instead of carrying them out +yourself. Father did not pull up the ropes or go aloft to furl the +sails, while I have no doubt he had plenty to do in seeing that his +orders were carried out. You will be worse off than he was, for he +had John Wilkes, and others, who knew their duty, while I have got +almost everything to learn." + +Although her cheerfulness had returned, and she could again be heard +singing snatches of song about the house, her voice and manner were +gentler and softer, and Captain Dave said to Cyril,-- + +"It has all turned out for the best, lad. The ship was very near +wrecked, but the lesson has been a useful one, and there is no fear +of her being lost from want of care or good seamanship in future. I +feel, too, that I have been largely to blame in the matter. I spoilt +her as a child, and I spoilt her all along. Her mother would have +kept a firmer hand upon the helm if I had not always spoken up for +the lass, and said, 'Let her have her head; don't check the sheets in +too tautly.' I see I was wrong now. Why, lad, what a blessing it is +to us all that it happened when it did! for if that fire had been but +a month earlier, you would probably have gone away with the Earl, and +we should have known nothing of Nellie's peril until we found that +she was gone." + +"Sir Cyril--no, I really cannot call you Cyril now," Nellie said, +curtseying almost to the ground after taking a survey of the lad, +"your costume becomes you rarely; and I am filled with wonder at the +thought of my own stupidity in not seeing all along that you were a +prince in disguise. It is like the fairy tales my old nurse used to +tell me of the king's son who went out to look for a beautiful wife, +and who worked as a scullion in the king's palace without anyone +suspecting his rank. I think fortune has been very hard upon me, in +that I was born five years too soon. Had I been but fourteen instead +of nineteen, your Royal Highness might have cast favourable eyes upon +me." + +"But then, Mistress Nellie," Cyril said, laughing, "you would be +filled with grief now at the thought that I am going away to the +wars." + +The girl's face changed. She dropped her saucy manner and said +earnestly,-- + +"I am grieved, Cyril; and if it would do any good I would sit down +and have a hearty cry. The Dutchmen are brave fighters, and their +fleet will be stronger than ours; and there will be many who sail +away to sea who will never come back again. I have never had a +brother; but it seems to me that if I had had one who was wise, and +thoughtful, and brave, I should have loved him as I love you. I think +the princess must always have felt somehow that the scullion was not +what he seemed; and though I have always laughed at you and scolded +you, I have known all along that you were not really a clerk. I don't +know that I thought you were a prince; but I somehow felt a little +afraid of you. You never said that you thought me vain and giddy, but +I knew you did think so, and I used to feel a little malice against +you; and yet, somehow, I respected and liked you all the more, and +now it seems to me that you are still in disguise, and that, though +you seem to be but a boy, you are really a man to whom some good +fairy has given a boy's face. Methinks no boy could be as thoughtful +and considerate, and as kind as you are." + +"You are exaggerating altogether," Cyril said; "and yet, in what you +say about my age, I think you are partly right. I have lived most of +my life alone; I have had much care always on my shoulders, and grave +responsibility; thus it is that I am older in many ways than I should +be at my years. I would it were not so. I have not had any boyhood, +as other boys have, and I think it has been a great misfortune for +me." + +"It has not been a misfortune for us, Cyril; it has been a blessing +indeed to us all that you have not been quite like other boys, and I +think that all your life it will be a satisfaction for you to know +that you have saved one house from ruin, one woman from misery, and +disgrace. Now it is time for you to be going; but although you are +leaving us tomorrow, Cyril, I hope that you are not going quite out +of our lives." + +"That you may be sure I am not, Nellie. If you have reason to be +grateful to me, truly I have much reason to be grateful to your +father. I have never been so happy as since I have been in this +house, and I shall always return to it as to a home where I am sure +of a welcome--as the place to which I chiefly owe any good fortune +that may ever befall me." + +The _levee_ was a brilliant one, and was attended, in addition to +the usual throng of courtiers, by most of the officers and gentlemen +who were going with the Fleet. Cyril was glad indeed that he was with +the Earl of Wisbech and his son, for he would have felt lonely and +out of place in the brilliant throng, in which Prince Rupert's face +would have been the only one with which he was familiar. The Earl +introduced him to several of the gentlemen who would be his +shipmates, and by all he was cordially received when the Earl named +him as the gentleman who had rescued his daughters from death. + +At times, when the Earl was chatting with his friends, Cyril moved +about through the rooms with Sydney, who knew by appearance a great +number of those present, and was able to point out all the +distinguished persons of the Court to him. + +"There is the Prince," he said, "talking with the Earl of Rochester. +What a grave face he has now! It is difficult to believe that he is +the Rupert of the wars, and the headstrong prince whose very bravery +helped to lose well-nigh as many battles as he won. We may be sure +that he will take us into the very thick of the fight, Cyril. Even +now his wrist is as firm, and, I doubt not, his arm as strong as when +he led the Cavaliers. I have seen him in the tennis-court; there is +not one at the Court, though many are well-nigh young enough to be +his sons, who is his match at tennis. There is the Duke of York. They +say he is a Catholic, but I own that makes no difference to me. He is +fond of the sea, and is never so happy as when he is on board ship, +though you would hardly think it by his grave face. The King is fond +of it, too. He has a pleasure vessel that is called a yacht, and so +has the Duke of York, and they have races one against the other; but +the King generally wins. He is making it a fashionable pastime. Some +day I will have one myself--that is, if I find I like the sea; for it +must be pleasant to sail about in your own vessel, and to go +wheresoever one may fancy without asking leave from any man." + +When it came to his turn Cyril passed before the King with the Earl +and his son. The Earl presented Sydney, who had not before been at +Court, to the King, mentioning that he was going out as a Volunteer +in Prince Rupert's vessel. + +"That is as it should be, my Lord," the King said. "England need +never fear so long as her nobles and gentlemen are ready themselves +to go out to fight her battles, and to set an example to the seamen. +You need not present this young gentleman to me; my cousin Rupert has +already done so, and told me of the service he has rendered to your +daughters. He, too, sails with the Prince, and after what happened +there can be no doubt that he can stand fire well. I would that this +tiresome dignity did not prevent my being of the party. I would +gladly, for once, lay my kingship down and go out as one of the +company to help give the Dutchmen a lesson that will teach them that, +even if caught unexpectedly, the sea-dogs of England can well hold +their own, though they have no longer a Blake to command them." + +"I wonder that the King ventures to use Blake's name," Sydney +whispered, as they moved away, "considering the indignities that he +allowed the judges to inflict on the body of the grand old sailor." + +"It was scandalous!" Cyril said warmly; "and I burned with +indignation when I heard of it in France. They may call him a traitor +because he sided with the Parliament, but even Royalists should never +have forgotten what great deeds he did for England. However, though +they might have dishonoured his body, they could not touch his fame, +and his name will be known and honoured as long as England is a +nation and when the names of the men who condemned him have been long +forgotten." + +After leaving the _levee_, Cyril went back to the City, and the next +morning started on horseback, with the Earl and his son, to the +latter's seat, near Sevenoaks, the ladies having gone down in the +Earl's coach on the previous day. Wholly unaccustomed as Cyril was to +riding, he was so stiff that he had difficulty in dismounting when +they rode up to the mansion. The Earl had provided a quiet and +well-trained horse for his use, and he had therefore found no +difficulty in retaining his seat. + +"You must ride every day while you are down here," the Earl said, +"and by the end of the week you will begin to be fairly at home in +the saddle. A good seat is one of the prime necessities of a +gentleman's education, and if it should be that you ever carry out +your idea of taking service abroad it will be essential for you, +because, in most cases, the officers are mounted. You can hardly +expect ever to become a brilliant rider. For that it is necessary to +begin young; but if you can keep your seat under all circumstances, +and be able to use your sword on horseback, as well as on foot, it +will be all that is needful." + +The week passed very pleasantly. Cyril rode and fenced daily with +Sydney, who was surprised to find that he was fully his match with +the sword. He walked in the gardens with the girls, who had now quite +recovered from the effects of the fire. Bertha and Beatrice, being +still children, chatted with him as freely and familiarly as they did +with Sydney. Of Lady Dorothy he saw less, as she was in charge of her +_gouvernante_, who always walked beside her, and was occupied in +training her into the habits of preciseness and decorum in vogue at +the time. + +"I do believe, Dorothy," Sydney said, one day, "that you are +forgetting how to laugh. You walk like a machine, and seem afraid to +move your hands or your feet except according to rule. I like you +very much better as you were a year ago, when you did not think +yourself too fine for a romp, and could laugh when you were pleased. +That dragon of yours is spoiling you altogether." + +"That is a matter of opinion, Sydney," Dorothy said, with a deep +curtsey. "When you first began to fence, I have no doubt you were +stiff and awkward, and I am sure if you had always had someone by +your side, saying, 'Keep your head up!' 'Don't poke your chin +forward!' 'Pray do not swing your arms!' and that sort of thing, you +would be just as awkward as I feel. I am sure I would rather run +about with the others; the process of being turned into a young lady +is not a pleasant one. But perhaps some day, when you see the +finished article, you will be pleased to give your Lordship's august +approval," and she ended with a merry laugh that would have shocked +her _gouvernante_ if she had heard it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BATTLE OF LOWESTOFT + + +The Earl returned with his son and Cyril to town, and the latter +spent the night in the City. + +"I do not know, Cyril," Captain Dave said, as they talked over his +departure, "that you run much greater risk in going than do we in +staying here. The Plague makes progress, and although it has not +invaded the City, we can hardly hope that it will be long before it +appears here. There are many evil prophecies abroad, and it is the +general opinion that a great misfortune hangs over us, and they say +that many have prepared to leave London. I have talked the matter +over with my wife. We have not as yet thought of going, but should +the Plague come heavily, it may be that we shall for a time go away. +There will be no business to be done, for vessels will not come up +the Thames and risk infection, nor, indeed, would they be admitted +into ports, either in England or abroad, after coming from an +infected place. Therefore I could leave without any loss in the way +of trade. It will, of course, depend upon the heaviness of the +malady, but if it becomes widespread we shall perhaps go for a visit +to my wife's cousin, who lives near Gloucester, and who has many +times written to us urging us to go down with Nellie for a visit to +her. Hitherto, business has prevented my going, but if all trade +ceases, it would be a good occasion for us, and such as may never +occur again. Still, I earnestly desire that it may not arise, for it +cannot do so without sore trouble and pain alighting on the City. Did +the Earl tell you, Cyril, what he has done with regard to John?" + +"No; he did not speak to me on the subject." + +"His steward came here three days since with a gold watch and chain, +as a gift from the Earl. The watch has an inscription on the case, +saying that it is presented to John Wilkes from the Earl of Wisbech, +as a memorial of his gratitude for the great services rendered to his +daughters. Moreover, he brought a letter from the Earl saying that if +John should at any time leave my service, owing to my death or +retirement from business, or from John himself wishing, either from +age or other reason, to leave me, he would place at his service a +cottage and garden on his estate, and a pension of twenty pounds a +year, to enable him to live in comfort for the remainder of his days. +John is, as you may suppose, mightily pleased, for though I would +assuredly never part with him as long as I live, and have by my will +made provision that will keep him from want in case I die before him, +it was mighty pleasant to receive so handsome a letter and offer of +service from the Earl. Nellie wrote for him a letter in which he +thanked the Earl for the kindness of his offer, for which, although +he hoped he should never be forced to benefit from it, he was none +the less obliged and grateful, seeing that he had done nothing that +any other bystander would not have done, to deserve it." + +Early the next morning Sydney Oliphant rode up to the door, followed +by two grooms, one of whom had a led horse, and the other a +sumpter-mule, which was partly laden. Captain Dave went down with +Cyril to the door. + +"I pray you to enter, my Lord," he said. "My wife will not be happy +unless you take a cup of posset before you start. Moreover, she and +my daughter desire much to see you, as you are going to sail with Sir +Cyril, whom we regard as a member of our family." + +"I will come up right willingly," the young noble said, leaping +lightly from his horse. "If your good dame's posset is as good as the +wine the Earl, my father, tells me you gave him, it must be good +indeed; for he told me he believed he had none in his cellar equal to +it." + +He remained for a few minutes upstairs, chatting gaily, vowing that +the posset was the best he had ever drank, and declaring to Nellie +that he regarded as a favourable omen for his expedition that he +should have seen so fair a face the last thing before starting. He +shook hands with John Wilkes heartily when he came up to say that +Cyril's valises were all securely packed on the horses, and then went +off, promising to send Captain Dave a runnet of the finest schiedam +from the Dutch Admiral's ship. + +"Truly, I am thankful you came up," Cyril said, as they mounted and +rode off. "Before you came we were all dull, and the Dame and +Mistress Nellie somewhat tearful; Now we have gone off amidst smiles, +which is vastly more pleasant." + +Crossing London Bridge, they rode through Southwark, and then out +into the open country. Each had a light valise strapped behind the +saddle, and the servants had saddle-bags containing the smaller +articles of luggage, while the sumpter-mule carried two trunks with +their clothes and sea necessaries. It was late in the evening when +they arrived at Chatham. Here they put up at an hotel which was +crowded with officers of the Fleet, and with Volunteers like +themselves. + +"I should grumble at these quarters, Cyril," Sydney said, as the +landlord, with many apologies, showed them into a tiny attic, which +was the only place he had unoccupied, "were it not that we are going +to sea to-morrow, and I suppose that our quarters will be even +rougher there. However, we may have elbow-room for a time, for most +of the Volunteers will not join, I hear, until the last thing before +the Fleet sails, and it may be a fortnight yet before all the ships +are collected. I begged my father to let me do the same, but he goes +back again to-day to Sevenoaks, and he liked not the idea of my +staying in town, seeing that the Plague is spreading so rapidly. I +would even have stayed in the country had he let me, but he was of +opinion that I was best on board--in the first place, because I may +not get news down there in time to join the Fleet before it sails, +and in the second, that I might come to get over this sickness of the +sea, and so be fit and able to do my part when we meet the Dutch. +This was so reasonable that I could urge nothing against it; for, in +truth, it would be a horrible business if I were lying like a sick +dog, unable to lift my head, while our men were fighting the Dutch. I +have never been to sea, and know not how I shall bear it. Are you a +good sailor?" + +"Yes; I used to go out very often in a fishing-boat at Dunkirk, and +never was ill from the first. Many people are not ill at all, and it +will certainly be of an advantage to you to be on board for a short +time in quiet waters before setting out for sea." + +On going downstairs, Lord Oliphant found several young men of his +acquaintance among those staying in the house. He introduced Cyril to +them. But the room was crowded and noisy; many of those present had +drunk more than was good for them, and it was not long before Cyril +told his friend that he should go up to bed. + +"I am not accustomed to noisy parties, Sydney, and feel quite +confused with all this talk." + +"You will soon get accustomed to it, Cyril. Still, do as you like. I +dare say I shall not be very long before I follow you." + +The next morning after breakfast they went down to the quay, and took +a boat to the ship, which was lying abreast of the dockyard. The +captain, on their giving their names, consulted the list. + +"That is right, gentlemen, though indeed I know not why you should +have come down until we are ready to sail, which may not be for a +week or more, though we shall go out from here to-morrow and join +those lying in the Hope; for indeed you can be of no use while we are +fitting, and would but do damage to your clothes and be in the way of +the sailors. It is but little accommodation you will find on board +here, though we will do the best we can for you." + +"We do not come about accommodation, captain," Lord Oliphant laughed, +"and we have brought down gear with us that will not soil, or rather, +that cannot be the worse for soiling. There are three or four others +at the inn where we stopped last night who are coming on board, but I +hear that the rest of the Volunteers will probably join when the +Fleet assembles in Yarmouth roads." + +"Then they must be fonder of journeying on horseback than I am," the +captain said. "While we are in the Hope, where, indeed, for aught I +know, we may tarry but a day or two, they could come down by boat +conveniently without trouble, whereas to Yarmouth it is a very long +ride, with the risk of losing their purses to the gentlemen of the +road. Moreover, though the orders are at present that the Fleet +gather at Yarmouth, and many are already there 'tis like that it may +be changed in a day for Harwich or the Downs. I pray you get your +meals at your inn to-day, for we are, as you see, full of work taking +on board stores. If it please you to stay and watch what is doing +here you are heartily welcome, but please tell the others that they +had best not come off until late in the evening, by which time I will +do what I can to have a place ready for them to sleep. We shall sail +at the turn of the tide, which will be at three o'clock in the +morning." + +Oliphant wrote a few lines to the gentlemen on shore, telling them +that the captain desired that none should come on board until the +evening, and having sent it off by their boatmen, telling them to +return in time to take them back to dinner, he and Cyril mounted to +the poop and surveyed the scene round them. The ship was surrounded +with lighters and boats from the dockyards, and from these casks and +barrels, boxes and cases, were being swung on board by blocks from +the yards, or rolled in at the port-holes. A large number of men were +engaged at the work, and as fast as the stores came on board they +were seized by the sailors and carried down into the hold, the +provisions piled in tiers of barrels, the powder-kegs packed in the +magazine. + +"'Tis like an ant-hill," Cyril said. "'Tis just as I have seen when a +nest has been disturbed. Every ant seizes a white egg as big as +itself, and rushes off with it to the passage below." + +"They work bravely," his companion said. "Every man seems to know +that it is important that the ship should be filled up by to-night. +See! the other four vessels lying above us are all alike at work, and +may, perhaps, start with us in the morning. The other ships are busy, +too, but not as we are. I suppose they will take them in hand when +they have got rid of us." + +"I am not surprised that the captain does not want idlers here, for, +except ourselves, every man seems to have his appointed work." + +"I feel half inclined to take off my doublet and to go and help to +roll those big casks up the planks." + +"I fancy, Sydney, we should be much more in the way there than here. +There is certainly no lack of men, and your strength and mine +together would not equal that of one of those strong fellows; +besides, we are learning something here. It is good to see how +orderly the work is being carried on, for, in spite of the number +employed, there is no confusion. You see there are three barges on +each side; the upper tiers of barrels and bales are being got on +board through the portholes, while the lower ones are fished up from +the bottom by the ropes from the yards and swung into the waist, and +so passed below; and as fast as one barge is unloaded another drops +alongside to take its place." + +They returned to the inn to dinner, after which they paid a visit to +the victualling yard and dockyard, where work was everywhere going +on. After supper they, with the other gentlemen for Prince Rupert's +ship, took boat and went off together. They had learned that, while +they would be victualled on board, they must take with them wine and +other matters they required over and above the ship's fare. They had +had a consultation with the other gentlemen after dinner, and +concluded that it would be best to take but a small quantity of +things, as they knew not how they would be able to stow them away, +and would have opportunities of getting, at Gravesend or at Yarmouth, +further stores, when they saw what things were required. They +therefore took only a cheese, some butter, and a case of wine. As +soon as they got on board they were taken below. They found that a +curtain of sail-cloth had been hung across the main deck, and +hammocks slung between the guns. Three or four lanterns were hung +along the middle. + +"This is all we can do for you, gentlemen," the officer who conducted +them down said. "Had we been going on a pleasure trip we could have +knocked up separate cabins, but as we must have room to work the +guns, this cannot be done. In the morning the sailors will take down +these hammocks, and will erect a table along the middle, where you +will take your meals. At present, as you see, we have only slung +hammocks for you, but when you all come on board there will be +twenty. We have, so far, only a list of sixteen, but as the Prince +said that two or three more might come at the last moment we have +railed off space enough for ten hammocks on each side. We will get +the place cleaned for you to-morrow, but the last barge was emptied +but a few minutes since, and we could do naught but just sweep the +deck down. To-morrow everything shall be scrubbed and put in order." + +"It will do excellently well," one of the gentlemen said. "We have +not come on board ship to get luxuries, and had we to sleep on the +bare boards you would hear no grumbling." + +"Now, gentlemen, as I have shown you your quarters, will you come up +with me to the captain's cabin? He has bade me say that he will be +glad if you will spend an hour with him there before you retire to +rest." + +On their entering, the captain shook hands with Lord Oliphant and +Cyril. + +"I must apologise, gentlemen, for being short with you when you came +on board this morning; but my hands were full, and I had no time to +be polite. They say you can never get a civil answer from a housewife +on her washing-day, and it is the same thing with an officer on board +a ship when she is taking in her stores. However, that business is +over, and now I am glad to see you all, and will do my best to make +you as comfortable as I can, which indeed will not be much; for as we +shall, I hope, be going into action in the course of another ten +days, the decks must all be kept clear, and as we have the Prince on +board, we have less cabin room than we should have were we not an +admiral's flagship." + +Wine was placed on the table, and they had a pleasant chat. They +learnt that the Fleet was now ready for sea. + +"Four ships will sail with ours to-morrow," the captain said, "and +the other five will be off the next morning. They have all their +munitions on board, and will take in the rest of their provisions +to-morrow. The Dutch had thought to take us by surprise, but from +what we hear they are not so forward as we, for things have been +pushed on with great zeal at all our ports, the war being generally +popular with the nation, and especially with the merchants, whose +commerce has been greatly injured by the pretensions and violence of +the Dutch. The Portsmouth ships, and those from Plymouth, are already +on their way round to the mouth of the Thames, and in a week we may +be at sea. I only hope the Dutch will not be long before they come +out to fight us. However, we are likely to pick up a great many +prizes, and, next to fighting, you know, sailors like prize-money." + +After an hour's talk the five gentlemen went below to their hammocks, +and then to bed, with much laughter at the difficulty they had in +mounting into their swinging cots. + +It was scarce daylight when they were aroused by a great stir on +board the ship, and, hastily putting on their clothes, went on deck. +Already a crowd of men were aloft loosening the sails. Others had +taken their places in boats in readiness to tow the ship, for the +wind was, as yet, so light that it was like she would scarce have +steerage way, and there were many sharp angles in the course down the +river to be rounded, and shallows to be avoided. A few minutes later +the moorings were cast off, the sails sheeted home, and the crew gave +a great cheer, which was answered from the dockyard, and from boats +alongside, full of the relations and friends of the sailors, who +stood up and waved their hats and shouted good bye. + +The sails still hung idly, but the tide swept the ship along, and the +men in the boats ahead simply lay on their oars until the time should +come to pull her head round in one direction or another. They had not +long to wait, for, as they reached the sharp corner at the end of the +reach, orders were shouted, the men bent to their oars, and the +vessel was taken round the curve until her head pointed east. +Scarcely had they got under way when they heard the cheer from the +ship astern of them, and by the time they had reached the next curve, +off the village of Gillingham, the other four ships had rounded the +point behind them, and were following at a distance of about a +hundred yards apart. Soon afterwards the wind sprang up and the sails +bellied out, and the men in the boats had to row briskly to keep +ahead of the ship. The breeze continued until they passed Sheerness, +and presently they dropped anchor inside the Nore sands. There they +remained until the tide turned, and then sailed up the Thames to the +Hope, where some forty men-of-war were already at anchor. + +The next morning some barges arrived from Tilbury, laden with +soldiers, of whom a hundred and fifty came on board, their quarters +being on the main deck on the other side of the canvas division. A +cutter also brought down a number of impressed men, twenty of whom +were put on board the _Henrietta_ to complete her crew. Cyril was +standing on the poop watching them come on board, when he started as +his eye fell on two of their number. One was Robert Ashford; the +other was Black Dick. They had doubtless returned from Holland when +war was declared. Robert Ashford had assumed the dress of a sailor +the better to disguise himself, and the two had been carried off +together from some haunt of sailors at Wapping. He pointed them out +to his friend Sydney. + +"So those are the two scamps? The big one looks a truculent ruffian. +Well, they can do you no harm here, Cyril. I should let them stay and +do their share of the fighting, and then, when the voyage is over, if +they have not met with a better death than they deserve at the hands +of the Dutch, you can, if you like, denounce them, and have them +handed over to the City authorities." + +"That I will do, as far as the big ruffian they call Black Dick is +concerned. He is a desperate villain, and for aught I know may have +committed many a murder, and if allowed to go free might commit many +more. Besides, I shall never feel quite safe as long as he is at +large. As to Robert Ashford, he is a knave, but I know no worse of +him, and will therefore let him go his way." + +In the evening the other ships from Chatham came up, and the captain +told them later that the Earl of Sandwich, who was in command, would +weigh anchor in the morning, as the contingent from London, Chatham, +and Sheerness was now complete. Cyril thought that he had never seen +a prettier sight, as the Fleet, consisting of fifty men-of-war, of +various sizes, and eight merchant vessels that had been bought and +converted into fire-ships, got under way and sailed down the river. +That night they anchored off Felixstowe, and the next day proceeded, +with a favourable wind, to Yarmouth, where already a great number of +ships were at anchor. So far the five Volunteers had taken their +meals with the captain, but as the others would be coming on board, +they were now to mess below, getting fresh meat and vegetables from +the shore as they required them. As to other stores, they resolved to +do nothing till the whole party arrived. + +They had not long to wait, for, on the third day after their arrival, +the Duke of York and Prince Rupert, with a great train of gentlemen, +arrived in the town, and early the next morning embarked on board +their respective ships. A council was held by the Volunteers in their +quarters, three of their number were chosen as caterers, and, a +contribution of three pounds a head being agreed upon, these went +ashore in one of the ship's boats, and returned presently with a +barrel or two of good biscuits, the carcasses of five sheep, two or +three score of ducks and chickens, and several casks of wine, +together with a large quantity of vegetables. The following morning +the signal was hoisted on the mast-head of the _Royal Charles_, the +Duke of York's flagship, for the Fleet to prepare to weigh anchor, +and they presently got under way in three squadrons, the red under +the special orders of the Duke, the white under Prince Rupert, and +the blue under the Earl of Sandwich. + +The Fleet consisted of one hundred and nine men-of-war and frigates, +and twenty-eight fire-ships and ketches, manned by 21,006 seamen and +soldiers. They sailed across to the coast of Holland, and cruised, +for a few days, off Texel, capturing ten or twelve merchant vessels +that tried to run in. So far, the weather had been very fine, but +there were now signs of a change of weather. The sky became overcast, +the wind rose rapidly, and the signal was made for the Fleet to +scatter, so that each vessel should have more sea-room, and the +chance of collision be avoided. By nightfall the wind had increased +to the force of a gale, and the vessels were soon labouring heavily. +Cyril and two or three of his comrades who, like himself, did not +suffer from sickness, remained on deck; the rest were prostrate +below. + +For forty-eight hours the gale continued, and when it abated and the +ships gradually closed up round the three admirals' flags, it was +found that many had suffered sorely in the gale. Some had lost their +upper spars, others had had their sails blown away, some their +bulwarks smashed in, and two or three had lost their bowsprits. There +was a consultation between the admirals and the principal captains, +and it was agreed that it was best to sail back to England for +repairs, as many of the ships were unfitted to take their place in +line of battle, and as the Dutch Fleet was known to be fully equal to +their own in strength, it would have been hazardous to risk an +engagement. So the ketches and some of the light frigates were at +once sent off to find the ships that had not yet joined, and give +them orders to make for Yarmouth, Lowestoft, or Harwich. All vessels +uninjured were to gather off Lowestoft, while the others were to make +for the other ports, repair their damages as speedily as possible, +and then rejoin at Lowestoft. + +No sooner did the Dutch know that the English Fleet had sailed away +than they put their fleet to sea. It consisted of one hundred and +twelve men-of-war, and thirty fire-ships, and small craft manned by +22,365 soldiers and sailors. It was commanded by Admiral Obdam, +having under him Tromp, Evertson, and other Dutch admirals. On their +nearing England they fell in with nine ships from Hamburg, with rich +cargoes, and a convoy of a thirty-four gun frigate. These they +captured, to the great loss of the merchants of London. + +The _Henrietta_ had suffered but little in the storm, and speedily +repaired her damages without going into port. With so much haste and +energy did the crews of the injured ships set to work at refitting +them, that in four days after the main body had anchored off +Lowestoft, they were rejoined by all the ships that had made for +Harwich and Yarmouth. + +At midnight on June 2nd, a fast-sailing fishing-boat brought in the +news that the Dutch Fleet were but a few miles away, sailing in that +direction, having apparently learnt the position of the English from +some ship or fishing-boat they had captured. + +The trumpets on the admiral's ship at once sounded, and Prince Rupert +and the Earl of Sandwich immediately rowed to her. They remained but +a few minutes, and on their return to their respective vessels made +the signals for their captains to come on board. The order, at such +an hour, was sufficient to notify all that news must have been +received of the whereabouts of the Dutch Fleet, and by the time the +captains returned to their ships the crews were all up and ready to +execute any order. At two o'clock day had begun to break, and soon +from the mastheads of several of the vessels the look-out shouted +that they could perceive the Dutch Fleet but four miles away. A +mighty cheer rose throughout the Fleet, and as it subsided a gun from +the _Royal Charles_ gave the order to weigh anchor, and a few +minutes later the three squadrons, in excellent order, sailed out to +meet the enemy. + +They did not, however, advance directly towards them, but bore up +closely into the wind until they had gained the weather gauge of the +enemy. Having obtained this advantage, the Duke flew the signal to +engage. The Volunteers were all in their places on the poop, being +posted near the rail forward, that they might be able either to run +down the ladder to the waist and aid to repel boarders, or to spring +on to a Dutch ship should one come alongside, and also that the +afterpart of the poop, where Prince Rupert and the captain had taken +their places near the wheel, should be free. The Prince himself had +requested them so to station themselves. + +"At other times, gentlemen, you are my good friends and comrades," he +said, "but, from the moment that the first gun fires, you are +soldiers under my orders; and I pray you take your station and remain +there until I call upon you for action, for my whole attention must +be given to the manoeuvring of the ship, and any movement or talking +near me might distract my thoughts. I shall strive to lay her +alongside of the biggest Dutchman I can pick out, and as soon as the +grapnels are thrown, and their sides grind together, you will have +the post of honour, and will lead the soldiers aboard her. Once among +the Dutchmen, you will know what to do without my telling you." + +"'Tis a grand sight, truly, Cyril," Sydney said, in a low tone, as +the great fleets met each other. + +"A grand sight, truly, Sydney, but a terrible one. I do not think I +shall mind when I am once at it, but at present I feel that, despite +my efforts, I am in a tremor, and that my knees shake as I never felt +them before." + +"I am glad you feel like that, Cyril, for I feel much like it myself, +and began to be afraid that I had, without knowing it, been born a +coward. There goes the first gun." + +As he spoke, a puff of white smoke spouted out from the bows of one +of the Dutch ships, and a moment later the whole of their leading +vessels opened fire. There was a rushing sound overhead, and a ball +passed through the main topsail of the _Henrietta_. No reply was +made by the English ships until they passed in between the Dutchmen; +then the _Henrietta_ poured her broadsides into the enemy on either +side of her, receiving theirs in return. There was a rending of wood, +and a quiver through the ship. One of the upper-deck-guns was knocked +off its carriage, crushing two of the men working it as it fell. +Several others were hurt with splinters, and the sails pierced with +holes. Again and again as she passed, did the _Henrietta_ exchange +broadsides with the Dutch vessels, until--the two fleets having +passed through each other--she bore up, and prepared to repeat the +manoeuvre. + +"I feel all right now," Cyril said, "but I do wish I had something to +do instead of standing here useless. I quite envy the men there, +stripped to the waist, working the guns. There is that fellow Black +Dick, by the gun forward; he is a scoundrel, no doubt, but what +strength and power he has! I saw him put his shoulder under that gun +just now, and slew it across by sheer strength, so as to bear upon +the stern of the Dutchman. I noticed him and Robert looking up at me +just before the first gun was fired, and speaking together. I have no +doubt he would gladly have pointed the gun at me instead of at the +enemy, for he knows that, if I denounce him, he will get the due +reward of his crimes." + +As soon as the ships were headed round they passed through the Dutch +as before, and this manoeuvre was several times repeated. Up to one +o'clock in the day no great advantage had been gained on either side. +Spars had been carried away; there were yawning gaps in the bulwarks; +portholes had been knocked into one, guns dismounted, and many +killed; but as yet no vessel on either side had been damaged to an +extent that obliged her to strike her flag, or to fall out of the +fighting line. There had been a pause after each encounter, in which +both fleets had occupied themselves in repairing damages, as far as +possible, reeving fresh ropes in place of those that had been shot +away, clearing the wreckage of fallen spars and yards, and carrying +the wounded below. Four of the Volunteers had been struck down--two +of them mortally wounded, but after the first passage through the +enemy's fleet, Prince Rupert had ordered them to arm themselves with +muskets from the racks, and to keep up a fire at the Dutch ships as +they passed, aiming specially at the man at the wheel. The order had +been a very welcome one, for, like Cyril, they had all felt +inactivity in such a scene to be a sore trial. They were now ranged +along on both sides of the poop. + +At one o'clock Lord Sandwich signalled to the Blue Squadron to close +up together as they advanced, as before, against the enemy's line. +His position at the time was in the centre, and his squadron, sailing +close together, burst into the Dutch line before their ships could +make any similar disposition. Having thus broken it asunder, instead +of passing through it, the squadron separated, and the ships, turning +to port and starboard, each engaged an enemy. The other two squadrons +similarly ranged up among the Dutch, and the battle now became +furious all along the line. Fire-ships played an important part in +the battles of the time, and the thoughts of the captain of a ship +were not confined to struggles with a foe of equal size, but were +still more engrossed by the need for avoiding any fire-ship that +might direct its course towards him. + +Cyril had now no time to give a thought as to what was passing +elsewhere. The _Henrietta_ had ranged up alongside a Dutch vessel of +equal size, and was exchanging broadsides with her. All round were +vessels engaged in an equally furious encounter. The roar of the guns +and the shouts of the seamen on both sides were deafening. One moment +the vessel reeled from the recoil of her own guns, the next she +quivered as the balls of the enemy crashed through her sides. + +Suddenly, above the din, Cyril heard the voice of Prince Rupert sound +like a trumpet. + +"Hatchets and pikes on the starboard quarter! Draw in the guns and +keep off this fire-ship." + +Laying their muskets against the bulwarks, he and Sydney sprang to +the mizzen-mast, and each seized a hatchet from those ranged against +it. They then rushed to the starboard side, just as a small ship came +out through the cloud of smoke that hung thickly around them. + +There was a shock as she struck the _Henrietta_, and then, as she +glided alongside, a dozen grapnels were thrown by men on her yards. +The instant they had done so, the men disappeared, sliding down the +ropes and running aft to their boat. Before the last leaped in he +stooped. A flash of fire ran along the deck, there was a series of +sharp explosions, and then a bright flame sprang up from the +hatchways, ran up the shrouds and ropes, that had been soaked with +oil and tar, and in a moment the sails were on fire. In spite of the +flames, a score of men sprang on to the rigging of the _Henrietta_ +and cut the ropes of the grapnels, which, as yet--so quickly had the +explosion followed their throwing--had scarce begun to check the way +the fire-ship had on her as she came up. + +Cyril, having cast over a grapnel that had fallen on the poop, looked +down on the fire-ship as she drifted along. The deck, which, like +everything else, had been smeared with tar, was in a blaze, but the +combustible had not been carried as far as the helm, where doubtless +the captain had stood to direct her course. A sudden thought struck +him. He ran along the poop until opposite the stern of the fire-ship, +climbed over the bulwark and leapt down on to the deck, some fifteen +feet below him. Then he seized the helm and jammed it hard down. The +fire-ship had still steerage way on her, and he saw her head at once +begin to turn away from the _Henrietta_; the movement was aided by +the latter's crew, who, with poles and oars, pushed her off. + +The heat was terrific, but Cyril's helmet and breast-piece sheltered +him somewhat; yet though he shielded his face with his arm, he felt +that it would speedily become unbearable. His eye fell upon a coil of +rope at his feet. Snatching it up, he fastened it to the tiller and +then round a belaying-pin in the bulwark, caught up a bucket with a +rope attached, threw it over the side and soused its contents over +the tiller-rope, then, unbuckling the straps of his breast- and +back-pieces, he threw them off, cast his helmet on the deck, +blistering his hands as he did so, and leapt overboard. It was with a +delicious sense of coolness that he rose to the surface and looked +round. Hitherto he had been so scorched by the flame and smothered by +the smoke that it was with difficulty he had kept his attention upon +what he was doing, and would doubtless, in another minute, have +fallen senseless. The plunge into the sea seemed to restore his +faculties, and as he came up he looked eagerly to see how far success +had attended his efforts. + +He saw with delight that the bow of the fire-ship was thirty or forty +feet distant from the side of the _Henrietta_ and her stern half +that distance. Two or three of the sails of the man-of-war had caught +fire, but a crowd of seamen were beating the flames out of two of +them while another, upon which the fire had got a better hold, was +being cut away from its yard. As he turned to swim to the side of the +_Henrietta_, three or four ropes fell close to him. He twisted one +of these round his body, and, a minute later, was hauled up into the +waist. He was saluted with a tremendous cheer, and was caught up by +three or four strong fellows, who, in spite of his remonstrances, +carried him up on to the poop. Prince Rupert was standing on the top +of the ladder. + +"Nobly done, Sir Cyril!" he exclaimed. "You have assuredly saved the +_Henrietta_ and all our lives. A minute later, and we should have +been on fire beyond remedy. But I will speak more to you when we have +finished with the Dutchman on the other side." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HONOURABLE SCARS + + +During the time that the greater part of the crew of the _Henrietta_ +had been occupied with the fire-ship, the enemy had redoubled their +efforts, and as the sailors returned to their guns, the mizzen-mast +fell with a crash. A minute later, a Dutch man-of-war ran alongside, +fired a broadside, and grappled. Then her crew, springing over the +bulwarks, poured on to the deck of the _Henrietta_. They were met +boldly by the soldiers, who had hitherto borne no part in the fight, +and who, enraged at the loss they had been compelled to suffer, fell +upon the enemy with fury. For a moment, however, the weight of +numbers of the Dutchmen bore them back, but the sailors, who had at +first been taken by surprise, snatched up their boarding pikes and +axes. + +Prince Rupert, with the other officers and Volunteers, dashed into +the thick of the fray, and, step by step, the Dutchmen were driven +back, until they suddenly gave way and rushed back to their own ship. +The English would have followed them, but the Dutch who remained on +board their ship, seeing that the fight was going against their +friends, cut the ropes of the grapnels, and the ships drifted apart, +some of the last to leave the deck of the _Henrietta_ being forced +to jump into the sea. The cannonade was at once renewed on both +sides, but the Dutch had had enough of it--having lost very heavily +in men--and drew off from the action. + +Cyril had joined in the fray. He had risen to his feet and drawn his +sword, but he found himself strangely weak. His hands were blistered +and swollen, his face was already so puffed that he could scarce see +out of his eyes; still, he had staggered down the steps to the waist, +and, recovering his strength from the excitement, threw himself into +the fray. + +Scarce had he done so, when a sailor next to him fell heavily against +him, shot through the head by one of the Dutch soldiers. Cyril +staggered, and before he could recover himself, a Dutch sailor struck +at his head. He threw up his sword to guard the blow, but the guard +was beaten down as if it had been a reed. It sufficed, however, +slightly to turn the blow, which fell first on the side of the head, +and then, glancing down, inflicted a terrible wound on the shoulder. + +He fell at once, unconscious, and, when he recovered his senses, +found himself laid out on the poop, where Sydney, assisted by two of +the other gentlemen, had carried him. His head and shoulder had +already been bandaged, the Prince having sent for his doctor to come +up from below to attend upon him. + +The battle was raging with undiminished fury all round, but, for the +moment, the _Henrietta_ was not engaged, and her crew were occupied +in cutting away the wreckage of the mizzen-mast, and trying to repair +the more important of the damages that she had suffered. Carpenters +were lowered over the side, and were nailing pieces of wood over the +shot-holes near the water-line. Men swarmed aloft knotting and +splicing ropes and fishing damaged spars. + +Sydney, who was standing a short distance away, at once came up to +him. + +"How are you, Cyril?" + +"My head sings, and my shoulder aches, but I shall do well enough. +Please get me lifted up on to that seat by the bulwark, so that I can +look over and see what is going on." + +"I don't think you are strong enough to sit up, Cyril." + +"Oh, yes I am; besides, I can lean against the bulwark." + +Cyril was placed in the position he wanted, and, leaning his arm on +the bulwark and resting his head on it, was able to see what was +passing. + +Suddenly a tremendous explosion was heard a quarter of a mile away. + +"The Dutch admiral's ship has blown up," one of the men aloft +shouted, and a loud cheer broke from the crew. + +It was true. The Duke of York in the _Royal Charles_, of eighty +guns, and the _Eendracht_, of eighty-four, the flagship of Admiral +Obdam, had met and engaged each other fiercely. For a time the +Dutchmen had the best of it. A single shot killed the Earl of +Falmouth, Lord Muskerry, and Mr. Boyle, three gentlemen Volunteers, +who at the moment were standing close to the Duke, and the _Royal +Charles_ suffered heavily until a shot from one of her guns struck +the Dutchman's magazine, and the _Eendracht_ blew up, only five men +being rescued out of the five hundred that were on board of her. + +This accident in no small degree decided the issue of the engagement, +for the Dutch at once fell into confusion. Four of their ships, a few +hundred yards from the _Henrietta_, fell foul of each other, and +while the crews were engaged in trying to separate them an English +fire-ship sailed boldly up and laid herself alongside. A moment later +the flames shot up high, and the boat with the crew of the fire-ship +rowed to the _Henrietta_. The flames instantly spread to the Dutch +men-of-war, and the sailors were seen jumping over in great numbers. +Prince Rupert ordered the boats to be lowered, but only one was found +to be uninjured. This was manned and pushed off at once, and, with +others from British vessels near, rescued a good many of the Dutch +sailors. + +Still the fight was raging all round; but a short time afterwards +three other of the finest ships in the Dutch Fleet ran into each +other. Another of the English fire-ships hovering near observed the +opportunity, and was laid alongside, with the same success as her +consort, the three men-of-war being all destroyed. + +This took place at some distance from the _Henrietta_, but the +English vessels near them succeeded in saving, in their boats, a +portion of the crews. The Dutch ship _Orange_, of seventy-five guns, +was disabled after a sharp fight with the _Mary_, and was likewise +burnt. Two Dutch vice-admirals were killed, and a panic spread +through the Dutch Fleet. About eight o'clock in the evening between +thirty and forty of their ships made off in a body, and the rest +speedily followed. During the fight and the chase eighteen Dutch +ships were taken, though some of these afterwards escaped, as the +vessels to which they had struck joined the rest in the chase. +Fourteen were sunk, besides those burnt and blown up. Only one +English ship, the _Charity_, had struck, having, at the beginning of +the fight been attacked by three Dutch vessels, and lost the greater +part of her men, and was then compelled to surrender to a Dutch +vessel of considerably greater strength that came up and joined the +others. The English loss was, considering the duration of the fight, +extremely small, amounting to but 250 killed, and 340 wounded. Among +the killed were the Earl of Marlborough, the Earl of Portland, who +was present as a Volunteer, Rear-Admiral Sampson, and Vice-Admiral +Lawson, the latter of whom died after the fight, from his wounds. + +The pursuit of the Dutch was continued for some hours, and then +terminated abruptly, owing to a Member of Parliament named Brounker, +who was in the suite of the Duke of York, giving the captain of the +_Royal Charles_ orders, which he falsely stated emanated from the +Duke, for the pursuit to be abandoned. For this he was afterwards +expelled the House of Commons, and was ordered to be impeached, but +after a time the matter was suffered to drop. + +As soon as the battle was over Cyril was taken down to a hammock +below. He was just dozing off to sleep when Sydney came to him. + +"I am sorry to disturb you, Cyril, but an officer tells me that a man +who is mortally wounded wishes to speak to you; and from his +description I think it is the fellow you call Black Dick. I thought +it right to tell you, but I don't think you are fit to go to see +him." + +"I will go," Cyril said, "if you will lend me your arm. I should like +to hear what the poor wretch has to say." + +"He lies just below; the hatchway is but a few yards distant." + +There had been no attempt to remove Cyril's clothes, and, by the aid +of Lord Oliphant and of a sailor he called to his aid, he made his +way below, and was led through the line of wounded, until a doctor, +turning round, said,-- + +"This is the man who wishes to see you, Sir Cyril." + +Although a line of lanterns hung from the beams, so nearly blind was +he that Cyril could scarce distinguish the man's features. + +"I have sent for you," the latter said faintly, "to tell you that if +it hadn't been for your jumping down on to that fire-ship you would +not have lived through this day's fight. I saw that you recognised +me, and knew that, as soon as we went back, you would hand us over to +the constables. So I made up my mind that I would run you through in +the _melee_ if we got hand to hand with the Dutchmen, or would put a +musket-ball into you while the firing was going on. But when I saw +you standing there with the flames round you, giving your life, as it +seemed, to save the ship, I felt that, even if I must be hung for it, +I could not bring myself to hurt so brave a lad; so there is an end +of that business. Robert Ashford was killed by a gun that was knocked +from its carriage, so you have got rid of us both. I thought I should +like to tell you before I went that the brave action you did saved +your life, and that, bad as I am, I had yet heart enough to feel that +I would rather take hanging than kill you." + +The last words had been spoken in a scarcely audible whisper. The man +closed his eyes; and the doctor, laying his hand on Cyril's arm, +said,-- + +"You had better go back to your hammock now, Sir Cyril. He will never +speak again. In a few minutes the end will come." + +Cyril spent a restless night. The wind was blowing strongly from the +north, and the crews had hard work to keep the vessels off the shore. +His wounds did not pain him much, but his hands, arms, face, and legs +smarted intolerably, for his clothes had been almost burnt off him, +and, refreshing as the sea-bath had been at the moment, it now added +to the smarting of the wounds. + +In the morning Prince Rupert came down to see him. + +"It was madness of you to have joined in that _melee_, lad, in the +state in which you were. I take the blame on myself in not ordering +you to remain behind; but when the Dutchmen poured on board I had no +thought of aught but driving them back again. It would have marred +our pleasure in the victory we have won had you fallen, for to you we +all owe our lives and the safety of the ship. No braver deed was +performed yesterday than yours. I fear it will be some time before +you are able to fight by my side again; but, at least, you have done +your share, and more, were the war to last a lifetime." + +Cyril was in less pain now, for the doctor had poured oil over his +burns, and had wrapped up his hands in soft bandages. + +"It was the thought of a moment, Prince," he said. "I saw the +fire-ship had steerage way on her, and if the helm were put down she +would drive away from our side, so without stopping to think about it +one way or the other, I ran along to the stern, and jumped down to +her tiller." + +"Yes, lad, it was but a moment's thought, no doubt, but it is one +thing to think, and another to execute, and none but the bravest +would have ventured that leap on to the fire-ship. By to-morrow +morning we shall be anchored in the river. Would you like to be +placed in the hospital at Sheerness, or to be taken up to London?" + +"I would rather go to London, if I may," Cyril said. "I know that I +shall be well nursed at Captain Dave's, and hope, erelong, to be able +to rejoin." + +"Not for some time, lad--not for some time. Your burns will doubtless +heal apace, but the wound in your shoulder is serious. The doctor +says that the Dutchman's sword has cleft right through your +shoulder-bone. 'Tis well that it is your left, for it may be that you +will never have its full use again. You are not afraid of the Plague, +are you? for on the day we left town there was a rumour that it had +at last entered the City." + +"I am not afraid of it," Cyril said; "and if it should come to +Captain Dowsett's house, I would rather be there, that I may do what +I can to help those who were so kind to me." + +"Just as you like, lad. Do not hurry to rejoin. It is not likely +there will be any fighting for some time, for it will be long before +the Dutch are ready to take the sea again after the hammering we have +given them, and all there will be to do will be to blockade their +coast and to pick up their ships from foreign ports as prizes." + +The next morning Cyril was placed on board a little yacht, called the +_Fan Fan_, belonging to the Prince, and sailed up the river, the +ship's company mustering at the side and giving him a hearty cheer. +The wind was favourable, and they arrived that afternoon in town. +According to the Prince's instructions, the sailors at once placed +Cyril on a litter that had been brought for the purpose, and carried +him up to Captain Dowsett's. + +The City was in a state of agitation. The news of the victory had +arrived but a few hours before, and the church bells were all +ringing, flags were flying, the shops closed, and the people in the +streets. John Wilkes came down in answer to the summons of the bell. + +"Hullo!" he said; "whom have we here?" + +"Don't you know me, John?" Cyril said. + +John gave a start of astonishment. + +"By St. Anthony, it is Master Cyril! At least, it is his voice, +though it is little I can see of him, and what I see in no way +resembles him." + +"It is Sir Cyril Shenstone," the captain of the _Fan Fan_, who had +come with the party, said sternly, feeling ruffled at the familiarity +with which this rough-looking servitor of a City trader spoke of the +gentleman in his charge. "It is Sir Cyril Shenstone, as brave a +gentleman as ever drew sword, and who, as I hear, saved Prince +Rupert's ship from being burnt by the Dutchmen." + +"He knows me," John Wilkes said bluntly, "and he knows no offence is +meant. The Captain and his dame, and Mistress Nellie are all out, Sir +Cyril, but I will look after you till they return. Bring him up, +lads. I am an old sailor myself, and fought the Dutch under Blake and +Monk more than once." + +He led the way upstairs into the best of the spare rooms. Here Cyril +was laid on a bed. He thanked the sailors heartily for the care they +had taken of him, and the captain handed a letter to John, saying,-- + +"The young Lord Oliphant asked me to give this to Captain Dowsett, +but as he is not at home I pray you to give it him when he returns." + +As soon as they had gone, John returned to the bed. + +"This is terrible, Master Cyril. What have they been doing to you? I +can see but little of your face for those bandages, but your eyes +look mere slits, your flesh is all red and swollen, your eyebrows +have gone, your arms and legs are all swathed up in bandages--Have +you been blown up with gunpowder?--for surely no wound could have so +disfigured you." + +"I have not been blown up, John, but I was burnt by the flames of a +Dutch fire-ship that came alongside. It is a matter that a fortnight +will set right, though I doubt not that I am an unpleasant-looking +object at present, and it will be some time before my hair grows +again." + +"And you are not hurt otherwise, Master?" John asked anxiously. + +"Yes; I am hurt gravely enough, though not so as to imperil my life. +I have a wound on the side of my head, and the same blow, as the +doctor says, cleft through my shoulder-bone." + +"I had best go and get a surgeon at once," John said; "though it will +be no easy matter, for all the world is agog in the streets." + +"Leave it for the present, John. There is no need whatever for haste. +In that trunk of mine is a bottle of oils for the burns, though most +of the sore places are already beginning to heal over, and the doctor +said that I need not apply it any more, unless I found that they +smarted too much for bearing. As for the other wounds, they are +strapped up and bandaged, and he said that unless they inflamed +badly, they would be best let alone for a time. So sit down quietly, +and let me hear the news." + +"The news is bad enough, though the Plague has not yet entered the +City." + +"The Prince told me that there was a report, before he came on board +at Lowestoft, that it had done so." + +"No, it is not yet come; but people are as frightened as if it was +raging here. For the last fortnight they have been leaving in crowds +from the West End, and many of the citizens are also beginning to +move. They frighten themselves like a parcel of children. The comet +seemed to many a sign of great disaster." + +Cyril laughed. + +"If it could be seen only in London there might be something in it, +but as it can be seen all over Europe, it is hard to say why it +should augur evil to London especially. It was shining in the sky +three nights ago when we were chasing the Dutch, and they had quite +as good reason for thinking it was a sign of misfortune to them as +have the Londoners." + +"That is true enough," John Wilkes agreed; "though, in truth, I like +not to see the' thing in the sky myself. Then people have troubled +their heads greatly because, in Master Lilly's Almanack, and other +books of prediction, a great pestilence is foretold." + +"It needed no great wisdom for that," Cyril said, "seeing that the +Plague has been for some time busy in foreign parts, and that it was +here, though not so very bad, in the winter, when these books would +have been written." + +"Then," John Wilkes went on, "there is a man going through the +streets, night and day. He speaks to no one, but cries out +continually, 'Oh! the great and dreadful God!' This troubles many +men's hearts greatly." + +"It is a pity, John, that the poor fellow is not taken and shut up in +some place where madmen are kept. Doubtless, it is some poor coward +whose brain has been turned by fright. People who are frightened by +such a thing as that must be poor-witted creatures indeed." + +"That may be, Master Cyril, but methinks it is as they say, one fool +makes many. People get together and bemoan themselves till their +hearts fail them altogether. And yet, methinks they are not +altogether without reason, for if the pestilence is so heavy without +the walls, where the streets are wider and the people less crowded +than here, it may well be that we shall have a terrible time of it in +the City when it once passes the walls." + +"That may well be, John, but cowardly fear will not make things any +better. We knew, when we sailed out against the Dutch the other day, +that very many would not see the setting sun, yet I believe there was +not one man throughout the Fleet who behaved like a coward." + +"No doubt, Master Cyril; but there is a difference. One can fight +against men, but one cannot fight against the pestilence, and I do +not believe that if the citizens knew that a great Dutch army was +marching on London, and that they would have to withstand a dreadful +siege, they would be moved with fear as they are now." + +"That may be so," Cyril agreed. "Now, John, I think that I could +sleep for a bit." + +"Do so, Master, and I will go into the kitchen and see what I can do +to make you a basin of broth when you awake; for the girl has gone +out too. She wanted to see what was going on in the streets; and as I +had sooner stay quietly at home I offered to take her place, as the +shop was shut and I had nothing to do. Maybe by the time you wake +again Captain Dave and the others will be back from their cruise." + +It was dark when Cyril woke at the sound of the bell. He heard voices +and movements without, and then the door was quietly opened. + +"I am awake," he said. "You see I have taken you at your word, and +come back to be patched up." + +"You are heartily welcome," Mrs. Dowsett said. "Nellie, bring the +light. Cyril is awake. We were sorry indeed when John told us that +you had come in our absence. It was but a cold welcome for you to +find that we were all out." + +"There was nothing I needed, madam. Had there been, John would have +done it for me." + +Nellie now appeared at the door with the light, and gave an +exclamation of horror as she approached the bedside. + +"It is not so bad as it looks, Nellie," Cyril said. "Not that I know +how it looks, for I have not seen myself in a glass since I left +here; but I can guess that I am an unpleasant object to look at." + +Mrs. Dowsett made a sign to Nellie to be silent. + +"John told us that you were badly burned and were all wrapped up in +bandages, but we did not expect to find you so changed. However, that +will soon pass off, I hope." + +"I expect I shall be all right in another week, save for this wound +in my shoulder. As for that on my head, it is but of slight +consequence. My skull was thick enough to save my brain." + +"Well, Master Cyril," Captain Dave said heartily, as he entered the +room with a basin of broth in his hand, and then stopped abruptly. + +"Well, Captain Dave, here I am, battered out of all shape, you see, +but not seriously damaged in my timbers. There, you see, though I +have only been a fortnight at sea, I am getting quite nautical." + +"That is right, lad--that is right," Captain Dave said, a little +unsteadily. "My dame and Nellie will soon put you into ship-shape +trim again. So you got burnt, I hear, by one of those rascally Dutch +fire-ships? and John tells me that the captain of the sailors who +carried you here said that you had gained mighty credit for +yourself." + +"I did my best, as everyone did, Captain Dave. There was not a man on +board the Fleet who did not do his duty, or we should never have +beaten the Dutchmen so soundly." + +"You had better not talk any more," Mrs. Dowsett said. "You are in my +charge now, and my first order is that you must keep very quiet, or +else you will be having fever come on. You had best take a little of +this broth now. Nellie will sit with you while I go out to prepare +you a cooling drink." + +"I will take a few spoonfuls of the soup since John has taken the +trouble to prepare it for me," Cyril said; "though, indeed, my lips +are so parched and swollen that the cooling drink will be much more +to my taste." + +"I think it were best first, dame," the Captain said, "that John and +I should get him comfortably into bed, instead of lying there wrapped +up in the blanket in which they brought him ashore. The broth will be +none the worse for cooling a bit." + +"That will be best," his wife agreed. "I will fetch some more +pillows, so that we can prop him up. He can swallow more comfortably +so, and will sleep all the better when he lies down again." + +As soon as Cyril was comfortably settled John Wilkes was sent to call +in a doctor, who, after examining him, said that the burns were doing +well, and that he would send in some cooling lotion to be applied to +them frequently. As to the wounds, he said they had been so skilfully +bandaged that it were best to leave them alone, unless great pain set +in. + +Another four days, and Cyril's face had so far recovered its usual +condition that the swelling was almost abated, and the bandages could +be removed. The peak of the helmet had sheltered it a good deal, and +it had suffered less than his hands and arms. Captain Dave and John +had sat up with him by turns at night, while the Dame and her +daughter had taken care of him during the day. He had slept a great +deal, and had not been allowed to talk at all. This prohibition was +now removed, as the doctor said that the burns were now all healing +fast, and that he no longer had any fear of fever setting in. + +"By the way, Captain," John Wilkes said, that day, at dinner, "I have +just bethought me of this letter, that was given me by the sailor who +brought Cyril here. It is for you, from young Lord Oliphant. It has +clean gone out of my mind till now. I put it in the pocket of my +doublet, and have forgotten it ever since." + +"No harm can have come of the delay, John," Captain Dave said. "It +was thoughtful of the lad. He must have been sure that Cyril would +not be in a condition to tell us aught of the battle, and he may have +sent us some details of it, for the Gazette tells us little enough, +beyond the ships taken and the names of gentlemen and officers +killed. Here, Nellie, do you read it. It seems a long epistle, and my +eyes are not as good as they were." + +Nellie took the letter and read aloud:-- + +"'DEAR AND WORTHY SIR,--I did not think when I was so pleasantly +entertained at your house that it would befall me to become your +correspondent, but so it has happened, for, Sir Cyril being sorely +hurt, and in no state to tell you how the matter befell him--if +indeed his modesty would allow him, which I greatly doubt--it is +right that you should know how the business came about, and what +great credit Sir Cyril has gained for himself. In the heat of the +fight, when we were briskly engaged in exchanging broadsides with a +Dutchman of our own size, one of their fire-ships, coming unnoticed +through the smoke, slipped alongside of us, and, the flames breaking +out, would speedily have destroyed us, as indeed they went near +doing. The grapnels were briskly thrown over, but she had already +touched our sides, and the flames were blowing across us when Sir +Cyril, perceiving that she had still some way on her, sprang down on +to her deck and put over the helm. She was then a pillar of flame, +and the decks, which were plentifully besmeared with pitch, were all +in a blaze, save just round the tiller where her captain had stood to +steer her. It was verily a furnace, and it seemed impossible that one +could stand there for only half a minute and live. Everyone on board +was filled with astonishment, and the Prince called out loudly that +he had never seen a braver deed. As the fire-ship drew away from us, +we saw Sir Cyril fasten the helm down with a rope, and then, lowering +a bucket over, throw water on to it; then he threw off his helmet and +armour--his clothes being, by this time, all in a flame--and sprang +into the sea, the fire-ship being now well nigh her own length from +us. She had sheered off none too soon, for some of our sails were on +fire, and it was with great difficulty that we succeeded in cutting +them from the yards and so saving the ship. + +"'All, from the Prince down, say that no finer action was ever +performed, and acknowledge that we all owe our lives, and His Majesty +owes his ship, to it. Then, soon after we had hauled Sir Cyril on +board, the Dutchmen boarded us, and there was a stiff fight, all +hands doing their best to beat them back, in which we succeeded. + +"'Sir Cyril, though scarce able to stand, joined in the fray, +unnoticed by us all, who in the confusion had not thought of him, and +being, indeed, scarce able to hold his sword, received a heavy wound, +of which, however, the doctor has all hopes that he will make a good +recovery. + +"'It would have done you good to hear how the whole crew cheered Sir +Cyril as we dragged him on board. The Prince is mightily taken with +him, and is sending him to London in his own yacht, where I feel sure +that your good dame and fair daughter will do all that they can to +restore him to health. As soon as I get leave--though I do not know +when that will be, for we cannot say as yet how matters will turn +out, or what ships will keep the sea--I shall do myself the honour of +waiting upon you. I pray you give my respectful compliments to Mrs. +Dowsett and Mistress Nellie, who are, I hope, enjoying good health. + + "'Your servant to command, + + "'SYDNEY OLIPHANT.'" + +The tears were standing in Nellie's eyes, and her voice trembled as +she read. When she finished she burst out crying. + +"There!" John Wilkes exclaimed, bringing his fist down upon the +table. "I knew, by what that skipper said, the lad had been doing +something quite out of the way, but when I spoke to him about it +before you came in he only said that he had tried his best to do his +duty, just as every other man in the Fleet had done. Who would have +thought, Captain Dave, that that quiet young chap, who used to sit +down below making out your accounts, was going to turn out a hero?" + +"Who, indeed?" the Captain said, wiping his eyes with the back of his +hands. "Why, he wasn't more than fifteen then, and, as you say, such +a quiet fellow. He used to sit there and write, and never speak +unless I spoke to him. 'Tis scarce two years ago, and look what he +has done! Who would have thought it? I can't finish my breakfast," he +went on, getting up from his seat, "till I have gone in and shaken +him by the hand." + +"You had better not, David," Mrs. Dowsett said gently. "We had best +say but little to him about it now. We can let him know we have heard +how he came by his burns from Lord Oliphant, but do not let us make +much of it. Had he wished it he would have told us himself." + +Captain Dave sat down again. + +"Perhaps you are right, my dear. At any rate, till he is getting +strong we will not tell him what we think of him. Anyhow, it can't do +any harm to tell him we know it, and may do him good, for it is clear +he does not like telling it himself, and may be dreading our +questioning about the affair." + +Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie went into Cyril's room as soon as they had +finished breakfast. Captain Dave followed them a few minutes later. + +"We have been hearing how you got burnt," he began. "Your friend, +Lord Oliphant, sent a letter about it by the skipper of his yacht. +That stupid fellow, John, has been carrying it about ever since, and +only remembered it just now, when we were at breakfast. It was a +plucky thing to do, lad." + +"It turned out a very lucky one," Cyril said hastily, "for it was the +means of saving my life." + +"Saving your life, lad! What do you mean?" + +Cyril then told how Robert Ashford and Black Dick had been brought on +board as impressed men, how the former had been killed, and the +confession that Black Dick had made to him before dying. + +"He said he had made up his mind to kill me during the fight, but +that, after I had risked my life to save the _Henrietta_, he was +ashamed to kill me, and that, rather than do so, he had resolved to +take his chance of my denouncing him when he returned to land." + + "There was some good in the knave, then," Captain Dave said. "Yes, +it was a fortunate as well as a brave action, as it turned out." + +"Fortunate in one respect, but not in another," Cyril put in, anxious +to prevent the conversation reverting to the question of his bravery. +"I put down this wound in my shoulder to it, for if I had been myself +I don't think I should have got hurt. I guarded the blow, but I was +so shaky that he broke my guard down as if I had been a child, though +I think that it did turn the blow a little, and saved it from falling +fair on my skull. Besides, I should have had my helmet and armour on +if it had not been for my having to take a swim. So, you see, Captain +Dave, things were pretty equally balanced, and there is no occasion +to say anything more about them." + +"We have one piece of bad news to tell you, Cyril," Mrs. Dowsett +remarked, in order to give the conversation the turn which she saw he +wished for. "We heard this morning that the Plague has come at last +into the City. Dr. Burnet was attacked yesterday." + +"That is bad news indeed, Dame, though it was not to be expected that +it would spare the City. If you will take my advice, you will go away +at once, before matters get worse, for if the Plague gets a hold here +the country people will have nothing to do with Londoners, fearing +that they will bring the infection among them." + +"We shall not go until you are fit to go with us, Cyril," Nellie said +indignantly. + +"Then you will worry me into a fever," Cyril replied. "I am getting +on well now, and as you said, when you were talking of it before, you +should leave John in charge of the house and shop, he will be able to +do everything that is necessary for me. If you stay here, and the +Plague increases, I shall keep on worrying myself at the thought that +you are risking your lives needlessly for me, and if it should come +into the house, and any of you die, I shall charge myself all my life +with having been the cause of your death. I pray you, for my sake as +well as your own, to lose no time in going to the sister Captain Dave +spoke of, down near Gloucester." + +"Do not agitate yourself," Mrs. Dowsett said gently, pressing him +quietly back on to the pillows from which he had risen in his +excitement. "We will talk it over, and see what is for the best. It +is but a solitary case yet, and may spread no further. In a few days +we shall see how matters go. Things have not come to a bad pass yet." + +Cyril, however, was not to be consoled. Hitherto he had given +comparatively small thought to the Plague, but now that it was in the +City, and he felt that his presence alone prevented the family from +leaving, he worried incessantly over it. + +"Your patient is not so well," the doctor said to Mrs. Dowsett, next +morning. "Yesterday he was quite free from fever--his hands were +cool; now they are dry and hard. If this goes on, I fear that we +shall have great trouble." + +"He is worrying himself because we do not go out of town. We had, +indeed, made up our minds to do so, but we could not leave him here." + +"Your nursing would be valuable certainly, but if he goes on as he is +he will soon be in a high fever; his wounds will grow angry and +fester. While yesterday he seemed in a fair way to recovery, I should +be sorry to give any favourable opinion as to what may happen if this +goes on. Is there no one who could take care of him if you went?" + +"John Wilkes will remain behind, and could certainly be trusted to do +everything that you directed; but that is not like women, doctor." + +"No, I am well aware of that; but if things go on well he will really +not need nursing, while, if fever sets in badly, the best nursing may +not save him. Moreover, wounds and all other ailments of this sort do +badly at present; the Plague in the air seems to affect all other +maladies. If you will take my advice, Dame, you will carry out your +intention, and leave at once. I hear there are several new cases of +the Plague today in the City, and those who can go should lose no +time in doing so; but, even if not for your own sakes, I should say +go for that of your patient." + +"Will you speak to my husband, doctor? I am ready to do whatever is +best for your patient, whom we love dearly, and regard almost as a +son." + +"If he were a son I should give the same advice. Yes, I will see +Captain Dowsett." + +Half an hour later, Cyril was told what the doctor's advice had been, +and, seeing that he was bent on it, and that if they stayed they +would do him more harm than good, they resolved to start the next day +for Gloucestershire. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE PLAGUE + + +Reluctant as they were to leave Cyril, Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter +speedily saw that the doctor's advice was good. Cyril did not say +much, but an expression of restful satisfaction came over his face, +and it was not long before he fell into a quiet sleep that contrasted +strongly with the restless and fretful state in which he had passed +the night. + +"You see I was right, madam," the doctor said that evening. "The +fever has not quite left him, but he is a different man to what he +was this morning; another quiet night's rest, and he will regain the +ground he has lost. I think you can go in perfect comfort so far as +he is concerned. Another week and he will be up, if nothing occurs to +throw him back again; but of course it will be weeks before he can +use his arm." + +John Wilkes had been sent off as soon as it was settled that they +would go, and had bought, at Epping, a waggon and a pair of strong +horses. It had a tilt, and the ladies were to sleep in it on the +journey, as it was certain that, until they were far away from +London, they would be unable to obtain lodgings. A man was engaged to +drive them down, and a sail and two or three poles were packed in the +waggon to make a tent for him and Captain Dowsett. A store of +provisions was cooked, and a cask of beer, another of water, and a +case of wine were also placed in. Mattresses were laid down for the +ladies to sit on during the day and to sleep on at night; so they +would be practically independent during the journey. Early next +morning they started. + +"It seems heartless to leave you, Cyril," Nellie said, as they came +in to say good-bye. + +"Not heartless at all," Cyril replied. "I know that you are going +because I wish it." + +"It is more than wishing, you tiresome boy. We are going because you +have made up your mind that you will be ill if we don't. You are too +weak to quarrel with now, but when we meet again, tremble, for I warn +you I shall scold you terribly then." + +"You shall scold me as much as you please, Nellie; I shall take it +all quite patiently." + +Nellie and her mother went away in tears, and Captain Dave himself +was a good deal upset. They had thought the going away from home on +such a long journey would be a great trial, but this was now quite +lost sight of in their regret at what they considered deserting +Cyril, and many were the injunctions that were given to John Wilkes +before the waggon drove off. They were somewhat consoled by seeing +that Cyril was undoubtedly better and brighter. He had slept all +night without waking, his hands were cool, and the flush had entirely +left his cheek. + +"If they were starting on a voyage to the Indies they could not be in +a greater taking," John Wilkes said, on returning to Cyril's bedside. +"Why, I have seen the Captain go off on a six months' voyage and less +said about it." + +"I am heartily glad they are gone, John. If the Plague grows there +will be a terrible time here. Is the shop shut?" + +"Ay; the man went away two days ago, and we sent off the two +'prentices yesterday. There is naught doing. Yesterday half the +vessels in the Pool cleared out on the news of the Plague having got +into the City, and I reckon that, before long, there won't be a ship +in the port. We shall have a quiet time of it, you and I; we shall be +like men in charge of an old hulk." + +Another week, and Cyril was up. All his bandages, except those on the +shoulder and head, had been thrown aside, and the doctor said that, +erelong, the former would be dispensed with. John had wanted to sit +up with him, but as Cyril would not hear of this he had moved his bed +into the same room, so that he could be up in a moment if anything +was wanted. He went out every day to bring in the news. + +"There is little enough to tell, Master Cyril," he said one day. "So +far, the Plague grows but slowly in the City, though, indeed, it is +no fault of the people that it does not spread rapidly. Most of them +seem scared out of their wits; they gather together and talk, with +white faces, and one man tells of a dream that his wife has had, and +another of a voice that he says he has heard; and some have seen +ghosts. Yesterday I came upon a woman with a crowd round her; she was +staring up at a white cloud, and swore that she could plainly see an +angel with a white sword, and some of the others cried that they saw +it too. I should like to have been a gunner's mate with a stout +rattan, and to have laid it over their shoulders, to give them +something else to think about for a few hours. It is downright +pitiful to see such cowards. At the corner of one street there was a +quack, vending pills and perfumes that he warranted to keep away the +Plague, and the people ran up and bought his nostrums by the score; I +hear there are a dozen such in the City, making a fortune out of the +people's fears. I went into the tavern I always use, and had a glass +of Hollands and a talk with the landlord. He says that he does as +good a trade as ever, though in a different way. There are no sailors +there now, but neighbours come in and drink down a glass of strong +waters, which many think is the best thing against the Plague, and +then hurry off again. I saw the Gazette there, and it was half full +of advertisements of people who said they were doctors from foreign +parts, and all well accustomed to cure the Plague. They say the +magistrates are going to issue notices about shutting up houses, as +they do at St. Giles's, and to have watchmen at the doors to see none +come in or go out, and that they are going to appoint examiners in +every parish to go from house to house to search for infected +persons." + +"I suppose these are proper steps to take," Cyril said, "but it will +be a difficult thing to keep people shut up in houses where one is +infected. No doubt it would be a good thing at the commencement of +the illness, but when it has once spread itself, and the very air +become infected, it seems to me that it will do but little good, +while it will assuredly cause great distress and trouble. I long to +be able to get up myself, and to see about things." + +"The streets have quite an empty aspect, so many have gone away; and +what with that, and most of the shops being closed, and the dismal +aspect of the people, there is little pleasure in being out, Master +Cyril." + +"I dare say, John. Still, it will be a change, and, as soon as I am +strong enough, I shall sally out with you." + +Another fortnight, and Cyril was able to do so. The Plague had still +spread, but so slowly that people began to hope that the City would +be spared any great calamity, for they were well on in July, and in +another six weeks the heat of summer would be passed. Some of those +who had gone into the country returned, more shops had been opened, +and the panic had somewhat subsided. + +"What do you mean to do, Master Cyril?" John Wilkes asked that +evening. "Of course you cannot join the Fleet again, for it will be, +as the doctor says, another two months before your shoulder-bone will +have knit strongly enough for you to use your arm, and at sea it is a +matter of more consequence than on land for a man to have the use of +both arms. The ship may give a sudden lurch, and one may have to make +a clutch at whatever is nearest to prevent one from rolling into the +lee scuppers; and such a wrench as that would take from a weak arm +all the good a three months' nursing had done it, and might spoil the +job of getting the bone to grow straight again altogether. I don't +say you are fit to travel yet, but you should be able before long to +start on a journey, and might travel down into Gloucestershire, +where, be sure, you will be gladly welcomed by the Captain, his dame, +and Mistress Nellie. Or, should you not care for that, you might go +aboard a ship. There are hundreds of them lying idle in the river, +and many families have taken up their homes there, so as to be free +from all risks of meeting infected persons in the streets." + +"I think I shall stay here, John, and keep you company. If the Plague +dies away, well and good. If it gets bad, we can shut ourselves up. +You say that the Captain has laid in a great store of provisions, so +that you could live without laying out a penny for a year, and it is +as sure as anything can be, that when the cold weather comes on it +will die out. Besides, John, neither you nor I are afraid of the +Plague, and it is certain that it is fear that makes most people take +it. If it becomes bad, there will be terrible need for help, and +maybe we shall be able to do some good. If we are not afraid of +facing death in battle, why should we fear it by the Plague. It is as +noble a death to die helping one's fellow-countrymen in their sore +distress as in fighting for one's country." + +"That is true enough, Master Cyril, if folks did but see it so. I do +not see what we could do, but if there be aught, you can depend on +me. I was in a ship in the Levant when we had a fever, which, it +seems to me, was akin to this Plague, though not like it in all its +symptoms. Half the crew died, and, as you say, I verily believe that +it was partly from the lowness of spirits into which they fell from +fear. I used to help nurse the sick, and throw overboard the dead, +and it never touched me. I don't say that I was braver than others, +but it seemed to me as it was just as easy to take things comfortable +as it was to fret over them." + +Towards the end of the month the Plague spread rapidly, and all work +ceased in the parishes most affected. But, just as it had raged for +weeks in the Western parishes outside the City, so it seemed +restricted by certain invisible lines, after it had made its entry +within the walls, and while it raged in some parts others were +entirely unaffected, and here shops were open, and the streets still +retained something of their usual appearance. There had been great +want among the poorer classes, owing to the cessation of work, +especially along the riverside. The Lord Mayor, some of the Aldermen, +and most other rich citizens had hastened to leave the City. While +many of the clergy were deserting their flocks, and many doctors +their patients, others remained firmly at their posts, and worked +incessantly, and did all that was possible in order to check the +spread of the Plague and to relieve the distress of the poor. + +Numbers of the women were engaged as nurses. Examiners were appointed +in each parish, and these, with their assistants, paid house-to-house +visitations, in order to discover any who were infected; and as soon +as the case was discovered the house was closed, and none suffered to +go in or out, a watchman being placed before the door day and night. +Two men therefore were needed to each infected house, and this +afforded employment for numbers of poor. Others were engaged in +digging graves, or in going round at night, with carts, collecting +the dead. + +So great was the dread of the people at the thought of being shut up +in their houses, without communication with the world, that every +means was used for concealing the fact that one of the inmates was +smitten down. This was the more easy because the early stages of the +disease were without pain, and people were generally ignorant that +they had been attacked until within a few hours, and sometimes within +a few minutes, of their death; consequently, when the Plague had once +spread, all the precautions taken to prevent its increase were +useless, while they caused great misery and suffering, and doubtless +very much greater loss of life. For, owing to so many being shut up +in the houses with those affected, and there being no escape from the +infection, whole families, with the servants and apprentices, sickened +and died together. + +Cyril frequently went up to view the infected districts. He was not +moved by curiosity, but by a desire to see if there were no way of +being of use. There was not a street but many of the houses were +marked with the red cross. In front of these the watchmen sat on +stools or chairs lent by the inmates, or borrowed from some house +whence the inhabitants had all fled. The air rang with pitiful cries. +Sometimes women, distraught with terror or grief, screamed wildly +through open windows. Sometimes people talked from the upper stories +to their neighbours on either hand, or opposite, prisoners like +themselves, each telling their lamentable tale of misery, of how many +had died and how many remained. + +It was by no means uncommon to see on the pavement men and women who, +in the excess of despair or pain, had thrown themselves headlong +down. While such sounds and sights filled Cyril with horror, they +aroused still more his feelings of pity and desire to be of some use. +Very frequently he went on errands for people who called down from +above to him. Money was lowered in a tin dish, or other vessel, in +which it lay covered with vinegar as a disinfectant. Taking it out, +he would go and buy the required articles, generally food or +medicine, and, returning, place them in a basket that was again +lowered. + +The watchmen mostly executed these commissions, but many of them were +surly fellows, and, as they were often abused and cursed by those +whom they held prisoners, would do but little for them. They had, +moreover, an excuse for refusing to leave the door, because, as often +happened, it might be opened in their absence and the inmates escape. +It was true that the watchmen had the keys, but the screws were often +drawn from the locks inside; and so frequently was this done that at +last chains with padlocks were fastened to all the doors as soon as +the watch was set over them. But even this did not avail. Many of the +houses had communications at the backs into other streets, and so +eluded the vigilance of the watch; while, in other cases, +communications were broken through the walls into other houses, empty +either by desertion or death, and the escape could thus be made under +the very eye of the watchman. + +Very frequently Cyril went into a church when he saw the door open. +Here very small congregations would be gathered, for there was a fear +on the part of all of meeting with strangers, for these might, +unknown to themselves, be already stricken with the pest, and all +public meetings of any kind were, for this reason, strictly +forbidden. One day, he was passing a church that had hitherto been +always closed, its incumbent being one of those who had fled at the +outbreak of the Plague. Upon entering he saw a larger congregation +than usual, some twenty or thirty people being present. + +The minister had just mounted the pulpit, and was beginning his +address as Cyril entered. The latter was struck with his appearance. +He was a man of some thirty years of age, with a strangely earnest +face. His voice was deep, but soft and flexible, and in the stillness +of the almost empty church its lowest tones seemed to come with +impressive power, and Cyril thought that he had never heard such +preaching before. The very text seemed strange at such a time: +_"Rejoice ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."_ From most of +the discourses he had heard Cyril had gone out depressed rather than +inspirited. They had been pitched in one tone. The terrible scourge +that raged round them was held up as a punishment sent by the wrath +of God upon a sinful people, and the congregation were warned to +prepare themselves for the fate, that might at any moment be theirs, +by repentance and humiliation. The preacher to whom Cyril was now +listening spoke in an altogether different strain. + +"You are all soldiers of Christ," he said, "and now is an opportunity +given to you to show that you are worthy soldiers. When the troops of +a worldly monarch go into battle they do so with head erect, with +proud and resolute bearing, with flashing eye, and with high courage, +determined to bear aloft his banner and to crown it with victory, +even though it cost them their lives. Such is the mien that soldiers +of Christ should bear in the mortal strife now raging round us. Let +them show the same fearlessness of death, the same high courage, the +same unlimited confidence in their Leader. What matter if they die in +His service? He has told them what their work should be. He has +bidden them visit the sick and comfort the sorrowing. What if there +be danger in the work? Did He shrink from the Cross which was to end +His work of love, and is it for His followers to do so? 'Though you +go down into the pit,' He has said, 'I am there also'; and with His +companionship one must be craven indeed to tremble. This is a noble +opportunity for holding high the banner of Christ. There is work to +be done for all, and as the work is done, men should see by the calm +courage, the cheerfulness, and the patience of those that do it, that +they know that they are doing His work, and that they are content to +leave the issue, whatever it be, in His hands." + +Such was the tone in which, for half an hour, he spoke. When he had +finished he offered up a prayer, gave the blessing, and then came +down from the pulpit and spoke to several of the congregation. He was +evidently personally known to most of them. One by one, after a few +words, they left the church. Cyril remained to the last. + +"I am willing to work, sir," he said, as the preacher came up, "but, +so far, no work has come in my way." + +"Have you father or mother, or any dependent on you?" + +"No one, sir." + +"Then come along with me; I lodge close by. I have eaten nothing +to-day, and must keep up my strength, and I have a long round of +calls to make." + +"This is the first time I have seen the church open," Cyril said, as +they went out. + +"It is not my church, sir, nor do I belong to the Church of England; +I am an Independent. But as many of the pastors have fled and left +their sheep untended, so have we--for there are others besides myself +who have done so--taken possession of their empty pulpits, none +gainsaying us, and are doing what good we can. You have been in the +war, I see," he went on, glancing at Cyril's arm, which was carried +in a sling. + +"Yes; I was at the battle of Lowestoft, and having been wounded +there, came to London to stay in a friend's house till I was cured. +He and his family have left, but I am living with a trusty foreman +who is in charge of the house. I have a great desire to be useful. I +myself have little fear of the Plague." + +"That is the best of all preservatives from its ravages, although not +a sure one; for many doctors who have laboured fearlessly have yet +died. Have you thought of any way of being useful?" + +"No, sir; that is what is troubling me. As you see, I have but the +use of one arm, and I have not got back my full strength by a long +way." + +"Everyone can be useful if he chooses," the minister said. "There is +need everywhere among this stricken, frightened, helpless people, of +men of calm courage and cool heads. Nine out of ten are so scared out +of their senses, when once the Plague enters the houses, as to be +well-nigh useless, and yet the law hinders those who would help if +they could. I am compelled to labour, not among those who are sick, +but among those who are well. When one enters a house with the red +cross on the door, he may leave it no more until he is either borne +out to the dead-cart, or the Plague has wholly disappeared within it, +and a month has elapsed. The sole exception are the doctors; they are +no more exempt from spreading the infection than other men, but as +they must do their work so far as they can they have free passage; +and yet, so few is their number and so heavy already their losses, +that not one in a hundred of those that are smitten can have their +aid. Here is one coming now, one of the best--Dr. Hodges. If you are +indeed willing so to risk your life, I will speak to him. But I know +not your name?" + +"My name is Cyril Shenstone." + +The clergyman looked at him suddenly, and would have spoken, but the +doctor was now close to them. + +"Ah! Mr. Wallace," he said, "I am glad to see you, and to know that, +so far, you have not taken the disease, although constantly going +into the worst neighbourhoods." + +"Like yourself, Dr. Hodges, I have no fear of it." + +"I do not say I have no fear," the doctor replied. "I do my duty so +far as I can, but I do not doubt that, sooner or later, I shall catch +the malady, as many of us have done already. I take such precautions +as I can, but the distemper seems to baffle all precautions. My only +grief is that our skill avails so little. So far we have found +nothing that seems to be of any real use. Perhaps if we could attack +it in the earlier stages we might be more successful. The strange +nature of the disease, and the way in which it does its work +well-nigh to the end, before the patient is himself aware of it, puts +it out of our power to combat it. In many cases I am not sent for +until the patient is at the point of death, and by the time I reach +his door I am met with the news that he is dead. But I must be +going." + +"One moment, Dr. Hodges. This young gentleman has been expressing to +me his desire to be of use. I know nothing of him save that he was +one of my congregation this morning, but, as he fears not the Plague, +and is moved by a desire to help his fellows in distress, I take it +that he is a good youth. He was wounded in the battle of Lowestoft, +and, being as ready to encounter the Plague as he was the Dutch, +would now fight in the cause of humanity. Would you take him as an +assistant? I doubt if he knows anything of medicine, but I think he +is one that would see your orders carried out. He has no relations or +friends, and therefore considers himself free to venture his life." + +The doctor looked earnestly at Cyril and then raised his hat. + +"Young sir," he said, "since you are willing so to venture your life, +I will gladly accept your help. There are few enough clear heads in +this city, God knows. As for the nurses, they are Jezebels. They have +the choice of starving or nursing, and they nurse; but they neglect +their patients, they rob them, and there is little doubt that in many +cases they murder them, so that at the end of their first nursing +they may have enough money to live on without going to another house. +But I am pressed for time. Here is my card. Call on me this evening +at six, and we will talk further on the matter." + +Shaking hands with the minister he hurried away. + +"Come as far as my lodgings," Mr. Wallace said to Cyril, "and stay +with me while I eat my meal. 'Tis a diversion to one's mind to turn +for a moment from the one topic that all men are speaking of. + +"Your name is Shenstone. I come from Norfolk. There was a family of +that name formerly had estates near my native place. One Sir Aubrey +Shenstone was at its head--a brave gentleman. I well remember seeing +him when I was a boy, but he took the side of the King against the +Parliament, and, as we heard, passed over with Charles to France when +his cause was lost. I have not heard of him since." + +"Sir Aubrey was my father," Cyril said quietly; "he died a year ago. +I am his only son." + +"And therefore Sir Cyril," the minister said, "though you did not so +name yourself." + +"It was needless," Cyril said. "I have no estates to support my +title, and though it is true that, when at sea with Prince Rupert, I +was called Sir Cyril, it was because the Prince had known my father, +and knew that I, at his death, inherited the title, though I +inherited nothing else." + +They now reached the door of Mr. Wallace's lodging, and went up to +his room on the first floor. + +"Neglect no precaution," the minister said. "No one should throw away +his life. I myself, although not a smoker, nor accustomed to take +snuff, use it now, and would, as the doctors advise, chew a piece of +tobacco, but 'tis too nasty, and when I tried it, I was so ill that I +thought even the risk of the Plague preferable. But I carry camphor +in my pockets, and when I return from preaching among people of whom +some may well have the infection, I bathe my face and hands with +vinegar, and, pouring some on to a hot iron, fill the room with its +vapour. My life is useful, I hope, and I would fain keep it, as long +as it is the Lord's will, to work in His service. As a rule, I take +wine and bread before I go out in the morning, though to-day I was +pressed for time, and neglected it. I should advise you always to do +so. I am convinced that a full man has less chance of catching the +infection than a fasting one, and that it is the weakness many men +suffer from their fears, and from their loss of appetite from grief, +that causes them to take it so easily. When the fever was so bad in +St. Giles's, I heard that in many instances, where whole families +were carried away, the nurses shut up with them were untouched with +the infection, and I believe that this was because they had become +hardened to the work, and ate and drank heartily, and troubled not +themselves at all at the grief of those around them. They say that +many of these harpies have grown, wealthy, loading themselves with +everything valuable they could lay hands on in the houses of those +they attended." + +After the meal, in which he insisted upon Cyril joining him, was +concluded, Mr. Wallace uttered a short prayer that Cyril might safely +pass through the work he had undertaken. + +"I trust," he said, "that you will come here frequently? I generally +have a few friends here of an evening. We try to be cheerful, and to +strengthen each other, and I am sure we all have comfort at these +meetings." + +"Thank you, I will come sometimes, sir; but as a rule I must return +home, for my friend, John Wilkes, would sorely miss my company, and +is so good and faithful a fellow that I would not seem to desert him +on any account." + +"Do as you think right, lad, but remember there will always be a +welcome for you here when you choose to come." + +John Wilkes was dismayed when he heard of Cyril's intention. + +"Well, Master Cyril," he said, after smoking his pipe in silence for +some time, "it is not for me to hinder you in what you have made up +your mind to do. I don't say that if I wasn't on duty here that I +mightn't go and do what I could for these poor creatures. But I don't +know. It is one thing to face a deadly fever like this Plague if it +comes on board your own ship, for there is no getting out of it; and +as you have got to face it, why, says I, do it as a man; but as for +going out of your way to put yourself in the middle of it, that is +going a bit beyond me." + +"Well, John, you didn't think it foolish when I went as a Volunteer +to fight the Dutch. It was just the same thing, you know." + +"I suppose it was," John said reluctantly, after a pause. "But then, +you see, you were fighting for your country." + +"Well, but in the present case I shall be fighting for my countrymen +and countrywomen, John. It is awful to think of the misery that +people are suffering, and it seems to me that, having nothing else to +do here, it is specially my duty to put my hand to the work of +helping as far as I can. The risk may, at present, be greater than it +would be if I stayed at home, but if the Plague spreads--and it looks +as if all the City would presently be affected--all will have to run +the risk of contagion. There are thousands of women now who +voluntarily enter the houses as nurses for a small rate of pay. Even +robbers, they say, will enter and ransack the houses of the dead in +search of plunder. It will be a shame indeed then if one should +shrink from doing so when possibly one might do good." + +"I will say nothing more against it, Master Cyril. Still, I do not +see exactly what you are going to do; with one arm you could scarce +hold down a raving man." + +"I am not going to be a nurse, certainly, John," Cyril said, with a +laugh. "I expect that the doctor wants certain cases watched. Either +he may doubt the nurses, or he may want to see how some particular +drug works. Nothing, so far, seems of use, but that may be partly +because the doctors are all so busy that they cannot watch the +patients and see, from hour to hour, how medicines act." + +"When I was in the Levant, and the pest was bad there," John Wilkes +said, "I heard that the Turks, when seized with the distemper, +sometimes wrapped themselves up in a great number of clothes, so that +they sweated heavily, and that this seemed, in some cases, to draw +off the fever, and so the patient recovered." + +"That seems a sensible sort of treatment, John, and worth trying with +this Plague." + +On calling on Dr. Hodges that afternoon, Cyril found that he had +rightly guessed the nature of the work that the doctor wished him to +perform. + +"I can never rely upon the nurses," he said. "I give instructions +with medicines, but in most cases I am sure that the instructions are +never carried out. The relations and friends are too frightened to +think or act calmly, too full of grief for the sick, and anxiety for +those who have not yet taken the illness, to watch the changes in the +patient. As to the nurses, they are often drunk the whole time they +are in the house. Sometimes they fear to go near the sick man or +woman; sometimes, undoubtedly, they hasten death. In most cases it +matters little, for we are generally called in too late to be of any +service. The poor people view us almost as enemies; they hide their +malady from us in every way. Half our time, too, is wasted uselessly, +for many are there who frighten themselves into the belief that they +are ill, and send for us in all haste. So far, we feel that we are +working altogether in the dark; none of us can see that any sort of +drug avails even in the slightest degree when the malady has once got +a hold. One in twenty cases may live, but why we know not. Still the +fact that some do live shows that the illness is not necessarily +mortal, and that, could the right remedy befound, we might yet +overcome it. The first thing, however, is to try to prevent its +spread. Here we have ten or more people shut up in a house with one +sick person. It is a terrible necessity, for it is a sentence of +death to many, if not to all. We give the nurses instructions to +fumigate the room by evaporating vinegar upon hot irons, by burning +spices and drugs, by sprinkling perfumes. So far, I cannot see that +these measures have been of any service, but I cannot say how +thoroughly they have been carried out, and I sorely need an assistant +to see that the system is fairly tried. It is not necessary that he +should be a doctor, but he must have influence and power over those +in the house. He must be calm and firm, and he must be regarded by +the people as a doctor. If you will undertake this, you must put on a +wig, for you know that that is looked upon as a necessary part of a +doctor's outfit by people in general. I shall introduce you as my +assistant, and say that you are to be obeyed as implicitly as if I +myself were present. There is another reason why you must pass as a +doctor, for you would otherwise be a prisoner and unable to pass in +and out. You had best wear a black suit. I will lend you one of my +canes and a snuff-box, and should advise you to take snuff, even if +it is not your habit, for I believe that it is good against +infection, and one of the experiments I wish to try is as to what its +result may be if burnt freely in the house. Are you ready to +undertake this work?" + +"Quite ready, sir." + +"Then come round here at eight in the morning. I shall have heard by +that hour from the examiners of this parish of any fresh case they +have found. They begin their rounds at five o'clock." + +The next day Cyril presented himself at the doctor's, dressed in +black, with white ruffles to his shirt, and a flowing wig he had +purchased the night before. + +"Here are the cane and snuff-box," Dr. Hodges said. "Now you will +pass muster very well as my assistant. Let us be off at once; for I +have a long list of cases." + +Cyril remained outside while Dr. Hodges went into three or four +houses. Presently he came down to the door, and said to him,-- + +"This is a case where things are favourable for a first trial. It is +a boy who is taken ill, and the parents, though in deep grief, seem +to have some sense left." + +He turned to the watchman, who had already been placed at the door. +The man, who evidently knew him, had saluted respectfully when he +entered the house. + +"This gentleman is my assistant," he said, "and you will allow him to +pass in and out just as you would myself. He is going to take this +case entirely in hand, and you will regard him as being in charge +here." + +He then re-entered the house with Cyril, and led him to the room +where the parents of the boy, and two elder sisters, were assembled. + +"This is my assistant," he said, "and he has consented to take entire +charge of the case, though I myself shall look in and consult with +him every morning. In the first place, your son must be taken to the +top storey of the house. You say that you are ready to nurse him +yourselves, and do not wish that a paid nurse should be had in. I +commend your determination, for the nurses are, for the most part, +worse than useless, and carry the infection all over the house. But +only one of you must go into the room, and whoever goes in must stay +there. It is madness for all to be going in and out and exposing +themselves to the infection when no good can be done. When this is +the case, one or other is sure to take the malady, and then it +spreads to all. Which of you will undertake the duty?" + +All four at once offered themselves, and there was an earnest contest +between them for the dangerous post. Dr. Hodges listened for a minute +or two, and then decided upon the elder of the two sisters--a quiet, +resolute-looking girl with a healthy face. + +"This young lady shall be nurse," he said. "I feel that I can have +confidence in her. She looks healthy and strong, and would, methinks, +best resist the malady, should she take it. I am leaving my assistant +here for a time to see to the fumigation of the house. You will +please see that his orders are carried out in every respect. I have +every hope that if this is done the Plague will not spread further; +but much must depend upon yourselves. Do not give way to grief, but +encourage each other, and go about with calm minds. I see," he said, +pointing to a Bible on the table, "that you know where to go for +comfort and strength. The first thing is to carry the boy up to the +room that we chose for him." + +"I will do that," the father said. + +"He had better be left in the blankets in which he is lying. Cover +him completely over with them, for, above all, it is necessary that +you should not inhale his breath. You had better take the head and +your daughter the feet. But first see that the room upstairs is +prepared." + +In a few minutes the lad was transferred to the upper room, the +doctor warning the others not to enter that from which he had been +carried until it had been fumigated and sprinkled with vinegar. + +"Now," he said to the girl who was to remain with the patient, "keep +the window wide open; as there is no fireplace, keep a brazier of +charcoal burning near the window. Keep the door shut, and open it +only when you have need for something. Give him a portion of this +medicine every half hour. Do not lean over him--remember that his +breath is a fatal poison. Put a pinch of these powdered spices into +the fire every few minutes. Pour this perfume over your handkerchief, +and put it over your mouth and nose whenever you approach the bed. He +is in a stupor now, poor lad, and I fear that his chance of recovery +is very slight; but you must remember that your own life is of value +to your parents, and that it behoves you to do all in your power to +preserve it, and that if you take the contagion it may spread through +the house. We shall hang a sheet, soaked in vinegar, outside the +door." + +"We could not have a better case for a trial," he said, as he went +downstairs and joined Cyril, whom he had bidden wait below. "The +people are all calm and sensible, and if we succeed not here, there +is small chance of our succeeding elsewhere." + +The doctor then gave detailed orders as to fumigating the house, and +left. Cyril saw at once that a brazier of charcoal was lighted and +carried upstairs, and he called to the girl to come out and fetch it +in. As soon as she had done so the sheet was hung over the door. Then +he took another brazier, placed it in the room from which the boy had +been carried, laid several lumps of sulphur upon it, and then left +the room. All the doors of the other rooms were then thrown open, and +a quantity of tobacco, spices, and herbs, were burnt on a red-hot +iron at the foot of the stairs, until the house was filled with a +dense smoke. Half an hour later all the windows were opened. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FATHER AND SON + + +The process of fumigation had well-nigh suffocated the wife and +daughter of the trader, but, as soon as the smoke cleared away, Cyril +set them all to work to carry up articles of furniture to another +bedroom on the top floor. + +"When your daughter is released from nursing, madam," he said, "she +must at once come into this room, and remain there secluded for a few +days. Therefore, it will be well to make it as comfortable as +possible for her. Her food must be taken up and put outside the door, +so that she can take it in there without any of you going near her." + +The occupation was a useful one, as it distracted the thoughts of +those engaged in it from the sick room. + +Cyril did not enter there. He had told the girl to call him should +there be any necessity, but said,-- + +"Do not call me unless absolutely needful, if, for instance, he +becomes violent, in which case we must fasten the sheets across him +so as to restrain him. But it is of no use your remaining shut up +there if I go in and out of the room to carry the infection to the +others." + +"You have hurt your arm, doctor?" the mother said, when the +arrangements were all made, and they had returned to the room below. + +"Yes," he said; "I met with an accident, and must, for a short time, +keep my arm in a sling." + +"You look young, sir, to be running these fearful perils." + +"I am young," Cyril said, "and have not yet completed all my studies; +but Dr. Hodges judged that I was sufficiently advanced to be able to +be of service to him, not so much in prescribing as by seeing that +his orders were carried out." + +Every half hour he went upstairs, and inquired, through the door, as +to the state of the boy. + +Late in the afternoon he heard the girl crying bitterly within. He +knocked, and she cried out,-- + +"He is dead, sir; he has just expired." + +"Then you must think of yourself and the others," he said. "The small +packet I placed on the chair contains sulphur. Close the window, then +place the packet on the fire, and leave the room at once and go into +the next room, which is all ready for you. There, I pray you, +undress, and sponge yourself with vinegar, then make your clothes +into a bundle and put them outside the door. There will be a bowl of +hot broth in readiness for you there; drink that, and then go to bed +at once, and keep the blankets over you and try to sleep." + +He went part of the way downstairs, and, in a minute or two, heard a +door open and shut, then another door shut. Knowing that the order +had been carried out, he went downstairs. + +"Madam," he said, "God has taken your boy. The doctor had but little +hope for him. For the sake of yourself and those around you, I pray +you all to bear up against the sorrow." + +The mother burst into tears, and, leaving her with her husband and +daughter, Cyril went into the kitchen, where the maid and an +apprentice were sitting with pale faces, and bade the servant at once +warm up the broth, that had already been prepared. As soon as it was +ready, he carried a basin upstairs. The bundle of clothes had already +been placed outside the girl's room. He took this down and put it on +the kitchen fire. + +"Now," he said, "take four basins up to the parlour, and do you and +the boy each make a hearty meal. I think there is little fear of the +Plague spreading, and your best chance of avoiding it is by keeping +up your spirits and not fretting about it." + +As soon as the broth had been taken into the parlour, he went in and +persuaded them to eat and to take a glass of wine with it, while he +himself sat down with them. + +"You are all weak," he said, "for, doubtless, you have eaten nothing +to-day, and you need strength as well as courage. I trust that your +daughter will presently go off into a sound sleep. The last thing +before you go to bed, take up with you a basin of good posset with a +glass of wine in it; knock gently at her door; if she is awake, tell +her to come out and take it in as soon as you have gone, but if she +does not reply, do not rouse her. I can be of no further use +to-night, but will return in the morning, when I hope to find all is +well." + +The father accompanied him to the door. + +"You will of course bring the poor boy down to-night. It were best +that you made some excuse to sleep in another room. Let your daughter +sleep with her mother. When you go in to fetch him, be careful that +you do not enter at once, for the fumes of the sulphur will scarcely +have abated. As you go in, place a wet handkerchief to your mouth, +and make to the window and throw it open, closing the door behind +you. Sit at the window till the air is tolerable, then wrap the +blankets round him and carry him downstairs when you hear the bell. +After he has gone tell the servant to have a brazier lighted, and to +keep up the kitchen fire. As soon as he is gone, burn on the brazier +at the foot of the stairs, tobacco and spices, as we did before; then +take off your clothes and burn them on the kitchen fire, and then go +up to bed. You can leave the doors and windows of the rooms that are +not in use open, so that the smoke may escape." + +"God bless you, sir!" the man said. "You have been a comfort indeed +to us, and I have good hopes that the Plague will spread no further +among us." + +Cyril went first to the doctor's, and reported what had taken place. + +"I will go round in the morning and see how they are," he concluded, +"and bring you round word before you start on your rounds." + +"You have done very well indeed," the doctor said. "If people +everywhere would be as calm, and obey orders as well as those you +have been with, I should have good hopes that we might check the +spread of the Plague; but you will find that they are quite the +exception." + +This, indeed, proved to be the case. In many instances, the people +were so distracted with grief and fear that they ran about the house +like mad persons, crying and screaming, running in and out of the +sick chamber, or sitting there crying helplessly, and refusing to +leave the body until it was carried out to the dead-cart. But with +such cases Cyril had nothing to do, as the doctor would only send him +to the houses where he saw that his instructions would be carried +out. + +To his great satisfaction, Cyril found that the precautions taken in +the first case proved successful. Regularly, every morning, he +inquired at the door, and received the answer, "All are well." + +In August the Plague greatly increased in violence, the deaths rising +to ten thousand a week. A dull despair had now seized the population. +It seemed that all were to be swept away. Many went out of their +minds. The quacks no longer drove a flourishing trade in their +pretended nostrums; these were now utterly discredited, for nothing +seemed of the slightest avail. Some went to the opposite extreme, and +affected to defy fate. The taverns were filled again, and boisterous +shouts and songs seemed to mock the dismal cries from the houses with +the red cross on the door. Robberies were rife. Regardless of the +danger of the pest, robbers broke into the houses where all the +inmates had perished by the Plague, and rifled them of their +valuables. The nurses plundered the dying. All natural affection +seemed at an end. + +Those stricken were often deserted by all their relatives, and left +alone to perish. + +Bands of reckless young fellows went through the streets singing, +and, dressing up in masks, performed the dance of death. The dead +were too many to be carried away in carts at night to the great pits +prepared for them, but the dismal tones of the bell, and the cries of +"Bring out your dead!" sounded in the streets all day. It was no +longer possible to watch the whole of the infected houses. Sometimes +Plague-stricken men would escape from their beds and run through the +streets until they dropped dead. One such man, in the height of his +delirium, sprang into the river, and, after swimming about for some +time, returned to the shore, marvellously cured of his malady by the +shock. + +Cyril went occasionally in the evening to the lodgings of Mr. +Wallace. At first he met several people gathered there, but the +number became fewer every time he went. He had told the minister that +he thought that it would be better for him to stay away, exposed as +he was to infection, but Mr. Wallace would take no excuses on this +score. + +"We are all in the hands of God," he said. "The streets are full of +infected people, and I myself frequently go to pray with my friends +in the earliest stages of the malady. There is no longer any use in +precautions. We can but all go on doing our duty until we are called +away, and even among the few who gather here of an evening there may +be one or more who are already smitten, though unconscious yet that +their summons has come." + +Among others Cyril was introduced to a Mr. and Mrs. Harvey, who were, +the minister told him, from the country, but were staying in town on +account of a painful family business. + +"I have tried to persuade them to return home and to stay there until +the Plague ceases, but they conceive it their duty to remain. They +are, like myself, Independents, and are not easily to be turned from +a resolution they have taken." + +Cyril could easily understand that Mr. Harvey was exactly what he, +from the description he had heard of them, had pictured to himself +that a Roundhead soldier would be. He had a stern face, eyes deeply +sunk in his head, high cheekbones, a firm mouth, and a square jaw. He +wore his hair cut close. His figure was bony, and he must, as a young +man, have been very powerful. He spoke in a slow, deliberate way, +that struck Cyril as being the result of long effort, for a certain +restless action of the fingers and the quick movement of the eye, +told of a naturally impulsive and fiery disposition. He constantly +used scriptural texts in the course of his speech. His wife was +gentle and quiet, but it was evident that there was a very strong +sympathy between them, and Cyril found, after meeting them once or +twice, that he liked them far better than he thought he should do on +their first introduction. This was, no doubt, partly due to the fact +that Mr. Harvey frequently entered into conversation with him, and +appeared to interest himself in him. He was, too, a type that was +altogether new to the lad. From his father, and his father's +companions, he had heard nothing good of the Puritans, but the +evident earnestness of this man's nature was, to some extent, in +accordance with his own disposition, and he felt that, widely as he +might differ from him on all points of politics, he could not but +respect him. The evenings were pleasant. As if by common consent, the +conversation never turned on the Plague, but they talked of other +passing events, of the trials of their friends, and of the laws that +were being put in force against Nonconformists. + +"What think you of these persecutions, young sir?" Mr. Harvey +abruptly asked Cyril, one evening, breaking off in the midst of a +general conversation. + +Cyril was a little confused at the unexpected question. + +"I think all persecutions for conscience' sake are wrong," he said, +after a moment's pause, "and generally recoil upon the persecutors. +Spain lost Holland owing to her persecution of the people. France +lost great numbers of her best citizens by her laws against the +Protestants. I agree with you thoroughly, that the persecution of the +Nonconformists at present is a grievous error, and a cruel injustice; +but, at the same time, if you will excuse my saying so, it is the +natural consequence of the persecution by the Nonconformists, when +they were in power, of the ministers of the Church of England. My +tutor in France was an English clergyman, who had been driven from +his living, like thousands of other ministers, because he would not +give up his opinions. Therefore, you see, I very early was imbued +with a hatred of persecution in any form. I trust that I have not +spoken too boldly; but you asked for my opinion, and I was forced to +give it." + +"At any rate, young sir, you have spoken manfully, and I like you +none the worse for it. Nor can I altogether gainsay your words. But +you must remember that we had before been oppressed, and that we have +been engaged in a desperate struggle for liberty of conscience." + +"Which, having won for ourselves, we proceeded to deny to others," +Mr. Wallace said, with a smile. "Cyril has us fairly, Mr. Harvey. We +are reaping what our fathers sowed. They thought that the power they +had gained was to be theirs to hold always, and they used it +tyrannously, being thereby false to all their principles. It is ever +the persecuted, when he attains power, who becomes the persecutor, +and, hard as is the pressure of the laws now, we should never forget +that we have, in our time, been persecutors, and that in defiance of +the rights of conscience we had fought to achieve. Man's nature is, I +fear, unchangeable. The slave longs, above all things, for freedom, +but when he rises successfully against his master he, in turn, +becomes a tyrant, and not infrequently a cruel and bloodthirsty one. +Still, we must hope. It may be in the good days that are to come, we +may reach a point when each will be free to worship in his own +fashion, without any fear or hindrance, recognising the fact that +each has a right to follow his own path to Heaven, without its being +a subject of offence to those who walk in other ways." + +One or two of the other visitors were on the point of speaking, when +Mr. Wallace put a stop to further argument by fetching a Bible from +his closet, and preparing for the short service of prayer with which +the evening always closed. + +One evening, Mr. Harvey and his wife were absent from the usual +gathering. + +"I feel anxious about them," Mr. Wallace said; "they have never, +since they arrived in town, missed coming here at seven o'clock. The +bells are usually striking the hour as they come. I fear that one or +other of them may have been seized by the Plague." + +"With your permission, sir, I will run round and see," Cyril said. "I +know their lodging, for I have accompanied them to the door several +times. It is but five minutes' walk from here. If one or other is ill +I will run round to Dr. Hodges, and I am sure, at my request, he will +go round at once to see them." + +Cyril walked fast towards the lodging occupied by the Harveys. It was +at the house of a mercer, but he and his family had, three weeks +before, gone away, having gladly permitted his lodgers to remain, as +their presence acted as a guard to the house. They had brought up an +old servant with them, and were therefore able to dispense with other +attendants. Cyril hurried along, trying, as usual, to pay as little +heed as he could to the doleful cries that arose from many of the +houses. Although it was still broad daylight there was scarce a soul +in the streets, and those he met were, like himself, walking fast, +keeping as far as possible from any one they met, so as to avoid +contact. + +As he neared the house he heard a woman scream. A moment later a +casement was thrown open, and Mrs. Harvey's head appeared. She gave +another piercing cry for help, and was then suddenly dragged back, +and the casement was violently closed. Cyril had so frequently heard +similar cries that he would have paid no attention to it had it come +from a stranger, but he felt that Mrs. Harvey was not one to give way +to wild despair, even had her husband been suddenly attacked with the +Plague. Her sudden disappearance, and the closing of the casement, +too, were unaccountable, unless, indeed, her husband were in a state +of violent delirium. He ran to the door and flung himself against it. + +"Help me to force it down," he cried to a man who was passing. + +"You are mad," the man replied. "Do you not see that they have got +the Plague? You may hear hundreds of such cries every day." + +Cyril drew his sword, which he always carried when he went out of an +evening--for, owing to the deaths among the City watch, deeds of +lawlessness and violence were constantly perpetrated--and struck, +with all his strength, with the hilt upon the fastening of the +casement next the door. Several of the small panes of glass fell in, +and the whole window shook. Again and again he struck upon the same +spot, when the fastening gave way, and the window flew open. He +sprang in at once, ran through the shop into the passage, and then +upstairs. The door was open, and he nearly fell over the body of a +man. As he ran into the room he heard the words,-- + +"For the last time: Will you sign the deed? You think I will not do +this, but I am desperate." + +As the words left his mouth, Cyril sprang forward between the man and +Mr. Harvey, who was standing with his arms folded, looking +steadfastly at his opponent, who was menacing him with a drawn sword. +The man, with a terrible oath, turned to defend himself, repeating +the oath when he saw who was his assailant. + +"I let you off last time lightly, you scoundrel!" Cyril exclaimed. +"This time it is your life or mine." + +The man made a furious lunge at him. Cyril parried it, and would at +the next moment have run him through had not Mr. Harvey suddenly +thrown himself between them, hurling Cyril's antagonist to the +ground. + +"Put up your sword," he said to Cyril. "This man is my son; scoundrel +and villain, yet still my son, even though he has raised his hand +against me. Leave him to God." + +Cyril had stepped a pace back in his surprise. At first he thought +that Mr. Harvey's trouble had turned his brain; then it flashed +across him that this ruffian's name was indeed John Harvey. The man +was about to rise from the floor when Cyril again sprang forward. + +"Drop that sword," he exclaimed, "or I will run you through. Now, +sir," he said to Mr. Harvey, "will you draw out that pistol, whose +butt projects from his pocket, or your son may do one of us mischief +yet?" + +That such had been the man's intention was evident from the glance of +baffled rage he threw at Cyril. + +"Now, sir, go," his father said sternly. "Remember that, henceforth, +you are no son of mine. Did I do my duty I should hand you over to +the watch--not for your threats to me, but for the sword-thrust you +have given to Joseph Edmonds, who has many times carried you on his +shoulder when a child. You may compass my death, but be assured that +not one farthing will you gain thereby. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the +Lord.' I leave it to Him to pay it. Now go." + +John Harvey rose to his feet, and walked to the door. Then he turned +and shook his fist at Cyril. + +"Curse you!" he said. "I will be even with you yet." + +Cyril now had time to look round. His eye fell upon the figure of +Mrs. Harvey, who had fallen insensible. He made a step towards her, +but her husband said, "She has but fainted. This is more pressing," +and he turned to the old servant. Cyril aided him in lifting the old +man up and laying him on the couch. + +"He breathes," said he. + +"He is wounded to death," Mr. Harvey said sadly; "and my son hath +done it." + +Cyril opened the servant's coat. + +"Here is the wound, high up on the left side. It may not touch a +vital part. It bleeds freely, and I have heard that that is a good +sign." + +"It is so," Mr. Harvey said excitedly. "Perhaps he may yet recover. I +would give all that I am worth that it might be so, and that, bad as +he may be, the sin of this murder should not rest on my son's soul." + +"I will run for the doctor, sir, but before I go let me help you to +lift your wife. She will doubtless come round shortly, and will aid +you to stanch the wound till the doctor comes." + +Mrs. Harvey was indeed already showing signs of returning animation. +She was placed on a couch, and water sprinkled on her face. As soon +as he saw her eyes open Cyril caught up his hat and ran to Dr. +Hodges. The doctor had just finished his supper, and was on the point +of going out again to see some of his patients. On hearing from Cyril +that a servant of some friends of his had been wounded by a robber, +he put some lint and bandages in his pocket, and started with him. + +"These robberies are becoming more and more frequent," he said; "and +so bold and reckless are the criminals that they seem to care not a +jot whether they add murder to their other crimes. Where do you say +the wound is?" + +Cyril pointed below his own shoulder. + +"It is just about there, doctor." + +"Then it may be above the upper edge of the lung. If so, we may save +the man. Half an inch higher or lower will make all the difference +between life and death. As you say that it was bleeding freely, it is +probable that the sword has missed the lung, for had it pierced it, +the bleeding would have been chiefly internal, and the hope of saving +him would have been slight indeed." + +When they reached the house Cyril found that Mrs. Harvey had quite +recovered. They had cut open the man's clothes and her husband was +pressing a handkerchief, closely folded, upon the wound. + +"It is serious, but, I think, not vital," Dr. Hodges said, after +examining it. "I feel sure that the sword has missed the lung." + +After cutting off the rest of the man's upper garments, he poured, +from a phial he had brought with him, a few drops of a powerful +styptic into the wound, placed a thick pad of lint over it, and +bandaged it securely. Then, giving directions that a small quantity +of spirits and water should be given to the patient from time to +time, and, above all things, that he should be kept perfectly quiet, +he hurried away. + +"Is there anything more I can do, sir?" Cyril asked Mr. Harvey. + +"Nothing more. You will understand, sir, what our feelings are, and +that our hearts are too full of grief and emotion for us to speak. We +shall watch together to-night, and lay our case before the Lord." + +"Then I will come early in the morning and see if there is aught I +can do, sir. I am going back now to Mr. Wallace, who was uneasy at +your absence. I suppose you would wish me to say only that I found +that there was a robber in the place who, having wounded your +servant, was on the point of attacking you when I entered, and that +he fled almost immediately." + +"That will do. Say to him that for to-night we shall be busy nursing, +and that my wife is greatly shaken; therefore I would not that he +should come round, but I pray him to call here in the morning." + +"I will do so, sir." + +Cyril went downstairs, closed the shutters of the window into which +he had broken, and put up the bars, and then went out at the door, +taking special pains to close it firmly behind him. + +He was glad to be out of the house. He had seen many sad scenes +during the last few weeks, but it seemed to him that this was the +saddest of all. Better, a thousand times, to see a son stricken by +the Plague than this. He walked slowly back to the minister's. He met +Mr. Wallace at the door of his house. + +"I was coming round," the latter said. "Of course one or other of +them are stricken?" + +"No, sir; it was another cause that prevented their coming. Just as I +reached the house I heard a scream, and Mrs. Harvey appeared at the +casement calling for help. I forced open a window and ran up. I found +that a robber had entered the house. He had seriously wounded the old +servant, and was on the point of attacking Mr. Harvey when I entered. +Taken by surprise, the man fled almost immediately. Mrs. Harvey had +fainted. At first, we thought the servant was killed, but, finding +that he lived, I ran off and fetched Dr. Hodges, who has dressed the +wound, and thinks that the man has a good chance of recovery. As Mrs. +Harvey had now come round, and was capable of assisting her husband, +they did not accept my offer to stay and do anything I could. I said +I was coming to you, and Mr. Harvey asked me to say that, although +they were too much shaken to see you this evening, they should be +glad if you would go round to them the first thing in the morning." + +"Then the robber got away unharmed?" Mr. Wallace asked. + +"He was unharmed, sir. I would rather that you did not question me on +the subject. Mr. Harvey will doubtless enter fully into the matter +with you in the morning. We did not exchange many words, for he was +greatly disturbed in spirit at the wounding of his old servant, and +the scene he had gone through; and, seeing that he and his wife would +rather be alone with their patient, I left almost directly after Dr. +Hodges went away. However, I may say that I believe that there are +private matters in the affair, which he will probably himself +communicate to you." + +"Then I will ask no more questions, Cyril. I am well content to know +that it is not as I feared, and that the Plague had not attacked +them." + +"I said that I would call round in the morning, sir; but I have been +thinking of it as I came along, and consider that, as you will be +there, it is as well that I should not do so. I will come round here +at ten o'clock, and should you not have returned, will wait until you +do. I do not know that I can be of any use whatever, and do not wish +to intrude there. Will you kindly say this to them, but add that +should they really wish me to go, I will of course do so?" + +Mr. Wallace looked a little puzzled. + +"I will do as you ask me, but it seems to me that they will naturally +wish to see you, seeing that, had it not been for your arrival, they +might have been robbed and perhaps murdered." + +"You will understand better when you have seen Mr. Harvey, sir. Now I +will be making for home; it is about my usual hour, and John Wilkes +will be beginning to wonder and worry about me." + +To John, Cyril told the same story as to Mr. Wallace. + +"But, how was it that you let the villain escape, Master Cyril? Why +did you not run him through the body?" + +"I had other things to think of, John. There was Mrs. Harvey lying +insensible, and the servant desperately wounded, and I thought more +of these than of the robber, and was glad enough, when he ran out, to +be able to turn my attention to them." + +"Ay, ay, that was natural enough, lad; but 'tis a pity the villain +got off scot-free. Truly it is not safe for two old people to be in +an empty house by themselves in these times, specially as, maybe, the +houses on either side are also untenanted, and robbers can get into +them and make their way along the roof, and so enter any house they +like by the windows there. It was a mercy you chanced to come along. +Men are so accustomed now to hear screams and calls for aid, that +none trouble themselves as to such sounds. And you still feel quite +well?" + +"Never better, John, except for occasional twitches in my shoulder." + +"It does not knit so fast as it should do," John said. "In the first +place, you are always on the move; then no one can go about into +infected houses without his spirits being disturbed, and of all +things a calm and easy disposition is essential for the proper +healing of wounds. Lastly, it is certain that when there is poison in +the air wounds do not heal so quickly as at other times." + +"It is going on well enough, John; indeed, I could not desire it to +do better. As soon as it is fairly healed I ought to join Prince +Rupert again; but in truth I do not wish to go, for I would fain see +this terrible Plague come to an end before I leave; for never since +the days of the Black Death, hundreds of years ago, was there so +strange and terrible a malady in this country." + +Mr. Wallace had returned to his house when Cyril called the next +morning. + +"Thinking over what you said last night, Cyril, I arrived at a pretty +correct conclusion as to what had happened, though I thought not that +it could be as bad as it was. I knew the object with which Mr. Harvey +and his wife had come up to London, at a time when most men were +fleeing from it. Their son has, ever since he came up three years +ago, been a source of grievous trouble to them, as he was, indeed, +for a long time previously. Some natures seem naturally to turn to +evil, and this boy's was one of them. It may be that the life at home +was too rigid and severe, and that he revolted against it. Certain it +is that he took to evil courses and consorted with bad companions. +Severity was unavailing. He would break out of the house at night and +be away for days. He was drunken and dissolute. + +"At last, just after a considerable sum of money had come into the +house from the tenants' rents, he stole it, and went up to London. +His name was not mentioned at home, though his father learnt from +correspondents here that he had become a hanger-on of the Court, +where, his father being a man of condition, he found friends without +difficulty. He was a gambler and a brawler, and bore a bad reputation +even among the riff-raff of the Court. His father learnt that he had +disappeared from sight at the time the Court went to Oxford early in +June, and his correspondent found that he was reported to have joined +a band of abandoned ruffians, whose least crimes were those of +robbery. + +"When the Plague spread rapidly, Mr. Harvey and his wife determined +to come up to London, to make one more effort to draw him from his +evil courses. The only thing that they have been able to learn for +certain was, that he was one of the performers in that wicked mockery +the dance of death, but their efforts to trace him have otherwise +failed. + +"They had intended, if they had found him, and he would have made +promises of amendment, to have given him money that would have +enabled him to go over to America and begin a new life there, +promising him a regular allowance to maintain him in comfort. As they +have many friends over there, some of whom went abroad to settle +before the Civil War broke out here, they would be able to have news +how he was going on; and if they found he was living a decent life, +and truly repented his past course, they would in five years have had +him back again, and reinstated him as their heir. + +"I knew their intentions in the matter, and have done my best to gain +them news of him. I did not believe in the reformation of one who had +shown himself to be of such evil spirit; but God is all-powerful, and +might have led him out from the slough into which he had fallen. + +"Yesterday evening, half an hour before you went there, his father +and mother were astonished at his suddenly entering. He saluted them +at first with ironical politeness, and said that having heard from +one from the same part of the country that he had seen them in +London, he had had the streets thereabouts watched, and having found +where they lodged, had come to pay his respects. + +"There was a reckless bravado in his manner that alarmed his mother, +and it was not long before the purpose of his visit came out. He +demanded that his father should at once sign a deed which he had +brought drawn out in readiness, assigning to him at once half his +property. + +"'You have,' he said, 'far more than you can require. Living as you +do, you must save three-quarters of your income, and it would be at +once an act of charity, and save you the trouble of dealing with +money that is of no use to you.' + +"His father indignantly refused to take any such step, and then told +him the plans he had himself formed for him. At this he laughed +scoffingly. + +"'You have the choice,' he said, 'of giving me half, or of my taking +everything.' And then he swore with terrible oaths that unless his +father signed the paper, that day should be his last. 'You are in my +power,' he said, 'and I am desperate. Do you think that if three dead +bodies are found in a house now any will trouble to inquire how they +came to their end? They will be tossed into the plague-cart, and none +will make inquiry about them.' + +"Hearing voices raised in anger, the old servant ran in. At once the +villain drew and ran at him, passing his sword through his body. +Then, as if transported at the sight of the blood he had shed, he +turned upon his father. It was at this moment that his mother ran to +the window and called for help. He dragged her back, and as she fell +fainting with horror and fear he again turned upon his father; his +passion grew hotter and hotter as the latter, upbraiding him with the +deed he had done, refused to sign; and there is no doubt that he +would have taken his life had you not luckily ran in at this moment. + +"It has truly been a terrible night for them. They have passed it in +prayer, and when I went this morning were both calm and composed, +though it was easy to see by their faces how they had suffered, and +how much the blow has told upon them. They have determined to save +their son from any further temptation to enrich himself by their +deaths. I fetched a lawyer for them; and when I left Mr. Harvey was +giving him instructions for drawing up his will, by which every +farthing is left away from him. They request me to go to them this +evening with two or three of our friends to witness it, as it is +necessary in a time like this that a will should be witnessed by as +many as possible, as some may be carried off by the Plague; and +should all the witnesses be dead, the will might be disputed as a +forgery. So the lawyer will bring his clerks with him, and I shall +take four or five of our friends. + +"They will return to the country as soon as their servant can be +moved. Dr. Hodges came when I was there, and gives hopes that the +cure will be a speedy one. We are going to place some men in the +house. I have among my poorer friends two men who will be glad to +establish themselves there with their wives, seeing that they will +pay no rent, and will receive wages as long as Mr. Harvey remains +there. There will thus be no fear of any repetition of the attempt. +Mr. Harvey, on my advice, will also draw up and sign a paper giving a +full account of the occurrence of last evening, and will leave this +in the hands of the lawyer. + +"This will be a protection to him should his son follow him into the +country, as he will then be able to assure him that if he proceeds to +violence suspicion will at once fall upon him, and he will be +arrested for his murder. But, indeed, the poor gentleman holds but +little to his life; and it was only on my representing to him that +this document might be the means of averting the commission of the +most terrible of all sins from the head of his son, that he agreed to +sign it. I gave him your message, and he prays me to say that, deeply +grateful as he and his wife are to you, not so much for the saving of +their lives, as for preventing their son's soul being stained by the +crime, they would indeed rather that you did not call for a time, for +they are so sorely shaken that they do not feel equal to seeing you. +You will not, I hope, take this amiss." + +"By no means," Cyril replied; "it is but a natural feeling; and, in +truth, I myself am relieved that such is their decision, for it would +be well-nigh as painful to me as to them to see them again, and to +talk over the subject." + +"By the way, Cyril, Mr. Harvey said that when you saw his son you +cried out his name, and that by the manner in which he turned upon +you it was clear that he had some cause for hating you. Is this so, +or was it merely his fancy?" + +"It was no fancy, sir. It is not long since I thwarted his attempt to +carry off the daughter of a city merchant, to whom he had represented +himself as a nobleman. He was in the act of doing so, with the aid of +some friends, when, accompanied by John Wilkes, I came up. There was +a fray, in the course of which I ran him through the shoulder. The +young lady returned home with us, and has since heartily repented of +her folly. I had not seen the man since that time till I met him +yesterday; but certainly the house was watched for some time, as I +believe, by his associates who would probably have done me an ill +turn had I gone out after nightfall." + +"That explains it, Cyril. I will tell Mr. Harvey, whose mind has been +much puzzled by your recognition of his son." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SMITTEN DOWN + + +Two days later, Cyril started at his usual hour to go to Dr. Hodges'; +but he had proceeded but a few yards when a man, who was leaning +against the wall, suddenly lurched forward and caught him round the +neck. Thinking that the fellow had been drinking, Cyril angrily tried +to shake him off. As he did so the man's hat, which had been pressed +down over his eyes, fell off, and, to his astonishment, Cyril +recognised John Harvey. + +"You villain! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, as he freed +himself from the embrace, sending his assailant staggering back +against the wall. + +The man's face lit up with a look of savage exultation.. + +"I told you you should hear from me again," he said, "and I have kept +my word. I knew the hour you went out, and I have been waiting for +you. You are a doomed man. I have the Plague, and I have breathed in +your face. Before twenty-four hours have passed you will be, as I am, +a dying man. That is a good piece of vengeance. You may be a better +swordsman than I am, but you can't fight with the Plague." + +Cyril drew back in horror. As he did so, a change came over John +Harvey's face, he muttered a few words incoherently, swayed backwards +and forwards, and then slid to the ground in a heap. A rush of blood +poured from his mouth, and he fell over dead. + +Cyril had seen more than one similar death in the streets, but the +horrible malignity of this man, and his sudden death, gave him a +terrible shock. He felt for the moment completely unmanned, and, +conscious that he was too unhinged for work, he turned and went back +to the house. + +"You look pale, lad," John Wilkes said, as Cyril went upstairs. "What +brings you back so soon?" + +"I have had rather a shock, John." And he told him of what had +happened. + +"That was enough to startle you, lad. I should say the best thing you +could do would be to take a good strong tumbler of grog, and then lay +down." + +"That I will do, and will take a dose of the medicine Dr. Hodges +makes everyone take when the infection first shows itself in a house. +As you know, I have never had any fear of the Plague hitherto. I +don't say that I am afraid of it now, but I have run a far greater +risk of catching it than I have ever done before, for until now I +have never been in actual contact with anyone with the disease." + +After a sleep Cyril rose, and feeling himself again, went to call +upon Mr. Wallace. + +"I shall not come again for a few days," he said, after telling him +what had happened, but without mentioning the name of John Harvey, +"but I will send you a note every other day by John Wilkes. If he +does not come, you will know that I have taken the malady, and in +that case, Mr. Wallace, I know that I shall have your prayers for my +recovery. I am sure that I shall be well cared for by John Wilkes." + +"Of my prayers you maybe sure, Cyril; and, indeed, I have every faith +that, should you catch the malady, you will recover from it. You have +neither well-nigh frightened yourself to death, nor have you dosed +yourself with drugs until nature was exhausted before the struggle +began. You will, I am sure, be calm and composed, and above all you +have faith in God, and the knowledge that you have done your part to +carry out His orders, and to visit the sick and aid those in sorrow." + +The next day Cyril was conscious of no change except that he felt a +disinclination to exert himself. The next morning he had a feeling of +nausea. + +"I think that I am in for it, John," he said. "But at any rate it can +do no harm to try that remedy you spoke of that is used in the East. +First of all, let us fumigate the room. As far as I have seen, the +smoke of tobacco is the best preservative against the Plague. Now do +you, John, keep a bit of tobacco in your mouth." + +"That I mostly do, lad." + +"Well, keep a bigger bit than usual, John, and smoke steadily. Still, +that will not be enough. Keep the fire burning, and an iron plate +heated to redness over it. Bring that into my room from time to time, +and burn tobacco on it. Keep the room full of smoke." + +"I will do that," John said, "but you must not have too much of it. I +am an old hand, and have many times sat in a fo'castle so full of +smoke that one could scarce see one's hands, but you are not +accustomed to it, and it may like enough make you sick." + +"There will be no harm in that, John, so that one does not push it +too far. Now, how are you going to set about this sweating process?" + +"While you undress and get into bed I will get a blanket ready. It is +to be dipped in boiling water, and then wrung out until it is as dry +as we can get it. Then you are wrapped in that, and then rolled in +five or six dry blankets to keep in the heat. You will keep in that +until you feel almost weak with sweating; then I take you out and +sponge you with warmish water, and then wrap you in another dry +blanket." + +"You had better sponge me with vinegar, John." + +Cyril undressed. When he had done so he carefully examined himself, +and his eye soon fell on a black spot on the inside of his leg, just +above the knee. It was the well-known sign of the Plague. + +"I have got it, John," he said, when the latter entered with a pile +of blankets. + +"Well, then, we have got to fight it, Master Cyril, and we will beat +it if it is to be beaten. Now, lad, for the hot blanket." + +"Lay it down on the bed, and I will wrap myself in it, and the same +with the others. Now I warn you, you are not to come nearer to me +than you can help, and above all you are not to lean over me. If you +do, I will turn you out of the room and lock the door, and fight it +out by myself. Now puff away at that pipe, and the moment you wrap me +up get the room full of smoke." + +John nodded. + +"Don't you bother about me," he growled. "I reckon the Plague ain't +going to touch such a tough old bit of seasoned mahogany as I am. +Still, I will do as you tell me." + +In a few minutes Cyril was in a profuse perspiration, in which even +his head, which was above the blankets, shared. + +"That is grand," John said complacently. + +The cloud of tobacco, with which the room was soon filled, was not +long in having the effect that John had predicted, and Cyril was soon +violently sick, which had the effect of further increasing the +perspiration. + +"You must open the window and let the smoke out a bit, John," he +gasped. "I can't stand any more of it." + +This was done, and for another hour Cyril lay between the blankets. + +"I shall faint if I lie here any longer," he said at last. "Now, +John, do you go out of the room, and don't come back again until I +call you. I see you have put the vinegar handy. It is certain that if +this is doing me any good the blankets will be infected. You say you +have got a big fire in the kitchen. Well, I shall take them myself, +and hang them up in front of it, and you are not to go into the room +till they are perfectly dry again. You had better light another fire +at once in the parlour, and you can do any cooking there. I will keep +the kitchen for my blankets." + +John nodded and left the room, and Cyril at once proceeded to unroll +the blankets. As he came to the last he was conscious of a strong +fetid odour, similar to that he had more than once perceived in +houses infected by the Plague. + +"I believe it is drawing it out of me," he said to himself. "I will +give it another trial presently." + +He first sponged himself with vinegar, and felt much refreshed. He +then wrapped himself up and lay down for a few minutes, for he felt +strangely weak. Then he got up and carried the blankets into the +kitchen, where a huge fire had been made up by John. He threw the one +that had been next to him into a tub, and poured boiling water on it, +and the others he hung on chairs round it. Then he went back to his +room, and lay down and slept for half an hour. He returned to the +kitchen and rearranged the blankets. When John saw him go back to his +room he followed him. + +"I have got some strong broth ready," he said. "Do you think that you +could take a cupful?" + +"Ay, and a good-sized one, John. I feel sure that the sweating has +done me good, and I will have another turn at it soon. You must go at +once and report that I have got it, or when the examiners come round, +and find that the Plague is in the house, you will be fined, or +perhaps imprisoned. Before you go there, please leave word at Dr. +Hodges' that I am ill, and you might also call at Mr. Wallace's and +leave the same message. Tell them, in both cases, that I have +everything that I want, and trust that I shall make a good recovery." + +"Ay, ay, sir; I will be off as soon as I have brought you in your +broth, and will be back here in half an hour." + +Cyril drank the broth, and then dozed again until John returned. When +he heard his step he called out to him to bring the hot iron, and he +filled the room with tobacco smoke before allowing him to enter. + +"Now, John, the blankets are dry, and can be handled again, and I am +ready for another cooking." + +Four times that day did Cyril undergo the sweating process. By the +evening he was as weak as a child, but his skin was soft and cool, +and he was free from all feeling of pain or uneasiness. Dr. Hodges +called half an hour after he had taken it for the last time, having +only received his message when he returned late from a terrible day's +work. Cyril had just turned in for the night. + +"Well, lad, how are you feeling? I am so sorry that I did not get +your message before." + +"I am feeling very well, doctor." + +"Your hand is moist and cool," Dr. Hodges said in surprise. "You must +have been mistaken. I see no signs whatever of the Plague." + +"There was no mistake, doctor; there were the black marks on my +thighs, but I think I have pretty well sweated it out of me." + +He then described the process he had followed, and said that John +Wilkes had told him that it was practised in the Levant. + +"Sweating is greatly used here, and I have tried it very repeatedly +among my patients, and in some cases, where I had notice of the +disease early, have saved them. Some bleed before sweating, but I +have not heard of one who did so who recovered. In many cases the +patient, from terror or from weakness of body, cannot get up the heat +required, and even if they arrive at it, have not the strength to +support it. In your case you lost no time; you had vital heat in +plenty, and you had strength to keep up the heat in full force until +you washed, as it were, the malady out of you. Henceforth I shall +order that treatment with confidence when patients come to me whom I +suspect to have the Plague, although it may not have as yet fully +declared itself. What have you done with the blankets?" + +"I would not suffer John to touch them, but carried them myself into +the kitchen. The blankets next to me I throw into a tub and pour +boiling water over them; the others I hang up before a huge fire, so +as to be dry for the next operation. I take care that John does not +enter the kitchen." + +"How often have you done this?" + +"Four times, and lay each time for an hour in the blankets. I feel +very weak, and must have lost very many pounds in weight, but my head +is clear, and I suffer no pain whatever. The marks on my legs have +not spread, and seem to me less dark in colour than they were." + +"Your case is the most hopeful that I have seen," Dr. Hodges said. +"The system has had every advantage, and to this it owes its success. +In the first place, you began it as soon as you felt unwell. Most +people would have gone on for another twelve hours before they paid +much attention to the first symptoms, and might not have noticed the +Plague marks even when they went to bed. In the second place, you are +cool and collected, and voluntarily delivered yourself to the +treatment. And in the third place, which is the most important +perhaps of all, you were in good health generally. You had not +weakened yourself by swallowing every nostrum advertised, or wearing +yourself out by vain terrors. Ninety-nine cases out of a hundred +would be probably beyond the reach of help before they were conscious +of illness, and be too weak to stand so severe a strain on the system +as that you have undergone. Another thing is that the remedy could +hardly be attempted in a house full of frightened people. There would +be sure to be carelessness in the matter of the blankets, which, +unless treated as you have done, would be a certain means of +spreading the infection over the house. At any rate, I would continue +the sweating as long as you can possibly stand it. Take nourishment +in the shape of broth frequently, but in small quantity. I would do +it again at midnight; 'tis well not to let the virus have time to +gather strength again. I see you have faith in tobacco." + +"Yes, doctor. I never let John Wilkes into the room after I have +taken a bath until it is full of tobacco smoke. I have twice made +myself ill with it to-day." + +"Don't carry it too far, lad; for although I also believe in the +virtue of the weed, 'tis a powerful poison, and you do not want to +weaken yourself. Well, I see I can do nothing for you. You and your +man seem to me to have treated the attack far more successfully than +I should have done; for, indeed, this month very few of those +attacked have recovered, whatever the treatment has been. I shall +come round early tomorrow morning to see how you are going on. At +present nothing can be better. Since the first outbreak, I have not +seen a single case in which the patient was in so fair a way towards +recovery in so short a time after the discovery of the infection." + +John Wilkes at this moment came in with a basin of broth. + +"This is my good friend, John Wilkes, doctor." + +"You ought to be called Dr. John Wilkes," the doctor, who was one of +the most famous of his time, said, with a smile, as he shook hands +with him. "Your treatment seems to be doing wonders." + +"It seems to me he is doing well, doctor, but I am afraid he is +carrying it too far; he is so weak he can hardly stand." + +"Never mind that," the doctor said; "it will be easy enough to build +him up when we have once got the Plague out of him. I have told him +to have another turn in the blankets at twelve o'clock to-night; it +will not do to let the malady get a fresh hold of him. But don't push +it too far, lad. If you begin to feel faint, stop it, even if you +have not been a quarter of an hour in the blankets. Do not cover +yourself up too warmly when you have done; let nature have a rest. I +shall be round between eight and nine, and no doubt you will have had +another bath before I come. Do not sleep in the room, Wilkes; he is +sure to go off soundly to sleep, and there is no use your running any +needless risk. Let his window stand open; indeed, it should always be +open, except when he gets out of his blankets, or is fumigating the +room. Let him have a chair by the open window, so as to get as much +fresh air as possible; but be sure that he is warmly wrapped up with +blankets, so as to avoid getting a chill. You might place a hand-bell +by the side of his bed to-night, so that he can summons you should he +have occasion." + +When the doctor came next morning he nodded approvingly as soon as he +felt Cyril's hand. + +"Nothing could be better," he said; "your pulse is even quieter than +last night. Now let me look at those spots." + +"They are fainter," Cyril said. + +"A great deal," Dr. Hodges said, in a tone of the greatest pleasure. +"Thank God, my lad, it is dying out. Not above three or four times +since the Plague began have I been able to say so. I shall go about +my work with a lighter heart today, and shall order your treatment in +every case where I see the least chance of its being carried out, but +I cannot hope that it will often prove as successful as it has with +you. You have had everything in your favour--youth, a good +constitution, a tranquil mind, an absence of fear, and a faith in +God." + +"And a good attendant, doctor--don't forget that." + +"No, that goes for a great deal, lad--for a great deal. Not one nurse +out of a hundred would carry out my instructions carefully; not one +patient in a thousand would be able to see that they were carried +out. Of course you will keep on with the treatment, but do not push +it to extremes; you have pulled yourself down prodigiously, and must +not go too far. Do you perceive any change in the odour when you take +off the blankets?" + +"Yes, doctor, a great change; I could scarcely distinguish it this +morning, and indeed allowed John Wilkes to carry them out, as I don't +think I myself could have walked as far as the kitchen, though it is +but ten or twelve paces away. I told him to smoke furiously all the +time, and to come out of the kitchen as soon as he had hung them up." + +Cyril took three more baths in the course of the day, but was only +able to sustain them for twenty minutes each, as by the end of that +time he nearly fainted. The doctor came in late in the evening. + +"The spots are gone, doctor," Cyril said. + +"Then I think you may consider yourself cured, lad. Do not take the +treatment again to-night; you can take it once in the morning; and +then if I find the spots have not reappeared by the time I come, I +shall pronounce the cure as complete, and shall begin to build you up +again." + +The doctor was able to give this opinion in the morning. + +"I shall not come again, lad, unless you send for me, for every +moment of my time is very precious, and I shall leave you in the +hands of Dr. Wilkes. All you want now is nourishment; but take it +carefully at first, and not too much at a time; stick to broths for +the next two or three days, and when you do begin with solids do so +very sparingly." + +"There was a gentleman here yesterday asking about you," John Wilkes +said, as Cyril, propped up in bed, sipped his broth. "It was Mr. +Harvey. He rang at the bell, and I went down to the lower window and +talked to him through that, for of course the watchman would not let +me go out and speak to him. I had heard you speak of him as one of +the gentlemen you met at the minister's, and he seemed muchly +interested in you. He said that you had done him a great service, and +of course I knew it was by frightening that robber away. I never saw +a man more pleased than he was when I told him that the doctor +thought you were as good as cured, and he thanked God very piously +for the same. After he had done that, he asked me first whether you +had said anything to me about him. I said that you had told me you +had met him and his wife at the minister's, and that you said you had +disturbed a robber you found at his house. He said, quite sharp, +'Nothing more?' 'No, not as I can think of. He is always doing good +to somebody,' says I, 'and never a word would he say about it, if it +did not get found out somehow. Why, he saved Prince Rupert's ship +from being blown up by a fire-vessel, and never should we have known +of it if young Lord Oliphant had not written to the Captain telling +him all about it, and saying that it was the gallantest feat done in +the battle. Then there were other things, but they were of the nature +of private affairs.' 'You can tell me about them, my good man,' he +said; 'I am no vain babbler; and as you may well believe, from what +he did for me, and for other reasons, I would fain know as much as I +can of him.' So then I told him about how you found out about the +robbery and saved master from being ruined, and how you prevented +Miss Nellie from going off with a rascal who pretended he was an +earl." + +"Then you did very wrong, John," Cyril said angrily. "I say naught +about your speaking about the robbery, for that was told in open +Court, but you ought not, on any account, to have said a word about +Mistress Nellie's affairs." + +"Well, your honour, I doubt not Mistress Nellie herself would have +told the gentleman had she been in my place. I am sure he can be +trusted not to let it go further. I took care to tell him what good +it had done Mistress Nellie, and that good had come out of evil." + +"Well, you ought not to have said anything about it, John. It may be +that Mistress Nellie out of her goodness of heart might herself have +told, but that is no reason why anyone else should do so. I charge +you in future never to open your lips about that to anyone, no matter +who. I say not that any harm will come of it in this case, for Mr. +Harvey is indeed a sober and God-fearing man, and assuredly asked +only because he felt an interest in me, and from no idle curiosity. +Still, I would rather that he had not known of a matter touching the +honour of Mistress Nellie." + +"Mum's the word in future, Master Cyril. I will keep the hatches fast +down on my tongue. Now I will push your bed up near the window as the +doctor ordered, and then I hope you will get a good long sleep." + +The Plague and the process by which it had been expelled had left +Cyril so weak that it was some days before he could walk across the +room. Every morning he inquired anxiously of John how he felt, and +the answer was always satisfactory. John had never been better in his +life; therefore, by the time Cyril was able to walk to his easy-chair +by the window, he began to hope that John had escaped the infection, +which generally declared itself within a day or two, and often within +a few hours, of the first outbreak in a house. + +A week later the doctor, who paid him a flying visit every two or +three days, gave him the welcome news that he had ordered the red +cross to be removed from the door, and the watchmen to cease their +attendance, as the house might now be considered altogether free from +infection. + +The Plague continued its ravages with but slight abatement, moving +gradually eastward, and Aldgate and the district lying east of the +walls were now suffering terribly. It was nearly the end of September +before Cyril was strong enough to go out for his first walk. Since +the beginning of August some fifty thousand people had been carried +off, so that the streets were now almost entirely deserted, and in +many places the grass was shooting up thickly in the road. In some +streets every house bore the sign of a red cross, and the tolling of +the bells of the dead-carts and piteous cries and lamentations were +the only sounds that broke the strange silence. + +The scene was so disheartening that Cyril did not leave the house +again for another fortnight. His first visit was to Mr. Wallace. The +sight of a watchman at the door gave him quite a shock, and he was +grieved indeed when he heard from the man that the brave minister had +died a fortnight before. Then he went to Mr. Harvey's. There was no +mark on the door, but his repeated knockings met with no response, +and a woman, looking out from a window opposite, called to him that +the house had been empty for well-nigh a month, and the people that +were in it had gone off in a cart, she supposed into the country. + +"There was a gentleman and lady," she said, "who seemed well enough, +and their servant, who was carried down and placed in the cart. It +could not have been the Plague, though the man looked as if he had +been sorely ill." + +The next day he called on Dr. Hodges, who had not been near him for +the last month. There was no watchman at the door, and his man opened +it. + +"Can I see the doctor?" + +"Ay, you can see him," he said; "he is cured now, and will soon be +about again." + +"Has he had the Plague, then?" + +"That he has, but it is a week now since the watchman left." + +Cyril went upstairs. The doctor was sitting, looking pale and thin, +by the window. + +"I am grieved indeed to hear that you have been ill, doctor," Cyril +said; "had I known it I should have come a fortnight since, for I was +strong enough to walk this distance then. I did indeed go out, but +the streets had so sad an aspect that I shrank from stirring out +again." + +"Yes, I have had it," the doctor said. "Directly I felt it come on I +followed your system exactly, but it had gone further with me than it +had with you, and it was a week before I fairly drove the enemy out. +I ordered sweating in every case, but, as you know, they seldom sent +for me until too late, and it is rare that the system got a fair +chance. However, in my case it was a complete success. Two of my +servants died; they were taken when I was at my worst. Both were dead +before I was told of it. The man you saw was the one who waited on +me, and as I adopted all the same precautions you had taken with your +man, he did not catch it, and it was only when he went downstairs one +day and found the other two servants lying dead in the kitchen that +he knew they had been ill." + +"Mr. Wallace has gone, you will be sorry to hear, sir." + +"I am sorry," the doctor said; "but no one was more fitted to die. He +was a brave man and a true Christian, but he ran too many risks, and +your news does not surprise me." + +"The only other friends I have, Mr. Harvey and his wife, went out of +town a month ago, taking with them their servant." + +"Yes; I saw them the day before I was taken ill," the doctor said, +"and told them that the man was so far out of danger that he might +safely be moved. They seemed very interested in you, and were very +pleased when I told them that I had now given up attending you, and +that you were able to walk across the room, and would, erelong, be +yourself again. I hope we are getting to the end of it now, lad. As +the Plague travels East it abates in the West, and the returns for +the last week show a distinct fall in the rate of mortality. There is +no further East for it to go now, and I hope that in another few +weeks it will have worn itself out. We are half through October, and +may look for cold weather before long." + +"I should think that I am strong enough to be useful again now, sir." + +"I don't think you are strong enough, and I am sure I shall not give +you leave to do so," the doctor said. "I can hardly say how far a +first attack is a protection against a second, for the recoveries +have been so few that we have scarce means of knowing, but there +certainly have been cases where persons have recovered from a first +attack and died from a second. Your treatment is too severe to be +gone through twice, and it is, therefore, more essential that you +should run no risk of infection than it was before. I can see that +you are still very far from strong, and your duty now is, in the +first place, to regain your health. I should say get on board a hoy +and go to Yarmouth. A week in the bracing air there would do you more +good than six months here. But it is useless to give you that advice, +because, in the first place, no shipping comes up the river, and, +even if you could get down to Yarmouth by road, no one would receive +you. Still, that is what I should do myself as soon as I could get +away, were it not that, in my case, I have my duties here." + +"But, doctor, what you said to me surely applies to yourself also?" +Cyril said, with a smile. + +"I know that," the doctor said good-humouredly, "and expected it, but +it is not for a doctor to choose. He is not free, like other men; he +has adopted a vocation in which it is his first duty to go among the +sick, whatever their ailment may be, to do all that he can for them, +and if, as in the present case, he can do practically nothing else, +to set them an example of calmness and fearlessness. Still, for a +time, at any rate, I shall be able to go no more into houses where +the Plague is raging. 'Tis more than a month since you were cured, +yet you are still a mere shadow of what you were. I had a much harder +fight with the enemy, and cannot walk across the room yet without +William's help. Therefore, it will be a fortnight or three weeks yet +before I can see patients, and much longer before I shall have +strength to visit them in their houses. By that time I trust that the +Plague will have very greatly abated. Thus, you see, I shall not be +called upon to stand face to face with it for some time. Those who +call upon me here are seldom Plague-stricken. They come for other +ailments, or because they feel unwell, and are nervous lest it should +be the beginning of an attack; but of late I have had very few come +here. My patients are mostly of the middle class, and these have +either fled or fallen victims to the Plague, or have shut themselves +up in their houses like fortresses, and nothing would tempt them to +issue abroad. Therefore, I expect that I shall have naught to do but +to gain strength again. Come here when you will, lad, and the oftener +the better. Conversation is the best medicine for both of us, and as +soon as I can I will visit you. I doubt not that John Wilkes has many +a story of the sea that will take our thoughts away from this sad +city. Bring him with you sometimes; he is an honest fellow, and the +talk of sailors so smacks of the sea that it seems almost to act as a +tonic." + +Cyril stayed for an hour, and promised to return on the following +evening. He said, however, that he was sure John Wilkes would not +accompany him. + +"He never leaves the house unless I am in it. He considers himself on +duty; and although, as I tell him, there is little fear of anyone +breaking in, seeing how many houses with much more valuable and more +portable goods are empty and deserted, he holds to his purpose, +saying that, even with the house altogether empty, it would be just +as much his duty to remain in charge." + +"Well, come yourself, Cyril. If we cannot get this old watch-dog out +I must wait until I can go to him." + +"I shall be very glad to come, doctor, for time hangs heavily on my +hands. John Wilkes spends hours every day in washing and scrubbing +decks, as he calls it, and there are but few books in the house." + +"As to that, I can furnish you, and will do so gladly. Go across to +the shelves there, and choose for yourself." + +"Thank you very much indeed, sir. But will you kindly choose for me? +I have read but few English books, for of course in France my reading +was entirely French." + +"Then take Shakespeare. I hold his writings to be the finest in our +tongue. I know them nearly by heart, for there is scarce an evening +when I do not take him down for an hour, and reading him I forget the +worries and cares of my day's work, which would otherwise often keep +me from sleep. 'Tis a bulky volume, but do not let that discourage +you; it is full of wit and wisdom, and of such romance that you will +often find it hard to lay it down. Stay--I have two editions, and can +well spare one of them, so take the one on that upper shelf, and keep +it when you have read it. There is but little difference between +them, but I generally use the other, and have come to look upon it as +a friend." + +"Nay, sir, I will take it as a loan." + +"You will do nothing of the sort. I owe you a fee, and a bumping +one." + +Henceforth Cyril did not find his time hang heavy on his hands. It +seemed to him, as he sat at the window and read, that a new world +opened to him. His life had been an eminently practical one. He had +studied hard in France, and when he laid his books aside his time had +been spent in the open air. It was only since he had been with +Captain Dave that he had ever read for amusement, and the Captain's +library consisted only of a few books of travels and voyages. He had +never so much as dreamt of a book like this, and for the next few +days he devoured its pages. + +"You are not looking so well, Cyril," Dr. Hodges said to him abruptly +one day. + +"I am doing nothing but reading Shakespeare, doctor." + +"Then you are doing wrong, lad. You will never build yourself up +unless you take exercise." + +"The streets are so melancholy, doctor, and whenever I go out I +return sick at heart and in low spirits." + +"That I can understand, lad. But we must think of something," and he +sat for a minute or two in silence. Then he said suddenly, "Do you +understand the management of a boat?" + +"Yes, doctor; it was my greatest pleasure at Dunkirk to be out with +the fishermen." + +"That will do, then. Go down at once to the riverside. There are +hundreds of boats lying idle there, for there are no passengers and +no trade, and half of their owners are dead. You are sure to see some +men there; having nothing else to do, some will be hanging about. Say +you want to hire a boat for a couple of months or to buy one. You +will probably get one for a few shillings. Get one with a sail as +well as oars. Go out the first thing after breakfast, and go up or +down the river as the tide or wind may suit. Take some bread and meat +with you, and don't return till supper-time. Then you can spend your +evenings with Shakespeare. Maybe I myself will come down and take a +sail with you sometimes. That will bring the colour back into your +cheeks, and make a new man of you. Would that I had thought of it +before!" + +Cyril was delighted with the idea, and, going down to Blackfriars, +bought a wherry with a sail for a pound. Its owner was dead, but he +learned where the widow lived, and effected the bargain without +difficulty, for she was almost starving. + +"I have bought it," he said, "because it may be that I may get it +damaged or sunk; but I only need it for six weeks or two months, and +at the end of that time I will give it you back again. As soon as the +Plague is over there will be work for boats, and you will be able to +let it, or to sell it at a fair price." + +John Wilkes was greatly pleased when Cyril came back and told him +what he had done. + +"That is the very thing for you," he said. "I have been a thick-head +not to think of it. I have been worrying for the last week at seeing +you sit there and do nothing but read, and yet there seemed nothing +else for you to do, for ten minutes out in the streets is enough to +give one the heartache. Maybe I will go out for a sail with you +myself sometimes, for there is no fear of the house being broken into +by daylight." + +"Not in the slightest, John. I hope that you will come out with me +always. I should soon find it dull by myself, and besides, I don't +think that I am strong enough yet to manage a pair of sculls for +long, and one must reckon occasionally on having to row against the +tide. Even if the worst happened, and anyone did break in and carry +off a few things, I am sure Captain Dave would not grumble at the +loss when he knew that I had wanted you to come out and help me to +manage the boat, which I was ordered to use for my health's sake." + +"That he wouldn't," John said heartily; "not if they stripped the +house and shop of everything there was in them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE + + +Having finally disposed of John Wilkes's scruples as to leaving the +house during the daytime, Cyril thenceforth went out with him every +day. If the tide was in flood they rowed far up the river, and came +down on the ebb. If it was running out they went down as far as it +would take them. Whenever the wind was favourable they hoisted the +sail; at other times, they rowed. The fresh air, and the exercise, +soon did their work. Cyril at first could only take one scull, and +that only for a short time, but at the end of a fortnight was able to +manage both for a time, or to row with one for hours. The feeling of +lassitude which had oppressed him passed away speedily, the colour +came back to his cheeks, his muscles strengthened, and he began to +put on flesh. + +They were now in November, and needed warm garments when on the +water, and John insisted on completely muffling him up whenever they +hoisted the sail; but the colder weather braced him up, and he was +often inclined to shout with pleasure as the wind drove the boat +along before it. + +It was cheering to know that others were benefiting by the change. In +the week ending October 3rd the deaths officially given were 4,328, +though at least another thousand must be added to this, for great +numbers of deaths from the Plague were put down to other causes, and +very many, especially those of infants, were never counted at all. It +was said that as many people were infected as ever, but that the +virulence of the disease was abated, and that, whereas in August +scarce one of those attacked recovered, in October but one out of +every three died of the malady. + +In the second week of October, the number of deaths by the Plague was +but 2,665, and only 1,250 in the third week, though great numbers +were still attacked. People, however, grew careless, and ran +unnecessary risks, and, in consequence, in the first week of November +the number of deaths rose by 400. After this it decreased rapidly, +and the people who had fled began to come back again--the more so +because it had now spread to other large cities, and it seemed that +there was less danger in London, where it had spent its force, than +in places where it had but lately broken out. The shops began to open +again, and the streets to reassume their former appearance. + +Cyril had written several times to Captain Dowsett, telling him how +matters were going on, and in November, hearing that they were +thinking of returning, he wrote begging them not to do so. + +"Many of those who have returned have fallen sick, and died," he +said. "It seems to me but a useless risk of life, after taking so +much pains to avoid infection, to hurry back before the danger has +altogether passed. In your case, Captain Dave, there is the less +reason for it, since there is no likelihood of the shipping trade +being renewed for the present. All the ports of Europe are closed to +our ships, and it is like to be a long time before they lose fear of +us. Even the coasting trade is lost for the present. Therefore, my +advice is very strongly against your returning for some weeks. All is +going on well here. I am getting quite strong again, and, by the +orders of the doctor, go out with John daily for a long row, and have +gained much benefit from it. John sends his respects. He says that +everything is ship-shape above and below, and the craft holding well +on her way. He also prays you not to think of returning at present, +and says that it would be as bad seamanship, as for a captain who has +made a good offing in a gale, and has plenty of sea-room, to run down +close to a rocky shore under the lee, before the storm has altogether +blown itself out." + +Captain Dave took the advice, and only returned with his wife and +Nellie a week before Christmas. + +"I am glad indeed to be back," he said, after the first greetings +were over. "'Twas well enough for the women, who used to help in the +dairy, and to feed the fowls, and gather the eggs, and make the +butter, but for me there was nothing to do, and it seemed as if the +days would never come to an end." + +"It was not so bad as that, father," Nellie said. "First of all, you +had your pipe to smoke. Then, once a week you used to go over with +the market-cart to Gloucester and to look at the shipping there, and +talk with the masters and sailors. Then, on a Sunday, of course, +there was church. So there were only five days each week to get +through; and you know you took a good deal of interest in the horses +and cows and pigs." + +"I tried to take an interest in them, Nellie; but it was very hard +work." + +"Well, father, that is just what you were saying you wanted, and I am +sure you spent hours every day walking about with the children, or +telling them stories." + +"Well, perhaps, when I think of it, it was not so very bad after +all," Captain Dave admitted. "At any rate, I am heartily glad I am +back here again. We will open the shop to-morrow morning, John." + +"That we will, master. We sha'n't do much trade at present. Still, a +few coasters have come in, and I hope that every day things will get +better. Besides, all the vessels that have been lying in the Pool +since June will want painting up and getting into trim again before +they sail out of the river, so things may not be so slack after all. +You will find everything in order in the store. I have had little to +do but to polish up brass work and keep the metal from rusting. When +do the apprentices come back again?" + +"I shall write for them as soon as I find that there is something for +them to do. You are not thinking of running away as soon as we come +back I hope, Cyril? You said, when you last wrote, that you were fit +for sea again." + +"I am not thinking of going for some little time, if you will keep +me, Captain Dave. There is no news of the Fleet fitting out at +present, and they will not want us on board till they are just ready +to start. They say that Albemarle is to command this time instead of +the Duke, at which I am right glad, for he has fought the Dutch at +sea many times, and although not bred up to the trade, he has shown +that he can fight as steadily on sea as on land. All say the Duke +showed courage and kept a firm countenance at Lowestoft, but there +was certainly great slackness in the pursuit, though this, 'tis said, +was not so much his fault as that of those who were over-careful of +his safety. Still, as he is the heir to the throne, it is but right +that he should be kept out of the fighting." + +"It is like to be stern work next time, Cyril, if what I hear be +true. Owing partly to all men's minds being occupied by the Plague, +and partly to the great sums wasted by the King in his pleasures, +nothing whatever has been done for the Fleet. Of course, the squadron +at sea has taken great numbers of prizes; but the rest of the Fleet +is laid up, and no new ships are being built, while they say that the +Dutch are busy in all their ship-yards, and will send out a much +stronger fleet this spring than that which fought us at Lowestoft. I +suppose you have not heard of any of your grand friends?" + +"No. I should have written to Sydney Oliphant, but I knew not whether +he was at sea or at home, and, moreover, I read that most folks in +the country are afraid of letters from London, thinking that they +might carry contagion. Many noblemen have now returned to the West +End, and when I hear that the Earl has also come back with his family +it will, of course, be my duty to wait upon him, and on Prince Rupert +also. But I hope the Prince will not be back yet, for he will be +wanting me to go to Court again, and for this, in truth, I have no +inclination, and, moreover, it cannot be done without much expense +for clothes, and I have no intention to go into expenses on follies +or gew-gaws, or to trench upon the store of money that I had from +you, Captain Dave." + +They had just finished breakfast on the day before Christmas, when +one of the apprentices came up from the shop and said that one Master +Goldsworthy, a lawyer in the Temple, desired to speak to Sir Cyril +Shenstone. Cyril was about to go down when Captain Dave said,-- + +"Show the gentleman up, Susan. We will leave you here to him, Cyril." + +"By no means," Cyril said. "I do not know him, and he can assuredly +have no private business with me that you may not hear." + +Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter, however, left the room. The lawyer, a +grave-looking gentleman of some fifty years of age, glanced at Cyril +and the Captain as he entered the room, and then advanced towards the +former. + +"My name is unknown to you, Sir Cyril," he said, "but it has been +said that a bearer of good news needs no introduction, and I come in +that capacity. I bring you, sir, a Christmas-box," and he took from a +bag he carried a bundle of some size, and a letter. "Before you open +it, sir, I will explain the character of its contents, which would +take you some time to decipher and understand, while I can explain +them in a very few words. I may tell you that I am the legal adviser +of Mr. Ebenezer Harvey, of Upmead Court, Norfolk. You are, I presume, +familiar with the name?" + +Cyril started. Upmead Court was the name of his father's place, but +with the name of its present owner he was not familiar. Doubtless, he +might sometimes have heard it from his father, but the latter, when +he spoke of the present possessor of the Court, generally did so as +"that Roundhead dog," or "that canting Puritan." + +"The Court I know, sir," he said gravely, "as having once been my +father's, but I do not recall the name of its present owner, though +it may be that in my childhood my father mentioned it in my hearing." + +"Nevertheless, sir, you know the gentleman himself, having met him, +as he tells me, frequently at the house of Mr. Wallace, who was +minister of the chapel at which he worshipped, and who came up to +London to minister to those sorely afflicted and needing comfort. Not +only did you meet with Mr. Harvey and his wife, but you rendered to +them very material service." + +"I was certainly unaware," Cyril said, "that Mr. Harvey was the +possessor of what had been my father's estate, but, had I known it, +it would have made no difference in my feeling towards him. I found +him a kind and godly gentleman whom, more than others there, was good +enough to converse frequently with me, and to whom I was pleased to +be of service." + +"The service was of a most important nature," the lawyer said, "being +nothing less than the saving of his life, and probably that of his +wife. He sent for me the next morning, and then drew out his will. By +that will he left to you the estates which he had purchased from your +father." + +Cyril gave a start of surprise, and would have spoken, but Master +Goldsworthy held up his hand, and said,-- + +"Please let me continue my story to the end. This act was not the +consequence of the service that you had rendered him. He had +previously consulted me on the subject, and stated his intentions to +me. He had met you at Mr. Wallace's, and at once recognised your +name, and learnt from Mr. Wallace that you were the son of Sir Aubrey +Shenstone. He studied your character, had an interview with Dr. +Hodges, and learnt how fearlessly you were devoting yourself to the +work of aiding those stricken with the Plague. With his own son he +had reason for being profoundly dissatisfied. The young man had +thrown off his authority, had become a notorious reprobate, and had, +he believed, sunk down to become a companion of thieves and +highwaymen. He had come up to London solely to make a last effort to +save him from his evil courses and to give him a chance of +reformation by sending him out to New England. + +"Mr. Harvey is possessed of considerable property in addition to the +estates purchased of your father, for, previous to that purchase he +had been the owner of large tanneries at Norwich, which he has ever +since maintained, not so much for the sake of the income he derived +from them as because they afforded a livelihood to a large number of +workmen. He had, therefore, ample means to leave to his son, should +the latter accept his offer and reform his life, without the estates +of Upmead. When he saw you, he told me his conscience was moved. He +had, of course, a legal right to the estates, but he had purchased +them for a sum not exceeding a fifth of their value, and he +considered that in the twenty years he had held them he had drawn +from them sums amply sufficient to repay him for the price he had +given for them, and had received a large interest on the money in +addition. He questioned, therefore, strongly whether he had any right +longer to retain them. + +"When he consulted me on the subject, he alluded to the fact that, by +the laws of the Bible, persons who bought lands were bound to return +the land to its former possessors, at the end of seven times seven +years. He had already, then, made up his mind to leave that portion +of his property to you, when you rendered him that great service, and +at the same time it became, alas! but too evident to him that his son +was hopelessly bad, and that any money whatever left to him would +assuredly be spent in evil courses, and would do evil rather than +good. Therefore, when I came in the morning to him he said,-- + +"'My will must be made immediately. Not one penny is to go to my son. +I may be carried off to-morrow by the Plague, or my son may renew his +attempt with success. So I must will it away from him at once. For +the moment, therefore, make a short will bequeathing the estate of +Upmead to Sir Cyril Shenstone, all my other possessions to my wife +for her lifetime, and at her death also to Sir Cyril Shenstone. + +"'I may alter this later on,' he said, 'but for the present I desire +chiefly to place them beyond my son's reach. Please draw up the +document at once, for no one can say what half an hour may bring +forth to either of us. Get the document in form by this evening, when +some friends will be here to witness it. Pray bring your two clerks +also!' + +"A few days later he called upon me again. + +"'I have been making further inquiries about Sir Cyril Shenstone,' he +said, 'and have learnt much concerning him from a man who is in the +employment of the trader with whom he lives. What I have learnt more +than confirms me in my impression of him. He came over from France, +three years ago, a boy of scarce fourteen. He was clever at figures, +and supported his reprobate father for the last two years of his life +by keeping the books of small traders in the City. So much was he +esteemed that, at his father's death, Captain Dowsett offered him a +home in his house. He rewarded the kindness by making the discovery +that the trader was being foully robbed, and brought about the arrest +of the thieves, which incidentally led to the breaking-up of one of +the worst gangs of robbers in London. Later on he found that his +employer's daughter was in communication with a hanger-on of the +Court, who told her that he was a nobleman. The young fellow set a +watch upon her, came upon her at the moment she was about to elope +with this villain, ran him through the shoulder, and took her back to +her home, and so far respected her secret that her parents would +never have known of it had she not, some time afterwards, confessed +it to them. That villain, Mr. Goldsworthy,' he said, 'was my son! +Just after that Sir Cyril obtained the good will of the Earl of +Wisbech, whose three daughters he saved from being burnt to death at +a fire in the Savoy. Thus, you see, this youth is in every way worthy +of good fortune, and can be trusted to administer the estate of his +fathers worthily and well. I wish you to draw out, at once, a deed +conveying to him these estates, and rehearsing that, having obtained +them at a small price, and having enjoyed them for a time long enough +to return to me the money I paid for them with ample interest +thereon, I now return them to him, confident that they will be in +good hands, and that their revenues will be worthily spent.' + +"In this parcel is the deed in question, duly signed and witnessed, +together with the parchments, deeds, and titles of which he became +possessed at his purchase of the estate. I may say, Sir Cyril, that I +have never carried out a legal transfer with greater pleasure to +myself, considering, as I do, that the transaction is alike just and +honourable on his part and most creditable to yourself. He begged me +to hand the deeds to you myself. They were completed two months +since, but he himself suggested that I should bring them to you on +Christmas Eve, when it is the custom for many to give to their +friends tokens of their regard and good will. I congratulate you +heartily, sir, and rejoice that, for once, merit has met with a due +reward." + +"I do not know, sir," Cyril replied, "how I can express my feelings +of deep pleasure and gratitude at the wonderful tidings you have +brought me. I had set it before me as the great object of my life, +that, some day, should I live to be an old man, I might be enabled to +repurchase the estate of my father's. I knew how improbable it was +that I should ever be able to do so, and I can scarce credit that +what seemed presumptuous even as a hope should have thus been so +strangely and unexpectedly realised. I certainly do not feel that it +is in any way due to what you are good enough to call my merits, for +in all these matters that you have spoken of there has been nothing +out of the way, or, so far as I can see, in any way praiseworthy, in +what I have done. It would seem, indeed, that in all these matters, +and in the saving of my life from the Plague, things have arranged +themselves so as to fall out for my benefit." + +"That is what Mr. Harvey feels very strongly, Sir Cyril. He has told +me, over and over again, that it seemed to him that the finger of God +was specially manifest in thus bringing you together, and in placing +you in a position to save his life. And now I will take my leave. I +may say that in all legal matters connected with the estate I have +acted for Mr. Harvey, and should be naturally glad if you will +continue to entrust such matters to me. I have some special +facilities in the matter, as Mr. Popham, a lawyer of Norwich, is +married to my daughter, and we therefore act together in all business +connected with the estate, he performing what may be called the local +business, while I am advised by him as to matters requiring attention +here in London." + +"I shall be glad indeed if you and Mr. Popham will continue to act in +the same capacity for me," Cyril said warmly. "I am, as you see, very +young, and know nothing of the management of an estate, and shall be +grateful if you will, in all matters, act for me until I am of an age +to assume the duties of the owner of Upmead." + +"I thank you, Sir Cyril, and we shall, I trust, afford you +satisfaction. The deed, you will observe, is dated the 29th of +September, the day on which it was signed, though there have been +other matters to settle. The tenants have already been notified that +from that date they are to regard you as their landlord. Now that you +authorise us to act for you, my son-in-law will at once proceed to +collect the rents for this quarter. I may say that, roughly, they +amount to seventeen hundred pounds a year, and as it may be a +convenience to you to draw at once, if it so please you I will place, +on Monday next, the sum of four hundred pounds to your credit with +Messrs. Murchison and Graham, who are my bankers, or with any other +firm you may prefer." + +"With the bankers you name, by all means," Cyril said; "and I thank +you heartily for so doing, for as I shall shortly rejoin the Fleet, a +portion, at least, of the money will be very useful to me." + +Mr. Goldsworthy took his hat. + +"There is one thing further I have forgotten. Mr. Harvey requested me +to say that he wished for no thanks in this matter. He regards it as +an act of rightful restitution, and, although you will doubtless +write to him, he would be pleased if you will abstain altogether from +treating it as a gift." + +"I will try to obey his wishes," Cyril said, "but it does not seem to +me that it will be possible for me to abstain from any expression of +gratitude for his noble act." + +Cyril accompanied the lawyer to the door, and then returned upstairs. + +"Now I can speak," Captain Dowsett said. "I have had hard work to +keep a stopper on my tongue all this time, for I have been well-nigh +bursting to congratulate you. I wish you joy, my lad," and he wrung +Cyril's hand heartily, "and a pleasant voyage through life. I am as +glad, ay, and a deal more glad than if such a fortune had come in my +way, for it would have been of little use to me, seeing I have all +that the heart of man could desire." + +He ran to the door and shouted loudly for his wife and daughter. + +"I have news for you both," he said, as they came in. "What do you +think? Cyril, like the King, has come to his own again, and he is now +Sir Cyril Shenstone, the owner of the estate of Upmead." + +Both broke into exclamations of surprise and pleasure. + +"How has the wonder come about?" Nellie asked, after the first +congratulations were over. "What good fairy has brought this round?" + +"The good fairy was the Mr. Harvey whose name Cyril once mentioned +casually, and whose life, as it now appears, he saved, though he has +said nothing to us about it. That gentleman was, most strangely, the +man who bought the estate from his father. He, it seems, is a wealthy +man, and his conscience has for some time been pricked with the +thought that he had benefited too largely from the necessities of Sir +Aubrey, and that, having received back from the rents all the money +he paid, and goodly interest thereon, he ought to restore the estate +to its former owner. Possibly he might never have acted on this +thought, but he considered the circumstance that he had so strangely +met Cyril here at the time of the Plague, and still more strangely +that Cyril had saved his life, was a matter of more than chance, and +was a direct and manifest interposition of Providence; and he has +therefore made restitution, and that parcel on the table contains a +deed of gift to Cyril of all his father's estates." + +"He has done quite rightly," Mrs. Dowsett said warmly, "though, +indeed, it is not everyone who would see matters in that light. If +men always acted in that spirit it would be a better world." + +"Ay, ay, wife. There are not many men who, having got the best of a +bargain, voluntarily resign the profits they have made. It is +pleasant to come across one who so acts, more especially when one's +best friend is the gainer. Ah! Nellie, what a pity some good fairy +did not tell you of what was coming! What a chance you have lost, +girl! See what might have happened if you had set your cap at Cyril!" + +"Indeed, it is terrible to think of," Nellie laughed. "It was hard on +me that he was not five or six years older. Then I might have done +it, even if my good fairy had not whispered in my ear about this +fortune. Never mind. I shall console myself by looking forward to +dance at his wedding--that is, if he will send me an invitation." + +"Like as not you will be getting past your dancing days by the time +that comes off, Nellie. I hope that, years before then, I shall have +danced at your wedding--that is to say," he said, imitating her, "if +you will send me an invitation." + +"What are you going to do next, Cyril?" Captain Dave asked, when the +laugh had subsided. + +"I don't know, I am sure," Cyril replied. "I have not really woke up +to it all yet. It will be some time before I realise that I am not a +penniless young baronet, and that I can spend a pound without looking +at it a dozen times. I shall have to get accustomed to the thought +before I can make any plans. I suppose that one of the first things +to do will be to go down to Oxford to see Prince Rupert--who, I +suppose, is with the Court, though this I can doubtless learn at the +offices of the Admiralty--and to tell him that I am ready to rejoin +his ship as soon as he puts to sea again. Then I shall find out where +Sydney Oliphant is, and how his family have fared in the Plague. I +would fain find out what has become of the Partons, to whom, and +especially to Lady Parton, I owe much. I suppose, too, I shall have +to go down to Norfolk, but that I shall put off as long as I can, for +it will be strange and very unpleasant at first to go down as master +to a place I have never seen. I shall have to get you to come down +with me, Captain Dave, to keep me in countenance." + +"Not I, my lad. You will want a better introducer. I expect that the +lawyer who was here will give you a letter to his son-in-law, who +will, of course, place himself at your service, establishing you in +your house and taking you round to your tenants." + +"Oh, yes," Nellie said, clapping her hands. "And there will be fine +doings, and bonfires, and arches, and all sorts of festivities. I do +begin to feel how much I have missed the want of that good fairy." + +"It will be all very disagreeable," Cyril said seriously; whereat the +others laughed. + +Cyril then went downstairs with Captain Dave, and told John Wilkes of +the good fortune that had befallen him, at which he was as much +delighted as the others had been. + +Ten days later Cyril rode to Oxford, and found that Prince Rupert was +at present there. The Prince received him with much warmth. + +"I have wondered many times what had become of you, Sir Cyril," he +said. "From the hour when I saw you leave us in the _Fan Fan_ I have +lost sight of you altogether. I have not been in London since, for +the Plague had set in badly before the ships were laid up, and as I +had naught particular to do there I kept away from it. Albemarle has +stayed through it, and he and Mr. Pepys were able to do all there was +to do, but I have thought of you often and wondered how you fared, +and hoped to see you here, seeing that there was, as it seemed to me, +nothing to keep you in London after your wounds had healed. I have +spoken often to the King of the brave deed by which you saved us all, +and he declared that, had it not been that you were already a +baronet, he would knight you as soon as you appeared, as many of the +captains and others have already received that honour; and he agreed +with me that none deserved it better than yourself. Now, what has +become of you all this time?" + +Cyril related how he had stayed in London, had had the Plague, and +had recovered from it. + +"I must see about getting you a commission at once in the Navy," the +Prince said, "though I fear you will have to wait until we fit out +again. There will be no difficulty then, for of course there were +many officers killed in the action." + +Cyril expressed his thanks, adding,-- + +"There is no further occasion for me to take a commission, Prince, +for, strangely enough, the owner of my father's property has just +made it over to me. He is a good man, and, considering that he has +already reaped large benefits by his purchase, and has been repaid +his money with good interest, his conscience will no longer suffer +him to retain it." + +"Then he is a Prince of Roundheads," the Prince said, "and I most +heartily congratulate you; and I believe that the King will be as +pleased as I am. He said but the other day, when I was speaking to +him of you, that it grieved him sorely that he was powerless to do +anything for so many that had suffered in his cause, and that, after +the bravery you had shown, he was determined to do something, and +would insist with his ministers that some office should be found for +you,--though it is not an easy matter, when each of them has special +friends of his own among whom to divide any good things that fall +vacant. He holds a Court this evening, and I will take you with me." + +The King was most gracious when the Prince again presented Cyril to +him and told him of the good fortune that had befallen him. + +"By my faith, Sir Cyril, you were born under a lucky star. First of +all you saved my Lord of Wisbech's daughters; then, as Prince Rupert +tells me, you saved him and all on board his ship from being burned; +and now a miracle has well-nigh happened in your favour. I see, too, +that you have the use of your arm, which the Prince doubted would +ever altogether recover." + +"More still, Your Majesty," the Prince said. "He had the Plague in +August and recovered from it." + +"I shall have to keep you about me, Sir Cyril," the King said, "as a +sort of amulet to guard me against ill luck." + +"I am going to take him to sea first," Prince Rupert broke in, seeing +that Cyril was about to disclaim the idea of coming to Court. "I may +want him to save my ship again, and I suppose he will be going down +to visit his estate till I want him. You have never seen it, have +you, Sir Cyril?" + +"No, sir; at least not to have any remembrance of it. I naturally +long to see Upmead, of which I have heard much from my father. I +should have gone down at once, but I thought it my duty to come +hither and report myself to you as being ready to sail again as soon +as you put to sea." + +"Duty first and pleasure afterwards," the King said. "I am afraid +that is a little beyond me--eh, Rupert?" + +"Very much so, I should say, Cousin Charles," the Prince replied, +with a smile. "However, I have no doubt Sir Cyril will not grudge us +a few days before he leaves. There are several of the gentlemen who +were his comrades on the _Henrietta_ here, and they will be glad to +renew their acquaintance with him, knowing, as they all do, that they +owe their lives to him." + +As Cyril was walking down the High Street, he saw a student coming +along whose face seemed familiar to him. He looked hard at him. + +"Surely you must be Harry Parton?" he said. + +"That is my name, sir; though I cannot recall where I have met you. +Yet there seems something familiar in your face, and still more in +your voice." + +"I am Cyril Shenstone." + +"Why, what has become of you, Cyril?" Harry said, shaking him warmly +by the hand. "I searched for you a year ago when I was in London, but +could obtain no tidings whatever of you, save that you had lost your +father. We are alike there, for my father died a few months after +yours did." + +"I am sorry indeed, Harry. I had not heard of it before. I was not, +indeed, in the way of doing so, as I was working in the City and knew +nothing of what was passing elsewhere." + +"This is my college, Cyril. Come up to my room; there we can talk +comfortably, and we have much to tell each other. How is it that you +have never been near us?" he went on, when they were seated in front +of a blazing fire in his room. "I know that there was some quarrel +between our fathers, but when we heard of Sir Aubrey's death, both my +father and mother thought that you would come to see us or would have +written--for indeed it was not until after my father's death that we +paid a visit to London. It was then my mother asked me to search for +you; and after great difficulty I found the quarter in which you had +lived, and then from the parish register learned where your father +had died. Going there, I learned that you had left the lodging +directly after his death, but more than that the people could not +tell me." + +"I should have come to see your mother and Sir John, Harry. I know +how deeply I am indebted to them, and as long as I live shall never +cease to be grateful for Lady Parton's kindness to me. But I had +received so much kindness that I shrank from seeming to wish to +presume upon it further. I had, of course, to work for my living, and +I wanted, before I recalled myself to them, to be able to say that I +had not come as a beggar for further favours, but that I was making +my way independently. Sooner or later I should have come, for your +father once promised me that if I followed out what you remember was +my plan, of entering foreign service, he would give me letters of +introduction that would be useful to me. Had I that favour still to +ask I could do it without shame. But more than that I would not have +asked, even had I wanted bread, which, thank God! was never the +case." + +"I can understand your feeling, Cyril, but my mother assuredly would +always have been pleased to see you. You know you were a favourite of +hers." + +"Had you been near town, Harry, I should certainly have come to see +her and you as soon as I had fairly established myself, but I heard +from my father that you had all gone away into the country soon after +the unfortunate quarrel he had with Sir John, and therefore delayed +taking any step for the time, and indeed did not know in what part of +the country your father's estates lay. I know that he recovered them +as soon as he returned." + +"They had never been forfeited," Harry said. "My father retired from +the struggle after Naseby, and as he had influential friends among +the Puritans, there was no forfeiture of his estates, and we were +therefore able, as you know, to live in comfort at Dunkirk, his +steward sending over such monies as were required. And now about +yourself. Your brains must have served you rarely somehow, for you +are dressed in the latest fashion, and indeed I took you for a Court +gallant when you accosted me." + +"I have been truly fortunate, Harry, and indeed everything has turned +out as if specially designed for my good, and, in a most strange and +unlooked-for manner, I have just come into my father's estates +again." + +"I am glad indeed to hear it, Cyril. Tell me how it has all come +about." + +Cyril told the story of his life since he had come to London. + +"You have, indeed, had strange adventures, Cyril, and, though you say +little about it, you must have done something special to have gained +Prince Rupert's patronage and introduction to Court; but I shall worm +all that out of you some day, or get it from other lips. What a +contrast your life has been to mine! Here have you been earning your +living bravely, fighting in the great battle against the Dutch, going +through that terrible Plague, and winning your way back to fortune, +while I have been living the life of a school-boy. Our estates lie in +Shropshire, and as soon as we went down there my father placed me at +a school at Shrewsbury. There I remained till his death, and then, as +was his special wish, entered here. I have still a year of my course +to complete. I only came up into residence last week. When the summer +comes I hope that you will come down to Ardleigh and stay with us; it +will give my mother great pleasure to see you again, for I never see +her but she speaks of you, and wonders what has become of you, and if +you are still alive." + +"Assuredly I will come, and that with the greatest pleasure," Cyril +said, "providing only that I am not then at sea, which is, I fear, +likely, as I rejoin the ship as soon as Prince Rupert takes the sea +against the Dutch. However, directly we return I will write to you." + +"If you do so, let it be to Ardleigh, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. +Should I be here when your letter arrives, my mother will forward it +to me." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +TAKING POSSESSION + + +Cyril stayed a week at Oxford. He greatly enjoyed the visit; and not +only was he most warmly received by his former comrades on board the +_Henrietta_, but Prince Rupert spoke so strongly in his favour to +other gentlemen to whom he introduced him that he no longer felt a +stranger at Court. Much of his spare time he spent with Harry Parton, +and in his rooms saw something of college life, which seemed to him a +very pleasant and merry one. He had ascertained, as soon as he +arrived, that the Earl of Wisbech and his family were down at his +estate, near the place from which he took his title, and had at once +written to Sydney, from whom he received an answer on the last day of +his stay at Oxford. It contained a warm invitation for him to come +down to Wisbech. + +"You say you will be going to Norwich to take possession of your +estate. If you ride direct from Oxford, our place will be but little +out of your way, therefore we shall take no excuse for your not +coming to see us, and shall look for you within a week or so from the +date of this. We were all delighted to get your missive, for although +what you say about infection carried by letters is true enough, and, +indeed there was no post out of London for months, we had begun to +fear that the worst must have befallen you when no letter arrived +from you in December. Still, we thought that you might not know where +we were, and so hoped that you might be waiting until you could find +that out. My father bids me say that he will take no refusal. Since +my return he more than ever regards you as being the good genius of +the family, and it is certainly passing strange that, after saving my +sisters' lives from fire you should, though in so different a way, +have saved me from a similar death. So set off as soon as you get +this--that is, if you can tear yourself away from the gaieties of +Oxford." + +Cyril had, indeed, been specially waiting for Sydney's answer, having +told him that he should remain at Oxford until he received it, and on +the following morning he packed his valise and rode for Wisbech, +where he arrived three days' later. His welcome at the Earl's was a +most cordial one. He spent a week there, at the end of which time +Sydney, at his earnest request, started for Norwich with him. The +Earl had insisted on Cyril's accepting a splendid horse, and behind +him, on his other animal, rode a young fellow, the son of a small +tenant on the Earl's estate, whom he had engaged as a servant. He had +written, three days before, to Mr. Popham, telling him that he would +shortly arrive, and begging him to order the two old servants of his +father, whom he had, at his request, engaged to take care of the +house to get two or three chambers in readiness for him, which could +doubtless be easily done, as he had learnt from the deed that the +furniture and all contents of the house had been included in the +gift. After putting up at the inn, he went to the lawyer's. Mr. +Popham, he found, had had a room prepared in readiness for him at his +house, but Cyril, while thanking him for so doing, said that, as Lord +Oliphant was with him, he would stay at the inn for the night. + +The next morning they rode over with Mr. Popham to Upmead, which was +six miles distant from the town. + +"That is the house," the lawyer said, as a fine old mansion came in +sight. "There are larger residences in the county, but few more +handsome. Indeed, it is almost too large for the estate, but, as +perhaps you know, that was at one time a good deal larger than it is +at present, for it was diminished by one of your ancestors in the +days of Elizabeth." + +At the gate where they turned into the Park an arch of evergreens had +been erected. + +"You don't mean to say you let them know that I was coming home?" +Cyril said, in a tone of such alarm that Lord Oliphant laughed and +Mr. Popham said apologetically,-- + +"I certainly wrote to the tenants, sir, when I received your letter, +and sent off a message saying that you would be here this morning. +Most of them or their fathers were here in the old time, for Mr. +Harvey made no changes, and I am sure they would have been very +disappointed if they had not had notice that Sir Aubrey's son was +coming home." + +"Of course it was quite right for you to do so, Mr. Popham, but you +see I am quite unaccustomed to such things, and would personally have +been much more pleased to have come home quietly. Still, as you say, +it is only right that the tenants should have been informed, and at +any rate it will be a satisfaction to get it all over at once." + +There were indeed quite a large number of men and women assembled in +front of the house--all the tenants, with their wives and families, +having gathered to greet their young landlord--and loud bursts of +cheering arose as he rode up, Sydney and Mr. Popham reining back +their horses a little to allow him to precede them. Cyril took off +his hat, and bowed repeatedly in reply to the acclamations that +greeted him. The tenants crowded round, many of the older men +pressing forward to shake him by the hand. + +"Welcome back to your own again, Sir Cyril!" + +"I fought under your father, sir, and a good landlord he was to us +all." + +Such were the exclamations that rose round him until he reached the +door of the mansion, and, dismounting, took his place at the top of +the steps. Then he took off his hat again, and when there was silence +he said,-- + +"I thank you heartily, one and all, good friends, for the welcome +that you have given me. Glad indeed I am to come down to my father's +home, and to be so greeted by those who knew him, and especially by +those who followed him in the field in the evil days which have, we +may hope, passed away for ever. You all know, perhaps, that I owe my +return here as master to the noble generosity of Mr. Harvey, your +late landlord, who restored me the estates, not being bound in any +way to do so, but solely because he considered that he had already +been repaid the money he gave for them. This may be true, but, +nevertheless, there is not one man in a hundred thousand who would so +despoil himself of the benefits of a bargain lawfully made, and I beg +you therefore to give three cheers, as hearty as those with which you +greeted me, for Mr. Harvey." + +Three cheers, as long and loud as those that had before risen, +responded to the appeal. + +"Such a man," Cyril went on, when they subsided, "must have been a +just and good landlord to you all, and I shall do my best to give you +no cause for regret at the change that has come about." + +He paused for a moment to speak to Mr. Popham, who stood beside him, +and then went on,-- + +"I did not know whether I could ask you to drink to my health, but I +learn from Mr. Popham that the cellars have been left well filled; +therefore, my first orders on coming to the house of my fathers will +be that a cask of wine shall be speedily broached, and that you shall +be enabled to drink my health. While that is being done, Mr. Popham +will introduce you to me one by one." + +Another loud cheer arose, and then the tenants came forward with +their wives and families. + +Cyril shook hands with them all, and said a few words to each. The +elder men had all ridden by his father in battle, and most of the +younger ones said, as he shook hands with them,-- + +"My father fell, under Sir Aubrey, at Naseby," or "at Worcester," or +in other battles. + +By the time all had been introduced, a great cask of wine had been +broached, and after the tenants had drunk to his health, and he had, +in turn, pledged them, Cyril entered the house with Sydney and Mr. +Popham, and proceeded to examine it under the guidance of the old man +who had been his father's butler, and whose wife had also been a +servant in Sir Aubrey's time. + +"Everything is just as it was then, Sir Cyril. A few fresh articles +of furniture have been added, but Mr. Harvey would have no general +change made. The family pictures hang just where they did, and your +father himself would scarce notice the changes." + +"It is indeed a fine old mansion, Cyril," Lord Oliphant said, when +they had made a tour of the house; "and now that I see it and its +furniture I am even more inclined than before to admire the man who +could voluntarily resign them. I shall have to modify my ideas of the +Puritans. They have shown themselves ready to leave the country and +cross the ocean to America, and begin life anew for conscience' +sake--that is to say, to escape persecution--and they fought very +doughtily, and we must own, very successfully, for the same reason, +but this is the first time I have ever heard of one of them +relinquishing a fine estate for conscience' sake." + +"Mr. Harvey is indeed a most worthy gentleman," Mr. Popham said, "and +has the esteem and respect of all, even of those who are of wholly +different politics. Still, it may be that although he would in any +case, I believe, have left this property to Sir Cyril, he might not +have handed it over to him in his lifetime, had not he received so +great a service at his hands." + +"Why, what is this, Cyril?" Sydney said, turning upon him. "You have +told us nothing whatever of any services rendered. I never saw such a +fellow as you are for helping other people." + +"There was nothing worth speaking of," Cyril said, much vexed. + +Mr. Popham smiled. + +"Most people would think it was a very great service, Lord Oliphant. +However, I may not tell you what it was, although I have heard all +the details from my father-in-law, Mr. Goldsworthy. They were told in +confidence, and in order to enlighten me as to the relations between +Mr. Harvey and Sir Cyril, and as they relate to painful family +matters I am bound to preserve an absolute silence." + +"I will be content to wait, Cyril, till I get you to myself. It is a +peculiarity of Sir Cyril Shenstone, Mr. Popham, that he goes through +life doing all sorts of services for all sorts of people. You may not +know that he saved the lives of my three sisters in a fire at our +mansion in the Savoy; he also performed the trifling service of +saving Prince Rupert's ship and the lives of all on board, among whom +was myself, from a Dutch fire-ship, in the battle of Lowestoft. These +are insignificant affairs, that he would not think it worth while to +allude to, even if you knew him for twenty years." + +"You do not know Lord Oliphant, Mr. Popham," Cyril laughed, "or you +would be aware that his custom is to make mountains out of molehills. +But let us sit down to dinner. I suppose it is your forethought, Mr. +Popham, that I have to thank for having warned them to make this +provision? I had thought that we should be lucky if the resources of +the establishment sufficed to furnish us with a meal of bread and +cheese." + +"I sent on a few things with my messenger yesterday evening, Sir +Cyril, but for the hare and those wild ducks methinks you have to +thank your tenants, who doubtless guessed that an addition to the +larder would be welcome. I have no doubt that, good landlord as Mr. +Harvey was, they are really delighted to have you among them again. +As you know, these eastern counties were the stronghold of +Puritanism, and that feeling is still held by the majority. It is +only among the tenants of many gentlemen who, like your father, were +devoted Royalists, that there is any very strong feeling the other +way. As you heard from their lips, most of your older tenants fought +under Sir Aubrey, while the fathers of the younger ones fell under +his banner. Consequently, it was galling to them that one of +altogether opposite politics should be their landlord, and although +in every other respect they had reason to like him, he was, as it +were, a symbol of their defeat, and I suppose they viewed him a good +deal as the Saxons of old times regarded their Norman lords." + +"I can quite understand that, Mr. Popham." + +"Another feeling has worked in your favour, Sir Cyril," the lawyer +went on. "It may perhaps be a relic of feudalism, but there can be no +doubt that there exists, in the minds of English country folks, a +feeling of respect and of something like affection for their +landlords when men of old family, and that feeling is never +transferred to new men who may take their place. Mr. Harvey was, in +their eyes, a new man--a wealthy one, no doubt, but owing his wealth +to his own exertions--and he would never have excited among them the +same feeling as they gave to the family who had, for several hundred +years, been owners of the soil." + +Cyril remained for a fortnight at Upmead, calling on all the tenants, +and interesting himself in them and their families. The day after his +arrival he rode into Norwich, and paid a visit to Mr. Harvey. He had, +in compliance to his wishes, written but a short letter of +acknowledgment of the restitution of the estate, but he now expressed +the deep feeling of gratitude that he entertained. + +"I have only done what is right," Mr. Harvey said quietly, "and would +rather not be thanked for it; but your feelings are natural, and I +have therefore not checked your words. It was assuredly God's doing +in so strangely bringing us together, and making you an instrument in +saving our lives, and so awakening an uneasy conscience into +activity. I have had but small pleasure from Upmead. I have a house +here which is more than sufficient for all my wants, and I have, I +hope, the respect of my townsfellows, and the affection of my +workmen. At Upmead I was always uncomfortable. Such of the county +gentlemen who retained their estates looked askance at me. The +tenants, I knew, though they doffed their hats as I passed them, +regarded me as a usurper. I had no taste for the sports and pleasures +of country life, being born and bred a townsman. The ill-doing of my +son cast a gloom over my life of late. I have lived chiefly here with +the society of friends of my own religious and political feeling. +Therefore, I have made no sacrifice in resigning my tenancy of +Upmead, and I pray you say no further word of your gratitude. I have +heard, from one who was there yesterday, how generously you spoke of +me to your tenants, and I thank you for so doing, for it is pleasant +for me to stand well in the thoughts of those whose welfare I have +had at heart." + +"I trust that Mrs. Harvey is in good health?" Cyril said. + +"She is far from well, Cyril. The events of that night in London have +told heavily upon her, as is not wonderful, for she has suffered much +sorrow for years, and this last blow has broken her sorely. She +mourns, as David mourned over the death of Absalom, over the +wickedness of her son, but she is quite as one with me in the +measures that I have taken concerning him, save that, at her earnest +prayer, I have made a provision for him which will keep him from +absolute want, and will leave him no excuse to urge that he was +driven by poverty into crime. Mr. Goldsworthy has not yet discovered +means of communicating with him, but when he does so he will notify +him that he has my instructions to pay to him fifteen pounds on the +first of every month, and that the offer of assistance to pay his +passage to America is still open to him, and that on arriving there +he will receive for three years the same allowance as here. Then if a +favourable report of his conduct is forthcoming from the magistrates +and deacons of the town where he takes up his residence, a +correspondent of Mr. Goldsworthy's will be authorised to expend four +thousand pounds on the purchase of an estate for him, and to hand to +him another thousand for the due working and maintenance of the same. +For these purposes I have already made provisions in my will, with +proviso that if, at the end of five years after my death, no news of +him shall be obtained, the money set aside for these purposes shall +revert to the main provisions of the will. It may be that he died of +the Plague. It may be that he has fallen, or will fall, a victim to +his own evil courses and evil passions. But I am convinced that, +should he be alive, Mr. Goldsworthy will be able to obtain tidings of +him long before the five years have expired. And now," he said, +abruptly changing the subject, "what are you thinking of doing, Sir +Cyril?" + +"In the first place, sir, I am going to sea again with the Fleet very +shortly. I entered as a Volunteer for the war, and could not well, +even if I wished it, draw back." + +"They are a stiff-necked people," Mr. Harvey said. "That the +Sovereigns of Europe should have viewed with displeasure the +overthrow of the monarchy here was natural enough; but in Holland, if +anywhere, we might have looked for sympathy, seeing that as they had +battled for freedom of conscience, so had we done here; and yet they +were our worst enemies, and again and again had Blake to sail forth +to chastise them. They say that Monk is to command this time?" + +"I believe so, sir." + +"Monk is the bruised reed that pierced our hand, but he is a good +fighter. And after the war is over, Sir Cyril, you will not, I trust, +waste your life in the Court of the profligate King?" + +"Certainly not," Cyril said earnestly. "As soon as the war is over I +shall return to Upmead and take up my residence there. I have lived +too hard a life to care for the gaieties of Court, still less of a +Court like that of King Charles. I shall travel for a while in Europe +if there is a genuine peace. I have lost the opportunity of +completing my education, and am too old now to go to either of the +Universities. Not too old perhaps; but I have seen too much of the +hard side of life to care to pass three years among those who, no +older than myself, are still as boys in their feelings. The next best +thing, therefore, as it seems to me, would be to travel, and perhaps +to spend a year or two in one of the great Universities abroad." + +"The matter is worth thinking over," Mr. Harvey said. "You are +assuredly young yet to settle down alone at Upmead, and will reap +much advantage from speaking French which is everywhere current, and +may greatly aid you in making your travels useful to you. I have no +fear of your falling into Popish error, Sir Cyril; but if my wishes +have any weight with you I would pray you to choose the schools of +Leyden or Haarlem, should you enter a foreign University, for they +turn out learned men and good divines." + +"Certainly your wishes have weight with me, Mr. Harvey, and should +events so turn out that I can enter one of the foreign Universities, +it shall be one of those you name--that is, should we, after this war +is ended, come into peaceful relations with the Dutch." + +Before leaving the Earl's, Cyril had promised faithfully that he +would return thither with Sydney, and accordingly, at the end of the +fortnight, he rode back with him there, and, three weeks later, +journeyed up to London with the Earl and his family. + +It was the middle of March when they reached London. The Court had +come up a day or two before, and the Fleet was, as Cyril learnt, +being fitted out in great haste. The French had now, after hesitating +all through the winter, declared war against us, and it was certain +that we should have their fleet as well as that of the Dutch to cope +with. Calling upon Prince Rupert on the day he arrived, Cyril learnt +that the Fleet would assuredly put to sea in a month's time. + +"Would you rather join at once, or wait until I go on board?" the +Prince asked. + +"I would rather join at once, sir. I have no business to do in +London, and it would be of no use for me to take an apartment when I +am to leave so soon; therefore, if I can be of any use, I would +gladly join at once." + +"You would be of no use on board," the Prince said, "but assuredly +you could be of use in carrying messages, and letting me know +frequently, from your own report, how matters are going on. I heard +yesterday that the _Fan Fan_ is now fitted out. You shall take the +command of her. I will give you a letter to the boatswain, who is at +present in charge, saying that I have placed her wholly under your +orders. You will, of course, live on board. You will be chiefly at +Chatham and Sheerness. If you call early to-morrow I will have a +letter prepared for you, addressed to all captains holding commands +in the White Squadron, bidding them to acquaint you, whensoever you +go on board, with all particulars of how matters have been pushed +forward, and to give you a list of all things lacking. Then, twice a +week you will sail up to town, and report to me, or, should there be +any special news at other times, send it to me by a mounted +messenger. Mr. Pepys, the secretary, is a diligent and hard-working +man, but he cannot see to everything, and Albemarle so pushes him +that I think the White Squadron does not get a fair share of +attention; but if I can go to him with your reports in hand, I may +succeed in getting what is necessary done." + +Bidding farewell to the Earl and his family, and thanking him for his +kindness, Cyril stopped that night at Captain Dave's, and told him of +all that had happened since they met. The next morning he went early +to Prince Rupert's, received the two letters, and rode down to +Chatham. Then, sending the horses back by his servant, who was to +take them to the Earl's stable, where they would be cared for until +his return, Cyril went on board the _Fan Fan_. For the next month he +was occupied early and late with his duties. The cabin was small, but +very comfortable. The crew was a strong one, for the yacht rowed +twelve oars, with which she could make good progress even without her +sails. He was waited on by his servant, who returned as soon as he +had left the horses in the Earl's stables; his cooking was done for +him in the yacht's galley. On occasions, as the tide suited, he +either sailed up to London in the afternoon, gave his report to the +Prince late in the evening, and was back at Sheerness by daybreak, or +he sailed up at night, saw the Prince as soon as he rose, and +returned at once. + +The Prince highly commended his diligence, and told him that his +reports were of great use to him, as, with them in his hand, he could +not be put off at the Admiralty with vague assurances. Every day one +or more ships went out to join the Fleet that was gathering in the +Downs, and on April 20th Cyril sailed in the _Fan Fan_, in company +with the last vessel of the White Squadron, and there again took up +his quarters on board the _Henrietta_, the _Fan Fan_ being anchored +hard by in charge of the boatswain. + +On the 23rd, the Prince, with the Duke of Albemarle, and a great +company of noblemen and gentlemen, arrived at Deal, and came on board +the Fleet, which, on May 1st, weighed anchor. + +Lord Oliphant was among the volunteers who came down with the Prince, +and, as many of the other gentlemen had also been on board during the +first voyage, Cyril felt that he was among friends, and had none of +the feeling of strangeness and isolation he had before experienced. + +The party was indeed a merry one. For upwards of a year the fear of +the Plague had weighed on all England. At the time it increased so +terribly in London, that all thought it would, like the Black Death, +spread over England, and that, once again, half the population of the +country might be swept away. Great as the mortality had been, it had +been confined almost entirely to London and some of the great towns, +and now that it had died away even in these, there was great relief +in men's minds, and all felt that they had personally escaped from a +terrible and imminent danger. That they were about to face peril even +greater than that from which they had escaped did not weigh on the +spirits of the gentlemen on board Prince Rupert's ship. To be killed +fighting for their country was an honourable death that none feared, +while there had been, in the minds of even the bravest, a horror of +death by the Plague, with all its ghastly accompaniments. Sailing out +to sea to the Downs, then, they felt that the past year's events lay +behind them as an evil dream, and laughed and jested and sang with +light-hearted mirth. + +As yet, the Dutch had not put out from port, and for three weeks the +Fleet cruised off their coast. Then, finding that the enemy could not +be tempted to come out, they sailed back to the Downs. The day after +they arrived there, a messenger came down from London with orders to +Prince Rupert to sail at once with the White Squadron to engage the +French Fleet, which was reported to be on the point of putting to +sea. The Prince had very little belief that the French really +intended to fight. Hitherto, although they had been liberal in their +promises to the Dutch, they had done nothing whatever to aid them, +and the general opinion was that France rejoiced at seeing her rivals +damage each other, but had no idea of risking her ships or men in the +struggle. + +"I believe, gentlemen," Prince Rupert said to his officers, "that +this is but a ruse on the part of Louis to aid his Dutch allies by +getting part of our fleet out of the way. Still, I have nothing to do +but to obey orders, though I fear it is but a fool's errand on which +we are sent." + +The wind was from the north-east, and was blowing a fresh gale. The +Prince prepared to put to sea. While the men were heaving at the +anchors a message came to Cyril that Prince Rupert wished to speak to +him in his cabin. + +"Sir Cyril, I am going to restore you to your command. The wind is so +strong and the sea will be so heavy that I would not risk my yacht +and the lives of the men by sending her down the Channel. I do not +think there is any chance of our meeting the French, and believe that +it is here that the battle will be fought, for with this wind the +Dutch can be here in a few hours, and I doubt not that as soon as +they learn that one of our squadrons has sailed away they will be +out. The _Fan Fan_ will sail with us, but will run into Dover as we +pass. Here is a letter that I have written ordering you to do so, and +authorising you to put out and join the Admiral's Fleet, should the +Dutch attack before my return. If you like to have young Lord +Oliphant with you he can go, but he must go as a Volunteer under you. +You are the captain of the _Fan Fan_, and have been so for the last +two months; therefore, although your friend is older than you are, he +must, if he choose to go, be content to serve under you. Stay, I will +put it to him myself." + +He touched the bell, and ordered Sydney to be sent for. + +"Lord Oliphant," he said, "I know that you and Sir Cyril are great +friends. I do not consider that the _Fan Fan_, of which he has for +some time been commander, is fit to keep the sea in a gale like this, +and I have therefore ordered him to take her into Dover. If the Dutch +come out to fight the Admiral, as I think they will, he will join the +Fleet, and although the _Fan Fan_ can take but small share in the +fighting, she may be useful in carrying messages from the Duke while +the battle is going on. It seems to me that, as the _Fan Fan_ is +more likely to see fighting than my ships, you, as a Volunteer, might +prefer to transfer yourself to her until she again joins us. Sir +Cyril is younger than you are, but if you go, you must necessarily be +under his command seeing that he is captain of the yacht. It is for +you to choose whether you will remain here or go with him." + +"I should like to go with him, sir. He has had a good deal of +experience of the sea, while I have never set foot on board ship till +last year. And after what he did at Lowestoft I should say that any +gentleman would be glad to serve under him." + +"That is the right feeling," Prince Rupert said warmly. "Then get +your things transferred to the yacht. If you join Albemarle's Fleet, +Sir Cyril, you will of course report yourself to him, and say that I +directed you to place yourself under his orders." + +Five minutes later Cyril and his friend were on board the _Fan Fan._ +Scarcely had they reached her, when a gun was fired from Prince +Rupert's ship as a signal, and the ships of the White Squadron shook +out their sails, and, with the wind free, raced down towards the +South Foreland. + +"We are to put into Dover," Cyril said to the boatswain, a +weatherbeaten old sailor. + +"The Lord be praised for that, sir! She is a tight little craft, but +there will be a heavy sea on as soon we are beyond shelter of the +sands, and with these two guns on board of her she will make bad +weather. Besides, in a wind like this, it ain't pleasant being in a +little craft in the middle of a lot of big ones, for if we were not +swamped by the sea, we might very well be run down. We had better +keep her close to the Point, yer honour, and then run along, under +shelter of the cliffs, into Dover. The water will be pretty smooth in +there, though we had best carry as little sail as we can, for the +gusts will come down from above fit to take the mast out of her." + +"I am awfully glad you came with me, Sydney," Cyril said, as he took +his place with his friend near the helmsman, "but I wish the Prince +had put you in command. Of course, it is only a nominal thing, for +the boatswain is really the captain in everything that concerns +making sail and giving orders to the crew. Still, it would have been +much nicer the other way." + +"I don't see that it would, Cyril," Sydney laughed, "for you know as +much more about handling a boat like this than I do, as the boatswain +does than yourself. You have been on board her night and day for more +than a month, and even if you knew nothing about her at all, Prince +Rupert would have been right to choose you as a recognition of your +great services last time. Don't think anything about it. We are +friends, and it does not matter a fig which is the nominal commander. +I was delighted to come, not only to be with you, but because it will +be a very great deal pleasanter being our own masters on board this +pretty little yacht than being officers on board the _Henrietta_ +where we would have been only in the way except when we went into +action." + +As soon as they rounded the Point most of the sail was taken off the +_Fan Fan,_ but even under the small canvas she carried she lay over +until her lee rail was almost under water when the heavy squalls +swooped down on her from the cliffs. The rest of the squadron was +keeping some distance out, presenting a fine sight as the ships lay +over, sending the spray flying high into the air from their bluff +bows, and plunging deeply into the waves. + +"Yes, it is very distinctly better being where we are," Lord Oliphant +said, as he gazed at them. "I was beginning to feel qualmish before +we got under shelter of the Point, and by this time, if I had been on +board the _Henrietta,_ I should have been prostrate, and should have +had I know not how long misery before me." + +A quarter of an hour later they were snugly moored in Dover Harbour. +For twenty-four hours the gale continued; the wind then fell +somewhat, but continued to blow strongly from the same quarter. Two +days later it veered round to the south-west, and shortly afterwards +the English Fleet could be seen coming out past the Point. As soon as +they did so they headed eastward. + +"They are going out to meet the Dutch," Sydney said, as they watched +the ships from the cliffs, "The news must have arrived that their +fleet has put out to sea." + +"Then we may as well be off after them, Sydney; they will sail faster +than we shall in this wind, for it is blowing too strongly for us to +carry much sail." + +They hurried on board. A quarter of an hour later the _Fan Fan_ put +out from the harbour. The change of wind had caused an ugly cross sea +and the yacht made bad weather of it, the waves constantly washing +over her decks, but before they were off Calais she had overtaken +some of the slower sailers of the Fleet. The sea was less violent as +they held on, for they were now, to some extent, sheltered by the +coast. + +In a short time Cyril ran down into the cabin where Sydney was lying +ill. + +"The Admiral has given the signal to anchor, and the leading ships +are already bringing up. We will choose a berth as near the shore as +we can; with our light draught we can lie well inside of the others, +and shall be in comparatively smooth water." + +Before dusk the Fleet was at anchor, with the exception of two or +three of the fastest frigates, which were sent on to endeavour to +obtain some news of the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FIGHT OFF DUNKIRK + + +As soon as the _Fan Fan_ had been brought to an anchor the boat was +lowered, and Cyril was rowed on board the Admiral's ship. + +Albemarle was on the poop, and Cyril made his report to him. + +"Very well, sir," the Duke said, "I dare say I shall be able to make +you of some use. Keep your craft close to us when we sail. I seem to +know your face." + +"I am Sir Cyril Shenstone, my Lord Duke. I had the honour of meeting +you first at the fire in the Savoy, and Prince Rupert afterwards was +good enough to present me to you." + +"Yes, yes, I remember. And it was you who saved the _Henrietta_ from +the fire-ship at Lowestoft. You have begun well indeed, young sir, +and are like to have further opportunities of showing your bravery." + +Cyril bowed, and then, going down the side to his boat, returned to +the _Fan Fan._ She was lying in almost smooth water, and Sydney had +come up on deck again. + +"You heard no news of the Dutch, I suppose, Cyril?" + +"No; I asked a young officer as I left the ship, and he said that, so +far as he knew, nothing had been heard of them, but news had come in, +before the Admiral sailed from the Downs, that everything was ready +for sea, and that orders were expected every hour for them to put +out." + +"It is rather to be hoped that they won't put out for another two +days," Sydney said. "That will give the Prince time to rejoin with +his squadron. The wind is favourable now for his return, and I should +think, as soon as they hear in London that the Dutch are on the point +of putting out, and Albemarle has sailed, they will send him orders +to join us at once. We have only about sixty sail, while they say +that the Dutch have over ninety, which is too heavy odds against us +to be pleasant." + +"I should think the Duke will not fight till the Prince comes up." + +"I don't think he will wait for him if he finds the Dutch near. All +say that he is over-confident, and apt to despise the Dutch too much. +Anyhow, he is as brave as a lion, and, though he might not attack +unless the Dutch begin it, I feel sure he will not run away from +them." + +The next morning early, the _Bristol_ frigate was seen returning +from the east. She had to beat her way back in the teeth of the wind, +but, when still some miles away, a puff of white smoke was seen to +dart out from her side, and presently the boom of a heavy gun was +heard. Again and again she fired, and the signal was understood to be +a notification that she had seen the Dutch. The signal for the +captains of the men-of-war to come on board was at once run up to the +mast-head of the flagship, followed by another for the Fleet to be +prepared to weigh anchor. Captain Bacon, of the _Bristol_, went on +board as soon as his ship came up. In a short time the boats were +seen to put off, and as the captains reached their respective ships +the signal to weigh anchor was hoisted. + +This was hailed with a burst of cheering throughout the Fleet, and +all felt that it signified that they would soon meet the Dutch. The +_Fan Fan_ was under sail long before the men-of-war had got up their +heavy anchors, and, sailing out, tacked backwards and forwards until +the Fleet were under sail, when Cyril told the boatswain to place her +within a few cables' length of the flagship on her weather quarter. +After two hours' sail the Dutch Fleet were made out, anchored off +Dunkirk. The Blue Squadron, under Sir William Berkley, led the way, +the Red Squadron, under the Duke, following. + +"I will put a man in the chains with the lead," the boatswain said to +Cyril. "There are very bad sands off Dunkirk, and though we might get +over them in safety, the big ships would take ground, and if they did +so we should be in a bad plight indeed." + +"In that case, we had best slack out the sheet a little, and take up +our post on the weather bow of the Admiral, so that we can signal to +him if we find water failing." + +The topsail was hoisted, and the _Fan Fan,_ which was a very fast +craft in comparatively smooth water, ran past the Admiral's flagship. + +"Shall I order him back, your Grace?" the Captain asked angrily. + +Albemarle looked at the _Fan Fan_ attentively. + +"They have got a man sounding," he said. "It is a wise precaution. +The young fellow in command knows what he is doing. We ought to have +been taking the same care. See! he is taking down his topsail again. +Set an officer to watch the yacht, and if they signal, go about at +once." + +The soundings continued for a short time at six fathoms, when +suddenly the man at the lead called out sharply,-- + +"Three fathoms!" + +Cyril ran to the flagstaff, and as the next cry came--"Two +fathoms!"--hauled down the flag and stood waving his cap, while the +boatswain, who had gone to the tiller, at once pushed it over to +starboard, and brought the yacht up into the wind. Cyril heard orders +shouted on board the flagship, and saw her stern sweeping round. A +moment later her sails were aback, but the men, who already clustered +round the guns, were not quick enough in hauling the yards across, +and, to his dismay, he saw the main topmast bend, and then go over +the side with a crash. All was confusion on board, and for a time it +seemed as if the other topmast would also go. + +"Run her alongside within hailing distance," Cyril said to the +boatswain. "They will want to question us." + +As they came alongside the flagship the Duke himself leant over the +side. + +"What water had you when you came about, sir?" + +"We went suddenly from six fathoms to three, your Grace," Cyril +shouted, "and a moment after we found but two." + +"Very well, sir," the Duke called back. "In that case you have +certainly saved our ship. I thought perhaps that you had been +over-hasty, and had thus cost us our topmast, but I see it was not +so, and thank you. Our pilot assured us there was plenty of water on +the course we were taking." + +The ships of the Red Squadron had all changed their course on seeing +the flagship come about so suddenly, and considerable delay and +confusion was caused before they again formed in order, and, in +obedience to the Duke's signal, followed in support of the Blue +Squadron. This had already dashed into the midst of the Dutch Fleet, +who were themselves in some confusion; for, so sudden had been the +attack, that they had been forced to cut their cables, having no time +to get up their anchors. + +The British ships poured in their broadsides as they approached, +while the Dutch opened a tremendous cannonade. Besides their great +inferiority in numbers, the British were under a serious +disadvantage. They had the weather gauge, and the wind was so strong +that it heeled them over, so that they were unable to open their +lower ports, and were therefore deprived of the use of their heaviest +guns. + +Four of the ships of the Red Squadron remained by the flagship, to +protect her if attacked, and to keep off fire-ships, while her crew +laboured to get up another topmast. More than three hours were +occupied in this operation, but so busily did the rest of the Fleet +keep the Dutch at work that they were unable to detach sufficient +ships to attack her. + +As soon as the topmast was in place and the sails hoisted, the +flagship and her consorts hastened to join their hard-pressed +comrades. + +The fight was indeed a desperate one. Sir William Berkley and his +ship, the _Swiftsure,_ a second-rate, was taken, as was the +_Essex,_ a third-rate. + +The _Henry,_ commanded by Sir John Harman, was surrounded by foes. +Her sails and rigging were shot to pieces, so she was completely +disabled, and the Dutch Admiral, Cornelius Evertz, summoned Sir John +Harman to surrender. + +"It has not come to that yet," Sir John shouted back, and continued +to pour such heavy broadsides into the Dutch that several of their +ships were greatly damaged, and Evertz himself killed. + +The Dutch captains drew off their vessels, and launched three +fire-ships at the _Henry._ The first one, coming up on her starboard +quarter, grappled with her. The dense volumes of smoke rising from +her prevented the sailors from discovering where the grapnels were +fixed, and the flames were spreading to her when her boatswain +gallantly leapt on board the fire-ship, and, by the light of its +flames, discovered the grapnels and threw them overboard, and +succeeded in regaining his ship. + +A moment later, the second fire-ship came up on the port side, and so +great a body of flames swept across the _Henry_ that her chaplain +and fifty men sprang overboard. Sir John, however, drew his sword, +and threatened to cut down the first man who refused to obey orders, +and the rest of the crew, setting manfully to work, succeeded in +extinguishing the flames, and in getting free of the fire-ship. The +halliards of the main yard were, however, burnt through, and the spar +fell, striking Sir John Harman to the deck and breaking his leg. + +The third fire-ship was received with the fire of four cannon loaded +with chain shot. These brought her mast down, and she drifted by, +clear of the _Henry,_ which was brought safely into Harwich. + +The fight continued the whole day, and did not terminate until ten +o'clock in the evening. The night was spent in repairing damages, and +in the morning the English recommenced the battle. It was again +obstinately contested. Admiral Van Tromp threw himself into the midst +of the British line, and suffered so heavily that he was only saved +by the arrival of Admiral de Ruyter. He, in his turn, was in a most +perilous position, and his ship disabled, when fresh reinforcements +arrived. And so the battle raged, until, in the afternoon, as if by +mutual consent, the Fleets drew off from each other, and the battle +ceased. The fighting had been extraordinarily obstinate and +determined on both sides, many ships had been sunk, several burnt, +and some captured. The sea was dotted with wreckage, masts, and +spars, fragments of boats and _debris_ of all kinds. Both fleets +presented a pitiable appearance; the hulls, but forty-eight hours ago +so trim and smooth, were splintered and jagged, port-holes were +knocked into one, bulwarks carried away, and stern galleries gone. +The sails were riddled with shot-holes, many of the ships had lost +one or more masts, while the light spars had been, in most cases, +carried away, and many of the yards had come down owing to the +destruction of the running gear. + +In so tremendous a conflict the little _Fan Fan_ could bear but a +small part. Cyril and Lord Oliphant agreed, at the commencement of +the first day's fight, that it would be useless for them to attempt +to fire their two little guns, but that their efforts should be +entirely directed against the enemy's fire-ships. During each day's +battle, then, they hovered round the flagship, getting out of the way +whenever she was engaged, as she often was, on both broadsides, and +although once or twice struck by stray shots, the _Fan Fan_ received +no serious damage. In this encounter of giants, the little yacht was +entirely overlooked, and none of the great ships wasted a shot upon +her. Two or three times each day, when the Admiral's ship had beaten +off her foes, a fire-ship directed its course against her. Then came +the _Fan Fan's_ turn for action. Under the pressure of her twelve +oars she sped towards the fire-ship, and on reaching her a grapnel +was thrown over the end of the bowsprit, and by the efforts of the +rowers her course was changed, so that she swept harmlessly past the +flagship. + +Twice when the vessels were coming down before the wind at a rate of +speed that rendered it evident that the efforts of the men at the +oars would be insufficient to turn her course, the _Fan Fan_ was +steered alongside, grapnels were thrown, and, headed by Lord Oliphant +and Cyril, the crew sprang on board, cut down or drove overboard the +few men who were in charge of her. Then, taking the helm and trimming +the sails, they directed her against one of the Dutch men-of-war, +threw the grapnels on board, lighted the train, leapt back into the +_Fan Fan_, rowed away, and took up their place near the Admiral, the +little craft being greeted with hearty cheers by the whole ship's +company. + +The afternoon was spent in repairing damages as far as practicable, +but even the Duke saw it was impossible to continue the fight. The +Dutch had received a reinforcement while the fighting was going on +that morning, and although the English had inflicted terrible damage +upon the Dutch Fleet, their own loss in ships was greater than that +which they had caused their adversaries. A considerable portion of +their vessels were not in a condition to renew the battle, and the +carpenters had hard work to save them from sinking outright. +Albemarle himself embarked on the _Fan Fan_, and sailed from ship to +ship, ascertaining the condition of each, and the losses its crew had +suffered. As soon as night fell, the vessels most disabled were +ordered to sail for England as they best could. The crew of three +which were totally dismasted and could hardly be kept afloat, were +taken out and divided between the twenty-eight vessels which alone +remained in a condition to renew the fight. + +These three battered hulks were, early the next morning, set on fire, +and the rest of the Fleet, in good order and prepared to give battle, +followed their companions that had sailed on the previous evening. +The Dutch followed, but at a distance, thinking to repair their +damages still farther before they again engaged. In the afternoon the +sails of a squadron were seen ahead, and a loud cheer ran from ship +to ship, for all knew that this was Prince Rupert coming up with the +White Squadron. A serious loss, however, occurred a few minutes +afterwards. The _Royal Prince_, the largest and most powerful vessel +in the Fleet, which was somewhat in rear of the line, struck on the +sands. The tide being with them and the wind light, the rest of the +Fleet tried in vain to return to her assistance, and as the Dutch +Fleet were fast coming up, and some of the fire-ships making for the +_Royal Prince_, they were forced to give up the attempt to succour +her, and Sir George Ayscue, her captain, was obliged to haul down his +flag and surrender. + +As soon as the White Squadron joined the remnant of the Fleet the +whole advanced against the Dutch, drums beating and trumpets +sounding, and twice made their way through the enemy's line. But it +was now growing dark, and the third day's battle came to an end. The +next morning it was seen that the Dutch, although considerably +stronger than the English, were almost out of sight. The latter at +once hoisted sail and pursued, and, at eight o'clock, came up with +them. + +The Dutch finding the combat inevitable, the terrible fight was +renewed, and raged, without intermission, until seven in the evening. +Five times the British passed through the line of the Dutch. On both +sides many ships fell out of the fighting line wholly disabled. +Several were sunk, and some on both sides forced to surrender, being +so battered as to be unable to withdraw from the struggle. Prince +Rupert's ship was wholly disabled, and that of Albemarle almost as +severely damaged, and the battle, like those of the preceding days, +ended without any decided advantage on either side. Both nations +claimed the victory, but equally without reason. The Dutch historians +compute our loss at sixteen men-of-war, of which ten were sunk and +six taken, while we admitted only a loss of nine ships, and claimed +that the Dutch lost fifteen men-of-war. Both parties acknowledged +that it was the most terrible battle fought in this, or any other +modern war. + +De Witte, who at that time was at the head of the Dutch Republic, and +who was a bitter enemy of the English, owned, some time afterwards, +to Sir William Temple, "that the English got more glory to their +nation through the invincible courage of their seamen during those +engagements than by the two victories of this war, and that he was +sure that his own fleet could not have been brought on to fight the +fifth day, after the disadvantages of the fourth, and he believed +that no other nation was capable of it but the English." + +Cyril took no part in the last day's engagement, for Prince Rupert, +when the _Fan Fan_ came near him on his arrival on the previous +evening, returned his salute from the poop, and shouted to him that +on no account was he to adventure into the fight with the _Fan Fan_. + +On the morning after the battle ended, Lord Oliphant and Cyril rowed +on board Prince Rupert's ship, where every unwounded man was hard at +work getting up a jury-mast or patching up the holes in the hull. + +"Well, Sir Cyril, I see that you have been getting my yacht knocked +about," he said, as they came up to him. + +"There is not much damage done, sir. She has but two shot-holes in +her hull." + +"And my new mainsail spoiled. Do you know, sir, that I got a severe +rating from the Duke yesterday evening, on your account?" + +Cyril looked surprised. + +"I trust, sir, that I have not in any way disobeyed orders?" + +"No, it was not that. He asked after the _Fan Fan_, and said that he +had seen nothing of her during the day's fighting, and I said I had +strictly ordered you not to come into the battle. He replied, 'Then +you did wrong, Prince, for that little yacht of yours did yeomen's +service during the first two days' fighting. I told Sir Cyril to keep +her near me, thinking that she would be useful in carrying orders, +and during those two days she kept close to us, save when we were +surrounded by the enemy. Five times in those three days did she avert +fire-ships from us. We were so damaged that we could sail but slowly, +and, thinking us altogether unmanageable, the Dutch launched their +fire-ships. The _Fan Fan_ rowed to meet them. Three of them were +diverted from their course by a rope being thrown over the bowsprit, +and the crew rowing so as to turn her head. On the second day there +was more wind, and the fire-ships could have held on their course in +spite of the efforts of the men on board the _Fan Fan_. Twice during +the day the little boat was boldly laid alongside them, while the +crew boarded and captured them, and then, directing them towards the +Dutch ships, grappled and set them on fire. One of the Dutchmen was +burned, the other managed to throw off the grapnels. It was all done +under our eyes, and five times in the two days did my crew cheer your +little yacht as she came alongside. So you see, Prince, by ordering +her out of the fight you deprived us of the assistance of as boldly +handled a little craft as ever sailed.' + +"'I am quite proud of my little yacht, gentlemen, and I thank you for +having given her so good a christening under fire. But I must stay no +longer talking. Here is the despatch I have written of my share of +the engagement. You, Sir Cyril, will deliver this. You will now row +to the Duke's ship, and he will give you his despatches, which you, +Lord Oliphant, will deliver. I need not say that you are to make all +haste to the Thames. We have no ship to spare except the _Fan Fan_, +for we must keep the few that are still able to manoeuvre, in case +the Dutch should come out again before we have got the crippled ones +in a state to make sail. '" + +Taking leave of the Prince, they were at once rowed to the Duke's +flagship. They had a short interview with the Admiral, who praised +them highly for the service they had rendered. + +"You will have to tell the story of the fighting," he said, "for the +Prince and myself have written but few lines; we have too many +matters on our minds to do scribe's work. They will have heard, ere +now, of the first two days' fighting, for some of the ships that were +sent back will have arrived at Harwich before this. By to-morrow +morning I hope to have the Fleet so far refitted as to be able to +follow you." + +Five minutes later, the _Fan Fan_, with every stitch of sail set, +was on her way to the Thames. As a brisk wind was blowing, they +arrived in London twenty-four hours later, and at once proceeded to +the Admiralty, the despatches being addressed to the Duke of York. +They were immediately ushered in to him. Without a word he seized the +despatches, tore them open, and ran his eye down them. + +"God be praised!" he exclaimed, when he finished them. "We had feared +even worse intelligence, and have been in a terrible state of anxiety +since yesterday, when we heard from Harwich that one of the ships had +come in with the news that more than half the Fleet was crippled or +destroyed, and that twenty-eight only remained capable of continuing +the battle. The only hope was that the White Squadron might arrive in +time, and it seems that it has done so. The account of our losses is +indeed a terrible one, but at least we have suffered no defeat, and +as the Dutch have retreated, they must have suffered well-nigh as +much as we have done. Come along with me at once, gentlemen; I must +go to the King to inform him of this great news, which is vastly +beyond what we could have hoped for. The Duke, in his despatch, tells +me that the bearers of it, Lord Oliphant and Sir Cyril Shenstone, +have done very great service, having, in Prince Rupert's little +yacht, saved his flagship no less than five times from the attacks of +the Dutch fire-ships." + +The Duke had ordered his carriage to be in readiness as soon as he +learnt that the bearers of despatches from the Fleet had arrived. It +was already at the door, and, taking his seat in it, with Lord +Oliphant and Cyril opposite to him, he was driven to the Palace, +learning by the way such details as they could give him of the last +two days' fighting. He led them at once to the King's dressing-room. +Charles was already attired, for he had passed a sleepless night, and +had risen early. + +"What news, James?" he asked eagerly. + +"Good news, brother. After two more days' fighting--and terrible +fighting, on both sides--the Dutch Fleet has returned to its ports." + +"A victory!" the King exclaimed, in delight. + +"A dearly-bought one with the lives of so many brave men, but a +victory nevertheless. Here are the despatches from Albemarle and +Rupert. They have been brought by these gentlemen, with whom you are +already acquainted, in Rupert's yacht. Albemarle speaks very highly +of their conduct." + +The King took the despatches, and read them eagerly. + +"It has indeed been a dearly-bought victory," he said, "but it is +marvellous indeed how our captains and men bore themselves. Never +have they shown greater courage and endurance. Well may Monk say +that, after four days of incessant fighting and four nights spent in +the labour of repairing damages, the strength of all has well-nigh +come to an end, and that he himself can write but a few lines to tell +me of what has happened, leaving all details for further occasion. I +thank you both, gentlemen, for the speed with which you have brought +me this welcome news, and for the services of which the Duke of +Albemarle speaks so warmly. This is the second time, Sir Cyril, that +my admirals have had occasion to speak of great and honourable +service rendered by you. Lord Oliphant, the Earl, your father, will +have reason to be proud when he hears you so highly praised. Now, +gentlemen, tell me more fully than is done in these despatches as to +the incidents of the fighting. I have heard something of what took +place in the first two days from an officer who posted up from +Harwich yesterday." + +Lord Oliphant related the events of the first two days, and then went +on. + +"Of the last two I can say less, Your Majesty, for we took no part +in, having Prince Rupert's orders, given as he came up, that we +should not adventure into the fight. Therefore, we were but +spectators, though we kept on the edge of the fight and, if +opportunity had offered, and we had seen one of our ships too hard +pressed, and threatened by fire-ships, we should have ventured so far +to transgress orders as to bear in and do what we could on her +behalf; but indeed, the smoke was so great that we could see but +little. + +"It was a strange sight, when, on the Prince's arrival, his ships and +those of the Duke's, battered as they were, bore down on the Dutch +line; the drums beating, the trumpets sounding, and the crews +cheering loudly. We saw them disappear into the Dutch line; then the +smoke shut all out from view, and for hours there was but a thick +cloud of smoke and a continuous roar of the guns. Sometimes a vessel +would come out from the curtain of smoke torn and disabled. Sometimes +it was a Dutchman, sometimes one of our own ships. If the latter, we +rowed up to them and did our best with planks and nails to stop the +yawning holes close to the water-line, while the crew knotted ropes +and got up the spars and yards, and then sailed back into the fight. + +"The first day's fighting was comparatively slight, for the Dutch +seemed to be afraid to close with the Duke's ships, and hung behind +at a distance. It was not till the White Squadron came up, and the +Duke turned, with Prince Rupert, and fell upon his pursuers like a +wounded boar upon the dogs, that the battle commenced in earnest; but +the last day it went on for nigh twelve hours without intermission; +and when at last the roar of the guns ceased, and the smoke slowly +cleared off, it was truly a pitiful sight, so torn and disabled were +the ships. + +"As the two fleets separated, drifting apart as it would almost seem, +so few were the sails now set, we rowed up among them, and for hours +were occupied in picking up men clinging to broken spars and +wreckage, for but few of the ships had so much as a single boat left. +We were fortunate enough to save well-nigh a hundred, of whom more +than seventy were our own men, the remainder Dutch. From these last +we learnt that the ships of Van Tromp and Ruyter had both been so +disabled that they had been forced to fall out of battle, and had +been towed away to port. They said that their Admirals Cornelius +Evertz and Van der Hulst had both been killed, while on our side we +learnt that Admiral Sir Christopher Mings had fallen." + +"Did the Dutch Fleet appear to be as much injured as our own?" + +"No, Your Majesty. Judging by the sail set when the battle was over, +theirs must have been in better condition than ours, which is not +surprising, seeing how superior they were in force, and for the most +part bigger ships, and carrying more guns." + +"Then you will have your hands full, James, or they will be ready to +take to sea again before we are. Next time I hope that we shall meet +them with more equal numbers." + +"I will do the best I can, brother," the Duke replied. "Though we +have so many ships sorely disabled there have been but few lost, and +we can supply their places with the vessels that have been building +with all haste. If the Dutch will give us but two months' time I +warrant that we shall be able to meet them in good force." + +As soon as the audience was over, Cyril and his friend returned to +the _Fan Fan_, and after giving the crew a few hours for sleep, +sailed down to Sheerness, where, shortly afterwards, Prince Rupert +arrived with a portion of the Fleet, the rest having been ordered to +Harwich, Portsmouth, and other ports, so that they could be more +speedily refitted. + +Although the work went on almost without intermission day and night, +the repairs were not completed before the news arrived that the Dutch +Fleet had again put to sea. Two days later they arrived off our +coast, where, finding no fleet ready to meet them, they sailed away +to France, where they hoped to be joined by their French allies. + +Two days later, however, our ships began to assemble at the mouth of +the Thames, and on June 24th the whole Fleet was ready to take to +sea. It consisted of eighty men-of-war, large and small, and nineteen +fire-ships. Prince Rupert was in command of the Red Squadron, and the +Duke of Albemarle sailed with him, on board the same ship. Sir Thomas +Allen was Admiral of the White, and Sir Jeremiah Smith of the Blue +Squadron. Cyril remained on board the _Fan Fan_, Lord Oliphant +returning to his duties on board the flagship. Marvels had been +effected by the zeal and energy of the crews and dockyard men. But +three weeks back, the English ships had, for the most part, been +crippled seemingly almost beyond repair, but now, with their holes +patched, with new spars, and in the glory of fresh paint and new +canvas, they made as brave a show as when they had sailed out from +the Downs a month previously. + +They were anchored off the Nore when, late in the evening, the news +came out from Sheerness that a mounted messenger had just ridden in +from Dover, and that the Dutch Fleet had, in the afternoon, passed +the town, and had rounded the South Foreland, steering north. + +Orders were at once issued that the Fleet should sail at daybreak, +and at three o'clock the next morning they were on their way down the +river. At ten o'clock the Dutch Fleet was seen off the North +Foreland. According to their own accounts they numbered eighty-eight +men-of-war, with twenty-five fire-ships, and were also divided into +three squadrons, under De Ruyter, John Evertz, and Van Tromp. + +The engagement began at noon by an attack by the White Squadron upon +that commanded by Evertz. An hour later, Prince Rupert and the Duke, +with the Red Squadron, fell upon De Ruyter, while that of Van Tromp, +which was at some distance from the others, was engaged by Sir +Jeremiah Smith with the Blue Squadron. Sir Thomas Allen completely +defeated his opponents, killing Evertz, his vice- and rear-admirals, +capturing the vice-admiral of Zeeland, who was with him, and burning +a ship of fifty guns. + +The Red Squadron was evenly matched by that of De Ruyter, and each +vessel laid itself alongside an adversary. Although De Ruyter himself +and his vice-admiral, Van Ness, fought obstinately, their ships in +general, commanded, for the most part, by men chosen for their family +influence rather than for either seamanship or courage, behaved but +badly, and all but seven gradually withdrew from the fight, and went +off under all sail; and De Ruyter, finding himself thus deserted, was +forced also to draw off. During this time, Van Tromp, whose squadron +was the strongest of the three Dutch divisions, was so furiously +engaged by the Blue Squadron, which was the weakest of the English +divisions, that he was unable to come to the assistance of his +consorts; when, however, he saw the defeat of the rest of the Dutch +Fleet, he, too, was obliged to draw off, lest he should have the +whole of the English down upon him, and was able the more easily to +do so as darkness was closing in when the battle ended. + +The Dutch continued their retreat during the night, followed at a +distance by the Red Squadron, which was, next morning, on the point +of overtaking them, when the Dutch sought refuge by steering into the +shallows, which their light draught enabled them to cross, while the +deeper English ships were unable to follow. Great was the wrath and +disappointment of the English when they saw themselves thus baulked +of reaping the full benefit of the victory. Prince Rupert shouted to +Cyril, who, in the _Fan Fan_, had taken but small share in the +engagement, as the fire-ships had not played any conspicuous part in +it. + +"Sir Cyril, we can go no farther, but do you pursue De Ruyter and +show him in what contempt we hold him." + +Cyril lifted his hat to show that he heard and understood the order. +Then he ordered his men to get out their oars, for the wind was very +light, and, amidst loud cheering, mingled with laughter, from the +crews of the vessels that were near enough to hear Prince Rupert's +order, the _Fan Fan_ rowed out from the English line in pursuit of +the Dutch. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +LONDON IN FLAMES + + +The sailors laughed and joked as they rowed away from the Fleet, but +the old boatswain shook his head. + +"We shall have to be careful, Sir Cyril," he said. "It is like a +small cur barking at the heels of a bull--it is good fun enough for a +bit, but when the bull turns, perchance the dog will find himself +thrown high in the air." + +Cyril nodded. He himself considered Prince Rupert's order to be +beyond all reason, and given only in the heat of his anger at De +Ruyter having thus escaped him, and felt that it was very likely to +cost the lives of all on board the _Fan Fan_. However, there was +nothing to do but to carry it out. It seemed to him that the +boatswain's simile was a very apt one, and that, although the +spectacle of the _Fan Fan_ worrying the great Dutch battle-ship +might be an amusing one to the English spectators, it was likely to +be a very serious adventure for her. + +De Ruyter's ship, which was in the rear of all the other Dutch +vessels, was but a mile distant when the _Fan Fan_ started, and as +the wind was so light that it scarce filled her sails, the yacht +approached her rapidly. + +"We are within half a mile now, your honour," the boatswain said. "I +should say we had better go no nearer if we don't want to be blown +out of the water." + +"Yes; I think we may as well stop rowing now, and get the guns to +work. There are only those two cannon in her stern ports which can +touch us here. She will scarcely come up in the wind to give us a +broadside. She is moving so slowly through the water that it would +take her a long time to come round, and De Ruyter would feel ashamed +to bring his great flag-ship round to crush such a tiny foe." + +The boatswain went forward to the guns, round which the men, after +laying in their oars, clustered in great glee. + +"Now," he said, "you have got to make those two guns in the stern +your mark. Try and send your shots through the port-holes. It will be +a waste to fire them at the hull, for the balls would not penetrate +the thick timber that she is built of. Remember, the straighter you +aim the more chance there is that the Dutch won't hit us. Men don't +stop to aim very straight when they are expecting a shot among them +every second. We will fire alternately, and one gun is not to fire +until the other is loaded again. I will lay the first gun myself." + +It was a good shot, and the crew cheered as they saw the splinters +fly at the edge of the port-hole. Shot after shot was fired with +varying success. + +The Dutch made no reply, and seemed to ignore the presence of their +tiny foe. The crew were, for the most part, busy aloft repairing +damages, and after half an hour's firing, without eliciting a reply, +the boatswain went aft to Cyril, and suggested that they should now +aim at the spars. + +"A lucky shot might do a good deal of damage, sir," he said. "The +weather is fine enough at present, but there is no saying when a +change may come, and if we could weaken one of the main spars it +might be the means of her being blown ashore, should the wind spring +up in the right direction." + +Cyril assented, and fire was now directed at the masts. A few ropes +were cut away, but no serious damage was effected until a shot struck +one of the halliard blocks of the spanker, and the sail at once ran +down. + +"It has taken a big bit out of the mast, too," the boatswain called +exultingly to Cyril. "I think that will rouse the Dutchmen up." + +A minute later it was evident that the shot had at least had that +effect. Two puffs of smoke spirted out from the stern of the Dutch +flagship, and, simultaneously with the roar of the guns, came the hum +of two heavy shot flying overhead. Delighted at having excited the +Dutchmen's wrath at last, the crew of the _Fan Fan_ took off their +hats and gave a loud cheer, and then, more earnestly than before, +settled down to work; their guns aimed now, as at first, at the +port-holes. Four or five shots were discharged from each of the +little guns before the Dutch were ready again. Then came the +thundering reports. The _Fan Fan's_ topmast was carried away by one +of the shot, but the other went wide. Two or three men were told to +cut away the wreckage, and the rest continued their fire. One of the +next shots of the enemy was better directed. It struck the deck close +to the foot of the mast, committed great havoc in Cyril's cabin, and +passed out through the stern below the water-line. Cyril leapt down +the companion as he heard the crash, shouting to the boatswain to +follow him. The water was coming through the hole in a great jet. +Cyril seized a pillow and--stuffed it into the shot-hole, being +drenched from head to foot in the operation. One of the sailors had +followed the boatswain, and Cyril called him to his assistance. + +"Get out the oars at once," he said to the boatswain. "Another shot +like this and she will go down. Get a piece cut off a spar and make a +plug. There is no holding this pillow in its place, and the water +comes in fast still." + +The sailor took Cyril's post while he ran up on deck and assisted in +cutting the plug; this was roughly shaped to the size of the hole, +and then driven in. It stopped the rush of the water, but a good deal +still leaked through. + +By the time this was done the _Fan Fan_ had considerably increased +her distance from De Ruyter. Four or five more shots were fired from +the Dutch ship. The last of these struck the mast ten feet above the +deck, bringing it down with a crash. Fortunately, none of the crew +were hurt, and, dropping the oars, they hauled the mast alongside, +cut the sail from its fastening to the hoops and gaff, and then +severed the shrouds and allowed the mast to drift away, while they +again settled themselves to the oars. Although every man rowed his +hardest, the _Fan Fan_ was half full of water before she reached the +Fleet, which was two miles astern of them when they first began to +row. + +"Well done, _Fan Fan_!" Prince Rupert shouted, as the little craft +came alongside. "Have you suffered any damage besides your spars? I +see you are low in the water." + +"We were shot through our stern, sir; we put in a plug, but the water +comes in still. Will you send a carpenter on board? For I don't think +she will float many minutes longer unless we get the hole better +stopped." + +The Prince gave some orders to an officer standing by him. The latter +called two or three sailors and bade them bring some short lengths of +thick hawser, while a strong party were set to reeve tackle to the +mainyard. As soon as the hawsers, each thirty feet in length, were +brought, they were dropped on to the deck of the _Fan Fan_, and the +officer told the crew to pass them under her, one near each end, and +to knot the hawsers. By the time this was done, two strong tackles +were lowered and fixed to the hawsers, and the crew ordered to come +up on to the ship. The tackles were then manned and hauled on by +strong parties, and the _Fan Fan_ was gradually raised. The +boatswain went below again and knocked out the plug, and, as the +little yacht was hoisted up, the water ran out of it. As soon as the +hole was above the water-level, the tackle at the bow was gradually +slackened off until she lay with her fore-part in the water, which +came some distance up her deck. The carpenter then slung himself over +the stern, and nailed, first a piece of tarred canvas, and then a +square of plank, over the hole. Then the stern tackle was eased off, +and the _Fan Fan_ floated on a level keel. Her crew went down to her +again, and, in half an hour, pumped her free of water. + +By this time, the results of the victory were known. On the English +side, the _Resolution_ was the only ship lost, she having been burnt +by a Dutch fire-ship; three English captains, and about three hundred +men were killed. On the other hand, the Dutch lost twenty ships, four +admirals, a great many of their captains, and some four thousand men. +It was, indeed, the greatest and most complete victory gained +throughout the war. Many of the British ships had suffered a good +deal, that which carried the Duke's flag most of all, for it had been +so battered in the fight with De Ruyter that the Duke and Prince +Rupert had been obliged to leave her, and to hoist their flags upon +another man-of-war. + +The next morning the Fleet sailed to Schonevelt, which was the usual +_rendezvous_ of the Dutch Fleet, and there remained some time, +altogether undisturbed by the enemy. The _Fan Fan_ was here +thoroughly repaired. + +On July 29th they sailed for Ulic, where they arrived on August 7th, +the wind being contrary. + +Learning that there was a large fleet of merchantmen lying between +the islands of Ulic and Schelling, guarded by but two men-of-war, and +that there were rich magazines of goods on these islands, it was +determined to attack them. Four small frigates, of a slight draught +of water, and five fire-ships, were selected for the attack, together +with the boats of the Fleet, manned by nine hundred men. + +On the evening of the 8th, Cyril was ordered to go, in the _Fan +Fan_, to reconnoitre the position of the Dutch. He did not sail +until after nightfall, and, on reaching the passage between the +islands, he lowered his sails, got out his oars, and drifted with the +tide silently down through the Dutch merchant fleet, where no watch +seemed to be kept, and in the morning carried the news to Sir Robert +Holmes, the commander of the expedition, who had anchored a league +from the entrance. + +Cyril had sounded the passage as he went through, and it was found +that two of the frigates could not enter it. These were left at the +anchorage, and, on arriving at the mouth of the harbour, the +_Tiger_, Sir Robert Holmes's flagship, was also obliged to anchor, +and he came on board the _Fan Fan_, on which he hoisted his flag. +The captains of the other ships came on board, and it was arranged +that the _Pembroke_, which had but a small draught of water, should +enter at once with the five fire-ships. + +The attack was completely successful. Two of the fire-ships grappled +with the men-of-war and burnt them, while three great merchantmen +were destroyed by the others. Then the boats dashed into the fleet, +and, with the exception of four or five merchantmen and four +privateers, who took refuge in a creek, defended by a battery, the +whole of the hundred and seventy merchantmen, the smallest of which +was not less than 200 tons burden, and all heavily laden, were +burned. + +The next day, Sir Robert Holmes landed eleven companies of troops on +the Island of Schonevelt and burnt Bandaris, its principal town, with +its magazines and store-houses, causing a loss to the Dutch, +according to their own admission, of six million guilders. This, and +the loss of the great Fleet, inflicted a very heavy blow upon the +commerce of Holland. The _Fan Fan_ had been hit again by a shot from +one of the batteries, and, on her rejoining the Fleet, Prince Rupert +determined to send her to England so that she could be thoroughly +repaired and fitted out again. Cyril's orders were to take her to +Chatham, and to hand her over to the dockyard authorities. + +"I do not think the Dutch will come out and fight us again this +autumn, Sir Cyril, so you can take your ease in London as it pleases +you. We are now halfway through August, and it will probably be at +least a month after your arrival before the _Fan Fan_ is fit for sea +again. It may be a good deal longer than that, for they are busy upon +the repairs of the ships sent home after the battle, and will hardly +take any hands off these to put on to the _Fan Fan_. In October we +shall all be coming home again, so that, until next spring, it is +hardly likely that there will be aught doing." + +Cyril accordingly returned to London. The wind was contrary, and it +was not until the last day of August that he dropped anchor in the +Medway. After spending a night at Chatham, he posted up to London the +next morning, and, finding convenient chambers in the Savoy, he +installed himself there, and then proceeded to the house of the Earl +of Wisbech, to whom he was the bearer of a letter from his son. +Finding that the Earl and his family were down at his place near +Sevenoaks, he went into the City, and spent the evening at Captain +Dave's, having ordered his servant to pack a small valise, and bring +it with the two horses in the morning. He had gone to bed but an hour +when he was awoke by John Wilkes knocking at his door. + +"There is a great fire burning not far off, Sir Cyril. A man who ran +past told me it was in Pudding Lane, at the top of Fish Street. The +Captain is getting up, and is going out to see it; for, with such dry +weather as we have been having, there is no saying how far it may +go." + +Cyril sprang out of his bed and dressed. Captain Dave, accustomed to +slip on his clothes in a hurry, was waiting for him, and, with John +Wilkes, they sallied out. There was a broad glare of light in the +sky, and the bells of many of the churches were ringing out the +fire-alarm. As they passed, many people put their heads out from +windows and asked where the fire was. In five minutes they approached +the scene. A dozen houses were blazing fiercely, while, from those +near, the inhabitants were busily removing their valuables. The Fire +Companies, with their buckets, were already at work, and lines of men +were formed down to the river and were passing along buckets from +hand to hand. Well-nigh half the water was spilt, however, before it +arrived at the fire, and, in the face of such a body of flame, it +seemed to make no impression whatever. + +"They might as well attempt to pump out a leaky ship with a child's +squirt," the Captain said. "The fire will burn itself out, and we +must pray heaven that the wind drops altogether; 'tis not strong, but +it will suffice to carry the flames across these narrow streets. 'Tis +lucky that it is from the east, so there is little fear that it will +travel in our direction." + +They learnt that the fire had begun in the house of Faryner, the +King's baker, though none knew how it had got alight. It was not long +before the flames leapt across the lane, five or six houses catching +fire almost at the same moment. A cry of dismay broke from the crowd, +and the fright of the neighbours increased. Half-clad women hurried +from their houses, carrying their babes, and dragging their younger +children out. Men staggered along with trunks of clothing and +valuables. Many wrung their hands helplessly, while the City Watch +guarded the streets leading to Pudding Lane, so as to prevent thieves +and vagabonds from taking advantage of the confusion to plunder. + +With great rapidity the flames spread from house to house. A portion +of Fish Street was already invaded, and the Church of St. Magnus in +danger. The fears of the people increased in proportion to the +advance of the conflagration. The whole neighbourhood was now +alarmed, and, in all the streets round, people were beginning to +remove their goods. The river seemed to be regarded by all as the +safest place of refuge. The boats from the various landing-places had +already come up, and these were doing a thriving trade by taking the +frightened people, with what goods they carried, to lighters and +ships moored in the river. + +The lines of men passing buckets had long since broken up, it being +too evident that their efforts were not of the slightest avail. The +wind had, in the last two hours, rapidly increased in strength, and +was carrying the burning embers far and wide. + +Cyril and his companions had, after satisfying their first curiosity, +set to work to assist the fugitives, by aiding them to carry down +their goods to the waterside. Cyril was now between eighteen and +nineteen, and had grown into a powerful, young fellow, having, since +he recovered from the Plague, grown fast and widened out greatly. He +was able to shoulder heavy trunks, and to carry them down without +difficulty. + +By six o'clock, however, all were exhausted by their labours, and +Captain Dave's proposal, that they should go back and get breakfast +and have a wash, was at once agreed to. + +At this time the greater part of Fish Street was in flames, the +Church of St. Magnus had fallen, and the flames had spread to many of +the streets and alleys running west. The houses on the Bridge were +blazing. + +"Well, father, what is the news?" Nellie exclaimed, as they entered. +"What have you been doing? You are all blackened, like the men who +carry out the coals from the ships. I never saw such figures." + +"We have been helping people to carry their goods down to the water, +Nellie. The news is bad. The fire is a terrible one." + +"That we can see, father. Mother and I were at the window for hours +after you left, and the whole sky seemed ablaze. Do you think that +there is any danger of its coming here?" + +"The wind is taking the flames the other way, Nellie, but in spite of +that I think that there is danger. The heat is so great that the +houses catch on this side, and we saw, as we came back, that it had +travelled eastwards. Truly, I believe that if the wind keeps on as it +is at present, the whole City will be destroyed. However, we will +have a wash first and then some breakfast, of which we are sorely in +need. Then we can talk over what had best be done." + +Little was said during breakfast. The apprentices had already been +out, and so excited were they at the scenes they had witnessed that +they had difficulty in preserving their usual quiet and submissive +demeanour. Captain Dave was wearied with his unwonted exertions. Mrs. +Dowsett and Nellie both looked pale and anxious, and Cyril and John +Wilkes were oppressed by the terrible scene of destruction and the +widespread misery they had witnessed. + +When breakfast was over, Captain Dave ordered the apprentices on no +account to leave the premises. They were to put up the shutters at +once, and then to await orders. + +"What do you think we had better do, Cyril?" he said, when the boys +had left the room. + +"I should say that you had certainly better go on board a ship, +Captain Dave. There is time to move now quietly, and to get many +things taken on board, but if there were a swift change of wind the +flames would come down so suddenly that you would have no time to +save anything. Do you know of a captain who would receive you?" + +"Certainly; I know of half a dozen." + +"Then the first thing is to secure a boat before they are all taken +up." + +"I will go down to the stairs at once." + +"Then I should say, John, you had better go off with Captain Dave, +and, as soon as he has arranged with one of the captains, come back +to shore. Let the waterman lie off in the stream, for if the flames +come this way there will be a rush for boats, and people will not +stop to ask to whom they belong. It will be better still to take one +of the apprentices with you, leave him at the stairs till you return, +and then tie up to a ship till we hail him." + +"That will be the best plan," Captain Dave said. "Now, wife, you and +Nellie and the maid had best set to work at once packing up all your +best clothes and such other things as you may think most valuable. We +shall have time, I hope, to make many trips." + +"While you are away, I will go along the street and see whether the +fire is making any way in this direction," Cyril said. "Of course if +it's coming slowly you will have time to take away a great many +things. And we may even hope that it may not come here at all." + +Taking one of the apprentices, Captain Dave and John at once started +for the waterside, while Cyril made his way westward. + +Already, people were bringing down their goods from most of the +houses. Some acted as if they believed that if they took the goods +out of the houses they would be safe, and great piles of articles of +all kinds almost blocked the road. Weeping women and frightened +children sat on these piles as if to guard them. Some stood at their +doors wringing their hands helplessly; others were already starting +eastward laden with bundles and boxes, occasionally looking round as +if to bid farewell to their homes. Many of the men seemed even more +confused and frightened than the women, running hither and thither +without purpose, shouting, gesticulating, and seeming almost +distraught with fear and grief. + +Cyril had not gone far when he saw that the houses on both sides of +the street, at the further end, were already in flames. He was +obliged to advance with great caution, for many people were +recklessly throwing goods of all kinds from the windows, regardless +of whom they might fall upon, and without thought of how they were to +be carried away. He went on until close to the fire, and stood for a +time watching. The noise was bewildering. Mingled with the roar of +the flames, the crackling of woodwork, and the heavy crashes that +told of the fall of roofs or walls, was the clang of the alarm-bells, +shouts, cries, and screams. The fire spread steadily, but with none +of the rapidity with which he had seen it fly along from house to +house on the other side of the conflagration. The houses, however, +were largely composed of wood. The balconies generally caught first, +and the fire crept along under the roofs, and sometimes a shower of +tiles, and a burst of flames, showed that it had advanced there, +while the lower portion of the house was still intact. + +"Is it coming, Cyril?" Mrs. Dowsett asked, when he returned. + +"It is coming steadily," he said, "and can be stopped by nothing +short of a miracle. Can I help you in any way?" + +"No," she said; "we have packed as many things as can possibly be +carried. It is well that your things are all at your lodging, Cyril, +and beyond the risk of this danger." + +"It would have mattered little about them," he said. "I could have +replaced them easily enough. That is but a question of money. And +now, in the first place, I will get the trunks and bundles you have +packed downstairs. That will save time." + +Assisted by the apprentice and Nellie, Cyril got all the things +downstairs. + +"How long have we, do you think?" Nellie asked. + +"I should say that in three hours the fire will be here," he said. +"It may be checked a little at the cross lanes; but I fear that three +hours is all we can hope for." + +Just as they had finished taking down the trunks, Captain Dave and +John Wilkes arrived. + +"I have arranged the affair," the former said. "My old friend, Dick +Watson, will take us in his ship; she lies but a hundred yards from +the stairs. Now, get on your mantle and hood, Nellie, and bring your +mother and maid down." + +The three women were soon at the foot of the stairs, and Mrs. +Dowsett's face showed signs of tears; but, though pale, she was quiet +and calm, and the servant, a stout wench, had gained confidence from +her mistress's example. As soon as they were ready, the three men +each shouldered a trunk. The servant and the apprentice carried one +between them. Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter took as many bundles as +they could carry. It was but five minutes' walk down to the stairs. +The boat was lying twenty yards out in the stream, fastened up to a +lighter, with the apprentice and waterman on board. It came at once +alongside, and in five minutes they reached the _Good Venture_. As +soon as the women had ascended the accommodation ladder, some sailors +ran down and helped to carry up the trunks. + +"Empty them all out in the cabin," Captain Dave said to his wife; "we +will take them back with us." + +As soon as he had seen the ladies into the cabin, Captain Watson +called his son Frank, who was his chief mate, and half a dozen of his +men. These carried the boxes, as fast as they were emptied, down into +the boat. + +"We will all go ashore together," he said to Captain Dave. "I was a +fool not to think of it before. We will soon make light work of it." + +As soon as they reached the house, some of the sailors were sent off +with the remaining trunks and bundles, while the others carried +upstairs those they had brought, and quickly emptied into them the +remaining contents of the drawers and linen press. So quickly and +steadily did the work go on, that no less than six trips were made to +the _Good Venture_ in the next three hours, and at the end of that +time almost everything portable had been carried away, including +several pieces of valuable furniture, and a large number of objects +brought home by Captain Dave from his various voyages. The last +journey, indeed, was devoted to saving some of the most valuable +contents of the store. Captain Dave, delighted at having saved so +much, would not have thought of taking more, but Captain Watson would +not hear of this. + +"There is time for one more trip, old friend," he said, "and there +are many things in your store that are worth more than their weight +in silver. I will take my other two hands this time, and, with the +eight men and our five selves, we shall be able to bring a good +load." + +The trunks were therefore this time packed with ship's instruments, +and brass fittings of all kinds, to the full weight that could be +carried. All hands then set to work, and, in a very short time, a +great proportion of the portable goods were carried from the +store-house into an arched cellar beneath it. By the time that they +were ready to start there were but six houses between them and the +fire. + +"I wish we had another three hours before us," Captain Watson said. +"It goes to one's heart to leave all this new rope and sail cloth, +good blocks, and other things, to be burnt." + +"There have been better things than that burnt to-day, Watson. Few +men have saved as much as I have, thanks to your assistance and that +of these stout sailors of yours. Why, the contents of these twelve +boxes are worth as much as the whole of the goods remaining." + +The sailors' loads were so heavy that they had to help each other to +get them upon their shoulders, and the other five were scarcely less +weighted; and, short as was the distance, all had to rest several +times on the way to the stairs, setting their burdens upon +window-sills, or upon boxes scattered in the streets. One of the +ship's boats had, after the first trip, taken the place of the light +wherry, but even this was weighted down to the gunwale when the men +and the goods were all on board. After the first two trips, the +contents of the boxes had been emptied on deck, and by the time the +last arrived the three women had packed away in the empty cabins all +the clothing, linen, and other articles, that had been taken below. +Captain Watson ordered a stiff glass of grog to be given to each of +the sailors, and then went down with the others into the main cabin, +where the steward had already laid the table for a meal, and poured +out five tumblers of wine. + +"I have not had so tough a job since I was before the mast," he said. +"What say you, Captain Dave?" + +"It has been a hard morning's work, indeed, Watson, and, in truth, I +feel fairly spent. But though weary in body I am cheerful in heart. +It seemed to me at breakfast-time that we should save little beyond +what we stood in, and now I have rescued well-nigh everything +valuable that I have. I should have grieved greatly had I lost all +those mementos that it took me nigh thirty years to gather, and those +pieces of furniture that belonged to my father I would not have lost +for any money. Truly, it has been a noble salvage." + +Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie now joined them. They had quite recovered +their spirits, and were delighted at the unexpected rescue of so many +things precious to them, and Captain Watson was overwhelmed by their +thanks for what he had done. + +After the meal was over they sat quietly talking for a time, and then +Cyril proposed that they should row up the river and see what +progress the fire was making above the Bridge. Mrs. Dowsett, however, +was too much fatigued by her sleepless night and the troubles and +emotions of the morning to care about going. Captain Dave said that +he was too stiff to do anything but sit quiet and smoke a pipe, and +that he would superintend the getting of their things on deck a +little ship-shape. Nellie embraced the offer eagerly, and young +Watson, who was a well-built and handsome fellow, with a pleasant +face and manner, said that he would go, and would take a couple of +hands to row. The tide had just turned to run up when they set out. +Cyril asked the first mate to steer, and he sat on one side of him +and Nellie on the other. + +"You will have to mind your oars, lads," Frank Watson said. "The +river is crowded with boats." + +They crossed over to the Southwark side, as it would have been +dangerous to pass under the arches above which the houses were +burning. The flames, however, had not spread right across the bridge, +for the houses were built only over the piers, and the openings at +the arches had checked the flames, and at these points numbers of men +were drawing water in buckets and throwing it over the fronts of the +houses, or passing them, by ropes, to other men on the roofs, which +were kept deluged with water. Hundreds of willing hands were engaged +in the work, for the sight of the tremendous fire on the opposite +bank filled people with terror lest the flames should cross the +bridge and spread to the south side of the river. The warehouses and +wharves on the bank were black with spectators, who looked with +astonishment and awe at the terrible scene of destruction. + +It was not until they passed under the bridge that the full extent of +the conflagration was visible. The fire had made its way some +distance along Thames Street, and had spread far up into the City. +Gracechurch Street and Lombard Street were in flames, and indeed the +fire seemed to have extended a long distance further; but the smoke +was so dense, that it was difficult to make out the precise point +that it had reached. The river was a wonderful sight. It was crowded +with boats and lighters, all piled up with goods, while along the +quays from Dowgate to the Temple, crowds of people were engaged in +placing what goods they had saved on board lighters and other craft. +Many of those in the boats seemed altogether helpless and undecided +as to what had best be done, and drifted along with the tide, but the +best part were making either for the marshes at Lambeth or the fields +at Millbank, there to land their goods, the owners of the boats +refusing to keep them long on board, as they desired to return by the +next tide to fetch away other cargoes, being able to obtain any price +they chose to demand for their services. + +Among the boats were floating goods and wreckage of all kinds, +charred timber that had fallen from the houses on the bridge, and +from the warehouses by the quays, bales of goods, articles of +furniture, bedding, and other matters. At times, a sudden change of +wind drove a dense smoke across the water, flakes of burning embers +and papers causing great confusion among the boats, and threatening +to set the piles of goods on fire. + +At Frank Watson's suggestion, they landed at the Temple, after having +been some two hours on the river. Going up into Fleet Street, they +found a stream of carts and other vehicles proceeding westward, all +piled with furniture and goods, mostly of a valuable kind. The +pavements were well-nigh blocked with people, all journeying in the +same direction, laden with their belongings. With difficulty they +made their way East as far as St. Paul's. The farther end of +Cheapside was already in flames, and they learnt that the fire had +extended as far as Moorfields. It was said that efforts had been made +to pull down houses and so check its progress, but that there was no +order or method, and that no benefit was gained by the work. + +After looking on at the scene for some time, they returned to Fleet +Street. Frank Watson went down with Nellie to the boat, while Cyril +went to his lodgings in the Savoy. Here he found his servant +anxiously awaiting him. + +"I did not bring the horses this morning, sir," he said. "I heard +that there was a great fire, and went on foot as far as I could get, +but, finding that I could not pass, I thought it best to come back +here and await your return." + +"Quite right, Reuben; you could not have got the horses to me unless +you had ridden round the walls and come in at Aldgate, and they would +have been useless had you brought them. The house at which I stayed +last night is already burnt to the ground. You had better stay here +for the present, I think. There is no fear of the fire extending +beyond the City. Should you find that it does so, pack my clothes in +the valises, take the horses down to Sevenoaks, and remain at the +Earl's until you hear from me." + +Having arranged this, Cyril went down to the Savoy stairs, where he +found the boat waiting for him, and then they rowed back to London +Bridge, where, the force of the tide being now abated, they were able +to row through and get to the _Good Venture_. + +They had but little sleep that night. Gradually the fire worked its +way eastward until it was abreast of them. The roaring and crackling +of the flames was prodigious. Here and there the glare was +diversified by columns of a deeper red glow, showing where +warehouses, filled with pitch, tar, and oil, were in flames. The +heavy crashes of falling buildings were almost incessant. +Occasionally they saw a church tower or steeple, that had stood for a +time black against the glowing sky, become suddenly wreathed in +flames, and, after burning for a time, fall with a crash that could +be plainly heard above the general roar. + +"Surely such a fire was never seen before!" Captain Dave said. + +"Not since Rome was burnt, I should think," Cyril replied. + +"How long was that ago, Cyril? I don't remember hearing about it." + +"'Tis fifteen hundred years or so since then, Captain Dave; but the +greater part of the city was destroyed, and Rome was then many times +bigger than London. It burnt for three days." + +"Well, this is bad enough," Captain Watson said. "Even here the heat +is well-nigh too great to face. Frank, you had better call the crew +up and get all the sails off the yards. Were a burning flake to fall +on them we might find it difficult to extinguish them. When they have +done that, let the men get all the buckets filled with water and +ranged on the deck; and it will be as well to get a couple of hands +in the boat and let them chuck water against this side. We shall have +all the paint blistered off before morning." + +So the night passed. Occasionally they went below for a short time, +but they found it impossible to sleep, and were soon up again, and +felt it a relief when the morning began to break. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AFTER THE FIRE + + +Daylight brought little alleviation to the horrors of the scene. The +flames were less vivid, but a dense pall of smoke overhung the sky. +As soon as they had breakfasted, Captain Watson, his son, Captain +Dowsett, Nellie, and Cyril took their places in the boat, and were +rowed up the river. An exclamation burst from them all as they saw +how fast the flames had travelled since the previous evening. + +"St. Paul's is on fire!" Cyril exclaimed. "See! there are flames +bursting through its roof. I think, Captain Watson, if you will put +me ashore at the Temple, I will make my way to Whitehall, and report +myself there. I may be of use." + +"I will do that," Captain Watson said. "Then I will row back to the +ship again. We must leave a couple of hands on board, in case some of +these burning flakes should set anything alight. We will land with +the rest, and do what we can to help these poor women and children." + +"I will stay on board and take command, if you like, Watson," Captain +Dave said. "You ought to have some one there, and I have not +recovered from yesterday's work, and should be of little use ashore." + +"Very well, Dowsett. That will certainly be best; but I think it will +be prudent, before we leave, to run out a kedge with forty or fifty +fathoms of cable towards the middle of the stream, and then veer out +the cable on her anchor so as to let her ride thirty fathoms or so +farther out. We left six men sluicing her side and deck, but it +certainly would be prudent to get her out a bit farther. Even here, +the heat is as much as we can stand." + +As soon as Cyril had landed, he hurried up into Fleet Street. He had +just reached Temple Bar when he saw a party of horsemen making their +way through the carts. A hearty cheer greeted them from the crowd, +who hoped that the presence of the King--for it was Charles who rode +in front--was a sign that vigorous steps were about to be taken to +check the progress of the flames. Beside the King rode the Duke of +Albemarle, and following were a number of other gentlemen and +officers. Cyril made his way through the crowd to the side of the +Duke's horse. + +"Can I be of any possible use, my Lord Duke?" he asked, doffing his +hat. + +"Ah, Sir Cyril, it is you, is it? I have not seen you since you +bearded De Ruyter in the _Fan Fan_. Yes, you can be of use. We have +five hundred sailors and dockyard men behind; they have just arrived +from Chatham, and a thousand more have landed below the Bridge to +fight the flames on that side. Keep by me now, and, when we decide +where to set to work, I will put you under the orders of Captain +Warncliffe, who has charge of them." + +When they reached the bottom of Fleet Street, the fire was halfway +down Ludgate Hill, and it was decided to begin operations along the +bottom of the Fleet Valley. The dockyard men and sailors were brought +up, and following them were some carts laden with kegs of powder. + +"Warncliffe," Lord Albemarle said, as the officer came up at the head +of them, "Sir Cyril Shenstone is anxious to help. You know him by +repute, and you can trust him in any dangerous business. You had +better tell off twenty men under him. You have only to tell him what +you want done, and you can rely upon its being done thoroughly." + +The sailors were soon at work along the line of the Fleet Ditch. All +carried axes, and with these they chopped down the principal beams of +the small houses clustered by the Ditch, and so weakened them that a +small charge of powder easily brought them down. In many places they +met with fierce opposition from the owners, who, still clinging to +the faint hope that something might occur to stop the progress of the +fire before it reached their abodes, raised vain protestations +against the destruction of their houses. All day the men worked +unceasingly, but in vain. Driven by the fierce wind, the flames swept +down the opposite slope, leapt over the space strewn with rubbish and +beams, and began to climb Fleet Street and Holborn Hill and the dense +mass of houses between them. + +The fight was renewed higher up. Beer and bread and cheese were +obtained from the taverns, and served out to the workmen, and these +kept at their task all night. Towards morning the wind had fallen +somewhat. The open spaces of the Temple favoured the defenders; the +houses to east of it were blown up, and, late in the afternoon, the +progress of the flames at this spot was checked. As soon as it was +felt that there was no longer any fear of its further advance here, +the exhausted men, who had, for twenty-four hours, laboured, half +suffocated by the blinding smoke and by the dust made by their own +work, threw themselves down on the grass of the Temple Gardens and +slept. At midnight they were roused by their officers, and proceeded +to assist their comrades, who had been battling with the flames on +the other side of Fleet Street. They found that these too had been +successful; the flames had swept up to Fetter Lane, but the houses on +the west side had been demolished, and although, at one or two +points, the fallen beams caught fire, they were speedily +extinguished. Halfway up Fetter Lane the houses stood on both sides +uninjured, for a large open space round St. Andrew's, Holborn, had +aided the defenders in their efforts to check the flames. North of +Holborn the fire had spread but little, and that only among the +poorer houses in Fleet Valley. + +Ascending the hill, they found that, while the flames had overleapt +the City wall from Ludgate to Newgate in its progress west, the wall +had proved an effective barrier from the sharp corner behind +Christchurch up to Aldersgate and thence up to Cripplegate, which was +the farthest limit reached by the fire to the north. To the east, the +City had fared better. By the river, indeed, the destruction was +complete as far as the Tower. Mark Lane, however, stood, and north of +this the line of destruction swept westward to Leaden Hall, a massive +structure at the entrance to the street that took its name from it, +and proved a bulwark against the flames. From this point, the line of +devastated ground swept round by the eastern end of Throgmorton +Street to the northern end of Basinghall Street. + +Cyril remained with the sailors for two days longer, during which +time they were kept at work beating out the embers of the fire. In +this they were aided by a heavy fall of rain, which put an end to all +fear of the flames springing up again. + +"There can be no need for you to remain longer with us, Sir Cyril," +Captain Warncliffe said, at the end of the second day. "I shall have +pleasure in reporting to the Duke of Albemarle the good services that +you have rendered. Doubtless we shall remain on duty here for some +time, for we may have, for aught I know, to aid in the clearing away +of some of the ruins; but, at any rate, there can be no occasion for +you to stay longer with us." + +Cyril afterwards learnt that the sailors and dockyard men were, on +the following day, sent back to Chatham. The fire had rendered so +great a number of men homeless and without means of subsistence, that +there was an abundant force on hand for the clearing away of ruins. +Great numbers were employed by the authorities, while many of the +merchants and traders engaged parties to clear away the ruins of +their dwellings, in order to get at the cellars below, in which they +had, as soon as the danger from fire was perceived, stowed away the +main bulk of their goods. As soon as he was released from duty, Cyril +made his way to the Tower, and, hiring a boat, was rowed to the _Good +Venture_. + +The shipping presented a singular appearance, their sides being +blistered, and in many places completely stripped of their paint, +while in some cases the spars were scorched, and the sails burnt +away. There was lively satisfaction at his appearance, as he stepped +on to the deck of the _Good Venture_, for, until he did so, he had +been unrecognised, so begrimed with smoke and dust was he. + +"We have been wondering about you," Captain Dave said, as he shook +him by the hand, "but I can scarce say we had become uneasy. We +learnt that a large body of seamen and others were at work blowing up +houses, and as you had gone to offer your services we doubted not +that you were employed with them. Truly you must have been having a +rough time of it, for not only are you dirtier than any scavenger, +but you look utterly worn out and fatigued." + +"It was up-hill work the first twenty-four hours, for we worked +unceasingly, and worked hard, too, I can assure you, and that +well-nigh smothered with smoke and dust. Since then, our work has +been more easy, but no less dirty. In the three days I have not had +twelve hours' sleep altogether." + +"I will get a tub of hot water placed in your cabin," Captain Watson +said, "and should advise you, when you get out from it, to turn into +your bunk at once. No one shall go near you in the morning until you +wake of your own accord." + +Cyril was, however, down to breakfast. + +"Now tell us all about the fire," Nellie said, when they had finished +the meal. + +"I have nothing to tell you, for I know nothing," Cyril replied. "Our +work was simply pulling down and blowing up houses. I had scarce time +so much as to look at the fire. However, as I have since been working +all round its course, I can tell you exactly how far it spread." + +When he brought his story to a conclusion, he said,-- + +"And now, Captain Dave, what are you thinking of doing?" + +"In the first place, I am going ashore to look at the old house. As +soon as I can get men, I shall clear the ground, and begin to rebuild +it. I have enough laid by to start me again. I should be like a fish +out of water with nothing to see to. I have the most valuable part of +my stock still on hand here on deck, and if the cellar has proved +staunch my loss in goods will be small indeed, for the anchors and +chains in the yard will have suffered no damage. But even if the +cellar has caved in, and its contents are destroyed, and if, when I +have rebuilt my house, I find I have not enough left to replenish my +stock, I am sure that I can get credit from the rope- and sail-makers, +and iron-masters with whom I deal." + +"Do not trouble yourself about that, Captain Dave," Cyril said. "You +came to my help last time, and it will be my turn this time. I am +sure that I shall have no difficulty in getting any monies that may +be required from Mr. Goldsworthy, and there is nothing that will give +me more pleasure than to see you established again in the place that +was the first where I ever felt I had a home." + +"I hope that it will not be needed, lad," Captain Dave said, shaking +his hand warmly, "but if it should, I will not hesitate to accept +your offer in the spirit in which it is made, and thus add one more +to the obligations that I am under to you." + +Cyril went ashore with Captain Dave and John Wilkes. The wall of the +yard was, of course, uninjured, but the gate was burnt down. The +store-house, which was of wood, had entirely disappeared, and the +back wall of the house had fallen over it and the yard. The entrance +to the cellar, therefore, could not be seen, and, as yet, the heat +from the fallen bricks was too great to attempt to clear them away to +get at it. + +That night, however, it rained heavily, and in the morning Captain +Watson took a party of sailors ashore, and these succeeded in +clearing away the rubbish sufficiently to get to the entrance of the +cellar. The door was covered by an iron plate, and although the wood +behind this was charred it had not caught fire, and on getting it +open it was found that the contents of the cellar were uninjured. + +In order to prevent marauders from getting at it before preparations +could be made for rebuilding, the rubbish was again thrown in so as +to completely conceal the entrance. On returning on board there was a +consultation on the future, held in the cabin. Captain Dave at once +said that he and John Wilkes must remain in town to make arrangements +for the rebuilding and to watch the performance of the work. Cyril +warmly pressed Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie to come down with him to +Norfolk until the house was ready to receive them, but both were in +favour of remaining in London, and it was settled that, next day, +they should go down to Stepney, hire a house and store-room there, +and remove thither their goods on board the ship, and the contents of +the cellar. + +There was some little difficulty in getting a house, as so many were +seeking for lodgings, but at last they came upon a widow who was +willing to let a house, upon the proviso that she was allowed to +retain one room for her own occupation. This being settled, Cyril +that evening returned to his lodging, and the next day rode down to +Norfolk. There he remained until the middle of May, when he received +a letter from Captain Dave, saying that his house was finished, and +that they should move into it in a fortnight, and that they all +earnestly hoped he would be present. As he had already been thinking +of going up to London for a time, he decided to accept the +invitation. + +By this time he had made the acquaintance of all the surrounding +gentry, and felt perfectly at home at Upmead. He rode frequently into +Norwich, and, whenever he did so, paid a visit to Mr. Harvey, whose +wife had died in January, never having completely recovered from the +shock that she had received in London. Mr. Harvey himself had aged +much; he still took a great interest in the welfare of the tenants of +Upmead, and in Cyril's proposals for the improvement of their homes, +and was pleased to see how earnestly he had taken up the duties of +his new life. He spoke occasionally of his son, of whose death he +felt convinced. + +"I have never been able to obtain any news of him," he often said, +"and assuredly I should have heard of him had he been alive. + +"It would ease my mind to know the truth," he said, one day. "It +troubles me to think that, if alive, he is assuredly pursuing evil +courses, and that he will probably end his days on a gallows. That he +will repent, and turn to better courses, I have now no hope whatever. +Unless he be living by roguery, he would, long ere this, have +written, professing repentance, even if he did not feel it, and +begging for assistance. It troubles me much that I can find out +nothing for certain of him." + +"Would it be a relief to you to know surely that he was dead?" Cyril +asked. + +"I would rather know that he was dead than feel, as I do, that if +alive, he is going on sinning. One can mourn for the dead as David +mourned for Absalom, and trust that their sins may be forgiven them; +but, uncertain as I am of his death, I cannot so mourn, since it may +be that he still lives." + +"Then, sir, I am in a position to set your mind at rest. I have known +for a long time that he died of the Plague, but I have kept it from +you, thinking that it was best you should still think that he might +be living. He fell dead beside me on the very day that I sickened of +the Plague, and, indeed, it was from him that I took it." + +Mr. Harvey remained silent for a minute or two. + +"'Tis better so," he said solemnly. "The sins of youth may be +forgiven, but, had he lived, his whole course might have been wicked. +How know you that it was he who gave you the Plague?" + +"I met him in the street. He was tottering in his walk, and, as he +came up, he stumbled, and grasped me to save himself. I held him for +a moment, and then he slipped from my arms and fell on the pavement, +and died." + +Mr. Harvey looked keenly at Cyril, and was about to ask a question, +but checked himself. + +"He is dead," he said. "God rest his soul, and forgive him his sins! +Henceforth I shall strive to forget that he ever lived to manhood, +and seek to remember him as he was when a child." + +Then he held out his hand to Cyril, to signify that he would fain be +alone. + +On arriving in London, Cyril took up his abode at his former +lodgings, and the next day at twelve o'clock, the hour appointed in a +letter he found awaiting him on his arrival, he arrived in Tower +Street, having ridden through the City. An army of workmen, who had +come up from all parts of the country, were engaged in rebuilding the +town. In the main thoroughfares many of the houses were already +finished, and the shops re-opened. In other parts less progress had +been made, as the traders were naturally most anxious to resume their +business, and most able to pay for speed. + +Captain Dave's was one of the first houses completed in Tower Street, +but there were many others far advanced in progress. The front +differed materially from that of the old house, in which each story +had projected beyond the one below it. Inside, however, there was but +little change in its appearance, except that the rooms were somewhat +more lofty, and that there were no heavy beams across the ceilings. +Captain Dave and his family had moved in that morning. + +"It does not look quite like the old place," Mrs. Dowsett said, after +the first greetings. + +"Not quite," Cyril agreed. "The new furniture, of course, gives it a +different appearance as yet; but one will soon get accustomed to +that, and you will quickly make it home-like again. I see you have +the bits of furniture you saved in their old corners." + +"Yes; and it will make a great difference when they get all my +curiosities up in their places again," Captain Dave put in. "We +pulled them down anyhow, and some of them will want glueing up a bit. +And so your fighting is over, Cyril?" + +"Yes, it looks like it. The Dutch have evidently had enough of it. +They asked for peace, and as both parties consented to the King of +Sweden being mediator, and our representatives and those of Holland +are now settling affairs at Breda, peace may be considered as finally +settled. We have only two small squadrons now afloat; the rest are +all snugly laid up. I trust that there is no chance of another war +between the two nations for years to come." + +"I hope not, Cyril. But De Witte is a crafty knave, and is ever in +close alliance with Louis. Were it not for French influence the +Prince of Orange would soon oust him from the head of affairs." + +"I should think he would not have any power for mischief in the +future," Cyril said. "It was he who brought on the last war, and, +although it has cost us much, it has cost the Dutch very much more, +and the loss of her commerce has well-nigh brought Holland to ruin. +Besides, the last victory we won must have lowered their national +pride greatly." + +"You have not heard the reports that are about, then?" + +"No, I have heard no news whatever. It takes a long time for it to +travel down to Norwich, and I have seen no one since I came up to +town last night." + +"Well, there is a report that a Dutch Fleet of eighty sail has put to +sea. It may be that 'tis but bravado to show that, though they have +begged for peace, 'tis not because they are in no condition to fight. +I know not how this may be, but it is certain that for the last three +days the Naval people have been very busy, and that powder is being +sent down to Chatham. As for the Fleet, small as it is, it is +doubtful whether it would fight, for the men are in a veritable state +of mutiny, having received no pay for many months. Moreover, several +ships were but yesterday bought by Government, for what purpose it is +not known, but it is conjectured they are meant for fire-ships." + +"I cannot but think that it is, as you say, a mere piece of bravado +on the part of the Dutch, Captain Dave. They could never be so +treacherous as to attack us when peace is well-nigh concluded, but, +hurt as their pride must be by the defeat we gave them, it is not +unnatural they should wish to show that they can still put a brave +fleet on the seas, and are not driven to make peace because they +could not, if need be, continue the war." + +"And now I have a piece of news for you. We are going to have a +wedding here before long." + +"I am right glad to hear it," Cyril said heartily. "And who is the +happy man, Nellie?" he asked, turning towards where she had been +standing the moment before. But Nellie had fled the moment her father +had opened his lips. + +"It is Frank Watson," her father said. "A right good lad; and her +mother and I are well pleased with her choice." + +"I thought that he was very attentive the few days we were on board +his father's ship," Cyril said. "I am not surprised to hear the +news." + +"They have been two voyages since then, and while the _Good Venture_ +was in the Pool, Master Frank spent most of his time down at Stepney, +and it was settled a fortnight since. My old friend Watson is as +pleased as I am. And the best part of the business is that Frank is +going to give up the sea and become my partner. His father owns the +_Good Venture_, and, being a careful man, has laid by a round sum, +and he settled to give him fifteen hundred pounds, which he will put +into the business." + +"That is a capital plan, Captain Dave. It will be an excellent thing +for you to have so young and active a partner." + +"Watson has bought the house down at Stepney that we have been living +in, and Frank and Nellie are going to settle there, and Watson will +make it his headquarters when his ship is in port, and will, I have +no doubt, take up his moorings there, when he gives up the sea. The +wedding is to be in a fortnight's time, for Watson has set his heart +on seeing them spliced before he sails again, and I see no reason for +delay. You must come to the wedding, of course, Cyril. Indeed, I +don't think Nellie would consent to be married if you were not there. +The girl has often spoken of you lately. You see, now that she really +knows what love is, and has a quiet, happy life to look forward to, +she feels more than ever the service you did her, and the escape she +had. She told the whole story to Frank before she said yes, when he +asked her to be his wife, and, of course, he liked her no less for +it, though I think it would go hard with that fellow if he ever met +him." + +"The fellow died of the Plague, Captain Dave. His last action was to +try and revenge himself on me by giving me the infection, for, +meeting me in the streets, he threw his arms round me and exclaimed, +'I have given you the Plague!' They were the last words he ever +spoke, for he gave a hideous laugh, and then dropped down dead. +However, he spoke truly, for that night I sickened of it." + +"Then your kindness to Nellie well-nigh cost you your life," Mrs. +Dowsett said, laying her hand on his shoulder, while the tears stood +in her eyes. "And you never told us this before!" + +"There was nothing to tell," Cyril replied. "If I had not caught it +from him, I should have, doubtless, taken it from someone else, for I +was constantly in the way of it, and could hardly have hoped to +escape an attack. Now, Captain Dave, let us go downstairs, and see +the store." + +"John Wilkes and the two boys are at work there," the Captain said, +as he went downstairs, "and we open our doors tomorrow. I have +hurried on the house as fast as possible, and as no others in my +business have yet opened, I look to do a thriving trade at once. +Watson will send all his friends here, and as there is scarce a +captain who goes in or out of port but knows Frank, I consider that +our new partner will greatly extend the business." + +Captain Watson and Frank came in at supper-time, and, after spending +a pleasant evening, Cyril returned to his lodgings in the Strand. The +next day he was walking near Whitehall when a carriage dashed out at +full speed, and, as it came along, he caught sight of the Duke of +Albemarle, who looked in a state of strange confusion. His wig was +awry, his coat was off, and his face was flushed and excited. As his +eye fell on Cyril, he shouted out to the postillions to stop. As they +pulled up, he shouted,-- + +"Jump in, Sir Cyril! Jump in, for your life." + +Astonished at this address, Cyril ran to the door, opened it, and +jumped in, and the Duke shouted to the postillions to go on. + +"What do you think, sir?--what do you think?" roared the Duke. "Those +treacherous scoundrels, the Dutch, have appeared with a great Fleet +of seventy men-of-war, besides fire-ships, off Sheerness, this +morning at daybreak, and have taken the place, and Chatham lies open +to them. We have been bamboozled and tricked. While the villains were +pretending they were all for peace, they have been secretly fitting +out, and there they are at Sheerness. A mounted messenger brought in +the news, but ten minutes ago." + +"Have they taken Sheerness, sir?" + +"Yes; there were but six guns mounted on the fort, and no +preparations made. The ships that were there did nothing. The rascals +are in mutiny--and small wonder, when they can get no pay; the money +voted for them being wasted by the Court. It is enough to drive one +wild with vexation, and, had I my will, there are a dozen men, whose +names are the foremost in the country, whom I would hang up with my +own hands. The wind is from the east, and if they go straight up the +Medway they may be there this afternoon, and have the whole of our +ships at their mercy. It is enough to make Blake turn in his grave +that such an indignity should be offered us, though it be but the +outcome of treachery on the part of the Dutch, and of gross +negligence on ours. But if they give us a day or two to prepare, we +will, at least, give them something to do before they can carry out +their design, and, if one could but rely on the sailors, we might +even beat them off; but it is doubtful whether the knaves will fight. +The forts are unfinished, though the money was voted for them three +years since. And all this is not the worst of it, for, after they +have taken Chatham, there is naught to prevent their coming up to +London. We have had plague and we have had fire, and to be bombarded +by the Dutchmen would be the crowning blow, and it would be like to +bring about another revolution in England." + +They posted down to Chatham as fast as the horses could gallop. The +instant the news had arrived, the Duke had sent off a man, on +horseback, to order horses to be in readiness to change at each +posting station. Not a minute, therefore, was lost. In a little over +two hours from the time of leaving Whitehall, they drove into the +dockyard. + +"Where is Sir Edward Spragge?" the Duke shouted, as he leapt from the +carriage. + +"He has gone down to the new forts, your Grace," an officer replied. + +"Have a gig prepared at once, without the loss of a moment," the Duke +said. "What is being done?" he asked another officer, as the first +ran off. + +"Sir Edward has taken four frigates down to the narrow part of the +river, sir, and preparations have been made for placing a great chain +there. Several of the ships are being towed out into the river, and +are to be sunk in the passage." + +"Any news of the Dutch having left Sheerness?" + +"No, sir; a shallop rowed up at noon, but was chased back again by +one of our pinnaces." + +"That is better than I had hoped. Come, come, we shall make a fight +for it yet," and he strode away towards the landing. + +"Shall I accompany you, sir?" Cyril asked. + +"Yes. There is nothing for you to do until we see exactly how things +stand. I shall use you as my staff officer--that is, if you are +willing, Sir Cyril. I have carried you off without asking whether you +consented or no; but, knowing your spirit and quickness, I felt sure +you would be of use." + +"I am at your service altogether," Cyril said, "and am glad indeed +that your Grace encountered me, for I should have been truly sorry to +have been idle at such a time." + +An eight-oared gig was already at the stairs, and they were rowed +rapidly down the river. They stopped at Upnor Castle, and found that +Major Scott, who was in command there, was hard at work mounting +cannon and putting the place in a posture of defence. + +"You will have more men from London by to-morrow night, at the +latest," the Duke said, "and powder and shot in abundance was sent +off yesterday. We passed a train on our way down, and I told them to +push on with all speed. As the Dutch have not moved yet, they cannot +be here until the afternoon of to-morrow, and, like enough, will not +attack until next day, for they must come slowly, or they will lose +some of their ships on the sands. We will try to get up a battery +opposite, so as to aid you with a cross fire. I am going down to see +Sir Edward Spragge now." + +Taking their places in the boat again, they rowed round the horseshoe +curve down to Gillingham, and then along to the spot where the +frigates were moored. At the sharp bend lower down here the Duke +found the Admiral, and they held a long consultation together. It was +agreed that the chain should be placed somewhat higher up, where a +lightly-armed battery on either side would afford some assistance, +that behind the chain the three ships, the _Matthias_, the _Unity_, +and the _Charles V._, all prizes taken from the Dutch, should be +moored, and that the _Jonathan_ and _Fort of Honinggen_--also a +Dutch prize--should be also posted there. + +Having arranged this, the Duke was rowed back to Chatham, there to +see about getting some of the great ships removed from their moorings +off Gillingham, up the river. To his fury, he found that, of all the +eighteen hundred men employed in the yard, not more than half a dozen +had remained at their work, the rest being, like all the townsmen, +occupied in removing their goods in great haste. Even the frigates +that were armed had but a third, at most, of their crews on board, so +many having deserted owing to the backwardness of their pay. + +That night, Sir W. Coventry, Sir W. Penn, Lord Brounker, and other +officers and officials of the Admiralty, came down from London. Some +of these, especially Lord Brounker, had a hot time of it with the +Duke, who rated them roundly for the state of things which prevailed, +telling the latter that he was the main cause of all the misfortunes +that might occur, owing to his having dismantled and disarmed all the +great ships. In spite of the efforts of all these officers, but +little could be done, owing to the want of hands, and to the refusal +of the dockyard men, and most of the sailors, to do anything. A small +battery of sandbags was, however, erected opposite Upnor, and a few +guns placed in position there. + +Several ships were sunk in the channel above Upnor, and a few of +those lying off Gillingham were towed up. Little help was sent down +from London, for the efforts of the authorities were directed wholly +to the defence of the Thames. The train-bands were all under arms, +fire-ships were being fitted out and sent down to Gravesend, and +batteries erected there and at Tilbury, while several ships were sunk +in the channel. + +The Dutch remained at Sheerness from the 7th to the 12th, and had it +not been for the misconduct of the men, Chatham could have been put +into a good state for defence. As it was, but little could be +effected; and when, on the 12th, the Dutch Fleet were seen coming up +the river, the chances of successful resistance were small. + +The fight commenced by a Dutch frigate, commanded by Captain Brakell, +advancing against the chain. Carried up by a strong tide and east +wind the ship struck it with such force that it at once gave way. The +English frigates, but weakly manned, could offer but slight +resistance, and the _Jonathan_ was boarded and captured by Brakell. +Following his frigate were a host of fire-ships, which at once +grappled with the defenders. The _Matthias, Unity, Charles V._, and +_Fort of Honinggen_ were speedily in flames. The light batteries on +the shore were silenced by the guns of the Fleet, which then +anchored. The next day, six of their men-of-war, with five +fire-ships, advanced, exchanged broadsides, as they went along, with +the _Royal Oak_ and presently engaged Upnor. They were received with +so hot a fire from the Castle, and from the battery opposite, where +Sir Edward Spragge had stationed himself, that, after a time, they +gave up the design of ascending to the dockyard, which at that time +occupied a position higher up the river than at present. + +The tide was beginning to slacken, and they doubtless feared that a +number of fire-barges might be launched at them did they venture +higher up. On the way back, they launched a fire-ship at the _Royal +Oak_, which was commanded by Captain Douglas. The flames speedily +communicated to the ship, and the crew took to the boats and rowed +ashore. Captain Douglas refused to leave his vessel, and perished in +the flames. The report given by the six men-of-war decided the Dutch +not to attempt anything further against Chatham. On the 14th, they +set fire to the hulks, the _Loyal London_ and the _Great James_, +and carried off the hulk of the _Royal Charles_, after the English +had twice tried to destroy her by fire. As this was the ship in which +the Duke of Albemarle, then General Monk, had brought the King over +to England from Holland, her capture was considered a special triumph +for the Dutch and a special dishonour to us. + +The Duke of Albemarle had left Chatham before the Dutch came up. As +the want of crews prevented his being of any use there, and he saw +that Sir Edward Spragge would do all that was possible in defence of +the place, he posted back to London, where his presence was urgently +required, a complete panic reigning. Crowds assembled at Whitehall, +and insulted the King and his ministers as the cause of the present +misfortunes, while at Deptford and Wapping, the sailors and their +wives paraded the streets, shouting that the ill-treatment of our +sailors had brought these things about, and so hostile were their +manifestations that the officials of the Admiralty scarce dared show +themselves in the streets. + +Cyril had remained at Chatham, the Duke having recommended him to Sir +Edward Spragge, and he, with some other gentlemen and a few sailors, +had manned the battery opposite Upnor. + +The great proportion of the Dutch ships were still at the Nore, as it +would have been dangerous to have hazarded so great a fleet in the +narrow water of the Medway. As it was, two of their men-of-war, on +the way back from Chatham, ran ashore, and had to be burnt. They had +also six fire-ships burnt, and lost over a hundred and fifty men. + +Leaving Admiral Van Ness with part of the Fleet in the mouth of the +Thames, De Ruyter sailed first for Harwich, where he attempted to +land with sixteen hundred men in boats, supported by the guns of the +Fleet. The boats, however, failed to effect a landing, being beaten +off, with considerable loss, by the county Militia; and Ruyter then +sailed for Portsmouth, where he also failed. He then went west to +Torbay, where he was likewise repulsed, and then returned to the +mouth of the Thames. + +On July 23rd, Van Ness, with twenty-five men-of-war, sailed up the +Hope, where Sir Edward Spragge had now hoisted his flag on board a +squadron of eighteen ships, of whom five were frigates and the rest +fire-ships. A sharp engagement ensued, but the wind was very light, +and the English, by towing their fire-ships, managed to lay them +alongside the Dutch fire-ships, and destroyed twelve of these with a +loss of only six English ships. But, the wind then rising, Sir Edward +retired from the Hope to Gravesend, where he was protected by the +guns at Tilbury. + +The next day, being joined by Sir Joseph Jordan, with a few small +ships, he took the offensive, and destroyed the last fire-ship that +the Dutch had left, and compelled the men-of-war to retire. Sir +Edward followed them with his little squadron, and Van Ness, as he +retired down the river, was met by five frigates and fourteen +fire-ships from Harwich. These boldly attacked him. Two of the Dutch +men-of-war narrowly escaped being burnt, another was forced ashore +and greatly damaged, and the whole of the Dutch Fleet was compelled +to bear away. + +While these events had been happening in the Thames, the negotiations +at Breda had continued, and, just as the Dutch retreated, the news +came that Peace had been signed. The Dutch, on their side, were +satisfied with the success with which they had closed the war, while +England was, at the moment, unable to continue it, and the King, +seeing the intense unpopularity that had been excited against him by +the affair at Chatham, was glad to ratify the Peace, especially as we +thereby retained possession of several islands we had taken in the +West Indies from the Dutch, and it was manifest that Spain was +preparing to join the coalition of France and Holland against us. + +A Peace concluded under such circumstances was naturally but a short +one. When the war was renewed, three years later, the French were in +alliance with us, and, after several more desperate battles, in which +no great advantages were gained on either side, the Dutch were so +exhausted and impoverished by the loss of trade, that a final Peace +was arranged on terms far more advantageous to us than those secured +by the Treaty of 1667. The De Wittes, the authors of the previous +wars, had both been killed in a popular tumult. The Prince of Orange +was at the head of the State, and the fact that France and Spain were +both hostile to Holland had reawakened the feeling of England in +favour of the Protestant Republic, and the friendship between the two +nations has never since been broken. + +Cyril took no part in the last war against the Dutch. He, like the +majority of the nation, was opposed to it, and, although willing to +give his life in defence of his country when attacked, felt it by no +means his duty to do so when we were aiding the designs of France in +crushing a brave enemy. Such was in fact the result of the war; for +although peace was made on even terms, the wars of Holland with +England and the ruin caused to her trade thereby, inflicted a blow +upon the Republic from which she never recovered. From being the +great rival of England, both on the sea and in her foreign commerce, +her prosperity and power dwindled until she ceased altogether to be a +factor in European affairs. + +After the Peace of Breda was signed, Cyril went down to Upmead, +where, for the next four years, he devoted himself to the management +of his estate. His friendship with Mr. Harvey grew closer and warmer, +until the latter came to consider him in really the light of a son; +and when he died, in 1681, it was found that his will was unaltered, +and that, with the exception of legacies to many of his old employes +at his factory, the whole of his property was left to Cyril. The +latter received a good offer for the tanyard, and, upon an estate +next to his own coming shortly afterwards into the market, he +purchased it, and thus the Upmead estates became as extensive as they +had been before the time of his ancestor, who had so seriously +diminished them during the reign of Elizabeth. + +His friendship with the family of the Earl of Wisbech had remained +unaltered, and he had every year paid them a visit, either at Wisbech +or at Sevenoaks. A year after Mr. Harvey's death, he married Dorothy, +who had previously refused several flattering offers. + +Captain Dave and his wife lived to a good old age. The business had +largely increased, owing to the energy of their son-in-law, who had, +with his wife and children, taken up his abode in the next house to +theirs, which had been bought to meet the extension of their +business. John Wilkes, at the death of Captain Dave, declined Cyril's +pressing offer to make his home with him. + +"It would never do, Sir Cyril," he said. "I should be miserable out +of the sight of ships, and without a place where I could meet +seafaring men, and smoke my pipe, and listen to their yarns." + +He therefore remained with Frank Watson, nominally in charge of the +stores, but doing, in fact, as little as he chose until, long past +the allotted age of man, he passed quietly away. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, WHEN LONDON BURNED *** + +This file should be named 7wlnb10.txt or 7wlnb10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7wlnb11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7wlnb10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext04 + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + + PROJECT GUTENBERG LITERARY ARCHIVE FOUNDATION + 809 North 1500 West + Salt Lake City, UT 84116 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/7wlnb10.zip b/old/7wlnb10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e10b0a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7wlnb10.zip diff --git a/old/8wlnb10.txt b/old/8wlnb10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6542fc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8wlnb10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14815 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of When London Burned, by G. A. Henty + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: When London Burned + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7831] +[This file was first posted on May 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, WHEN LONDON BURNED *** + + + + +Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, S.R. Ellison, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + +WHEN LONDON BURNED + +BY G. A. HENTY + + + + + + + +PREFACE + +We are accustomed to regard the Reign of Charles II. as one of the +most inglorious periods of English History; but this was far from +being the case. It is true that the extravagance and profligacy of +the Court were carried to a point unknown before or since, +forming,--by the indignation they excited among the people at +large,--the main cause of the overthrow of the House of Stuart. But, +on the other hand, the nation made extraordinary advances in commerce +and wealth, while the valour of our sailors was as conspicuous under +the Dukes of York and Albemarle, Prince Rupert and the Earl of +Sandwich, as it had been under Blake himself, and their victories +resulted in transferring the commercial as well as the naval +supremacy of Holland to this country. In spite of the cruel blows +inflicted on the well-being of the country, alike by the extravagance +of the Court, the badness of the Government, the Great Plague, and +the destruction of London by fire, an extraordinary extension of our +trade occurred during the reign of Charles II. Such a period, +therefore, although its brilliancy was marred by dark shadows, cannot +be considered as an inglorious epoch. It was ennobled by the bravery +of our sailors, by the fearlessness with which the coalition of +France with Holland was faced, and by the spirit of enterprise with +which our merchants and traders seized the opportunity, and, in spite +of national misfortunes, raised England in the course of a few years +to the rank of the greatest commercial power in the world. + + G. A. HENTY. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. FATHERLESS + + II. A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER + + III. A THIEF SOMEWHERE + + IV. CAPTURED + + V. KIDNAPPED + + VI. A NARROW ESCAPE + + VII. SAVED FROM A VILLAIN + + VIII. THE CAPTAIN'S YARN + + IX. THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY + + X. HOW JOHN WILKES FOUGHT THE DUTCH + + XI. PRINCE RUPERT + + XII. NEW FRIENDS + + XIII. THE BATTLE OF LOWESTOFT + + XIV. HONOURABLE SCARS + + XV. THE PLAGUE + + XVI. FATHER AND SON + + XVII. SMITTEN DOWN + + XVIII. A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE + + XIX. TAKING POSSESSION + + XX. THE FIGHT OFF DUNKIRK + + XXI. LONDON IN FLAMES + + XXII. AFTER THE FIRE + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +"WITH GREAT RAPIDITY THE FLAMES SPREAD FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE" + +"DON'T CRY, LAD; YOU WILL GET ON BETTER WITHOUT ME" + +"THIS IS MY PRINCE OF SCRIVENERS, MARY" + +"ROBERT ASHFORD, KNIFE IN HAND, ATTACKED JOHN WILKES WITH FURY" + +"CYRIL SAT UP AND DRANK OFF THE CONTENTS OF THE PANNIKIN" + +"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, SIR, DO NOT CAUSE TROUBLE" + +"TAKE HER DOWN QUICK, JOHN, THERE ARE THREE OTHERS" + +"CYRIL RAISED THE KING'S HAND TO HIS LIPS" + +"A DUTCH MAN-OF-WAR RAN ALONGSIDE AND FIRED A BROADSIDE" + +"FOR THE LAST TIME: WILL YOU SIGN THE DEED?" + +"WELCOME BACK TO YOUR OWN AGAIN, SIR CYRIL!" + +"WHAT NEWS, JAMES?" THE KING ASKED EAGERLY + + + + +WHEN LONDON BURNED + + + + +CHAPTER I + +FATHERLESS + + +Lad stood looking out of the dormer window in a scantily furnished +attic in the high-pitched roof of a house in Holborn, in September +1664. Numbers of persons were traversing the street below, many of +them going out through the bars, fifty yards away, into the fields +beyond, where some sports were being held that morning, while country +people were coming in with their baskets from the villages of +Highgate and Hampstead, Tyburn and Bayswater. But the lad noted +nothing that was going on; his eyes were filled with tears, and his +thoughts were in the little room behind him; for here, coffined in +readiness for burial, lay the body of his father. + +Sir Aubrey Shenstone had not been a good father in any sense of the +word. He had not been harsh or cruel, but he had altogether neglected +his son. Beyond the virtues of loyalty and courage, he possessed few +others. He had fought, as a young man, for Charles, and even among +the Cavaliers who rode behind Prince Rupert was noted for reckless +bravery. When, on the fatal field of Worcester, the last hopes of the +Royalists were crushed, he had effected his escape to France and +taken up his abode at Dunkirk. His estates had been forfeited; and +after spending the proceeds of his wife's jewels and those he had +carried about with him in case fortune went against the cause for +which he fought, he sank lower and lower, and had for years lived on +the scanty pension allowed by Louis to the King and his adherents. + +Sir Aubrey had been one of the wild, reckless spirits whose conduct +did much towards setting the people of England against the cause of +Charles. He gambled and drank, interlarded his conversation with +oaths, and despised as well as hated the Puritans against whom he +fought. Misfortune did not improve him; he still drank when he had +money to do so, gambled for small sums in low taverns with men of his +own kind, and quarrelled and fought on the smallest provocation. Had +it not been for his son he would have taken service in the army of +some foreign Power; but he could not take the child about with him, +nor could he leave it behind. + +Sir Aubrey was not altogether without good points. He would divide +his last crown with a comrade poorer than himself. In the worst of +times he was as cheerful as when money was plentiful, making a joke +of his necessities and keeping a brave face to the world. + +Wholly neglected by his father, who spent the greater portion of his +time abroad, Cyril would have fared badly indeed had it not been for +the kindness of Lady Parton, the wife of a Cavalier of very different +type to Sir Aubrey. He had been an intimate friend of Lord Falkland, +and, like that nobleman, had drawn his sword with the greatest +reluctance, and only when he saw that Parliament was bent upon +overthrowing the other two estates in the realm and constituting +itself the sole authority in England. After the execution of Charles +he had retired to France, and did not take part in the later risings, +but lived a secluded life with his wife and children. The eldest of +these was of the same age as Cyril; and as the latter's mother had +been a neighbour of hers before marriage, Lady Parton promised her, +on her death-bed, to look after the child, a promise that she +faithfully kept. + +Sir John Parton had always been adverse to the association of his boy +with the son of Sir Aubrey Shenstone; but he had reluctantly yielded +to his wife's wishes, and Cyril passed the greater portion of his +time at their house, sharing the lessons Harry received from an +English clergyman who had been expelled from his living by the +fanatics of Parliament. He was a good and pious man, as well as an +excellent scholar, and under his teaching, aided by the gentle +precepts of Lady Parton, and the strict but kindly rule of her +husband, Cyril received a training of a far better kind than he would +ever have been likely to obtain had he been brought up in his +father's house near Norfolk. Sir Aubrey exclaimed sometimes that the +boy was growing up a little Puritan, and had he taken more interest +in his welfare would undoubtedly have withdrawn him from the healthy +influences that were benefiting him so greatly; but, with the usual +acuteness of children, Cyril soon learnt that any allusion to his +studies or his life at Sir John Parton's was disagreeable to his +father, and therefore seldom spoke of them. + +Sir Aubrey was never, even when under the influence of his potations, +unkind to Cyril. The boy bore a strong likeness to his mother, whom +his father had, in his rough way, really loved passionately. He +seldom spoke even a harsh word to him, and although he occasionally +expressed his disapproval of the teaching he was receiving, was at +heart not sorry to see the boy growing up so different from himself; +and Cyril, in spite of his father's faults, loved him. When Sir +Aubrey came back with unsteady step, late at night, and threw himself +on his pallet, Cyril would say to himself, "Poor father! How +different he would have been had it not been for his misfortunes! He +is to be pitied rather than blamed!" And so, as years went on, in +spite of the difference between their natures, there had grown up a +sort of fellowship between the two; and of an evening sometimes, when +his father's purse was so low that he could not indulge in his usual +stoup of wine at the tavern, they would sit together while Sir Aubrey +talked of his fights and adventures. + +"As to the estates, Cyril," he said one day, "I don't know that +Cromwell and his Roundheads have done you much harm. I should have +run through them, lad--I should have diced them away years ago--and I +am not sure but that their forfeiture has been a benefit to you. If +the King ever gets his own, you may come to the estates; while, if I +had had the handling of them, the usurers would have had such a grip +on them that you would never have had a penny of the income." + +"It doesn't matter, father," the boy replied. "I mean to be a soldier +some day, as you have been, and I shall take service with some of the +Protestant Princes of Germany; or, if I can't do that, I shall be +able to work my way somehow." + +"What can you work at, lad?" his father said, contemptuously. + +"I don't know yet, father; but I shall find some work to do." + +Sir Aubrey was about to burst into a tirade against work, but he +checked himself. If Cyril never came into the estates he would have +to earn his living somehow. + +"All right, my boy. But do you stick to your idea of earning your +living by your sword; it is a gentleman's profession, and I would +rather see you eating dry bread as a soldier of fortune than +prospering in some vile trading business." + +Cyril never argued with his father, and he simply nodded an assent +and then asked some question that turned Sir Aubrey's thoughts on +other matters. + +The news that Monk had declared for the King, and that Charles would +speedily return to take his place on his father's throne, caused +great excitement among the Cavaliers scattered over the Continent; +and as soon as the matter was settled, all prepared to return to +England, in the full belief that their evil days were over, and that +they would speedily be restored to their former estates, with honours +and rewards for their many sacrifices. + +"I must leave you behind for a short time, Cyril," his father said to +the boy, when he came in one afternoon. "I must be in London before +the King arrives there, to join in his welcome home, and for the +moment I cannot take you; I shall be busy from morning till night. Of +course, in the pressure of things at first it will be impossible for +the King to do everything at once, and it may be a few weeks before +all these Roundheads can be turned out of the snug nests they have +made for themselves, and the rightful owners come to their own again. +As I have no friends in London, I should have nowhere to bestow you, +until I can take you down with me to Norfolk to present you to our +tenants, and you would be grievously in my way; but as soon as things +are settled I will write to you or come over myself to fetch you. In +the meantime I must think over where I had best place you. It will +not matter for so short a time, but I would that you should be as +comfortable as possible. Think it over yourself, and let me know if +you have any wishes in the matter. Sir John Parton leaves at the end +of the week, and ere another fortnight there will be scarce another +Englishman left at Dunkirk." + +"Don't you think you can take me with you, father?" + +"Impossible," Sir Aubrey said shortly. "Lodgings will be at a great +price in London, for the city will be full of people from all parts +coming up to welcome the King home. I can bestow myself in a garret +anywhere, but I could not leave you there all day. Besides, I shall +have to get more fitting clothes, and shall have many expenses. You +are at home here, and will not feel it dull for the short time you +have to remain behind." + +Cyril said no more, but went up, with a heavy heart, for his last +day's lessons at the Partons'. Young as he was, he was accustomed to +think for himself, for it was but little guidance he received from +his father; and after his studies were over he laid the case before +his master, Mr. Felton, and asked if he could advise him. Mr. Felton +was himself in high spirits, and was hoping to be speedily reinstated +in his living. He looked grave when Cyril told his story. + +"I think it is a pity that your father, Sir Aubrey, does not take you +over with him, for it will assuredly take longer to bring all these +matters into order than he seems to think. However, that is his +affair. I should think he could not do better for you than place you +with the people where I lodge. You know them, and they are a worthy +couple; the husband is, as you know, a fisherman, and you and Harry +Parton have often been out with him in his boat, so it would not be +like going among strangers. Continue your studies. I should be sorry +to think that you were forgetting all that you have learnt. I will +take you this afternoon, if you like, to my friend, the Curé of St. +Ursula. Although we differ on religion we are good friends, and +should you need advice on any matters he will give it to you, and may +be of use in arranging for a passage for you to England, should your +father not be able himself to come and fetch you." + +Sir Aubrey at once assented to the plan when Cyril mentioned it to +him, and a week later sailed for England; Cyril moving, with his few +belongings, to the house of Jean Baudoin, who was the owner and +master of one of the largest fishing-boats in Dunkirk. Sir Aubrey had +paid for his board and lodgings for two months. + +"I expect to be over to fetch you long before that, Cyril," he had +said, "but it is as well to be on the safe side. Here are four +crowns, which will furnish you with ample pocket-money. And I have +arranged with your fencing-master for you to have lessons regularly, +as before; it will not do for you to neglect so important an +accomplishment, for which, as he tells me, you show great aptitude." + +The two months passed. Cyril had received but one letter from his +father. Although it expressed hopes of his speedy restoration to his +estates, Cyril could see, by its tone, that his father was far from +satisfied with the progress he had made in the matter. Madame Baudoin +was a good and pious woman, and was very kind to the forlorn English +boy; but when a fortnight over the two months had passed, Cyril could +see that the fisherman was becoming anxious. Regularly, on his return +from the fishing, he inquired if letters had arrived, and seemed much +put out when he heard that there was no news. One day, when Cyril was +in the garden that surrounded the cottage, he heard him say to his +wife,-- + +"Well, I will say nothing about it until after the next voyage, and +then if we don't hear, the boy must do something for his living. I +can take him in the boat with me; he can earn his victuals in that +way. If he won't do that, I shall wash my hands of him altogether, +and he must shift for himself. I believe his father has left him with +us for good. We were wrong in taking him only on the recommendation +of Mr. Felton. I have been inquiring about his father, and hear +little good of him." + +Cyril, as soon as the fisherman had gone, stole up to his little +room. He was but twelve years old, and he threw himself down on his +bed and cried bitterly. Then a thought struck him; he went to his +box, and took out from it a sealed parcel; on it was written, "To my +son. This parcel is only to be opened should you find yourself in +great need, Your Loving Mother." He remembered how she had placed it +in his hands a few hours before her death, and had said to him,-- + +"Put this away, Cyril. I charge you let no one see it. Do not speak +of it to anyone--not even to your father. Keep it as a sacred gift, +and do not open it unless you are in sore need. It is for you, and +you alone. It is the sole thing that I have to leave you; use it with +discretion. I fear that hard times will come upon you." + +Cyril felt that his need could hardly be sorer than it was now, and +without hesitation he broke the seals, and opened the packet. He +found first a letter directed to himself. It began,-- + +"MY DARLING CYRIL,--I trust that it will be many years before you +open this parcel and read these words. I have left the enclosed as a +parting gift to you. I know not how long this exile may last, or +whether you will ever be able to return to England. But whether you +do or not, it may well be that the time will arrive when you may find +yourself in sore need. Your father has been a loving husband to me, +and will, I am sure, do what he can for you; but he is not provident +in his habits, and may not, after he is left alone, be as careful in +his expenditure as I have tried to be. I fear then that the time will +come when you will be in need of money, possibly even in want of the +necessaries of life. All my other trinkets I have given to him; but +the one enclosed, which belonged to my mother, I leave to you. It is +worth a good deal of money, and this it is my desire that you shall +spend upon yourself. Use it wisely, my son. If, when you open this, +you are of age to enter the service of a foreign Prince, as is, I +know, the intention of your father, it will provide you with a +suitable outfit. If, as is possible, you may lose your father by +death or otherwise while you are still young, spend it on your +education, which is the best of all heritages. Should your father be +alive when you open this, I pray you not to inform him of it. The +money, in his hands, would last but a short time, and might, I fear, +be wasted. Think not that I am speaking or thinking hardly of him. +All men, even the best, have their faults, and his is a carelessness +as to money matters, and a certain recklessness concerning them; +therefore, I pray you to keep it secret from him, though I do not say +that you should not use the money for your common good, if it be +needful; only, in that case, I beg you will not inform him as to what +money you have in your possession, but use it carefully and prudently +for the household wants, and make it last as long as may be. My good +friend, Lady Parton, if still near you, will doubtless aid you in +disposing of the jewels to the best advantage. God bless you, my son! +This is the only secret I ever had from your father, but for your +good I have hidden this one thing from him, and I pray that this +deceit, which is practised for your advantage, may be forgiven me. +YOUR LOVING MOTHER." + +It was some time before Cyril opened the parcel; it contained a +jewel-box in which was a necklace of pearls. After some consideration +he took this to the Curé of St. Ursula, and, giving him his mother's +letter to read, asked him for his advice as to its disposal. + +"Your mother was a thoughtful and pious woman," the good priest said, +after he had read the letter, "and has acted wisely in your behalf. +The need she foresaw might come, has arisen, and you are surely +justified in using her gift. I will dispose of this trinket for you; +it is doubtless of considerable value. If it should be that your +father speedily sends for you, you ought to lay aside the money for +some future necessity. If he does not come for some time, as may well +be--for, from the news that comes from England, it is like to be many +months before affairs are settled--then draw from it only such +amounts as are needed for your living and education. Study hard, my +son, for so will you best be fulfilling the intentions of your +mother. If you like, I will keep the money in my hands, serving it +out to you as you need it; and in order that you may keep the matter +a secret, I will myself go to Baudoin, and tell him that he need not +be disquieted as to the cost of your maintenance, for that I have +money in hand with which to discharge your expenses, so long as you +may remain with him." + +The next day the Curé informed Cyril that he had disposed of the +necklace for fifty louis. Upon this sum Cyril lived for two years. + +Things had gone very hardly with Sir Aubrey Shenstone. The King had a +difficult course to steer. To have evicted all those who had obtained +possession of the forfeited estates of the Cavaliers would have been +to excite a deep feeling of resentment among the Nonconformists. In +vain Sir Aubrey pressed his claims, in season and out of season. He +had no powerful friends to aid him; his conduct had alienated the men +who could have assisted him, and, like so many other Cavaliers who +had fought and suffered for Charles I., Sir Aubrey Shenstone found +himself left altogether in the cold. For a time he was able to keep +up a fair appearance, as he obtained loans from Prince Rupert and +other Royalists whom he had known in the old days, and who had been +more fortunate than himself; but the money so obtained lasted but a +short time, and it was not long before he was again in dire straits. + +Cyril had from the first but little hope that his father would +recover his estates. He had, shortly before his father left France, +heard a conversation between Sir John Parton and a gentleman who was +in the inner circle of Charles's advisers. The latter had said,-- + +"One of the King's great difficulties will be to satisfy the exiles. +Undoubtedly, could he consult his own inclinations only, he would on +his return at once reinstate all those who have suffered in their +estates from their loyalty to his father and himself. But this will +be impossible. It was absolutely necessary for him, in his +proclamation at Breda, to promise an amnesty for all offences, +liberty of conscience and an oblivion as to the past, and he +specially says that all questions of grants, sales and purchases of +land, and titles, shall be referred to Parliament. The Nonconformists +are at present in a majority, and although it seems that all parties +are willing to welcome the King back, you may be sure that no +Parliament will consent to anything like a general disturbance of the +possessors of estates formerly owned by Royalists. In a vast number +of cases, the persons to whom such grants were made disposed of them +by sale to others, and it would be as hard on them to be ousted as it +is upon the original proprietors to be kept out of their possession. +Truly it is a most difficult position, and one that will have to be +approached with great judgment, the more so since most of those to +whom the lands were granted were generals, officers, and soldiers of +the Parliament, and Monk would naturally oppose any steps to the +detriment of his old comrades. + +"I fear there will be much bitter disappointment among the exiles, +and that the King will be charged with ingratitude by those who think +that he has only to sign an order for their reinstatement, whereas +Charles will have himself a most difficult course to steer, and will +have to govern himself most circumspectly, so as to give offence to +none of the governing parties. As to his granting estates, or +dispossessing their holders, he will have no more power to do so than +you or I. Doubtless some of the exiles will be restored to their +estates; but I fear that the great bulk are doomed to disappointment. +At any rate, for a time no extensive changes can be made, though it +may be that in the distance, when the temper of the nation at large +is better understood, the King will be able to do something for those +who suffered in the cause. + +"It was all very well for Cromwell, who leant solely on the Army, to +dispense with a Parliament, and to govern far more autocratically +than James or Charles even dreamt of doing; but the Army that +supported Cromwell would certainly not support Charles. It is +composed for the most part of stern fanatics, and will be the first +to oppose any attempt of the King to override the law. No doubt it +will erelong be disbanded; but you will see that Parliament will then +recover the authority of which Cromwell deprived it; and Charles is a +far wiser man than his father, and will never set himself against the +feeling of the country. Certainly, anything like a general +reinstatement of the men who have been for the last ten years +haunting the taverns of the Continent is out of the question; they +would speedily create such a revulsion of public opinion as might +bring about another rebellion. Hyde, staunch Royalist as he is, would +never suffer the King to make so grievous an error; nor do I think +for a moment that Charles, who is shrewd and politic, and above all +things a lover of ease and quiet, would think of bringing such a nest +of hornets about his ears." + +When, after his return to England, it became evident that Sir Aubrey +had but small chance of reinstatement in his lands, his former +friends began to close their purses and to refuse to grant further +loans, and he was presently reduced to straits as severe as those he +had suffered during his exile. The good spirits that had borne him up +so long failed now, and he grew morose and petulant. His loyalty to +the King was unshaken; Charles had several times granted him +audiences, and had assured him that, did it rest with him, justice +should be at once dealt to him, but that he was practically powerless +in the matter, and the knight's resentment was concentrated upon +Hyde, now Lord Clarendon, and the rest of the King's advisers. He +wrote but seldom to Cyril; he had no wish to have the boy with him +until he could take him down with him in triumph to Norfolk, and show +him to the tenants as his heir. Living from hand to mouth as he did, +he worried but little as to how Cyril was getting on. + +"The lad has fallen on his feet somehow," he said, "and he is better +where he is than he would be with me. I suppose when he wants money +he will write and say so, though where I should get any to send to +him I know not. Anyhow, I need not worry about him at present." + +Cyril, indeed, had written to him soon after the sale of the +necklace, telling him that he need not distress himself about his +condition, for that he had obtained sufficient money for his present +necessities from the sale of a small trinket his mother had given him +before her death, and that when this was spent he should doubtless +find some means of earning his living until he could rejoin him. His +father never inquired into the matter, though he made a casual +reference to it in his next letter, saying that he was glad Cyril had +obtained some money, as it would, at the moment, have been +inconvenient to him to send any over. + +Cyril worked assiduously at the school that had been recommended to +him by the Curé, and at the end of two years he had still twenty +louis left. He had several conversations with his adviser as to the +best way of earning his living. + +"I do not wish to spend any more, Father," he said, "and would fain +keep this for some future necessity." + +The Curé agreed with him as to this, and, learning from his master +that he was extremely quick at figures and wrote an excellent hand, +he obtained a place for him with one of the principal traders of the +town. He was to receive no salary for a year, but was to learn +book-keeping and accounts. Although but fourteen, the boy was so +intelligent and zealous that his employer told the Curé that he found +him of real service, and that he was able to entrust some of his +books entirely to his charge. + +Six months after entering his service, however, Cyril received a +letter from his father, saying that he believed his affairs were on +the point of settlement, and therefore wished him to come over in the +first ship sailing. He enclosed an order on a house at Dunkirk for +fifty francs, to pay his passage. His employer parted with him with +regret, and the kind Curé bade him farewell in terms of real +affection, for he had come to take a great interest in him. + +"At any rate, Cyril," he said, "your time here has not been wasted, +and your mother's gift has been turned to as much advantage as even +she can have hoped that it would be. Should your father's hopes be +again disappointed, and fresh delays arise, you may, with the +practice you have had, be able to earn your living in London. There +must be there, as in France, many persons in trade who have had but +little education, and you may be able to obtain employment in keeping +the books of such people, who are, I believe, more common in England +than here. Here are the sixteen louis that still remain; put them +aside, Cyril, and use them only for urgent necessity." + +Cyril, on arriving in London, was heartily welcomed by his father, +who had, for the moment, high hopes of recovering his estates. These, +however, soon faded, and although Sir Aubrey would not allow it, even +to himself, no chance remained of those Royalists, who had, like him, +parted with their estates for trifling sums, to be spent in the +King's service, ever regaining possession of them. + +It was not long before Cyril perceived that unless he himself +obtained work of some sort they would soon be face to face with +actual starvation. He said nothing to his father, but started out one +morning on a round of visits among the smaller class of shopkeepers, +offering to make up their books and write out their bills and +accounts for a small remuneration. As he had a frank and pleasant +face, and his foreign bringing up had given him an ease and +politeness of manner rare among English lads of the day, it was not +long before he obtained several clients. To some of the smaller class +of traders he went only for an hour or two, once a week, while others +required their bills and accounts to be made out daily. The pay was +very small, but it sufficed to keep absolute want from the door. When +he told his father of the arrangements he had made, Sir Aubrey at +first raged and stormed; but he had come, during the last year or +two, to recognise the good sense and strong will of his son, and +although he never verbally acquiesced in what he considered a +degradation, he offered no actual opposition to a plan that at least +enabled them to live, and furnished him occasionally with a few +groats with which he could visit a tavern. + +So things had gone on for more than a year. Cyril was now sixteen, +and his punctuality, and the neatness of his work, had been so +appreciated by the tradesmen who first employed him, that his time +was now fully occupied, and that at rates more remunerative than +those he had at first obtained. He kept the state of his resources to +himself, and had no difficulty in doing this, as his father never +alluded to the subject of his work. Cyril knew that, did he hand over +to him all the money he made, it would be wasted in drink or at +cards; consequently, he kept the table furnished as modestly as at +first, and regularly placed after dinner on the corner of the mantel +a few coins, which his father as regularly dropped into his pocket. + +A few days before the story opens, Sir Aubrey had, late one evening, +been carried upstairs, mortally wounded in a brawl; he only recovered +consciousness a few minutes before his death. + +"You have been a good lad, Cyril," he said faintly, as he feebly +pressed the boy's hand; "far better than I deserve to have had. Don't +cry, lad; you will get on better without me, and things are just as +well as they are. I hope you will come to your estates some day; you +will make a better master than I should ever have done. I hope that +in time you will carry out your plan of entering some foreign +service; there is no chance here. I don't want you to settle down as +a city scrivener. Still, do as you like, lad, and unless your wishes +go with mine, think no further of service." + +"I would rather be a soldier, father. I only undertook this work +because I could see nothing else." + +"That is right, my boy, that is right. I know you won't forget that +you come of a race of gentlemen." + +He spoke but little after that. A few broken words came from his lips +that showed that his thoughts had gone back to old times. "Boot and +saddle," he murmured. "That is right. Now we are ready for them. Down +with the prick-eared knaves! God and King Charles!" These were the +last words he spoke. + +Cyril had done all that was necessary. He had laid by more than half +his earnings for the last eight or nine months. One of his clients, +an undertaker, had made all the necessary preparations for the +funeral, and in a few hours his father would be borne to his last +resting-place. As he stood at the open window he thought sadly over +the past, and of his father's wasted life. Had it not been for the +war he might have lived and died a country gentleman. It was the war, +with its wild excitements, that had ruined him. What was there for +him to do in a foreign country, without resource or employment, +having no love for reading, but to waste his life as he had done? Had +his wife lived it might have been different. Cyril had still a vivid +remembrance of his mother, and, though his father had but seldom +spoken to him of her, he knew that he had loved her, and that, had +she lived, he would never have given way to drink as he had done of +late years. + +To his father's faults he could not be blind; but they stood for +nothing now. He had been his only friend, and of late they had been +drawn closer to each other in their loneliness; and although scarce a +word of endearment had passed between them, he knew that his father +had cared for him more than was apparent in his manner. + +A few hours later, Sir Aubrey Shenstone was laid to rest in a little +graveyard outside the city walls. Cyril was the only mourner; and +when it was over, instead of going back to his lonely room, he turned +away and wandered far out through the fields towards Hampstead, and +then sat himself down to think what he had best do. Another three or +four years must pass before he could try to get service abroad. When +the time came he should find Sir John Parton, and beg him to procure +for him some letter of introduction to the many British gentlemen +serving abroad. He had not seen him since he came to England. His +father had met him, but had quarrelled with him upon Sir John +declining to interest himself actively to push his claims, and had +forbidden Cyril to go near those who had been so kind to him. + +The boy had felt it greatly at first, but he came, after a time, to +see that it was best so. It seemed to him that he had fallen +altogether out of their station in life when the hope of his father's +recovering his estates vanished, and although he was sure of a kindly +reception from Lady Parton, he shrank from going there in his present +position. They had done so much for him already, that the thought +that his visit might seem to them a sort of petition for further +benefits was intolerable to him. + +For the present, the question in his mind was whether he should +continue at his present work, which at any rate sufficed to keep him, +or should seek other employment. He would greatly have preferred some +life of action,--something that would fit him better to bear the +fatigues and hardships of war,--but he saw no prospect of obtaining +any such position. + +"I should be a fool to throw up what I have," he said to himself at +last. "I will stick to it anyhow until some opportunity offers; but +the sooner I leave it the better. It was bad enough before; it will +be worse now. If I had but a friend or two it would not be so hard; +but to have no one to speak to, and no one to think about, when work +is done, will be lonely indeed." + +At any rate, he determined to change his room as soon as possible. It +mattered little where he went so that it was a change. He thought +over various tradesmen for whom he worked. Some of them might have an +attic, he cared not how small, that they might let him have in lieu +of paying him for his work. Even if they never spoke to him, it would +be better to be in a house where he knew something of those +downstairs, than to lodge in one where he was an utter stranger to +all. He had gone round to the shops where he worked, on the day after +his father's death, to explain that he could not come again until +after the funeral, and he resolved that next morning he would ask +each in turn whether he could obtain a lodging with them. + +The sun was already setting when he rose from the bank on which he +had seated himself, and returned to the city. The room did not feel +so lonely to him as it would have done had he not been accustomed to +spending the evenings alone. He took out his little hoard and counted +it. After paying the expenses of the funeral there would still remain +sufficient to keep him for three or four months should he fall ill, +or, from any cause, lose his work. He had one good suit of clothes +that had been bought on his return to England,--when his father +thought that they would assuredly be going down almost immediately to +take possession of the old Hall,--and the rest were all in fair +condition. + +The next day he began his work again; he had two visits to pay of an +hour each, and one of two hours, and the spare time between these he +filled up by calling at two or three other shops to make up for the +arrears of work during the last few days. + +The last place he had to visit was that at which he had the longest +task to perform. It was at a ship-chandler's in Tower Street, a large +and dingy house, the lower portion being filled with canvas, cordage, +barrels of pitch and tar, candles, oil, and matters of all sorts +needed by ship-masters, including many cannon of different sizes, +piles of balls, anchors, and other heavy work, all of which were +stowed away in a yard behind it. The owner of this store was a +one-armed man. His father had kept it before him, but he himself, +after working there long enough to become a citizen and a member of +the Ironmongers' Guild, had quarrelled with his father and had taken +to the sea. For twenty years he had voyaged to many lands, +principally in ships trading in the Levant, and had passed through a +great many adventures, including several fights with the Moorish +corsairs. In the last voyage he took, he had had his arm shot off by +a ball from a Greek pirate among the Islands. He had long before made +up his differences with his father, but had resisted the latter's +entreaties that he should give up the sea and settle down at the +shop; on his return after this unfortunate voyage he told him that he +had come home to stay. + +"I shall be able to help about the stores after a while," he said, +"but I shall never be the man I was on board ship. It will be hard +work to take to measuring out canvas and to weighing iron, after a +free life on the sea, but I don't so much mind now I have had my +share of adventures; though I dare say I should have gone on for a +few more years if that rascally ball had not carried away my arm. I +don't know but that it is best as it is, for the older I got the +harder I should find it to fall into new ways and to settle down +here." + +"Anyhow, I am glad you are back, David," his father said. + +"You are forty-five, and though I don't say it would not have been +better if you had remained here from the first, you have learnt many +things you would not have learnt here. You know just the sort of +things that masters of ships require, and what canvas and cables and +cordage will suit their wants. Besides, customers like to talk with +men of their own way of thinking, and sailors more, I think, than +other men. You know, too, most of the captains who sail up the +Mediterranean, and may be able to bring fresh custom into the shop. +Therefore, do not think that you will be of no use to me. As to your +wife and child, there is plenty of room for them as well as for you, +and it will be better for them here, with you always at hand, than it +would be for them to remain over at Rotherhithe and only to see you +after the shutters are up." + +Eight years later Captain Dave, as he was always called, became sole +owner of the house and business. A year after he did so he was +lamenting to a friend the trouble that he had with his accounts. + +"My father always kept that part of the business in his own hands," +he said, "and I find it a mighty heavy burden. Beyond checking a bill +of lading, or reading the marks on the bales and boxes, I never had +occasion to read or write for twenty years, and there has not been +much more of it for the last fifteen; and although I was a smart +scholar enough in my young days, my fingers are stiff with hauling at +ropes and using the marling-spike, and my eyes are not so clear as +they used to be, and it is no slight toil and labour to me to make up +an account for goods sold. John Wilkes, my head shopman, is a handy +fellow; he was my boatswain in the _Kate_, and I took him on when we +found that the man who had been my father's right hand for twenty +years had been cheating him all along. We got on well enough as long +as I could give all my time in the shop; but he is no good with the +pen--all he can do is to enter receipts and sales. + +"He has a man under him, who helps him in measuring out the right +length of canvas and cables or for weighing a chain or an anchor, and +knows enough to put down the figures; but that is all. Then there are +the two smiths and the two apprentices; they don't count in the +matter. Robert Ashford, the eldest apprentice, could do the work, but +I have no fancy for him; he does not look one straight in the face as +one who is honest and above board should do. I shall have to keep a +clerk, and I know what it will be--he will be setting me right, and I +shall not feel my own master; he will be out of place in my crew +altogether. I never liked pursers; most of them are rogues. Still, I +suppose it must come to that." + +"I have a boy come in to write my bills and to make up my accounts, +who would be just the lad for you, Captain Dave. He is the son of a +broken-down Cavalier, but he is a steady, honest young fellow, and I +fancy his pen keeps his father, who is a roystering blade, and spends +most of his time at the taverns. The boy comes to me for an hour, +twice a week; he writes as good a hand as any clerk and can reckon as +quickly, and I pay him but a groat a week, which was all he asked." + +"Tell him to come to me, then. I should want him every day, if he +could manage it, and it would be the very thing for me." + +"I am sure you would like him," the other said; "he is a good-looking +young fellow, and his face speaks for him without any recommendation. +I was afraid at first that he would not do for me; I thought there +was too much of the gentleman about him. He has good manners, and a +gentle sort of way. He has been living in France all his life, and +though he has never said anything about his family--indeed he talks +but little, he just comes in and does his work and goes away--I fancy +his father was one of King Charles's men and of good blood." + +"Well, that doesn't sound so well," the sailor said, "but anyhow I +should like to have a look at him." + +"He comes to me to-morrow at eleven and goes at twelve," the man +said, "and I will send him round to you when he has done." + +Cyril had gone round the next morning to the ships' store. + +"So you are the lad that works for my neighbour Anderson?" Captain +Dave said, as he surveyed him closely. "I like your looks, lad, but I +doubt whether we shall get on together. I am an old sailor, you know, +and I am quick of speech and don't stop to choose my words, so if you +are quick to take offence it would be of no use your coming to me." + +"I don't think I am likely to take offence," Cyril said quietly; "and +if we don't get on well together, sir, you will only have to tell me +that you don't want me any longer; but I trust you will not have +often the occasion to use hard words, for at any rate I will do my +best to please you." + +"You can't say more, lad. Well, let us have a taste of your quality. +Come in here," and he led him into a little room partitioned off from +the shop. "There, you see," and he opened a book, "is the account of +the sales and orders yesterday; the ready-money sales have got to be +entered in that ledger with the red cover; the sales where no money +passed have to be entered to the various customers or ships in the +ledger. I have made out a list--here it is--of twelve accounts that +have to be drawn out from that ledger and sent in to customers. You +will find some of them are of somewhat long standing, for I have been +putting off that job. Sit you down here. When you have done one or +two of them I will have a look at your work, and if that is +satisfactory we will have a talk as to what hours you have got +disengaged, and what days in the week will suit you best." + +It was two hours before Captain Dave came in again. Cyril had just +finished the work; some of the accounts were long ones, and the +writing was so crabbed that it took him some time to decipher it. + +"Well, how are you getting on, lad?" the Captain asked. + +"I have this moment finished the last account." + +"What! Do you mean to say that you have done them all! Why, it would +have taken me all my evenings for a week. Now, hand me the books; it +is best to do things ship-shape." + +He first compared the list of the sales with the entries, and then +Cyril handed him the twelve accounts he had drawn up. Captain David +did not speak until he had finished looking through them. + +"I would not have believed all that work could have been done in two +hours," he said, getting up from his chair. "Orderly and well +written, and without a blot. The King's secretary could not have done +better! Well, now you have seen the list of sales for a day, and I +take it that be about the average, so if you come three times a week +you will always have two days' sales to enter in the ledger. There +are a lot of other books my father used to keep, but I have never had +time to bother myself about them, and as I have got on very well so +far, I do not see any occasion for you to do so, for my part it seems +to me that all these books are only invented by clerks to give +themselves something to do to fill up their time. Of course, there +won't be accounts to send out every day. Do you think with two hours, +three times a week, you could keep things straight?" + +"I should certainly think so, sir, but I can hardly say until I try, +because it seems to me that there must be a great many items, and I +can't say how long it will take entering all the goods received under +their proper headings; but if the books are thoroughly made up now, I +should think I could keep them all going." + +"That they are not," Captain David said ruefully; "they are all +horribly in arrears. I took charge of them myself three years ago, +and though I spend three hours every evening worrying over them, they +get further and further in arrears. Look at those files over there," +and he pointed to three long wires, on each of which was strung a +large bundle of papers; "I am afraid you will have to enter them all +up before you can get matters into ship-shape order. The daily sale +book is the only one that has been kept up regularly." + +"But these accounts I have made up, sir? Probably in those files +there are many other goods supplied to the same people." + +"Of course there are, lad, though I did not think of it before. Well, +we must wait, then, until you can make up the arrears a bit, though I +really want to get some money in." + +"Well, sir, I might write at the bottom of each bill 'Account made up +to,' and then put in the date of the latest entry charged." + +"That would do capitally, lad--I did not think of that. I see you +will be of great use to me. I can buy and sell, for I know the value +of the goods I deal in; but as to accounts, they are altogether out +of my way. And now, lad, what do you charge?" + +"I charge a groat for two hours' work, sir; but if I came to you +three times a week, I would do it for a little less." + +"No, lad, I don't want to beat you down; indeed, I don't think you +charge enough. However, let us say, to begin with, three groats a +week." + +This had been six weeks before Sir Aubrey Shenstone's death; and in +the interval Cyril had gradually wiped off all the arrears, and had +all the books in order up to date, to the astonishment of his +employer. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER + + +"I am glad to see you again, lad," Captain David said, when Cyril +entered his shop. "I have been thinking of the news you gave me last +week, and the mistress and I have been talking it over. Where are you +lodging?" + +"I have been lodging until now in Holborn," Cyril replied; "but I am +going to move." + +"Yes; that is what we thought you would be doing. It is always better +to make a change after a loss. I don't want to interfere in your +business, lad, but have you any friends you are thinking of going +to?" + +"No, sir; I do not know a soul in London save those I work for." + +"That is bad, lad--very bad. I was talking it over with my wife, and +I said that maybe you were lonely. I am sure, lad, you are one of the +right sort. I don't mean only in your work, for as for that I would +back you against any scrivener in London, but I mean about yourself. +It don't need half an eye to see that you have not been brought up to +this sort of thing, though you have taken to it so kindly, but there +is not one in a thousand boys of your age who would have settled down +to work and made their way without a friend to help them as you have +done; it shows that there is right good stuff in you. There, I am so +long getting under weigh that I shall never get into port if I don't +steer a straight course. Now, my ideas and my wife's come to this: if +you have got no friends you will have to take a lodging somewhere +among strangers, and then it would be one of two things--you would +either stop at home and mope by yourself, or you would go out, and +maybe get into bad company. If I had not come across you I should +have had to employ a clerk, and he would either have lived here with +us or I should have had to pay him enough to keep house for himself. +Now in fact you are a clerk; for though you are only here for six +hours a week--you do all the work there is to do, and no clerk could +do more. Well, we have got an attic upstairs which is not used, and +if you like to come here and live with us, my wife and I will make +you heartily welcome." + +"Thank you, indeed," Cyril said warmly. "It is of all things what I +should like; but of course I should wish to pay you for my board. I +can afford to do so if you will employ me for the same hours as at +present." + +"No, I would not have that, lad; but if you like we can reckon your +board against what I now pay you. We feed John Wilkes and the two +apprentices, and one mouth extra will make but little difference. I +don't want it to be a matter of obligation, so we will put your board +against the work you do for me. I shall consider that we are making a +good bargain." + +"It is your pleasure to say so, sir, but I cannot tell you what a +load your kind offer takes off my mind. The future has seemed very +dark to me." + +"Very well. That matter is settled, then. Come upstairs with me and I +will present you to my wife and daughter; they have heard me speak of +you so often that they will be glad to see you. In the first place, +though, I must ask you your name. Since you first signed articles and +entered the crew I have never thought of asking you." + +"My name is Cyril, sir--Cyril Shenstone." + +His employer nodded and at once led the way upstairs. A motherly +looking woman rose from the seat where she was sitting at work, as +they entered the living-room. + +"This is my Prince of Scriveners, Mary, the lad I have often spoken +to you about. His name is Cyril; he has accepted the proposal we +talked over last night, and is going to become one of the crew on +board our ship." + +"I am glad to see you," she said to Cyril, holding out her hand to +him. "I have not met you before, but I feel very grateful to you. +Till you came, my husband was bothered nearly out of his wits; he +used to sit here worrying over his books, and writing from the time +the shop closed till the hour for bed, and Nellie and I dared not to +say as much as a word. Now we see no more of his books, and he is +able to go out for a walk in the fields with us as he used to do +before." + +"It is very kind of you to say so, Mistress," Cyril said earnestly; +"but it is I, on the contrary, who am deeply grateful to you for the +offer Captain Dave has been good enough to make me. You cannot tell +the pleasure it has given me, for you cannot understand how lonely +and friendless I have been feeling. Believe me, I will strive to give +you as little trouble as possible, and to conform myself in all ways +to your wishes." + +At this moment Nellie Dowsett came into the room. She was a pretty +girl some eighteen years of age. + +"This is Cyril, your father's assistant, Nellie," her mother said. + +"You are welcome, Master Cyril. I have been wanting to see you. +Father has been praising you up to the skies so often that I have had +quite a curiosity to see what you could be like." + +"Your father is altogether too good, Mistress Nellie, and makes far +more of my poor ability than it deserves." + +"And is he going to live with us, mother?" Nellie asked. + +"Yes, child; he has accepted your father's offer." + +Nellie clapped her hands. + +"That is good," she said. "I shall expect you to escort me out +sometimes, Cyril. Father always wants me to go down to the wharf to +look at the ships or to go into the fields; but I want to go +sometimes to see the fashions, and there is no one to take me, for +John Wilkes always goes off to smoke a pipe with some sailor or +other, and the apprentices are stupid and have nothing to say for +themselves; and besides, one can't walk alongside a boy in an +apprentice cap." + +"I shall be very happy to, Mistress, when my work is done, though I +fear that I shall make but a poor escort, for indeed I have had no +practice whatever in the esquiring of dames." + +"I am sure you will do very well," Nellie said, nodding approvingly. +"Is it true that you have been in France? Father said he was told +so." + +"Yes; I have lived almost all my life in France." + +"And do you speak French?" + +"Yes; I speak it as well as English." + +"It must have been very hard to learn?" + +"Not at all. It came to me naturally, just as English did." + +"You must not keep him any longer now, Nellie; he has other +appointments to keep, and when he has done that, to go and pack up +his things and see that they are brought here by a porter. He can +answer some more of your questions when he comes here this evening." + +Cyril returned to Holborn with a lighter heart than he had felt for a +long time. His preparations for the move took him but a short time, +and two hours later he was installed in a little attic in the +ship-chandler's house. He spent half-an-hour in unpacking his things, +and then heard a stentorian shout from below,-- + +"Masthead, ahoy! Supper's waiting." + +Supposing that this hail was intended for himself, he at once went +downstairs. The table was laid. Mistress Dowsett took her seat at the +head; her husband sat on one side of her, and Nellie on the other. +John Wilkes sat next to his master, and beyond him the elder of the +two apprentices. A seat was left between Nellie and the other +apprentice for Cyril. + +"Now our crew is complete, John," Captain Dave said. "We have been +wanting a supercargo badly." + +"Ay, ay, Captain Dave, there is no doubt we have been short-handed in +that respect; but things have been more ship-shape lately." + +"That is so, John. I can make a shift to keep the vessel on her +course, but when it comes to writing up the log, and keeping the +reckoning, I make but a poor hand at it. It was getting to be as bad +as that voyage of the _Jane_ in the Levant, when the supercargo had +got himself stabbed at Lemnos." + +"I mind it, Captain--I mind it well. And what a trouble there was +with the owners when we got back again!" + +"Yes, yes," the Captain said; "it was worse work than having a brush +with a Barbary corsair. I shall never forget that day. When I went to +the office to report, the three owners were all in. + +"'Well, Captain Dave, back from your voyage?' said the littlest of +the three. 'Made a good voyage, I hope?' + +"First-rate, says I, except that the supercargo got killed at Lemnos +by one of them rascally Greeks. + +"'Dear, dear,' said another of them--he was a prim, sanctimonious +sort--'Has our brother Jenkins left us?' + +"I don't know about his leaving us, says I, but we left him sure +enough in a burying-place there. + +"'And how did you manage without him?' + +"I made as good a shift as I could, I said. I have sold all the +cargo, and I have brought back a freight of six tons of Turkey figs, +and four hundred boxes of currants. And these two bags hold the +difference. + +"'Have you brought the books with you, Captain?' + +"Never a book, said I. I have had to navigate the ship and to look +after the crew, and do the best I could at each port. The books are +on board, made out up to the day before the supercargo was killed, +three months ago; but I have never had time to make an entry since. + +"They looked at each other like owls for a minute or two, and then +they all began to talk at once. How had I sold the goods? had I +charged the prices mentioned in the invoice? what percentage had I +put on for profit? and a lot of other things. I waited until they +were all out of breath, and then I said I had not bothered about +invoices. I knew pretty well the prices such things cost in England. +I clapped on so much more for the expenses of the voyage and a fair +profit. I could tell them what I had paid for the figs and the +currants, and for some bags of Smyrna sponges I had bought, but as to +the prices I had charged, it was too much to expect that I could +carry them in my head. All I knew was I had paid for the things I had +bought, I had paid all the port dues and other charges, I had +advanced the men one-fourth of their wages each month, and I had +brought them back the balance. + +"Such a hubbub you never heard. One would have thought they would +have gone raving mad. The sanctimonious partner was the worst of the +lot. He threatened me with the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen, and went +on till I thought he would have had a fit. + +"Look here, says I, at last, I'll tell you what I will do. You tell +me what the cargo cost you altogether, and put on so much for the +hire of the ship. I will pay you for them and settle up with the +crew, and take the cargo and sell it. That is a fair offer. And I +advise you to keep civil tongues in your heads, or I will knock them +off and take my chance before the Lord Mayor for assault and battery. + +"With that I took off my coat and laid it on a bench. I reckon they +saw that I was in earnest, and they just sat as mum as mice. Then the +little man said, in a quieter sort of voice,-- + +"'You are too hasty, Captain Dowsett. We know you to be an honest man +and a good sailor, and had no suspicion that you would wrong us; but +no merchant in the City of London could hear that his business had +been conducted in such a way as you have carried it through without +for a time losing countenance. Let us talk the matter over reasonably +and quietly.' + +"That is just what I am wanting, I said; and if there hasn't been +reason and quiet it is from no fault of mine. + +"'Well, please to put your coat on again, Captain, and let us see how +matters stand!' + +"Then they took their ink-horns and pens, and, on finding out what I +had paid for the figs and other matters, they reckoned them up; then +they put down what I said was due to the sailors and the mate and +myself; then they got out some books, and for an hour they were busy +reckoning up figures; then they opened the bags and counted up the +gold we had brought home. Well, when they had done, you would hardly +have known them for the same men. First of all, they went through all +their calculations again to be sure they had made no mistake about +them; then they laid down their pens, and the sanctimonious man +mopped the perspiration from his face, and the others smiled at each +other. Then the biggest of the three, who had scarcely spoken before, +said,-- + +"'Well, Captain Dowsett, I must own that my partners were a little +hasty. The result of our calculations is that the voyage has been a +satisfactory one, I may almost say very satisfactory, and that you +must have disposed of the goods to much advantage. It has been a new +and somewhat extraordinary way of doing business, but I am bound to +say that the result has exceeded our expectations, and we trust that +you will command the _Jane_ for many more voyages.' + +"Not for me, says I. You can hand me over the wages due to me, and +you will find the _Jane_ moored in the stream just above the Tower. +You will find her in order and shipshape; but never again do I set my +foot on board her or on any other vessel belonging to men who have +doubted my honesty. + +"Nor did I. I had a pretty good name among traders, and ten days +later I started for the Levant again in command of a far smarter +vessel than the _Jane_ had ever been." + +"And we all went with you, Captain," John Wilkes said, "every man +jack of us. And on her very next voyage the _Jane_ was captured by +the Algerines, and I reckon there are some of the poor fellows +working as slaves there now; for though Blake did blow the place +pretty nigh out of water a few years afterwards, it is certain that +the Christian slaves handed over to him were not half those the Moors +had in their hands." + +"It would seem, Captain Dowsett, from your story, that you can manage +very well without a supercargo?" Cyril said quietly. + +"Ay, lad; but you see that was a ready-money business. I handed over +the goods and took the cash; there was no accounts to be kept. It was +all clear and above board. But it is a different thing in this ship +altogether, when, instead of paying down on the nail for what they +get, you have got to keep an account of everything and send in all +their items jotted down in order. Why, Nellie, your tongue seems +quieter than usual." + +"You have not given me a chance, father. You have been talking ever +since we sat down to table." + +Supper was now over. The two apprentices at once retired. Cyril would +have done the same, but Mistress Dowsett said,-- + +"Sit you still, Cyril. The Captain says that you are to be considered +as one of the officers of the ship, and we shall be always glad to +have you here, though of course you can always go up to your own +room, or go out, when you feel inclined." + +"I have to go out three times a week to work," Cyril said; "but all +the other evenings I shall be glad indeed to sit here, Mistress +Dowsett. You cannot tell what a pleasure it is to me to be in an +English home like this." + +It was not long before John Wilkes went out. + +"He is off to smoke his pipe," the Captain said. "I never light mine +till he goes. I can't persuade him to take his with me; he insists it +would not be manners to smoke in the cabin." + +"He is quite right, father," Nellie said. "It is bad enough having +you smoke here. When mother's friends or mine come in they are +well-nigh choked; they are not accustomed to it as we are, for a +respectable London citizen does not think of taking tobacco." + +"I am a London citizen, Nellie, but I don't set up any special claim +to respectability. I am a sea-captain, though that rascally Greek +cannon-ball and other circumstances have made a trader of me, sorely +against my will; and if I could not have my pipe and my glass of grog +here I would go and sit with John Wilkes in the tavern at the corner +of the street, and I suppose that would not be even as respectable as +smoking here." + +"Nellie doesn't mean, David, that she wants you to give up smoking; +only she thinks that John is quite right to go out to take his pipe. +And I must say I think so too. You know that when you have +sea-captains of your acquaintance here, you always send the maid off +to bed and smoke in the kitchen." + +"Ay, ay, my dear, I don't want to turn your room into a fo'castle. +There is reason in all things. I suppose you don't smoke, Master +Cyril?" + +"No, Captain Dave, I have never so much as thought of such a thing. +In France it is the fashion to take snuff, but the habit seemed to me +a useless one, and I don't think that I should ever have taken to +it." + +"I wonder," Captain Dave said, after they had talked for some time, +"that after living in sight of the sea for so long your thoughts +never turned that way." + +"I cannot say that I have never thought of it," Cyril said. "I have +thought that I should greatly like to take foreign voyages, but I +should not have cared to go as a ship's boy, and to live with men so +ignorant that they could not even write their own names. My thoughts +have turned rather to the Army; and when I get older I think of +entering some foreign service, either that of Sweden or of one of the +Protestant German princes. I could obtain introductions through which +I might enter as a cadet, or gentleman volunteer. I have learnt +German, and though I cannot speak it as I can French or English, I +know enough to make my way in it." + +"Can you use your sword, Cyril?" Nellie Dowsett asked. + +"I have had very good teaching," Cyril replied, "and hope to be able +to hold my own." + +"Then you are not satisfied with this mode of life?" Mistress Dowsett +said. + +"I am satisfied with it, Mistress, inasmuch as I can earn money +sufficient to keep me. But rather than settle down for life as a city +scrivener, I would go down to the river and ship on board the first +vessel that would take me, no matter where she sailed for." + +"I think you are wrong," Mistress Dowsett said gravely. "My husband +tells me how clever you are at figures, and you might some day get a +good post in the house of one of our great merchants." + +"Maybe it would be so," Cyril said; "but such a life would ill suit +me. I have truly a great desire to earn money: but it must be in some +way to suit my taste." + +"And why do you want to earn a great deal of money, Cyril?" Nellie +laughed, while her mother shook her head disapprovingly. + +"I wish to have enough to buy my father's estate back again," he +said, "and though I know well enough that it is not likely I shall +ever do it, I shall fight none the worse that I have such a hope in +my mind." + +"Bravo, lad!" Captain Dave said. "I knew not that there was an estate +in the case, though I did hear that you were the son of a Royalist. +It is a worthy ambition, boy, though if it is a large one 'tis scarce +like that you will get enough to buy it back again." + +"It is not a very large one," Cyril said. "'Tis down in Norfolk, but +it was a grand old house--at least, so I have heard my father say, +though I have but little remembrance of it, as I was but three years +old when I left it. My father, who was Sir Aubrey Shenstone, had +hoped to recover it; but he was one of the many who sold their +estates for far less than their value in order to raise money in the +King's service, and, as you are aware, none of those who did so have +been reinstated, but only those who, having had their land taken from +them by Parliament, recovered them because their owners had no +title-deeds to show, save the grant of Parliament that was of no +effect in the Courts. Thus the most loyal men--those who sold their +estates to aid the King--have lost all, while those that did not so +dispossess themselves in his service are now replaced on their land." + +"It seems very unfair," Nellie said indignantly. + +"It is unfair to them, assuredly, Mistress Nellie. And yet it would +be unfair to the men who bought, though often they gave but a tenth +of their value, to be turned out again unless they received their +money back. It is not easy to see where that money could come from, +for assuredly the King's privy purse would not suffice to pay all the +money, and equally certain is it that Parliament would not vote a +great sum for that purpose." + +"It is a hard case, lad--a hard case," Captain Dave said, as he +puffed the smoke from his pipe. "Now I know how you stand, I blame, +you in no way that you long more for a life of adventure than to +settle down as a city scrivener. I don't think even my wife, much as +she thinks of the city, could say otherwise." + +"It alters the case much," Mistress Dowsett said. "I did not know +that Cyril was the son of a Knight, though it was easy enough to see +that his manners accord not with his present position. Still there +are fortunes made in the city, and no honest work is dishonouring +even to a gentleman's son." + +"Not at all, Mistress," Cyril said warmly. "'Tis assuredly not on +that account that I would fain seek more stirring employment; but it +was always my father's wish and intention that, should there be no +chance of his ever regaining the estate, I should enter foreign +service, and I have always looked forward to that career." + +"Well, I will wager that you will do credit to it, lad," Captain Dave +said. "You have proved that you are ready to turn your hand to any +work that may come to you. You have shown a manly spirit, my boy, and +I honour you for it; and by St. Anthony I believe that some day, +unless a musket-ball or a pike-thrust brings you up with a round +turn, you will live to get your own back again." + +Cyril remained talking for another two hours, and then betook himself +to bed. After he had gone, Mistress Dowsett said, after a pause,-- + +"Do you not think, David, that, seeing that Cyril is the son of a +Knight, it would be more becoming to give him the room downstairs +instead of the attic where he is now lodged?" + +The old sailor laughed. + +"That is woman-kind all over," he said. "It was good enough for him +before, and now forsooth, because the lad mentioned, and assuredly in +no boasting way, that his father had been a Knight, he is to be +treated differently. He would not thank you himself for making the +change, dame. In the first place, it would make him uncomfortable, +and he might make an excuse to leave us altogether; and in the +second, you may be sure that he has been used to no better quarters +than those he has got. The Royalists in France were put to sore +shifts to live, and I fancy that he has fared no better since he came +home. His father would never have consented to his going out to earn +money by keeping the accounts of little city traders like myself had +it not been that he was driven to it by want. No, no, wife; let the +boy go on as he is, and make no difference in any way. I liked him +before, and I like him all the better now, for putting his +gentlemanship in his pocket and setting manfully to work instead of +hanging on the skirts of some Royalist who has fared better than his +father did. He is grateful as it is--that is easy to see--for our +taking him in here. We did that partly because he proved a good +worker and has taken a lot of care off my shoulders, partly because +he was fatherless and alone. I would not have him think that we are +ready to do more because he is a Knight's son. Let the boy be, and +suffer him to steer his ship his own course. If, when the time comes, +we can further his objects in any way we will do it with right good +will. What do you think of him, Nellie?" he asked, changing the +subject. + +"He is a proper young fellow, father, and I shall be well content to +go abroad escorted by him instead of having your apprentice, Robert +Ashford, in attendance on me. He has not a word to say for himself, +and truly I like him not in anyway." + +"He is not a bad apprentice, Nellie, and John Wilkes has but seldom +cause to find fault with him, though I own that I have no great +liking myself for him; he never seems to look one well in the face, +which, I take it, is always a bad sign. I know no harm of him; but +when his apprenticeship is out, which it will be in another year, I +shall let him go his own way, for I should not care to have him on +the premises." + +"Methinks you are very unjust, David. The lad is quiet and regular in +his ways; he goes twice every Sunday to the Church of St. Alphage, +and always tells me the texts of the sermons." + +The Captain grunted. + +"Maybe so, wife; but it is easy to get hold of the text of a sermon +without having heard it. I have my doubts whether he goes as +regularly to St. Alphage's as he says he does. Why could he not go +with us to St. Bennet's?" + +"He says he likes the administrations of Mr. Catlin better, David. +And, in truth, our parson is not one of the stirring kind." + +"So much the better," Captain Dave said bluntly. "I like not these +men that thump the pulpit and make as if they were about to jump out +head foremost. However, I don't suppose there is much harm in the +lad, and it may be that his failure to look one in the face is not so +much his fault as that of nature, which endowed him with a villainous +squint. Well, let us turn in; it is past nine o'clock, and high time +to be a-bed." + +Cyril seemed to himself to have entered upon a new life when he +stepped across the threshold of David Dowsett's store. All his cares +and anxieties had dropped from him. For the past two years he had +lived the life of an automaton, starting early to his work, returning +in the middle of the day to his dinner,--to which as often as not he +sat down alone,--and spending his evenings in utter loneliness in the +bare garret, where he was generally in bed long before his father +returned. He blamed himself sometimes during the first fortnight of +his stay here for the feeling of light-heartedness that at times came +over him. He had loved his father in spite of his faults, and should, +he told himself, have felt deeply depressed at his loss; but nature +was too strong for him. The pleasant evenings with Captain Dave and +his family were to him delightful; he was like a traveller who, after +a cold and cheerless journey, comes in to the warmth of a fire, and +feels a glow of comfort as the blood circulates briskly through his +veins. Sometimes, when he had no other engagements, he went out with +Nellie Dowsett, whose lively chatter was new and very amusing to him. +Sometimes they went up into Cheapside, and into St. Paul's, but more +often sallied out of the city at Aldgate, and walked into the fields. +On these occasions he carried a stout cane that had been his +father's, for Nellie tried in vain to persuade him to gird on a +sword. + +"You are a gentleman, Cyril," she would argue, "and have a right to +carry one." + +"I am for the present a sober citizen, Mistress Nellie, and do not +wish to assume to be of any other condition. Those one sees with +swords are either gentlemen of the Court, or common bullies, or maybe +highwaymen. After nightfall it is different; for then many citizens +carry their swords, which indeed are necessary to protect them from +the ruffians who, in spite of the city watch, oftentimes attack quiet +passers-by; and if at any time I escort you to the house of one of +your friends, I shall be ready to take my sword with me. But in the +daytime there is no occasion for a weapon, and, moreover, I am full +young to carry one, and this stout cane would, were it necessary, do +me good service, for I learned in France the exercise that they call +the _bâton_, which differs little from our English singlestick." + +While Cyril was received almost as a member of the family by Captain +Dave and his wife, and found himself on excellent terms with John +Wilkes, he saw that he was viewed with dislike by the two +apprentices. He was scarcely surprised at this. Before his coming, +Robert Ashford had been in the habit of escorting his young mistress +when she went out, and had no doubt liked these expeditions, as a +change from the measuring out of ropes and weighing of iron in the +store. Then, again, the apprentices did not join in the conversation +at table unless a remark was specially addressed to them; and as +Captain Dave was by no means fond of his elder apprentice, it was but +seldom that he spoke to him. Robert Ashford was between eighteen and +nineteen. He was no taller than Cyril, but it would have been +difficult to judge his age by his face, which had a wizened look; +and, as Nellie said one day, in his absence, he might pass very well +for sixty. + +It was easy enough for Cyril to see that Robert Ashford heartily +disliked him; the covert scowls that he threw across the table at +meal-time, and the way in which he turned his head and feigned to be +too busy to notice him as he passed through the shop, were sufficient +indications of ill-will. The younger apprentice, Tom Frost, was but a +boy of fifteen; he gave Cyril the idea of being a timid lad. He did +not appear to share his comrade's hostility to him, but once or +twice, when Cyril came out from the office after making up the +accounts of the day, he fancied that the boy glanced at him with an +expression of anxiety, if not of terror. + +"If it were not," Cyril said to himself, "that Tom is clearly too +nervous and timid to venture upon an act of dishonesty, I should say +that he had been pilfering something; but I feel sure that he would +not attempt such a thing as that, though I am by no means certain +that Robert Ashford, with his foxy face and cross eyes, would not +steal his master's goods or any one else's did he get the chance. +Unless he were caught in the act, he could do it with impunity, for +everything here is carried on in such a free-and-easy fashion that +any amount of goods might be carried off without their being missed." + +After thinking the matter over, he said, one afternoon when his +employer came in while he was occupied at the accounts,-- + +"I have not seen anything of a stock-book, Captain Dave. Everything +else is now straight, and balanced up to to-day. Here is the book of +goods sold, the book of goods received, and the ledger with the +accounts; but there is no stock-book such as I find in almost all the +other places where I work." + +"What do I want with a stock-book?" Captain Dave asked. + +"You cannot know how you stand without it," Cyril replied. "You know +how much you have paid, and how much you have received during the +year; but unless you have a stock-book you do not know whether the +difference between the receipts and expenditure represents profit, +for the stock may have so fallen in value during the year that you +may really have made a loss while seeming to make a profit." + +"How can that be?" Captain Dave asked. "I get a fair profit on every +article." + +"There ought to be a profit, of course," Cyril said; "but sometimes +it is found not to be so. Moreover, if there is a stock-book you can +tell at any time, without the trouble of opening bins and weighing +metal, how much stock you have of each article you sell, and can +order your goods accordingly." + +"How would you do that?" + +"It is very simple, Captain Dave," Cyril said. "After taking stock of +the whole of the goods, I should have a ledger in which each article +would have a page or more to itself, and every day I should enter +from John Wilkes's sales-book a list of the goods that have gone out, +each under its own heading. Thus, at any moment, if you were to ask +how much chain you had got in stock I could tell you within a fathom. +When did you take stock last?" + +"I should say it was about fifteen months since. It was only +yesterday John Wilkes was saying we had better have a thorough +overhauling." + +"Quite time, too, I should think, Captain Dave. I suppose you have +got the account of your last stock-taking, with the date of it?" + +"Oh, yes, I have got that;" and the Captain unlocked his desk and +took out an account-book. "It has been lying there ever since. It +took a wonderful lot of trouble to do, and I had a clerk and two men +in for a fortnight, for of course John and the boys were attending to +their usual duties. I have often wondered since why I should have had +all that trouble over a matter that has never been of the slightest +use to me." + +"Well, I hope you will take it again, sir; it is a trouble, no doubt, +but you will find it a great advantage." + +"Are you sure you think it needful, Cyril?" + +"Most needful, Captain Dave. You will see the advantage of it +afterwards." + +"Well, if you think so, I suppose it must be done," the Captain said, +with a sigh; "but it will be giving you a lot of trouble to keep this +new book of yours." + +"That is nothing, sir. Now that I have got all the back work up it +will be a simple matter to keep the daily work straight. I shall find +ample time to do it without any need of lengthening my hours." + +Cyril now set to work in earnest, and telling Mrs. Dowsett he had +some books that he wanted to make up in his room before going to bed, +he asked her to allow him to keep his light burning. + +Mrs. Dowsett consented, but shook her head and said he would +assuredly injure his health if he worked by candle light. + +Fortunately, John Wilkes had just opened a fresh sales-book, and +Cyril told him that he wished to refer to some particulars in the +back books. He first opened the ledger by inscribing under their +different heads the amount of each description of goods kept in stock +at the last stock-taking, and then entered under their respective +heads all the sales that had been made, while on an opposite page he +entered the amount purchased. It took him a month's hard work, and he +finished it on the very day that the new stock-taking concluded. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A THIEF SOMEWHERE + + +Two days after the conclusion of the stock-taking, Cyril said, after +breakfast was over,-- + +"Would it trouble you, Captain Dave, to give me an hour up here +before you go downstairs to the counting-house. I am free for two +hours now, and there is a matter upon which I should like to speak to +you privately." + +"Certainly, lad," the old sailor said, somewhat surprised. "We shall +be quiet enough here, as soon as the table is cleared. My dame and +Nellie will be helping the maid do up the cabins, and will then be +sallying out marketing." + +When the maid had cleared the table, Cyril went up to his room and +returned with a large ledger and several smaller books. + +"I have, for the last month, Captain Dave, been making up this +stock-book for my own satisfaction." + +"Bless me, lad, why have you taken all that trouble? This accounts, +then, for your writing so long at night, for which my dame has been +quarrelling with you!" + +"It was interesting work," Cyril said quietly. "Now, you see, sir," +he went on, opening the big ledger, "here are the separate accounts +under each head. These pages, you see, are for heavy cables for +hawsers; of these, at the date of the last stock-taking, there were, +according to the book you handed to me, five hundred fathoms in +stock. These are the amounts you have purchased since. Now, upon the +other side are all the sales of this cable entered in the sales-book. +Adding them together, and deducting them from the other side, you +will see there should remain in stock four hundred and fifty fathoms. +According to the new stock-taking there are four hundred and +thirty-eight. That is, I take it, as near as you could expect to get, +for, in the measuring out of so many thousand fathoms of cable during +the fifteen months between the two stock-takings, there may well have +been a loss of the twelve fathoms in giving good measurement." + +"That is so," Captain Dave said. "I always say to John Wilkes, 'Give +good measurement, John--better a little over than a little under.' +Nothing can be clearer or more satisfactory." + +Cyril closed the book. + +"I am sorry to say, Captain Dave, all the items are not so +satisfactory, and that I greatly fear that you have been robbed to a +considerable amount." + +"Robbed, lad!" the Captain said, starting up from his chair. "Who +should rob me? Not John Wilkes, I can be sworn! Not the two +apprentices for a surety, for they never go out during the day, and +John keeps a sharp look-out upon them, and the entrance to the shop +is always locked and barred after work is over, so that none can +enter without getting the key, which, as you know, John always brings +up and hands to me as soon as he has fastened the door! You are +mistaken, lad, and although I know that your intentions are good, you +should be careful how you make a charge that might bring ruin to +innocent men. Carelessness there may be; but robbery! No; assuredly +not." + +"I have not brought the charge without warrant, Captain Dave," Cyril +said gravely, "and if you will bear with me for a few minutes, I +think you will see that there is at least something that wants +looking into." + +"Well, it is only fair after the trouble you have taken, lad, that I +should hear what you have to say; but it will need strong evidence +indeed to make me believe that there has been foul play." + +"Well, sir," Cyril said, opening the ledger again, "in the first +place, I would point out that in all the heavy articles, such as +could not conveniently be carried away, the tally of the stock-takers +corresponds closely with the figures in this book. In best bower +anchors the figures are absolutely the same and, as you have seen, in +heavy cables they closely correspond. In the large ship's compasses, +the ship's boilers, and ship's galleys, the numbers tally exactly. So +it is with all the heavy articles; the main blocks are correct, and +all other heavy gear. This shows that John Wilkes's book is carefully +kept, and it would be strange indeed if heavy goods had all been +properly entered, and light ones omitted; but yet when we turn to +small articles, we find that there is a great discrepancy between the +figures. Here is the account, for instance, of the half-inch rope. +According to my ledger, there should be eighteen hundred fathoms in +stock, whereas the stock-takers found but three hundred and eighty. +In two-inch rope there is a deficiency of two hundred and thirty +fathoms, in one-inch rope of six hundred and twenty. These sizes, as +you know, are always in requisition, and a thief would find ready +purchasers for a coil of any of them. But, as might be expected, it +is in copper that the deficiency is most serious. Of fourteen-inch +bolts, eighty-two are short, of twelve-inch bolts a hundred and +thirty, of eight-inch three hundred and nine; and so on throughout +almost all the copper stores. According to your expenditure and +receipt-book, Captain Dave, you have made, in the last fifteen +months, twelve hundred and thirty pounds; but according to this book +your stock is less in value, by two thousand and thirty-four pounds, +than it should have been. You are, therefore, a poorer man than you +were at the beginning of this fifteen months' trading, by eight +hundred and four pounds." + +Captain Dave sat down in his chair, breathing hard. He took out his +handkerchief and wiped the drops of perspiration from his forehead. + +"Are you sure of this, boy?" he said hoarsely. "Are you sure that you +have made no mistake in your figures?" + +"Quite sure," Cyril said firmly. "In all cases in which I have found +deficiencies I have gone through the books three times and compared +the figures, and I am sure that if you put the books into the hands +of any city accountant, he will bear out my figures." + +For a time Captain Dave sat silent. + +"Hast any idea," he said at last, "how this has come about?" + +"I have none," Cyril replied. "That John Wilkes is not concerned in +it I am as sure as you are; and, thinking the matter over, I see not +how the apprentices could have carried off so many articles, some +heavy and some bulky, when they left the shop in the evening, without +John Wilkes noticing them. So sure am I, that my advice would be that +you should take John Wilkes into your confidence, and tell him how +matters stand. My only objection to that is that he is a hasty man, +and that I fear he would not be able to keep his countenance, so that +the apprentices would remark that something was wrong. I am far from +saying that they have any hand in it; it would be a grievous wrong to +them to have suspicions when there is no shadow of evidence against +them; but at any rate, if this matter is to be stopped and the +thieves detected, it is most important that they should have, if they +are guilty, no suspicion that they are in any way being watched, or +that these deficiencies have been discovered. If they have had a hand +in the matter they most assuredly had accomplices, for such goods +could not be disposed of by an apprentice to any dealer without his +being sure that they must have been stolen." + +"You are right there, lad--quite right. Did John Wilkes know that I +had been robbed in this way he would get into a fury, and no words +could restrain him from falling upon the apprentices and beating them +till he got some of the truth out of them." + +"They may be quite innocent," Cyril said. "It may be that the thieves +have discovered some mode of entry into the store either by opening +the shutters at the back, or by loosening a board, or even by delving +up under the ground. It is surely easier to believe this than that +the boys can have contrived to carry off so large a quantity of goods +under John Wilkes's eye." + +"That is so, lad. I have never liked Robert Ashford, but God forbid +that I should suspect him of such crime only because his forehead is +as wrinkled as an ape's, and Providence has set his eyes crossways in +his head. You cannot always judge a ship by her upper works; she may +be ugly to the eye and yet have a clear run under water. Still, you +can't help going by what you see. I agree with you that if we tell +John Wilkes about this, those boys will know five minutes afterwards +that the ship is on fire; but if we don't tell him, how are we to get +to the bottom of what is going on?" + +"That is a difficult question, but a few days will not make much +difference, when we know that it has been going on for over a year, +and may, for aught we know, have been going on much longer. The first +thing, Captain Dave, is to send these books to an accountant, for him +to go through them and check my figures." + +"There is no need for that, lad. I know how careful you are, and you +cannot have gone so far wrong as all this." + +"No, sir, I am sure that there is no mistake; but, for your own sake +as well as mine, it were well that you should have the signature of +an accountant to the correctness of the books. If you have to lay the +matter before the magistrates, they would not take my testimony as to +your losses, and might even say that you were rash in acting upon the +word of a boy like myself, and you might then be obliged to have the +accounts made up anew, which would cost you more, and cause much +delay in the process; whereas, if you put in your books and say that +their correctness is vouched for by an accountant, no question would +arise on it; nor would there be any delay now, for while the books +are being gone into, we can be trying to get to the bottom of the +matter here." + +"Ay, ay, it shall be done, Master Cyril, as you say. But for the life +of me I don't see how we are to get at the bottom of the ship to find +out where she is leaking!" + +"It seems to me that the first thing, Captain Dave, is to see to the +warehouse. As we agreed that the apprentices cannot have carried out +all these goods under John Wilkes's eye, and cannot have come down +night after night through the house, the warehouse must have been +entered from without. As I never go in there, it would be best that +you should see to this matter yourself. There are the fastenings of +the shutters in the first place, then the boardings all round. As for +me, I will look round outside. The window of my room looks into the +street, but if you will take me to one of the rooms at the back we +can look at the surroundings of the yard, and may gather some idea +whether the goods can have been passed over into any of the houses +abutting on it, or, as is more likely, into the lane that runs up by +its side." + +The Captain led the way into one of the rooms at the back of the +house, and opening the casement, he and Cyril leaned out. The store +occupied fully half the yard, the rest being occupied by anchors, +piles of iron, ballast, etc. There were two or three score of guns of +various sizes piled on each other. A large store of cannon-ball was +ranged in a great pyramid close by. A wall some ten feet high +separated the yard from the lane Cyril had spoken of. On the left, +adjoining the warehouse, was the yard of the next shop, which +belonged to a wool-stapler. Behind were the backs of a number of +small houses crowded in between Tower Street and Leadenhall Street. + +"I suppose you do not know who lives in those houses, Captain Dave?" + +"No, indeed. The land is not like the sea. Afloat, when one sees a +sail, one wonders what is her nationality, and whither she is bound, +and still more whether she is an honest trader or a rascally pirate; +but here on land, one scarcely gives a thought as to who may dwell in +the houses round." + +"I will walk round presently," Cyril said, "and gather, as far as I +can, who they are that live there; but, as I have said, I fancy it is +over that wall and into the alley that your goods have departed. The +apprentices' room is this side of the house, is it not?" + +"Yes; John Wilkes sleeps in the room next to yours, and the door +opposite to his is that of the lads' room." + +"Do the windows of any of the rooms look into that lane?" + +"No; it is a blank wall on that side." + +"There is the clock striking nine," Cyril said, starting. "It is time +for me to be off. Then you will take the books to-day, Captain Dave?" + +"I will carry them off at once, and when I return will look narrowly +into the fastenings of the two windows and door from the warehouse +into the yard; and will take care to do so when the boys are engaged +in the front shop." + +When his work was done, Cyril went round to the houses behind the +yard, and he found that they stood in a small court, with three or +four trees growing in the centre, and were evidently inhabited by +respectable citizens. Over the door of one was painted, "Joshua +Heddings, Attorney"; next to him was Gilbert Gushing, who dealt in +jewels, silks, and other precious commodities from the East; next to +him was a doctor, and beyond a dealer in spices. This was enough to +assure him that it was not through such houses as these that the +goods had been carried. + +Cyril had not been back at the mid-day meal, for his work that day +lay up by Holborn Bar, where he had two customers whom he attended +with but half an hour's interval between the visits, and on the days +on which he went there he was accustomed to get something to eat at a +tavern hard by. + +Supper was an unusually quiet meal. Captain Dave now and then asked +John Wilkes a question as to the business matters of the day, but +evidently spoke with an effort. Nellie rattled on as usual; but the +burden of keeping up the conversation lay entirely on her shoulders +and those of Cyril. After the apprentices had left, and John Wilkes +had started for his usual resort, the Captain lit his pipe. Nellie +signed to Cyril to come and seat himself by her in the window that +projected out over the street, and enabled the occupants of the seats +at either side to have a view up and down it. + +"What have you been doing to father, Cyril?" she asked, in low tones; +"he has been quite unlike himself all day. Generally when he is out +of temper he rates everyone heartily, as if we were a mutinous crew, +but to-day he has gone about scarcely speaking; he hasn't said a +cross word to any of us, but several times when I spoke to him I got +no answer, and it is easy to see that he is terribly put out about +something. He was in his usual spirits at breakfast; then, you know, +he was talking with you for an hour, and it does not take much +guessing to see that it must have been something that passed between +you that has put him out. Now what was it?" + +"I don't see why you should say that, Mistress Nellie. It is true we +did have a talk together, and he examined some fresh books I have +been making out and said that he was mightily pleased with my work. I +went away at nine o'clock, and something may have occurred to upset +him between that and dinner." + +"All which means that you don't mean to tell me anything about it, +Master Cyril. Well, then, you may consider yourself in my black books +altogether," she said petulantly. + +"I am sorry that you should say so," he said. "If it were true that +anything that I had said to him had ruffled him, it would be for him +to tell you, and not for me." + +"Methinks I have treated Robert Ashford scurvily, and I shall take +him for my escort to see His Majesty attend service at St. Paul's +to-morrow." + +Cyril smiled. + +"I think it would be fair to give him a turn, Mistress, and I am glad +to see that you have such a kind thought." + +Nellie rose indignantly, and taking her work sat down by the side of +her mother. + +"It is a fine evening," Cyril said to Captain Dave, "and I think I +shall take a walk round. I shall return in an hour." + +The Captain understood, by a glance Cyril gave him, that he was going +out for some purpose connected with the matter they had in hand. + +"Ay, ay, lad," he said. "It is not good for you to be sitting moping +at home every evening. I have often wondered before that you did not +take a walk on deck before you turned in. I always used to do so +myself." + +"I don't think there is any moping in it, Captain Dave," Cyril said, +with a laugh. "If you knew how pleasant the evenings have been to me +after the life I lived before, you would not say so." + +Cyril's only object in going out, however, was to avoid the necessity +of having to talk with Dame Dowsett and Nellie. His thoughts were +running on nothing but the robbery, and he had found it very +difficult to talk in his usual manner, and to answer Nellie's +sprightly sallies. It was dark already. A few oil lamps gave a feeble +light here and there. At present he had formed no plan whatever of +detecting the thieves; he was as much puzzled as the Captain himself +as to how the goods could have been removed. It would be necessary, +of course, to watch the apprentices, but he did not think that +anything was likely to come out of this. It was the warehouse itself +that must be watched, in order to discover how the thieves made an +entry. His own idea was that they got over the wall by means of a +rope, and in some way managed to effect an entry into the warehouse. +The apprentices could hardly aid them unless they came down through +the house. + +If they had managed to get a duplicate key of the door leading from +the bottom of the stairs to the shop, they could, of course, unbar +the windows, and pass things out--that part of the business would be +easy; but he could not believe that they would venture frequently to +pass down through the house. It was an old one, and the stairs +creaked. He himself was a light sleeper; he had got into the way of +waking at the slightest sound, from the long watches he had had for +his father's return, and felt sure that he should have heard them +open their door and steal along the passage past his room, however +quietly they might do it. He walked up the Exchange, then along +Cheapside as far as St. Paul's, and back. Quiet as it was in Thames +Street there was no lack of animation elsewhere. Apprentices were +generally allowed to go out for an hour after supper, the regulation +being that they returned to their homes by eight o'clock. Numbers of +these were about. A good many citizens were on their way home after +supping with friends. The city watch, with lanterns, patrolled the +streets, and not infrequently interfered in quarrels which broke out +among the apprentices. Cyril felt more solitary among the knots of +laughing, noisy lads than in the quiet streets, and was glad to be +home again. Captain Dave himself came down to open the door. + +"I have just sent the women to bed," he said. "The two boys came in +five minutes ago. I thought you would not be long." + +"I did not go out for anything particular," Cyril said; "but Mistress +Nellie insisted that there was something wrong with you, and that I +must know what it was about, so, feeling indeed indisposed to talk, I +thought it best to go out for a short time." + +"Yes, yes. Women always want to know, lad. I have been long enough at +sea, you may be sure, to know that when anything is wrong, it is the +best thing to keep it from the passengers as long as you can." + +"You took the books away this morning, Captain Dave?" Cyril asked as +they sat down. + +"Ay, lad, I took them to Master Skinner, who bears as good a +reputation as any accountant in the city, and he promised to take +them in hand without loss of time; but I have been able to do nothing +here. John, or one or other of the boys, was always in the warehouse, +and I have had no opportunity of examining the door and shutters +closely. When the house is sound asleep we will take a lantern and go +down to look at them. I have been thinking that we must let John +Wilkes into this matter; it is too much to bear on my mind by myself. +He is my first mate, you see, and in time of danger, the first mate, +if he is worth anything, is the man the captain relies on for help." + +"By all means tell him, then," Cyril said. "I can keep books, but I +have no experience in matters like this, and shall be very glad to +have his opinion and advice." + +"There he is--half-past eight. He is as punctual as clockwork." + +Cyril ran down and let John in. + +"The Captain wants to speak to you," he said, "before you go up to +bed." + +John, after carefully bolting the door, followed him upstairs. + +"I have got some bad news for you, John. There, light your pipe +again, and sit down. My good dame has gone off to bed, and we have +got the cabin to ourselves." + +John touched an imaginary hat and obeyed orders. + +"The ship has sprung a bad leak, John. This lad here has found it +out, and it is well he did, for unless he had done so we should have +had her foundering under our feet without so much as suspecting +anything was going wrong." + +The sailor took his newly-lighted pipe from between his lips and +stared at the Captain in astonishment. + +"Yes, it is hard to believe, mate, but, by the Lord Harry, it is as I +say. There is a pirate about somewhere, and the books show that, +since the stock-taking fifteen months ago, he has eased the craft of +her goods to the tune of two thousand pounds and odd." + +John Wilkes flung his pipe on to the table with such force that it +shivered into fragments. + +"Dash my timbers!" he exclaimed. "Who is the man? You only give me +the orders, sir, and I am ready to range alongside and board him." + +"That is what we have got to find out, John. That the goods have gone +is certain, but how they can have gone beats us altogether." + +"Do you mean to say, Captain, that they have stolen them out of the +place under my eyes and me know nothing about it? It can't be, sir. +There must be some mistake. I know naught about figures, save enough +to put down the things I sell, but I don't believe as a thing has +gone out of the shop unbeknown to me. That yarn won't do for me, +sir," and he looked angrily at Cyril. + +"It is true enough, John, for all that. The books have been balanced +up. We knew what was in stock fifteen months ago, and we knew from +your sale-book what has passed out of the shop, and from your +entry-book what has come in. We know now what there is remaining. We +find that in bulky goods, such as cables and anchors and ships' +boilers and suchlike, the accounts tally exactly, but in the small +rope, and above all in the copper, there is a big shrinkage. I will +read you the figures of some of them." + +John's face grew longer and longer as he heard the totals read. + +"Well, I'm jiggered!" he said, when the list was concluded. "I could +have sworn that the cargo was right according to the manifest. Well, +Captain, all I can say is, if that 'ere list be correct, the best +thing you can do is to send me adrift as a blind fool. I have kept my +tallies as correct as I could, and I thought I had marked down every +package that has left the ship, and here they must have been passing +out pretty nigh in cart-loads under my very eyes, and I knew nothing +about it." + +"I don't blame you, John, more than I blame myself. I am generally +about on deck, and had no more idea that the cargo was being meddled +with than you had. I have been wrong in letting matters go on so long +without taking stock of them and seeing that it was all right; but I +never saw the need for it. This is what comes of taking to a trade +you know nothing about; we have just been like two children, thinking +that it was all plain and above board, and that we had nothing to do +but to sell our goods and to fill up again when the hold got empty. +Well, it is of no use talking over that part of the business. What we +have got to do is to find out this leak and stop it. We are pretty +well agreed, Cyril and me, that the things don't go out of the shop +by daylight. The question is, how do they go out at night?" + +"I always lock up the hatches according to orders, Captain." + +"Yes, I have no doubt you do, John; but maybe the fastenings have +been tampered with. The only way in which we see it can have been +managed is that someone has been in the habit of getting over the +wall between the yard and the lane, and then getting into the +warehouse somehow. It must have been done very often, for if the +things had been taken in considerable quantities you would have +noticed that the stock was short directly the next order came in. Now +I propose we light these two lanterns I have got here, and that we go +down and have a look round the hold." + +Lighting the candles, they went downstairs. The Captain took out the +key and turned the lock. It grated loudly as he did so. + +"That is a noisy lock," Cyril said. + +"It wants oiling," John replied. "I have been thinking of doing it +for the last month, but it has always slipped out of my mind." + +"At any rate," Cyril said, "it is certain that thieves could not have +got into the shop this way, for the noise would have been heard all +over the house." + +The door between the shop and the warehouse was next unlocked. The +fastenings of the shutters and doors were first examined; there was +no sign of their having been tampered with. Each bolt and hasp was +tried, and the screws examined. Then they went round trying every one +of the stout planks that formed the side; all were firm and in good +condition. + +"It beats me altogether," the Captain said, when they had finished +their examination. "The things cannot walk out of themselves; they +have got to be carried. But how the fellows who carry them get in is +more than I can say. There is nowhere else to look, is there, John?" + +"Not that I can see, Captain." + +They went to the door into the shop, and were about to close it, when +Cyril said,-- + +"Some of the things that are gone are generally kept in here, +Captain--the rope up to two inch, for example, and a good deal of +canvas, and most of the smaller copper fittings; so that, whoever the +thief is, he must have been in the habit of coming in here as well as +into the warehouse." + +"That is so, lad. Perhaps they entered from this side." + +"Will you hold the lantern here, John?" Cyril said. + +The sailor held the lantern to the lock. + +"There are no scratches nor signs of tools having been used here," +Cyril said, examining both the lock and the door-post. "Whether the +thief came into the warehouse first, or not, he must have had a key." + +The Captain nodded. + +"Thieves generally carry a lot of keys with them, Cyril; and if one +does not quite fit they can file it until it does." + +The shutters of the shop window and its fastenings, and those of the +door, were as secure as those of the warehouse, and, completely +puzzled, the party went upstairs again. + +"There must be some way of getting in and out, although we can't find +it," Captain Dave said. "Things can't have gone off by themselves." + +"It may be, Captain," John Wilkes said, "that some of the planks may +be loose." + +"But we tried them all, John." + +"Ay, they seem firm enough, but it may be that one of them is wedged +in, and that when the wedges are taken out it could be pulled off." + +"I think you would have noticed it, John. If there was anything of +that sort it must be outside. However, we will take a good look round +the yard to-morrow. The warehouse is strongly built, and I don't +believe that any plank could be taken off and put back again, time +after time, without making a noise that would be heard in the house. +What do you think, Cyril?" + +"I agree with you, Captain Dave. How the thieves make an entry I +can't imagine, but I don't believe that it is through the wall of the +warehouse. I am convinced that the robberies must have been very +frequent. Had a large amount been taken at a time, John Wilkes would +have been sure to notice it. Then, again, the thieves would not come +so often, and each time for a comparatively small amount of booty, +unless it could be managed without any serious risk or trouble. +However, now that we do know that they come, we shall have, I should +think, very little difficulty in finding out how it is done." + +"You may warrant we will keep a sharp look-out," John Wilkes said +savagely. "If the Captain will give me the use of a room at the back +of the house, you may be sure I shan't close an eye till I have got +to the bottom of the matter. I am responsible for the cargo below, +and if I had kept as sharp an eye on the stores as I ought to have +done, this would not have happened. Only let me catch them trying to +board, and I will give them such a reception that I warrant me they +will sheer off with a bullet or two in them. I have got that pair of +boarding pistols, and a cutlass, hung up over my bed." + +"You must not do that, John," the Captain said. "It isn't a matter of +beating off the pirates by pouring a broadside into them. Maybe you +might cripple them, more likely they would make off, and we want to +capture them. Therefore, I say, let us watch, and find out how they +do it. When we once know that, we can lay our plans for capturing +them the next time they come. I will take watch and watch with you." + +"Well, if it goes on long, Captain, I won't say no to that; but for +to-night anyhow I will sit up alone." + +"Very well, let it be so, John. But mind, whatever you see, you keep +as still as a mouse. Just steal to my room in your stockinged feet +directly you see anything moving. Open the door and say, 'Strange +sail in sight!' and I will be over at your window in no time. And +now, Cyril, you and I may as well turn in." + +The night passed quietly. + +"You saw nothing, I suppose, John?" the Captain said next morning, +after the apprentices had gone down from breakfast. + +"Not a thing, Captain." + +"Now we will go and have a look in the yard. Will you come, Cyril?" + +"I should like to come," Cyril replied, "but, as I have never been +out there before, had you not better make some pretext for me to do +so. You might say, in the hearing of the apprentices, 'We may as well +take the measurements for that new shed we were talking about, and +see how much boarding it will require.' Then you can call to me out +from the office to come and help you to measure." + +"Then you still think the apprentices are in it?" John Wilkes asked +sharply. + +"I don't say I think so, John. I have nothing against them. I don't +believe they could come down at night without being heard; I feel +sure they could not get into the shop without that stiff bolt making +a noise. Still, as it is possible they may be concerned in the +matter, I think that, now we have it in good train for getting to the +bottom of it, it would be well to keep the matter altogether to +ourselves." + +"Quite right," Captain Dave said approvingly. "When you suspect +treachery, don't let a soul think that you have got such a matter in +your mind, until you are in a position to take the traitor by the +collar and put a pistol to his ear. That idea of yours is a very good +one; I will say something about the shed to John this morning, and +then when you go down to the counting-house after dinner I will call +to you to come out to the yard with us." + +After dinner, Captain Dave went with Cyril into the counting-house. + +"We had an order in this morning for a set of ship's anchors, and +John and I have been in the yard looking them out; we looked over the +place pretty sharply, as you may be sure, but as far as we could see +the place is as solid as when it was built, fifty years ago, by my +father." + +The Captain went out into the store, and ten minutes afterwards +re-entered the shop and shouted,-- + +"Come out here, Cyril, and lend a hand. We are going to take those +measurements. Bring out your ink-horn, and a bit of paper to put them +down as we take them." + +The yard was some sixty feet long by twenty-five broad, exclusive of +the space occupied by the warehouse. This, as Cyril had observed from +the window above, did not extend as far as the back wall; but on +walking round there with the two men, he found that the distance was +greater than he had expected, and that there was a space of some +twenty feet clear. + +"This is where we are thinking of putting the shed," the Captain said +in a loud voice. + +"But I see that you have a crane and door into the loft over the +warehouse there," Cyril said, looking up. + +"We never use that now. When my father first began business, he used +to buy up old junk and such-like stores, and store them up there, but +it didn't pay for the trouble; and, besides, as you see, he wanted +every foot of the yard room, and of course at that time they had to +leave a space clear for the carts to come up from the gate round +here, so it was given up, and the loft is empty now." + +Cyril looked up at the crane. It was swung round so as to lie flat +against the wooden shutters. The rope was still through the block, +and passed into the loft through a hole cut at the junction of the +shutters. + +They now measured the space between the warehouse and the wall, the +Captain repeating the figures, still in a loud voice; then they +discussed the height of the walls, and after some argument between +the Captain and John Wilkes agreed that this should be the same as +the rest of the building. Still talking on the subject, they returned +through the warehouse, Cyril on the way taking a look at the massive +gate that opened into the lane. In addition to a heavy bar it had a +strong hasp, fastened by a great padlock. The apprentices were busy +at work coiling up some rope when they passed by. + +"When we have knocked a door through the end there, John," Captain +Dave said, "it will give you a deal more room, and you will be able +to get rid of all these cables and heavy dunnage, and to have matters +more ship-shape here." + +While they had been taking the measurements, all three had carefully +examined the wall of the warehouse. + +"There is nothing wrong there, Cyril," his employer said, as, leaving +John Wilkes in the warehouse, they went through the shop into the +little office. + +"Certainly nothing that I could see, Captain Dave. I did not before +know the loft had any opening to the outside. Of course I have seen +the ladder going up from the warehouse to that trap-door; but as it +was closed I thought no more of it." + +"I don't suppose anyone has been up there for years, lad. What, are +you thinking that someone might get in through those shutters? Why, +they are twenty feet from the ground, so that you would want a long +ladder, and when you got up there you would find that you could not +open the shutters. I said nobody had been up there, but I did go up +myself to have a look round when I first settled down here, and there +is a big bar with a padlock." + +Cyril thought no more about it, and after supper it was arranged that +he and Captain Dave should keep watch by turns at the window of the +room that had been now given to John Wilkes, and that the latter +should have a night in his berth, as the Captain expressed it. John +Wilkes had made some opposition, saying that he would be quite +willing to take his watch. + +"You will just obey orders, John," the Captain said. "You have had +thirty-six hours off the reel on duty, and you have got to be at work +all day to-morrow again. You shall take the middle watch to-morrow +night if you like, but one can see with half an eye that you are not +fit to be on the lookout to-night. I doubt if any of us could see as +far as the length of the bowsprit. It is pretty nearly pitch dark; +there is not a star to be seen, and it looked to me, when I turned +out before supper, as if we were going to have a storm." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURED + + +It was settled that Cyril was to take the first watch, and that the +Captain should relieve him at one o'clock. At nine, the family went +to bed. A quarter of an hour later, Cyril stole noiselessly from his +attic down to John Wilkes's room. The door had been left ajar, and +the candle was still burning. + +"I put a chair by the window," the sailor said, from his bed, "and +left the light, for you might run foul of something or other in the +dark, though I have left a pretty clear gangway for you." + +Cyril blew out the candle, and seated himself at the window. For a +time he could see nothing, and told himself that the whole contents +of the warehouse might be carried off without his being any the +wiser. + +"I shall certainly see nothing," he said to himself; "but, at least, +I may hear something." + +So saying, he turned the fastening of the casement and opened it +about half an inch. As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he +was able to make out the line of the roof of the warehouse, which was +some three or four feet below the level of his eyes, and some twenty +feet away on his left. The time passed slowly. He kept himself awake +by thinking over the old days in France, the lessons he had learnt +with his friend, Harry Parton, and the teaching of the old clergyman. + +He heard the bell of St. Paul's strike ten and eleven. The last +stroke had scarcely ceased to vibrate when he rose to his feet +suddenly. He heard, on his left, a scraping noise. A moment later it +ceased, and then was renewed again. It lasted but a few seconds; then +he heard an irregular, shuffling noise, that seemed to him upon the +roof of the warehouse. Pressing his face to the casement, he suddenly +became aware that the straight line of the ridge was broken by +something moving along it, and a moment later he made out a second +object, just behind the first. Moving with the greatest care, he made +his way out of the room, half closed the door behind him, crossed the +passage, and pushed at a door opposite. + +"Captain Dave," he said, in a low voice, "get up at once, and please +don't make a noise." + +"Ay, ay, lad." + +There was a movement from the bed, and a moment later the Captain +stood beside him. + +"What is it, lad?" he whispered. + +"There are two figures moving along on the ridge of the roof of the +warehouse. I think it is the apprentices. I heard a slight noise, as +if they were letting themselves down from their window by a rope. It +is just over that roof, you know." + +There was a rustling sound as the Captain slipped his doublet on. + +"That is so. The young scoundrels! What can they be doing on the +roof?" + +They went to the window behind. Just as they reached it there was a +vivid flash of lightning. It sufficed to show them a figure lying at +full length at the farther end of the roof; then all was dark again, +and a second or two later came a sharp, crashing roar of thunder. + +"We had better stand well back from the window," Cyril whispered. +"Another flash might show us to anyone looking this way." + +"What does it mean, lad? What on earth is that boy doing there? I +could not see which it was." + +"I think it is Ashford," Cyril said. "The figure in front seemed the +smaller of the two." + +"But where on earth can Tom have got to?" + +"I should fancy, sir, that Robert has lowered him so that he can get +his feet on the crane and swing it outwards; then he might sit down +on it and swing himself by the rope into the loft if the doors are +not fastened inside. Robert, being taller, would have no difficulty +in lowering himself--There!" he broke off, as another flash of +lightning lit up the sky. "He has gone, now; there is no one on the +roof." + +John Wilkes was by this time standing beside them, having started up +at the first flash of lightning. + +"Do you go up, John, into their room," the Captain said. "I think +there can be no doubt that these fellows on the roof are Ashford and +Frost, but it is as well to be able to swear to it." + +The foreman returned in a minute or two. + +"The room is empty, Captain; the window is open, and there is a rope +hanging down from it. Shall I cast it adrift?" + +"Certainly not, John. We do not mean to take them tonight, and they +must be allowed to go back to their beds without a suspicion that +they have been watched. I hope and trust that it is not so bad as it +looks, and that the boys have only broken out from devilry. You know, +boys will do things of that sort just because it is forbidden." + +"There must be more than that," John Wilkes said. "If it had been +just after they went to their rooms, it might be that they went to +some tavern or other low resort, but the town is all asleep now." + +They again went close to the window, pushed the casement a little +more open, and stood listening there. In two or three minutes there +was a very slight sound heard. + +"They are unbolting the door into the yard," John Wilkes whispered. +"I would give a month's pay to be behind them with a rope's end." + +Half a minute later there was a sudden gleam of light below, and they +could see the door open. The light disappeared again, but they heard +footsteps; then they saw the light thrown on the fastening to the +outer gate, and could make out that two figures below were applying a +key to the padlock. This was taken off and laid down; then the heavy +wooden bar was lifted, and also laid on the ground. The gate opened +as if pushed from the other side. The two figures went out; the sound +of a low murmur of conversation could be heard; then they returned, +the gate was closed and fastened again, they entered the warehouse, +the light disappeared, and the door was closed. + +"That's how the things went, John." + +"Ay, ay, sir," the foreman growled. + +"As they were undoing the gate, the light fell on a coil of rope they +had set down there, and a bag which I guess had copper of some kind +in it. They have done us cleverly, the young villains! There was not +noise enough to wake a cat. They must have had every bolt and hinge +well oiled." + +"We had better close the casement now, sir, for as they come back +along the ridge they will be facing it, and if a flash of lightning +came they would see that it was half open, and even if they did not +catch sight of our faces they would think it suspicious that the +window should be open, and it might put them on their guard." + +"Yes; and we may as well turn in at once, John. Like enough when they +get back they will listen for a bit at their door, so as to make sure +that everything is quiet before they turn in. There is nothing more +to see now. Of course they will get in as they got out. You had +better turn in as you are, Cyril; they may listen at your door." + +Cyril at once went up to his room, closed the door, placed a chair +against it, and then lay down on his bed. He listened intently, and +four or five minutes later thought that he heard a door open; but he +could not be sure, for just at that moment heavy drops began to +patter down upon the tiles. The noise rose louder and louder until he +could scarce have heard himself speak. Then there was a bright flash +and the deep rumble of the thunder mingled with the sharp rattle of +the raindrops overhead. He listened for a time to the storm, and then +dropped off to sleep. + +Things went on as usual at breakfast the next morning. During the +meal, Captain Dave gave the foreman several instructions as to the +morning's work. + +"I am going on board the _Royalist_," he said. "John Browning wants +me to overhaul all the gear, and see what will do for another voyage +or two, and what must be new. His skipper asked for new running +rigging all over, but he thinks that there can't be any occasion for +its all being renewed. I don't expect I shall be in till dinner-time, +so anyone that wants to see me must come again in the afternoon." + +Ten minutes later, Cyril went out, on his way to his work. Captain +Dave was standing a few doors away. + +"Before I go on board the brig, lad, I am going up to the Chief +Constable's to arrange about this business. I want to get four men of +the watch. Of course, it may be some nights before this is tried +again, so I shall have the men stowed away in the kitchen. Then we +must keep watch, and as soon as we see those young villains on the +roof, we will let the men out at the front door. Two will post +themselves this end of the lane, and two go round into Leadenhall +Street and station themselves at the other end. When the boys go out +after supper we will unlock the door at the bottom of the stairs into +the shop, and the door into the warehouse. Then we will steal down +into the shop and listen there until we hear them open the door into +the yard, and then go into the warehouse and be ready to make a rush +out as soon as they get the gate open. John will have his boatswain's +whistle ready, and will give the signal. That will bring the watch +up, so they will be caught in a trap." + +"I should think that would be a very good plan, Captain Dave, though +I wish that it could have been done without Tom Frost being taken. He +is a timid sort of boy, and I have no doubt that he has been entirely +under the thumb of Robert." + +"Well, if he has he will get off lightly," the Captain said. "Even if +a boy is a timid boy, he knows what will be the consequences if he is +caught robbing his master. Cowardice is no excuse for crime, lad. The +boys have always been well treated, and though I dare say Ashford is +the worst of the two, if the other had been honest he would not have +seen him robbing me without letting me know." + +For six nights watch was kept without success. Every evening, when +the family and apprentices had retired to rest, John Wilkes went +quietly downstairs and admitted the four constables, letting them out +in the morning before anyone was astir. Mrs. Dowsett had been taken +into her husband's confidence so far as to know that he had +discovered he had been robbed, and was keeping a watch for the +thieves. She was not told that the apprentices were concerned in the +matter, for Captain Dave felt sure that, however much she might try +to conceal it, Robert Ashford would perceive, by her looks, that +something was wrong. + +Nellie was told a day or two later, for, although ignorant of her +father's nightly watchings, she was conscious from his manner, and +that of her mother, that something was amiss, and was so persistent +in her inquiries, that the Captain consented to her mother telling +her that he had a suspicion he was being robbed, and warning her that +it was essential that the subject must not be in any way alluded to. + +"Your father is worrying over it a good deal, Nellie, and it is +better that he should not perceive that you are aware of it. Just let +things go on as they were." + +"Is the loss serious, mother?" + +"Yes; he thinks that a good deal of money has gone. I don't think he +minds that so much as the fact that, so far, he doesn't know who the +people most concerned in it may be. He has some sort of suspicion in +one quarter, but has no clue whatever to the men most to blame." + +"Does Cyril know anything about it?" Nellie asked suddenly. + +"Yes, he knows, my dear; indeed, it was owing to his cleverness that +your father first came to have suspicions." + +"Oh! that explains it," Nellie said. "He had been talking to father, +and I asked what it was about and he would not tell me, and I have +been very angry with him ever since." + +"I have noticed that you have been behaving very foolishly," Mrs. +Dowsett said quietly, "and that for the last week you have been +taking Robert with you as an escort when you went out of an evening. +I suppose you did that to annoy Cyril, but I don't think that he +minded much." + +"I don't think he did, mother," Nellie agreed, with a laugh which +betrayed a certain amount of irritation. "I saw that he smiled, two +or three evenings back, when I told Robert at supper that I wanted +him to go out with me, and I was rarely angry, I can tell you." + +Cyril had indeed troubled himself in no way about Nellie's coolness; +but when she had so pointedly asked Robert to go with her, he had +been amused at the thought of how greatly she would be mortified, +when Robert was haled up to the Guildhall for robbing her father, at +the thought that he had been accompanying her as an escort. + +"I rather hope this will be our last watch, Captain Dave," he said, +on the seventh evening. + +"Why do you hope so specially to-night, lad?" + +"Of course I have been hoping so every night. But I think it is +likely that the men who take the goods come regularly once a week; +for in that case there would be no occasion for them to meet at other +times to arrange on what night they should be in the lane." + +"Yes, that is like enough, Cyril; and the hour will probably be the +same, too. John and I will share your watch to-night, so as to be +ready to get the men off without loss of time." + +Cyril had always taken the first watch, which was from half-past nine +till twelve. The Captain and Wilkes had taken the other watches by +turns. + +As before, just as the bell finished striking eleven, the three +watchers again heard through the slightly open casement the scraping +noise on the left. It had been agreed that they should not move, lest +the sound should be heard outside. Each grasped the stout cudgel he +held in his hand, and gazed at the roof of the warehouse, which could +now be plainly seen, for the moon was half full and the sky was +clear. As before, the two figures went along, and this time they +could clearly recognise them. They were both sitting astride of the +ridge tiles, and moved themselves along by means of their hands. They +waited until they saw one after the other disappear at the end of the +roof, and then John Wilkes quietly stole downstairs. The four +constables had been warned to be specially wakeful. + +"They are at it again to-night," John said to them, as he entered. +"Now, do you two who go round into Leadenhall Street start at once, +but don't take your post at the end of the lane for another five or +six minutes. The thieves outside may not have come up at present. As +you go out, leave the door ajar; in five minutes you others should +stand ready. Don't go to the corner, but wait in the doorway below +until you hear the whistle. They will be only fifteen or twenty yards +up the lane, and would see you if you took up your station at the +corner; but the moment you hear the whistle, rush out and have at +them. We shall be there before you will." + +John went down with the last two men, entered the shop, and stood +there waiting until he should be joined by his master. The latter and +Cyril remained at the window until they saw the door of the warehouse +open, and then hurried downstairs. Both were in their stockinged +feet, so that their movements should be noiseless. + +"Come on, John; they are in the yard," the Captain whispered; and +they entered the warehouse and went noiselessly on, until they stood +at the door. The process of unbarring the gate was nearly +accomplished. As it swung open, John Wilkes put his whistle to his +lips and blew a loud, shrill call, and the three rushed forward. +There was a shout of alarm, a fierce imprecation, and three of the +four figures at the gate sprang at them. Scarce a blow had been +struck when the two constables ran up and joined in the fray. Two men +fought stoutly, but were soon overpowered. Robert Ashford, knife in +hand, had attacked John Wilkes with fury, and would have stabbed him, +as his attention was engaged upon one of the men outside, had not +Cyril brought his cudgel down sharply on his knuckles, when, with a +yell of pain, he dropped the knife and fled up the lane. He had gone +but a short distance, however, when he fell into the hands of the two +constables, who were running towards him. One of them promptly +knocked him down with his cudgel, and then proceeded to bind his +hands behind him, while the other ran on to join in the fray. It was +over before he got there, and his comrades were engaged in binding +the two robbers. Tom Frost had taken no part in the fight. He stood +looking on, paralysed with terror, and when the two men were +overpowered he fell on his knees beseeching his master to have mercy +on him. + +"It is too late, Tom," the Captain said. "You have been robbing me +for months, and now you have been caught in the act you will have to +take your share in the punishment. You are a prisoner of the +constables here, and not of mine, and even if I were willing to let +you go, they would have their say in the matter. Still, if you make a +clean breast of what you know about it, I will do all I can to get +you off lightly; and seeing that you are but a boy, and have been, +perhaps, led into this, they will not be disposed to be hard on you. +Pick up that lantern and bring it here, John; let us see what +plunder, they were making off with." + +There was no rope this time, but a bag containing some fifty pounds' +weight of brass and copper fittings. One of the constables took +possession of this. + +"You had better come along with us to the Bridewell, Master Dowsett, +to sign the charge sheet, though I don't know whether it is +altogether needful, seeing that we have caught them in the act; and +you will all three have to be at the Court to-morrow at ten o'clock." + +"I will go with you," the Captain said; "but I will first slip in and +put my shoes on; I brought them down in my hand and shall be ready in +a minute. You may as well lock up this gate again, John. I will go +out through the front door and join them in the lane." As he went +into the house, John Wilkes closed the gate and put up the bar, then +took up the lantern and said to Cyril,-- + +"Well, Master Cyril, this has been a good night's work, and mighty +thankful I am that we have caught the pirates. It was a good day for +us all when you came to the Captain, or they might have gone on +robbing him till the time came that there was nothing more to rob; +and I should never have held up my head again, for though the Captain +would never believe that I had had a hand in bringing him to ruin, +other people would not have thought so, and I might never have got a +chance of proving my innocence. Now we will just go to the end of the +yard and see if they did manage to get into the warehouse by means of +that crane, as you thought they did." + +They found that the crane had been swung out just far enough to +afford a foot-hold to those lowering themselves on to it from the +roof. The door of the loft stood open. + +"Just as you said. You could not have been righter, not if you had +seen them at it. And now I reckon we may as well lock up the place +again, and turn in. The Captain has got the key of the front door, +and we will leave the lantern burning at the bottom of the stairs." + +Cyril got up as soon as he heard a movement in the house, and went +down to the shop, which had been already opened by John Wilkes. + +"It seems quiet here, without the apprentices, John. Is there any way +in which I can help?" + +"No, thank you, sir. We shan't be moving the goods about till after +breakfast, and then, no doubt, the Captain will get an extra man in +to help me. I reckon he will have to get a neighbour in to give an +eye to the place while we are all away at the Court." + +"I see there is the rope still hanging from their window," Cyril +said, as he went out into the yard. + +"I thought it best to leave it there," John Wilkes replied, "and I +ain't been up into the loft either. It is best to leave matters just +as they were. Like enough, they will send an officer down from the +Court to look at them." + +When the family assembled at breakfast, Mrs. Dowsett was looking very +grave. The Captain, on the other hand, was in capital spirits. +Nellie, as usual, was somewhat late. + +"Where is everybody?" she asked in surprise, seeing that Cyril alone +was in his place with her father and mother. + +"John Wilkes is downstairs, looking after the shop, and will come up +and have his breakfast when we have done," her father replied. + +"Are both the apprentices out, then?" she asked. + +"The apprentices are in limbo," the Captain said grimly. + +"In limbo, father! What does that mean?" + +"It means that they are in gaol, my dear." + +Nellie put down the knife and fork that she had just taken up. + +"Are you joking, father?" + +"Very far from it, my dear; it is no joke to any of us--certainly not +to me, and not to Robert Ashford, or Tom Frost. They have been +robbing me for the last year, and, for aught I know, before that. If +it had not been for Master Cyril it would not have been very long +before I should have had to put my shutters up." + +"But how could they rob you, father?" + +"By stealing my goods, and selling them, Nellie. The way they did it +was to lower themselves by a rope from their window on to the roof of +the warehouse, and to get down at the other end on to the crane, and +then into the loft. Then they went down and took what they had a +fancy to, undid the door, and went into the yard, and then handed +over their booty to the fellows waiting at the gate for it. Last +night we caught them at it, after having been on the watch for ten +days." + +"That is what I heard last night, then," she said. "I was woke by a +loud whistle, and then I heard a sound of quarrelling and fighting in +the lane. I thought it was some roysterers going home late. Oh, +father, it is dreadful to think of! And what will they do to them?" + +"It is a hanging matter," the Captain said; "it is not only theft, +but mutiny. No doubt the judges will take a lenient view of Tom +Frost's case, both on the ground of his youth, and because, no doubt, +he was influenced by Ashford; but I would not give much for Robert's +chances. No doubt it will be a blow to you, Nellie, for you seem to +have taken to him mightily of late." + +Nellie was about to give an emphatic contradiction, but as she +remembered how pointedly she had asked for his escort during the last +few days, she flushed up, and was silent. + +"It is terrible to think of," she said, after a pause. "I suppose +this is what you and Cyril were consulting about, father. I have to +ask your pardon, Master Cyril, for my rudeness to you; but of course +I did not think it was anything of consequence, or that you could not +have told me if you had wished to do so." + +"You need not beg my pardon, Mistress Nellie. No doubt you thought it +churlish on my part to refuse to gratify your curiosity, and I am not +surprised that you took offence. I knew that when you learned how +important it was to keep silence over the matter, that you would +acquit me of the intention of making a mystery about nothing." + +"I suppose you knew, mother?" Nellie asked. + +"I knew that your father believed that he was being robbed, Nellie, +and that he was keeping watch for some hours every night, but I did +not know that he suspected the apprentices. I am glad that we did +not, for assuredly we should have found it very hard to school our +faces so that they should not guess that aught was wrong." + +"That was why we said nothing about it, Nellie. It has been as much +as I have been able to do to sit at table, and talk in the shop as +usual, with boys I knew were robbing me; and I know honest John +Wilkes must have felt it still more. But till a week ago we would not +believe that they had a hand in the matter. It is seven nights since +Cyril caught them creeping along the roof, and called me to the +window in John Wilkes's room, whence he was watching the yard, not +thinking the enemy was in the house." + +"And how did you come to suspect that robbery was going on, Cyril?" + +"Simply because, on making up the books, I found there was a great +deficiency in the stores." + +"That is what he was doing when he was sitting up at night, after you +were in bed, Miss Nellie," her father said. "You may thank your stars +that he took a berth in this ship, for the scoundrels would have +foundered her to a certainty, if he had not done so. I tell you, +child, he has saved this craft from going to the bottom. I have not +said much to him about it, but he knows that I don't feel it any the +less." + +"And who were the other men who were taken, father?" + +"That I can't tell you, Nellie. I went to the Bridewell with them, +and as soon as I saw them safely lodged there I came home. They will +be had up before the Lord Mayor this morning, and then I dare say I +shall know all about them. Now I must go and take my watch below, and +let John Wilkes come off duty." + +"Why, John, what is the matter?" Mrs. Dowsett said, when the foreman +entered. + +"Nothing worth speaking of, Mistress. I got a clip over the eye from +one of the pirates we were capturing. The thing mattered nothing, one +way or the other, but it might have cost me my life, because, for a +moment, it pretty well dazed me. That young villain, Bob, was just +coming at me with his knife, and I reckon it would have gone hard +with me if Master Cyril here hadn't, just in the nick of time, +brought his stick down on Robert's knuckles, and that so sharply that +the fellow dropped his knife with a yell, and took to his heels, only +to fall into the hands of two of the watch coming from the other end +of the lane. You did me a good turn, lad, and if ever I get the +chance of ranging up alongside of you in a fray, you may trust me to +return it." + +He held out his hand to Cyril, and gave a warm grip to the hand the +latter laid in it. + +"It is a rum start, Mistress," John went on, as he sat down to his +meal, "that two old hands like the Captain and I were sailing on, not +dreaming of hidden rocks or sand-banks, when this lad, who I used to +look upon as a young cockerel who was rather above his position, +should come forward and have saved us all from shipwreck." + +"It is indeed, John," his mistress said earnestly, "and I thank God +indeed that He put the thought into the minds of Captain Dave and +myself to ask him to take up his abode with us. It seemed to us then +that we were doing a little kindness that would cost us nothing, +whereas it has turned out the saving of us." + +"Dear, dear!" Nellie, who had been sitting with a frown on her pretty +face, said pettishly. "What a talk there will be about it all, and +how Jane Greenwood and Martha Stebbings and the rest of them will +laugh at me! They used to say they wondered how I could go about with +such an ugly wretch behind me, and of course I spoke up for him and +said that he was an honest knave and faithful; and now it turns out +that he is a villain and a robber. I shall never hear the last of +him." + +"You will get over that, Nellie," her mother said severely. "It would +be much better if, instead of thinking of such trifles, you would +consider how sad a thing it is that two lads should lose their +character, and perhaps their lives, simply for their greed of other +people's goods. I could cry when I think of it. I know that Robert +Ashford has neither father nor mother to grieve about him, for my +husband's father took him out of sheer charity; but Tom's parents are +living, and it will be heart-breaking indeed to them when they hear +of their son's misdoings." + +"I trust that Captain Dave will get him off," Cyril said. "As he is +so young he may turn King's evidence, and I feel sure that he did not +go willingly into the affair. I have noticed many times that he had a +frightened look, as if he had something on his mind. I believe that +he acted under fear of the other." + +As soon as John Wilkes had finished his breakfast he went with +Captain Dave and Cyril to the Magistrates' Court at the Guildhall. +Some other cases were first heard, and then the apprentices, with the +two men who had been captured in the lane, were brought in and placed +in the dock. The men bore marks that showed they had been engaged in +a severe struggle, and that the watch had used their staves with +effect. One was an elderly man with shaggy grey eyebrows; the other +was a very powerfully built fellow, who seemed, from his attire, to +follow the profession of a sailor. Tom Frost was sobbing bitterly. +One of Robert Ashford's hands was bandaged up. As he was placed in +the dock he cast furtive glances round with his shifty eyes, and as +they fell upon Cyril an expression of deadly hate came over his face. +The men of the watch who had captured them first gave their evidence +as to finding them in the act of robbery, and testified to the +desperate resistance they had offered to capture. Captain Dave then +entered the witness-box, and swore first to the goods that were found +on them being his property, and then related how, it having come to +his knowledge that he was being robbed, he had set a watch, and had, +eight days previously, seen his two apprentices getting along the +roof, and how they had come out from the warehouse door, had opened +the outer gate, and had handed over some goods they had brought out +to persons unknown waiting to receive them. + +"Why did you not stop them in their commission of the theft?" the +Alderman in the Chair asked. + +"Because, sir, had I done so, the men I considered to be the chief +criminals, and who had doubtless tempted my apprentices to rob me, +would then have made off. Therefore, I thought it better to wait +until I could lay hands on them also, and so got four men of the +watch to remain in the house at night." + +Then he went on to relate how, after watching seven nights, he had +again seen the apprentices make their way along the roof, and how +they and the receivers of their booty were taken by the watch, aided +by himself, his foreman, and Master Cyril Shenstone, who was dwelling +in his house. + +After John Wilkes had given his evidence, Cyril went into the box and +related how, being engaged by Captain David Dowsett to make up his +books, he found, upon stock being taken, that there was a deficiency +to the amount of many hundreds of pounds in certain stores, notably +such as were valuable without being bulky. + +"Is anything known as to the prisoners?" the magistrate asked the +officer of the city watch in charge of the case. + +"Nothing is known of the two boys, your honour; but the men are well +known. The elder, who gave the name of Peter Johnson, is one Joseph +Marner; he keeps a marine shop close to the Tower. For a long time he +has been suspected of being a receiver of stolen goods, but we have +never been able to lay finger on him before. The other man has, for +the last year, acted as his assistant in the shop; he answers closely +to the description of a man, Ephraim Fowler, who has long been +wanted. This man was a seaman in a brig trading to Yarmouth. After an +altercation with the captain he stabbed him, and then slew the mate +who was coming to his assistance; then with threats he compelled the +other two men on board to let him take the boat. When they were off +Brightlingsea he rowed away, and has not been heard of since. If you +will remand them, before he comes up again I hope to find the men who +were on board, and see if they identify him. We are in possession of +Joseph Marner's shop, and have found large quantities of goods that +we have reason to believe are the proceeds of these and other +robberies." + +After the prisoners had left the dock, Captain Dave went up to the +officer. + +"I believe," he said, "that the boy has not voluntarily taken part in +these robberies, but has been led away, or perhaps obliged by threats +to take part in them; he may be able to give you some assistance, for +maybe these men are not the only persons to whom the stolen goods +have been sold, and he may be able to put you on the track of other +receivers." + +"The matter is out of my hands now," the officer said, "but I will +represent what you say in the proper quarter; and now you had better +come round with me; you may be able to pick out some of your +property. We only made a seizure of the place an hour ago. I had all +the men who came in on duty this morning to take a look at the +prisoners. Fortunately two or three of them recognised Marner, and +you may guess we lost no time in getting a search warrant and going +down to his place. It is the most important capture we have made for +some time, and may lead to the discovery of other robberies that have +been puzzling us for months past. There is a gang known as the Black +Gang, but we have never been able to lay hands on any of their +leaders, and such fellows as have been captured have refused to say a +word, and have denied all knowledge of it. There have been a number +of robberies of a mysterious kind, none of which have we been able to +trace, and they have been put down to the same gang. The Chief +Constable is waiting for me there, and we shall make a thorough +search of the premises, and it is like enough we shall come across +some clue of importance. At any rate, if we can find some of the +articles stolen in the robberies I am speaking of, it will be a +strong proof that Marner is one of the chiefs of the gang, and that +may lead to further discoveries." + +"You had better come with us, John," Captain Dave said. "You know our +goods better than I do myself. Will you come, Cyril?" + +"I should be of no use in identifying the goods, sir, and I am due in +half an hour at one of my shops." + +The search was an exhaustive one. There was no appearance of an +underground cellar, but on some of the boards of the shop being taken +up, it was found that there was a large one extending over the whole +house. This contained an immense variety of goods. In one corner was +a pile of copper bolts that Captain Dave and John were able to claim +at once, as they bore the brand of the maker from whom they obtained +their stock. There were boxes of copper and brass ship and house +fittings, and a very large quantity of rope, principally of the sizes +in which the stock had been found deficient; but to these Captain +Dave was unable to swear. In addition to these articles the cellar +contained a number of chests, all of which were found to be filled +with miscellaneous articles of wearing apparel--rolls of silk, +velvet, cloth, and other materials--curtains, watches, clocks, +ornaments of all kinds, and a considerable amount of plate. As among +these were many articles which answered to the descriptions given of +goods that had been stolen from country houses, the whole were +impounded by the Chief Constable, and carried away in carts. The +upper part of the house was carefully searched, the walls tapped, +wainscotting pulled down, and the floors carefully examined. Several +hiding-places were found, but nothing of any importance discovered in +them. + +"I should advise you," the Chief Constable said to Captain Dave, "to +put in a claim for every article corresponding with those you have +lost. Of course, if anyone else comes forward and also puts in a +claim, the matter will have to be gone into, and if neither of you +can absolutely swear to the things, I suppose you will have to settle +it somehow between you. If no one else claims them, you will get them +all without question, for you can swear that, to the best of your +knowledge and belief, they are yours, and bring samples of your own +goods to show that they exactly correspond with them. I have no doubt +that a good deal of the readily saleable stuff, such as ropes, brass +sheaves for blocks, and things of that sort, will have been sold, but +as it is clear that there is a good deal of your stuff in the stock +found below, I hope your loss will not be very great. There is no +doubt it has been a splendid find for us. It is likely enough that we +shall discover among those boxes goods that have been obtained from a +score of robberies in London, and likely enough in the country. We +have arrested three men we found in the place, and two women, and may +get from some of them information that will enable us to lay hands on +some of the others concerned in these robberies." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +KIDNAPPED + + +That afternoon Captain Dave went down to the Bridewell, and had an +interview with Tom Frost, in the presence of the Master of the +prison. + +"Well, Tom, I never expected to have to come to see you in a place +like this." + +"I am glad I am here, master," the boy said earnestly, with tears in +his eyes. "I don't mind if they hang me; I would rather anything than +go on as I have been doing. I knew it must come, and whenever I heard +anyone walk into the shop I made sure it was a constable. I am ready +to tell everything, master; I know I deserve whatever I shall get, +but that won't hurt me half as much as it has done, having to go on +living in the house with you, and knowing I was helping to rob you +all along." + +"Anything that you say must be taken down," the officer said; "and I +can't promise that it will make any difference in your sentence." + +"I do not care anything about that; I am going to tell the truth." + +"Very well, then, I will take down anything you say. But wait a +minute." + +He went to the door of the room and called. + +"Is the Chief Constable in?" he asked a man who came up. "If he is, +ask him to step here." + +A minute later the Chief Constable came in. + +"This prisoner wishes to make a confession, Master Holmes. I thought +it best that you should be here. You can hear what he says then, and +it may help you in your inquiry. Besides, you may think of questions +on points he may not mention; he understands that he is speaking +entirely of his own free will, and that I have given him no promise +whatever that his so doing will alter his sentence, although no doubt +it will be taken into consideration." + +"Quite so," the constable said. "This is not a case where one +prisoner would be ordinarily permitted to turn King's evidence +against the others, because, as they were caught in the act, no such +evidence is necessary. We know all about how the thing was done, and +who did it." + +"I want to tell how I first came to rob my master," the boy said. "I +never thought of robbing him. When I came up to London, my father +said to me, 'Whatever you do, Tom, be honest. They say there are +rogues up in London; don't you have anything to do with them.' One +evening, about a year ago I went out with Robert, and we went to a +shop near the wall at Aldgate. I had never been there before, but +Robert knew the master, who was the old man that was taken in the +lane. Robert said the man was a relation of his father's, and had +been kind to him. We sat down and talked for a time, and then Robert, +who was sitting close to me, moved for something, and put his hand +against my pocket. + +"'Hullo!' he said; 'what have you got there?' + +"'Nothing,' I said. + +"'Oh, haven't you?' and he put his hand in my pocket, and brought out +ten guineas. 'Hullo!' he said; 'where did you get these? You told me +yesterday you had not got a groat. Why, you young villain, you must +have been robbing the till!' + +"I was so frightened that I could not say anything, except that I did +not know how they came there and I could swear that I had not touched +the till. I was too frightened to think then, but I have since +thought that the guineas were never in my pocket at all, but were in +Robert's hand. + +"'That won't do, boy,' the man said. 'It is clear that you are a +thief. I saw Robert take them from your pocket, and, as an honest +man, it is my duty to take you to your master and tell him what sort +of an apprentice he has. You are young, and you will get off with a +whipping at the pillory, and that will teach you that honesty is the +best policy.' + +"So he got his hat and put it on, and took me by the collar as if to +haul me out into the street. I went down on my knees to beg for +mercy, and at last he said that he would keep the matter quiet if I +would swear to do everything that Robert told me; and I was so +frightened that I swore to do so. + +"For a bit there wasn't any stealing, but Robert used to take me out +over the roof, and we used to go out together and go to places where +there were two or three men, and they gave us wine. Then Robert +proposed that we should have a look through the warehouse. I did not +know what he meant, but as we went through he filled his pockets with +things and told me to take some too. I said I would not. Then he +threatened to raise the alarm, and said that when Captain Dave came +down he should say he heard me get up to come down by the rope on to +the warehouse, and that he had followed me to see what I was doing, +and had found me in the act of taking goods, and that, as he had +before caught me with money stolen from the till, as a friend of his +could testify, he felt that it was his duty to summon you at once. I +know I ought to have refused, and to have let him call you down, but +I was too frightened. At last I agreed to do what he told me, and +ever since then we have been robbing you." + +"What have you done with the money you got for the things?" the +constable asked. + +"I had a groat sometimes," the boy said, "but that is all. Robert +said first that I should have a share, but I said I would have +nothing to do with it. I did as he ordered me because I could not +help it. Though I have taken a groat or two sometimes, that is all I +have had." + +"Do you know anything about how much Robert had?" + +"No, sir; I never saw him paid any money. I supposed that he had some +because he has said sometimes he should set up a shop for himself, +down at some seaport town, when he was out of his apprenticeship; but +I have never seen him with any money beyond a little silver. I don't +know what he used to do when we had given the things to the men that +met us in the lane. I used always to come straight back to bed, but +generally he went out with them. I used to fasten the gate after him, +and he got back over the wall by a rope. Most times he didn't come in +till a little before daybreak." + +"Were they always the same men that met you in the lane?" + +"No, sir. The master of the shop was very seldom there. The big man +has come for the last three or four months, and there were two other +men. They used to be waiting for us together until the big man came, +but since then one or other of them came with him, except when the +master of the shop was there himself." + +"Describe them to me." + +The boy described them as well as he could. + +"Could you swear to them if you saw them?" + +"I think so. Of course, sometimes it was moonlight, and I could see +their faces well; and besides, the light of the lantern often fell +upon their faces." + +The constable nodded. + +"The descriptions answer exactly," he said to Captain Dave, "to the +two men we found in the shop. The place was evidently the +headquarters of a gang of thieves." + +"Please, sir," the boy said, "would you have me shut up in another +place? I am afraid of being with the others. They have sworn they +will kill me if I say a word, and when I get back they will ask me +who I have seen and what I have said." + +Captain Dave took the other two men aside. + +"Could you not let the boy come home with me?" he said. "I believe +his story is a true one. He has been terrified into helping that +rascal, Robert Ashford. Of course he himself was of no good to them, +but they were obliged to force him into it, as otherwise he would +have found out Robert's absences and might have reported them to me. +I will give what bail you like, and will undertake to produce him +whenever he is required." + +"I could not do that myself," the constable said, "but I will go +round to the Court now with the boy's confession, and I have no doubt +the Alderman will let him go. But let me give you a word of advice: +don't let him stir out of the house after dark. We have no doubt that +there is a big gang concerned in this robbery, and the others of +which we found the booty at the receiver's. They would not know how +much this boy could tell about them, but if he went back to you they +would guess that he had peached. If he went out after dark, the +chances would be against his ever coming back again. No, now I think +of it, I am sure you had better let him stay where he is. The Master +will put him apart from the others, and make him comfortable. You +see, at present we have no clue as to the men concerned in the +robberies. You may be sure that they are watching every move on our +part, and if they knew that this boy was out, they might take the +alarm and make off." + +"Well, if you think so, I will leave him here." + +"I am sure that it would be the best plan." + +"You will make him comfortable, Master Holroyd?" + +"Yes; you need not worry about him, Captain Dowsett." + +They then turned to the boy. + +"You will be moved away from the others, Tom," Captain Dave said, +"and Mr. Holroyd has promised to make you comfortable." + +"Oh, Captain Dave," the boy burst out, "will you forgive me? I don't +mind being punished, but if you knew how awfully miserable I have +been all this time, knowing that I was robbing you while you were so +kind to me, I think you would forgive me." + +"I forgive you, Tom," Captain Dave said, putting his hand on the +boy's shoulder. "I hope that this will be a lesson to you, all your +life. You see all this has come upon you because you were a coward. +If you had been a brave lad you would have said, 'Take me to my +master.' You might have been sure that I would have heard your story +as well as theirs, and I don't think I should have decided against +you under the circumstances. It was only your word against Robert's; +and his taking you to this man's, and finding the money in your +pocket in so unlikely a way, would certainly have caused me to have +suspicions. There is nothing so bad as cowardice; it is the father of +all faults. A coward is certain to be a liar, for he will not +hesitate to tell any falsehood to shelter him from the consequences +of a fault. In your case, you see, cowardice has made you a thief; +and in some cases it might drive a man to commit a murder. However, +lad, I forgive you freely. You have been weak, and your weakness has +made you a criminal; but it has been against your own will. When all +this is over, I will see what can be done for you. You may live to be +an honest man and a good citizen yet." + +Two days later Cyril was returning home late in the evening after +being engaged longer than usual in making up a number of accounts for +one of his customers. He had come through Leadenhall Street, and had +entered the lane where the capture of the thieves had been made, when +he heard a footstep behind him. He turned half round to see who was +following him, when he received a tremendous blow on the head which +struck him senseless to the ground. + +After a time he was dimly conscious that he was being carried along. +He was unable to move; there was something in his mouth that +prevented him from calling out, and his head was muffled in a cloak. +He felt too weak and confused to struggle. A minute later he heard a +voice, that sounded below him, say,-- + +"Have you got him?" + +"I have got him all right," was the answer of the man who was +carrying him. + +Then he felt that he was being carried down some stairs. + +Someone took him, and he was thrown roughly down; then there was a +slight rattling noise, followed by a regular sound. He wondered +vaguely what it was, but as his senses came back it flashed upon him; +it was the sound of oars; he was in a boat. It was some time before +he could think why he should be in a boat. He had doubtless been +carried off by some of the friends of the prisoners', partly, +perhaps, to prevent his giving evidence against them, partly from +revenge for the part he had played in the discovery of the crime. + +In a few minutes the sound of oars ceased, and there was a bump as +the boat struck against something hard. Then he was lifted up, and +someone took hold of him from above. He was carried a few steps and +roughly thrust in somewhere. There was a sound of something heavy +being thrown down above him, and then for a long time he knew nothing +more. + +When he became conscious again, he was able, as he lay there, to come +to a distinct conclusion as to where he was. He had been kidnapped, +carried off, taken out in a boat to some craft anchored in the river, +and was now in the hold. He felt almost suffocated. The wrap round +his head prevented his breathing freely, the gag in his mouth pressed +on his tongue, and gave him severe pain, while his head ached acutely +from the effects of the blow. + +The first thing to do was, if possible, to free his hands, so as to +relieve himself from the gag and muffling. An effort or two soon +showed him that he was but loosely bound. Doubtless the man who had +attacked him had not wasted much time in securing his arms, believing +that the blow would be sufficient to keep him quiet until he was safe +on board ship. It was, therefore, without much difficulty that he +managed to free one of his hands, and it was then an easy task to get +rid of the rope altogether. The cloak was pulled from his face, and, +feeling for his knife, he cut the lashings of the gag and removed it +from his mouth. He lay quiet for a few minutes, panting from his +exhaustion. Putting up his hand he felt a beam about a foot above his +body. He was, then, in a hold already stored with cargo. The next +thing was to shift his position among the barrels and bales upon +which he was lying, until he found a comparatively level spot. He was +in too great pain to think of sleep; his head throbbed fiercely, and +he suffered from intense thirst. + +From time to time heavy footsteps passed overhead. Presently he heard +a sudden rattling of blocks, and the flapping of a sail. Then he +noticed that there was a slight change in the level of his position, +and knew that the craft was under way on her voyage down the river. + +It seemed an immense time to him before he saw a faint gleam of +light, and edging himself along, found himself again under the +hatchway, through a crack in which the light was shining. It was some +hours before the hatch was lifted off, and he saw two men looking +down. + +"Water!" he said. "I am dying of thirst." + +"Bring a pannikin of water," one of the men said, "but first give us +a hand, and we will have him on deck." + +Stooping down, they took Cyril by the shoulders and hoisted him out. + +"He is a decent-looking young chap," the speaker went on. "I would +have seen to him before, if I had known him to be so bad. Those +fellows didn't tell us they had hurt him. Here is the water, young +fellow. Can you sit up to drink it?" + +Cyril sat up and drank off the contents of the pannikin. + +"Why, the back of your head is all covered with blood!" the man who +had before spoken said. "You must have had an ugly knock?" + +"I don't care so much for that," Cyril replied. "It's the gag that +hurt me. My tongue is so much swollen I can hardly speak." + +"Well, you can stay here on deck if you will give me your promise not +to hail any craft we may pass. If you won't do that I must put you +down under hatches again." + +"I will promise that willingly," Cyril said; "the more so that I can +scarce speak above a whisper." + +"Mind, if you as much as wave a hand, or do anything to bring an eye +on us, down you go into the hold again, and when you come up next +time it will be to go overboard. Now just put your head over the +rail, and I will pour a few buckets of water over it. I agreed to get +you out of the way, but I have got no grudge against you, and don't +want to do you harm." + +Getting a bucket with a rope tied to the handle, he dipped it into +the river, and poured half-a-dozen pailfuls over Cyril's head. The +lad felt greatly refreshed, and, sitting down on the deck, was able +to look round. The craft was a coaster of about twenty tons burden. +There were three men on deck besides the man who had spoken to him, +and who was evidently the skipper. Besides these a boy occasionally +put up his head from a hatchway forward. There was a pile of barrels +and empty baskets amidship, and the men presently began to wash down +the decks and to tidy up the ropes and gear lying about. The shore on +both sides was flat, and Cyril was surprised at the width of the +river. Behind them was a small town, standing on higher ground. + +"What place is that?" he asked a sailor who passed near him. + +"That is Gravesend." + +A few minutes afterwards the boy again put his head out of the +hatchway and shouted,-- + +"Breakfast!" + +"Can you eat anything, youngster?" the skipper asked Cyril. + +"No, thank you, my head aches too much; and my mouth is so sore I am +sure I could not get anything down." + +"Well, you had best lie down, then, with your head on that coil of +rope; I allow you did not sleep much last night." + +In a few minutes Cyril was sound asleep, and when he awoke the sun +was setting. + +"You have had a good bout of it, lad," the skipper said, as he raised +himself on his elbow and looked round. "How are you feeling now?" + +"A great deal better," Cyril said, as he rose to his feet. + +"Supper will be ready in a few minutes, and if you can manage to get +a bit down it will do you good." + +"I will try, anyhow," Cyril said. "I think that I feel hungry." + +The land was now but a faint line on either hand. A gentle breeze was +blowing from the south-west, and the craft was running along over the +smooth water at the rate of three or four miles an hour. Cyril +wondered where he was being taken to, and what was going to be done +with him, but determined to ask no questions. The skipper was +evidently a kind-hearted man, although he might be engaged in lawless +business, but it was as well to wait until he chose to open the +subject. + +As soon as the boy hailed, the captain led the way to the hatchway. +They descended a short ladder into the fo'castle, which was low, but +roomy. Supper consisted of boiled skate--a fish Cyril had never +tasted before--oaten bread, and beer. His mouth was still sore, but +he managed to make a hearty meal of fish, though he could not manage +the hard bread. One of the men was engaged at the helm, but the other +two shared the meal, all being seated on lockers that ran round the +cabin. The fish were placed on an earthenware dish, each man cutting +off slices with his jack-knife, and using his bread as a platter. +Little was said while the meal went on; but when they went on deck +again, the skipper, having put another man at the tiller, while the +man released went forward to get his supper, said,-- + +"Well, I think you are in luck, lad." + +Cyril opened his eyes in surprise. + +"You don't think so?" the man went on. "I don't mean that you are in +luck in being knocked about and carried off, but that you are not +floating down the river at present instead of walking the deck here. +I can only suppose that they thought your body might be picked up, +and that it would go all the harder with the prisoners, if it were +proved that you had been put out of the way. You don't look like an +informer either!" + +"I am not an informer," Cyril said indignantly. "I found that my +employer was being robbed, and I aided him to catch the thieves. I +don't call that informing. That is when a man betrays others engaged +in the same work as himself." + +"Well, well, it makes no difference to me," the skipper said. "I was +engaged by a man, with whom I do business sometimes, to take a fellow +who had been troublesome out of the way, and to see that he did not +come back again for some time. I bargained that there was to be no +foul play; I don't hold with things of that sort. As to carrying down +a bale of goods sometimes, or taking a few kegs of spirits from a +French lugger, I see no harm in it; but when it comes to cutting +throats, I wash my hands of it. I am sorry now I brought you off, +though maybe if I had refused they would have put a knife into you, +and chucked you into the river. However, now that I have got you I +must go through with it. I ain't a man to go back from my word, and +what I says I always sticks to. Still, I am sorry I had anything to +do with the business. You look to me a decent young gentleman, though +your looks and your clothes have not been improved by what you have +gone through. Well, at any rate, I promise you that no harm shall +come to you as long as you are in my hands." + +"And how long is that likely to be, captain?" + +"Ah! that is more than I can tell you. I don't want to do you harm, +lad, and more than that, I will prevent other people from doing you +harm as long as you are on board this craft. But more than that I +can't say. It is likely enough I shall have trouble in keeping that +promise, and I can't go a step farther. There is many a man who would +have chucked you overboard, and so have got rid of the trouble +altogether, and of the risk of its being afterwards proved that he +had a hand in getting you out of the way." + +"I feel that, captain," Cyril said, "and I thank you heartily for +your kind treatment of me. I promise you that if at any time I am set +ashore and find my way back to London, I will say no word which can +get you into trouble." + +"There is Tom coming upon deck. You had better turn in. You have had +a good sleep, but I have no doubt you can do with some more, and a +night's rest will set you up. You take the left-hand locker. The boy +sleeps on the right hand, and we have bunks overhead." + +Cyril was soon soundly asleep, and did not wake when the others +turned in. He was alone in the cabin when he opened his eyes, but the +sun was shining brightly through the open hatchway. He sprang up and +went on deck. The craft was at anchor. No land could be seen to the +south, but to the north a low shore stretched away three or four +miles distant. There was scarcely a breath of wind. + +"Well, you have had a good sleep, lad," the captain said. "You had +best dip that bucket overboard and have a wash; you will feel better +after it. Now, boy, slip down and get your fire going; we shall be +ready for breakfast as soon as it is ready for us." + +Cyril soused his head with the cold water, and felt, as the captain +had said, all the better for it, for the air in the little cabin was +close and stuffy, and he had felt hot and feverish before his wash. + +"The wind died out, you see," the captain said, "and we had to anchor +when tide turned at two o'clock. There is a dark line behind us, and +as soon as the wind reaches us, we will up anchor. The force of the +tide is spent." + +The wind, however, continued very light, and the vessel did little +more than drift with the tide, and when it turned at two o'clock they +had to drop anchor again close under some high land, on the top of +which stood a lofty tower. + +"That is a land-mark," the captain said. "There are some bad sands +outside us, and that stands as a mark for vessels coming through." + +Cyril had enjoyed the quiet passage much. The wound at the back of +his head still smarted, and he had felt disinclined for any exertion. +More than once, in spite of the good allowance of sleep he had had, +he dozed off as he sat on the deck with his back against the bulwark, +watching the shore as they drifted slowly past it, and wondering +vaguely, how it would all end. They had been anchored but half an +hour when the captain ordered the men to the windlass. + +"There is a breeze coming, lads," he said; "and even if it only lasts +for an hour, it will take us round the head and far enough into the +bay to get into the tide running up the rivers." + +The breeze, however, when it came, held steadily, and in two hours +they were off Harwich; but on coming opposite the town they turned +off up the Orwell, and anchored, after dark, at a small village some +six miles up the river. + +"If you will give me your word, lad, that you will not try to escape, +and will not communicate with anyone who may come off from the shore, +I will continue to treat you as a passenger; but if not, I must +fasten you up in the cabin, and keep a watch over you." + +"I will promise, captain. I should not know where to go if I landed. +I heard you say, 'There is Harwich steeple,' when we first came in +sight of it, but where that is I have no idea, nor how far we are +from London. As I have not a penny in my pocket, I should find it +well-nigh impossible to make my way to town, which may, for aught I +know, be a hundred miles away; for, in truth, I know but little of +the geography of England, having been brought up in France, and not +having been out of sight of London since I came over." + +Just as he was speaking, the splash of an oar was heard close by. + +"Up, men," the captain said in a low tone to those in the fo'castle. +"Bring up the cutlasses. Who is that?" he called, hailing the boat. + +"Merry men all," was the reply. + +"All right. Come alongside. You saw our signal, then?" + +"Ay, ay, we saw it; but there is an officer with a boat-load of +sailors ashore from the King's ship at Harwich. He is spending the +evening with the revenue captain here, and we had to wait until the +two men left in charge of the boat went up to join their comrades at +the tavern. What have you got for us?" + +"Six boxes and a lot of dunnage, such as cables, chains, and some +small anchors." + +"Well, you had better wait for an hour before you take the hatches +off. You will hear the gig with the sailors row past soon. The tide +has begun to run down strong, and I expect the officer won't be long +before he moves. As soon as he has gone we will come out again. We +shall take the goods up half a mile farther. The revenue man on that +beat has been paid to keep his eyes shut, and we shall get them all +stored in a hut, a mile away in the woods, before daybreak. You know +the landing-place; there will be water enough for us to row in there +for another two hours." + +The boat rowed away to the shore, which was not more than a hundred +yards distant. A little later they heard a stir on the strand, then +came the sound of oars, and two minutes later a boat shot past close +to them, and then, bearing away, rowed down the river. + +"Now, lads," the captain said, "get the hatches off. The wind is +coming more offshore, which is all the better for us, but do not make +more noise than you can help." + +The hatches were taken off, and the men proceeded to get up a number +of barrels and bales, some sail-cloth being thrown on the deck to +deaden the sound. Lanterns, passed down into the hold, gave them +light for their operations. + +"This is the lot," one of the sailors said presently. + +Six large boxes were then passed up and put apart from the others. +Then followed eight or ten coils of rope, a quantity of chain, some +kedge anchors, a number of blocks, five rolls of canvas, and some +heavy bags that, by the sound they made when they were laid down, +Cyril judged to contain metal articles of some sort. Then the other +goods were lowered into the hold and the hatches replaced. The work +had scarcely concluded when the boat again came alongside, this time +with four men on board. Scarcely a word was spoken as the goods were +transferred to the boat. + +"You will be going to-morrow?" one of the men in the boat asked. + +"Yes, I shall get up to Ipswich on the top of the tide--that is, if I +don't stick fast in this crooked channel. My cargo is all either for +Ipswich or Aldborough. Now let us turn in," as the boatmen made their +way up the river. "We must be under way before daylight, or else we +shall not save the tide down to-morrow evening. I am glad we have got +that lot safely off. I always feel uncomfortable until we get rid of +that part of the cargo. If it wasn't that it paid better than all the +rest together I would not have anything to do with it." + +Cyril was very glad to lie down on the locker, while the men turned +into their berths overhead. He had not yet fully recovered from the +effects of the blow he had received, but in spite of the aching of +his head he was soon sound asleep. It seemed to him that he had +scarcely closed his eyes when he was roused by the captain's voice,-- + +"Tumble up, lads. The light is beginning to show." + +Ten minutes later they were under way. The breeze had almost died +out, and after sailing for some two miles in nearly a straight +course, the boat was thrown over, two men got into it, and, fastening +a rope to the ketch's bow, proceeded to tow her along, the captain +taking the helm. + +To Cyril's surprise, they turned off almost at right angles to the +course they had before been following, and made straight for the +opposite shore. They approached it so closely that Cyril expected +that in another moment the craft would take ground, when, at a shout +from the captain, the men in the boat started off parallel with the +shore, taking the craft's head round. For the next three-quarters of +an hour they pursued a serpentine course, the boy standing in the +chains and heaving the lead continually. At last the captain +shouted,--"You can come on board now, lads. We are in the straight +channel at last." Twenty minutes later they again dropped their +anchor opposite a town of considerable size. + +"That is Ipswich, lad," the captain said. "It is as nasty a place to +get into as there is in England, unless you have got the wind due +aft." + +The work of unloading began at once, and was carried on until after +dark. + +"That is the last of them," the captain said, to Cyril's +satisfaction. "We can be off now when the tide turns, and if we +hadn't got clear to-night we might have lost hours, for there is no +getting these people on shore to understand that the loss of a tide +means the loss of a day, and that it is no harder to get up and do +your work at one hour than it is at another. I shall have a clean up, +now, and go ashore. I have got your promise, lad, that you won't try +to escape?" + +Cyril assented. Standing on the deck there, with the river bank but +twenty yards away, it seemed hard that he should not be able to +escape. But, as he told himself, he would not have been standing +there if it had not been for that promise, but would have been lying, +tightly bound, down in the hold. + +Cyril and the men were asleep when the captain came aboard, the boy +alone remaining up to fetch him off in the boat when he hailed. + +"There is no wind, captain," Cyril said, as the anchor was got up. + +"No, lad, I am glad there is not. We can drop down with the tide and +the boat towing us, but if there was a head wind we might have to +stop here till it either dropped or shifted. I have been here three +weeks at a spell. I got some news ashore," he went on, as he took his +place at the helm, while the three men rowed the boat ahead. "A man I +sometimes bring things to told me that he heard there had been an +attempt to rescue the men concerned in that robbery. I heard, before +I left London, it was likely that it would be attempted." + +There were a lot of people concerned in that affair, one way and +another, and I knew they would move heaven and earth to get them out, +for if any of them peached there would be such a haul as the +constables never made in the city before. Word was passed to the +prisoners to be ready, and as they were being taken from the +Guildhall to Newgate there was a sudden rush made. The constables +were not caught napping, and there was a tough fight, till the +citizens ran out of their shops and took part with them, and the men, +who were sailors, watermen, 'longshore-men, and rascals of all sorts, +bolted. + +"But two of the prisoners were missing. One was, I heard, an +apprentice who was mixed up in the affair, and no one saw him go. +They say he must have stooped down and wriggled away into the crowd. +The other was a man they called Black Dick; he struck down two +constables, broke through the crowd, and got clean away. There is a +great hue and cry, but so far nothing has been heard of them. They +will be kept in hiding somewhere till there is a chance of getting +them through the gates or on board a craft lying in the river. Our +men made a mess of it, or they would have got them all off. I hear +that they are all in a fine taking that Marner is safely lodged in +Newgate with the others taken in his house; he knows so much that if +he chose to peach he could hang a score of men. Black Dick could tell +a good deal, but he wasn't in all the secrets, and they say Marner is +really the head of the band and had a finger in pretty nigh every +robbery through the country. All those taken in his place are also in +Newgate, and they say the constables are searching the city like +ferrets in a rabbit-warren, and that several other arrests have been +made." + +"I am not sorry the apprentice got away," Cyril said. "He is a bad +fellow, there is no doubt, and, by the look he gave me, he would do +me harm if he got a chance, but I suppose that is only natural. As to +the other man, he looked to me to be a desperate villain, and he also +gave me so evil a look that, though he was in the dock with a +constable on either side of him, I felt horribly uncomfortable, +especially when I heard what sort of man he was." + +"What did they say of him?" + +"They said they believed he was a man named Ephraim Fowler, who had +murdered the skipper and mate of a coaster and then went off in the +boat." + +"Is that the man? Then truly do I regret that he has escaped. I knew +both John Moore, the master, and George Monson, the mate, and many a +flagon of beer we have emptied together. If I had known the fellow's +whereabouts, I would have put the constables on his track. I am +heartily sorry now, boy, that I had a hand in carrying you off, +though maybe it is best for you that it has been so. If I hadn't +taken you someone else would, and more than likely you would not have +fared so well as you have done, for some of them would have saved +themselves all further trouble and risk, by chucking you overboard as +soon as they were well out of the Pool." + +"Can't you put me ashore now, captain?" + +"No, boy; I have given my word and taken my money, and I am not one +to fail to carry out a bargain because I find that I have made a bad +one. They have trusted me with thousands of pounds' worth of goods, +and I have no reason to complain of their pay, and am not going to +turn my back on them now they have got into trouble; besides, though +I would trust you not to round upon me, I would not trust them. If +you were to turn up in London they would know that I had sold them, +and Marner would soon hear of it. There is a way of getting messages +to a man even in prison. Then you may be sure that, if he said +nothing else, he would take good care to let out that I was the man +who used to carry their booty away, sometimes to quiet places on the +coast, and sometimes across to Holland, and the first time I dropped +anchor in the Pool I should find myself seized and thrown into limbo. +No, lad; I must carry out my agreement--which is that I am not to +land you in England, but that I am to take you across to Holland or +elsewhere--the elsewhere meaning that if you fall overboard by the +way there will be no complaints as to the breach of the agreement. +That is, in fact, what they really meant, though they did not +actually put it into words. They said, 'We have a boy who is an +informer, and has been the means of Marner being seized and his place +broken up, and there is no saying that a score of us may not get a +rope round our necks. In consequence, we want him carried away. What +you do with him is nothing to us so long as he don't set foot in +England again.' 'Will Holland suit you? I am going across there,' I +said, 'after touching at Ipswich and Aldborough.' 'It would be much +safer for you and everyone else if it happen that he falls over +before he gets there. However, we will call it Holland.'" + +"Then if I were to fall overboard," Cyril said, with a smile, "you +would not be breaking your agreement, captain? I might fall overboard +to-night, you know." + +"I would not advise it, lad. You had much better stay where you are. +I don't say I mightn't anchor off Harwich, and that if you fell +overboard you couldn't manage to swim ashore, but I tell you I would +not give twopence for your life when you got back to London. It is to +the interest of a score of men to keep Marner's mouth shut. They have +shown their willingness to help him as far as they could, by getting +you out of the way, and if you got back they would have your life the +first time you ventured out of doors after dark; they would be afraid +Marner would suppose they had sold him if you were to turn up at his +trial, and as like as not he would round on the whole lot. Besides, I +don't think it would be over safe for me the first time I showed +myself in London afterwards, for, though I never said that I would do +it, I have no doubt they reckoned that I should chuck you overboard, +and if you were to make your appearance in London they would +certainly put it down that I had sold them. You keep yourself quiet, +and I will land you in Holland, but not as they would expect, without +a penny or a friend; I will put you into good hands, and arrange that +you shall be sent back again as soon as the trial is over." + +"Thank you very much, captain. I have no relations in London, and no +friends, except my employer, Captain David Dowsett, and by this time +he will have made up his mind that I am dead, and it won't make much +difference whether I return in four or five days or as many weeks." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +The _Eliza_, for this Cyril, after leaving Ipswich, learnt was her +name, unloaded the rest of her cargo at Aldborough, and then sailed +across to Rotterdam. The skipper fulfilled his promise by taking +Cyril to the house of one of the men with whom he did business, and +arranging with him to board the boy until word came that he could +safely return to England. The man was a diamond-cutter, and to him +packets of jewellery and gems that could not be disposed of in +England had often been brought over by the captain. The latter had +nothing to do with the pecuniary arrangements, which were made direct +by Marner, and he had only to hand over the packets and take back +sums of money to England. + +"You understand," the captain said to Cyril, "that I have not said a +word touching the matter for which you are here. I have only told him +that it had been thought it was as well you should be out of England +for a time. Of course, he understood that you were wanted for an +affair in which you had taken part; but it matters not what he +thinks. I have paid him for a month's board for you, and here are +three pounds, which will be enough to pay for your passage back if I +myself should not return. If you do not hear from me, or see the +_Eliza_, within four weeks, there is no reason why you should not +take passage back. The trial will be over by that time, and as the +members of the gang have done their part in preventing you from +appearing, I see not why they should have further grudge against +you." + +"I cannot thank you too much for your kindness, captain. I trust that +when I get back you will call at Captain Dowsett's store in Tower +Street, so that I may see you and again thank you; I know that the +Captain himself will welcome you heartily when I tell him how kindly +you have treated me. He will be almost as glad as I shall myself to +see you. I suppose you could not take him a message or letter from me +now?" + +"I think not, lad. It would never do for him to be able to say at the +trial that he had learnt you had been kidnapped. They might write +over here to the Dutch authorities about you. There is one thing +further. From what I heard when I landed yesterday, it seems that +there is likely to be war between Holland and England." + +"I heard a talk of it in London," Cyril said, "but I do not rightly +understand the cause, nor did I inquire much about the matter." + +"It is something about the colonies, and our taxing their goods, but +I don't rightly understand the quarrel, except that the Dutch think, +now that Blake is gone and our ships for the most part laid up, they +may be able to take their revenge for the lickings we have given +them. Should there be war, as you say you speak French as well as +English, I should think you had best make your way to Dunkirk as a +young Frenchman, and from there you would find no difficulty in +crossing to England." + +"I know Dunkirk well, captain, having indeed lived there all my life. +I should have no difficulty in travelling through Holland as a French +boy." + +"If there is a war," the captain said, "I shall, of course, come here +no more; but it may be that you will see me at Dunkirk. French brandy +sells as well as Dutch Schiedam, and if I cannot get the one I may +perhaps get the other; and there is less danger in coming to Dunkirk +and making across to Harwich than there is in landing from Calais or +Nantes on the south coast, where the revenue men are much more on the +alert than they are at Harwich." + +"Are you not afraid of getting your boat captured? You said it was +your own." + +"Not much, lad. I bring over a regular cargo, and the kegs are stowed +away under the floor of the cabin, and I run them at Pin-mill--that +is the place we anchored the night before we got to Ipswich. I have +been overhauled a good many times, but the cargo always looks right, +and after searching it for a bit, they conclude it is all regular. +You see, I don't bring over a great quantity--fifteen or twenty kegs +is as much as I can stow away--and it is a long way safer being +content with a small profit than trying to make a big one." + +Cyril parted with regret from the captain, whose departure had been +hastened by a report that war might be declared at any moment, in +which case the _Eliza_ might have been detained for a considerable +time. He had, therefore, been working almost night and day to get in +his cargo, and Cyril had remained on board until the last moment. He +had seen the diamond dealer but once, and hoped that he should not +meet him often, for he felt certain that awkward questions would be +asked him. This man was in the habit of having dealings with Marner, +and had doubtless understood from the captain that he was in some way +connected with his gang; and were he to find out the truth he would +view him with the reverse of a friendly eye. He had told him that he +was to take his meals with his clerk, and Cyril hoped, therefore, +that he should seldom see him. + +He wandered about the wharf until it became dark. Then he went in and +took supper with the clerk. As the latter spoke Dutch only, there was +no possibility of conversation. Cyril was thinking of going up to his +bed when there was a ring at the bell. The clerk went to answer it, +leaving the door open as he went out, and Cyril heard a voice ask, in +English, if Herr Schweindorf was in. The clerk said something in +Dutch. + +"The fool does not understand English, Robert," the man said. + +"Tell him," he said, in a louder voice, to the clerk, "that two +persons from England--England, you understand--who have only just +arrived, want to see him on particular business. There, don't be +blocking up the door; just go and tell your master what I told you." + +He pushed his way into the passage, and the clerk, seeing that there +was nothing else to do, went upstairs. + +A minute later he came down again, and made a sign for them to follow +him. As they went up Cyril stole out and looked after them. The fact +that they had come from England, and that one of them was named +Robert, and that they had business with this man, who was in +connection with Marner, had excited his suspicions, but he felt a +shiver of fear run through him as he recognised the figures of Robert +Ashford and the man who was called Black Dick. He remembered the +expression of hatred with which they had regarded him in the Court, +and felt that his danger would be great indeed did they hear that he +was in Rotterdam. A moment's thought convinced him that they would +almost certainly learn this at once from his host. The letter would +naturally mention that the captain had left a lad in his charge who +was, as he believed, connected with them. They would denounce him as +an enemy instead of a friend. The diamond merchant would expel him +from his house, terrified at the thought that he possessed +information as to his dealings with this band in England; and once +beyond the door he would, in this strange town, be at the mercy of +his enemies. Cyril's first impulse was to run back into the room, +seize his cap, and fly. He waited, however, until the clerk came down +again; then he put his cap carelessly on his head. + +"I am going for a walk," he said, waving his hand vaguely. + +The man nodded, went with him to the door, and Cyril heard him put up +the bar after he had gone out. He walked quietly away, for there was +no fear of immediate pursuit. + +Black Dick had probably brought over some more jewels to dispose of, +and that business would be transacted, before there would be any talk +of other matters. It might be a quarter of an hour before they heard +that he was an inmate of the house; then, when they went downstairs +with the dealer, they would hear that he had gone out for a walk and +would await his return, so that he had two or three hours at least +before there would be any search. + +It was early yet. Some of the boats might be discharging by +torchlight. At any rate, he might hear of a ship starting in the +morning. He went down to the wharf. There was plenty of bustle here; +boats were landing fish, and larger craft were discharging or taking +in cargo; but his inability to speak Dutch prevented his asking +questions. He crossed to the other side of the road. The houses here +were principally stores or drinking taverns. In the window of one was +stuck up, "English and French Spoken Here." He went inside, walked up +to the bar, and called for a glass of beer in English. + +"You speak English, landlord?" he asked, as the mug was placed before +him. + +The latter nodded. + +"I want to take passage either to England or to France," he said. "I +came out here but a few days ago, and I hear that there is going to +be trouble between the two countries. It will therefore be of no use +my going on to Amsterdam. I wish to get back again, for I am told +that if I delay I may be too late. I cannot speak Dutch, and +therefore cannot inquire if any boat will be sailing in the morning +for England or Dunkirk. I have acquaintances in Dunkirk, and speak +French, so it makes no difference to me whether I go there or to +England." + +"My boy speaks French," the landlord said, "and if you like he can go +along the port with you. Of course, you will give him something for +his trouble?" + +"Willingly," Cyril said, "and be much obliged to you into the +bargain." + +The landlord left the bar and returned in a minute with a boy twelve +years old. + +"He does not speak French very well," he said, "but I dare say it +will be enough for your purpose. I have told him that you want to +take ship to England, or that, if you cannot find one, to Dunkirk. If +that will not do, Ostend might suit you. They speak French there, and +there are boats always going between there and England." + +"That would do; though I should prefer the other." + +"There would be no difficulty at any other time in getting a boat for +England, but I don't know whether you will do so now. They have been +clearing off for some days, and I doubt if you will find an English +ship in port now, though of course there may be those who have been +delayed for their cargo." + +Cyril went out with the boy, and after making many inquiries learnt +that there was but one English vessel still in port. However, Cyril +told his guide that he would prefer one for Dunkirk if they could +find one, for if war were declared before the boat sailed, she might +be detained. After some search they found a coasting scow that would +sail in the morning. + +"They will touch at two or three places," the boy said to Cyril, +after a talk with the captain; "but if you are not in a hurry, he +will take you and land you at Dunkirk for a pound--that is, if he +finds food; if you find food he will take you for eight shillings. He +will start at daybreak." + +"Tell him that I agree to his price. I don't want the trouble of +getting food. As he will be going so early, I will come on board at +once. I will get my bundle, and will be back in half an hour." + +He went with the boy to one of the sailors' shops near, bought a +rough coat and a thick blanket, had them wrapped up into a parcel, +and then, after paying the boy, went on board. + +As he expected, he found there were no beds or accommodation for +passengers, so he stretched himself on a locker in the cabin, covered +himself with his blanket, and put the coat under his head for a +pillow. His real reason for choosing this craft in preference to the +English ship was that he thought it probable that, when he did not +return to the house, it would at once be suspected that he had +recognised the visitors, and was not going to return at all. In that +case, they might suspect that he would try to take passage to +England, and would, the first thing in the morning, make a search for +him on board any English vessels that might be in the port. + +It would be easy then for them to get him ashore, for the diamond +merchant might accuse him of theft, and so get him handed over to +him. Rather than run that risk, he would have started on foot had he +not been able to find a native craft sailing early in the morning. +Failing Dunkirk and Ostend, he would have taken a passage to any +other Dutch port, and run his chance of getting a ship from there. +The great point was to get away from Rotterdam. + +The four men forming the crew of the scow returned late, and by their +loud talk Cyril, who kept his eyes closed, judged that they were in +liquor. In a short time they climbed up into their berths, and all +was quiet. At daybreak they were called up by the captain. Cyril lay +quiet until, by the rippling of the water against the side, he knew +that the craft was under way. He waited a few minutes, and then went +up on deck. The scow, clumsy as she looked, was running along fast +before a brisk wind, and in an hour Rotterdam lay far behind them. + +The voyage was a pleasant one. They touched at Dordrecht, at +Steenbergen on the mainland, and Flushing, staying a few hours in +each place to take in or discharge cargo. After this, they made out +from the Islands, and ran along the coast, putting into Ostend and +Nieuport, and, four days after starting, entered the port of Dunkirk. + +Cyril did not go ashore at any of the places at which they stopped. +It was possible that war might have been declared with England, and +as it might be noticed that he was a foreigner he would in that case +be questioned and arrested. As soon, therefore, as they neared a +quay, he went down to the cabin and slept until they got under way +again. The food was rough, but wholesome; it consisted entirely of +fish and black bread; but the sea air gave him a good appetite, and +he was in high spirits at the thought that he had escaped from danger +and was on his way back again. At Dunkirk he was under the French +flag, and half an hour after landing had engaged a passage to London +on a brig that was to sail on the following day. The voyage was a +stormy one, and he rejoiced in the possession of his great-coat, +which he had only bought in order that he might have a packet to +bring on board the scow, and so avoid exciting any suspicion or +question as to his being entirely unprovided with luggage. + +It was three days before the brig dropped anchor in the Pool. As soon +as she did so, Cyril hailed a waterman, and spent almost his last +remaining coin in being taken to shore. He was glad that it was late +in the afternoon and so dark that his attire would not be noticed. +His clothes had suffered considerably from his capture and +confinement on board the _Eliza_, and his great-coat was of a rough +appearance that was very much out of character in the streets of +London. He had, however, but a short distance to traverse before he +reached the door of the house. He rang at the bell, and the door was +opened by John Wilkes. + +"What is it?" the latter asked. "The shop is shut for the night, and +I ain't going to open for anyone. At half-past seven in the morning +you can get what you want, but not before." + +"Don't you know me, John?" Cyril laughed. The old sailor stepped back +as if struck with a blow. + +"Eh, what?" he exclaimed. "Is it you, Cyril? Why, we had all thought +you dead! I did not know you in this dim light and in that big coat +you have got on. Come upstairs, master. Captain Dave and the ladies +will be glad indeed to see you. They have been mourning for you +sadly, I can tell you." + +Cyril took off his wrap and hung it on a peg, and then followed John +upstairs. + +"There, Captain Dave," the sailor said, as he opened the door of the +sitting-room. "There is a sight for sore eyes!--a sight you never +thought you would look on again." + +For a moment Captain Dave, his wife, and daughter stared at Cyril as +if scarce believing their eyes. Then the Captain sprang to his feet. + +"It's the lad, sure enough. Why, Cyril," he went on, seizing him by +the hand, and shaking it violently, "we had never thought to see you +alive again; we made sure that those pirates had knocked you on the +head, and that you were food for fishes by this time. There has been +no comforting my good wife; and as to Nellie, if it had been a +brother she had lost, she could not have taken it more hardly." + +"They did knock me on the head, and very hard too, Captain Dave. If +my skull hadn't been quite so thick, I should, as you say, have been +food for fishes before now, for that is what they meant me for, and +there is no thanks to them that I am here at present. I am sorry that +you have all been made so uncomfortable about me." + +"We should have been an ungrateful lot indeed if we had not, +considering that in the first place you saved us from being ruined by +those pirates, and that it was, as we thought, owing to the services +you had done us that you had come to your end." + + "But where have you been, Master Cyril?" Nellie broke in. "What has +happened to you? We have been picturing all sorts of horrors, mother +and I. That evil had befallen you we were sure, for we knew that you +would not go away of a sudden, in this fashion, without so much as +saying goodbye. We feared all the more when, two days afterwards, the +wretches were so bold as to attack the constables, and to rescue +Robert Ashford and another from their hands. Men who would do this in +broad daylight would surely hesitate at nothing." + +"Let him eat his supper without asking further questions, Nellie," +her father said. "It is ill asking one with victuals before him to +begin a tale that may, for aught I know, last an hour. Let him have +his food, lass, and then I will light my pipe, and John Wilkes shall +light his here instead of going out for it, and we will have the yarn +in peace and comfort. It spoils a good story to hurry it through. +Cyril is here, alive and well; let that content you for a few +minutes." + +"If I must, I must," Nellie said, with a little pout. "But you should +remember, father, that, while you have been all your life having +adventures of some sort, this is the very first that I have had; for +though Cyril is the one to whom it befell, it is all a parcel with +the robbery of the house and the capture of the thieves." + +"When does the trial come off, Captain Dave?" + +"It came off yesterday. Marner is to be hung at the end of the week. +He declared that he was but in the lane by accident when two lads +opened the gate. He and the man with him, seeing that they were laden +with goods, would have seized them, when they themselves were +attacked and beaten down. But this ingenuity did not save him. Tom +Frost had been admitted as King's evidence, and testified that Marner +had been several times at the gate with the fellow that escaped, to +receive the stolen goods. Moreover, there were many articles among +those found at his place that I was able to swear to, besides the +proceeds of over a score of burglaries. The two men taken in his +house will have fifteen years in gaol. The women got off scot-free; +there was no proof that they had taken part in the robberies, though +there is little doubt they knew all about them." + +"But how did they prove the men were concerned?" + +"They got all the people whose property had been found there, and +four of these, on seeing the men in the yard at Newgate, were able to +swear to them as having been among those who came into their rooms +and frightened them well-nigh to death. It was just a question +whether they should be hung or not, and there was some wonder that +the Judge let them escape the gallows." + +"And what has become of Tom?" + +"They kept Tom in the prison till last night. I saw him yesterday, +and I am sure the boy is mighty sorry for having been concerned in +the matter, being, as I truly believe, terrified into it. I had +written down to an old friend of mine who has set up in the same way +as myself at Plymouth. Of course I told him all the circumstances, +but assured him, that according to my belief, the boy was not so much +to blame, and that I was sure the lesson he had had, would last him +for life; so I asked him to give Tom another chance, and if he did +so, to keep the knowledge of this affair from everyone. I got his +answer yesterday morning, telling me to send him down to him; he +would give him a fair trial, and if he wasn't altogether satisfied +with him, would then get him a berth as ship's boy. So, last night +after dark, he was taken down by John Wilkes, and put on board a +coaster bound for Plymouth. I would have taken him back here, but +after your disappearance I feared that his life would not be safe; +for although they had plenty of other cases they could have proved +against Marner, Tom's evidence brought this business home to him." + +Captain Dave would not allow Cyril to begin his story until the table +had been cleared and he and John Wilkes had lighted their pipes. Then +Cyril told his adventure, the earlier part of which elicited many +exclamations of pity from Dame Dowsett and Mistress Nellie, and some +angry ejaculations from the Captain when he heard that Black Dick and +Robert Ashford had got safely off to Holland. + +"By St. Anthony, lad," he broke out, when the story was finished, +"you had a narrow escape from those villains at Rotterdam. Had it +chanced that you were out at the time they came, I would not have +given a groat for your life. By all accounts, that fellow Black Dick +is a desperate villain. They say that they had got hold of evidence +enough against him to hang a dozen men, and it seems that there is +little doubt that he was concerned in several cases, where, not +content with robbing, the villain had murdered the inmates of lonely +houses round London. He had good cause for hating you. It was through +you that he had been captured, and had lost his share in all that +plunder at Marner's. Well, I trust the villain will never venture to +show his face in London again; but there is never any saying. I +should like to meet that captain who behaved so well to you, and I +will meet him too, and shake him by the hand and tell him that any +gear he may want for that ketch of his, he is free to come in here to +help himself. There is another thing to be thought of. I must go +round in the morning to the Guildhall and notify the authorities that +you have come back. There has been a great hue and cry for you. They +have searched the thieves' dens of London from attic to cellar; there +have been boats out looking for your body; and on the day after you +were missing they overhauled all the ships in the port. Of course the +search has died out now, but I must go and tell them, and you will +have to give them the story of the affair." + +"I shan't say a word that will give them a clue that will help them +to lay hands on the captain. He saved my life, and no one could have +been kinder than he was. I would rather go away for a time +altogether, for I don't see how I am to tell the story without +injuring him." + +"No; it is awkward, lad. I see that, even if you would not give them +the name of the craft, they might find out what vessels went into +Ipswich on that morning, and also the names of those that sailed from +Rotterdam on the day she left." + +"It seems to me, Captain, that the only way will be for me to say the +exact truth, namely, that I gave my word to the captain that I would +say naught of the matter. I could tell how I was struck down, and how +I did not recover consciousness until I found myself in a boat, and +was lifted on board a vessel and put down into the hold, and was +there kept until morning. I could say that when I was let out I found +we were far down the river, that the captain expressed great regret +when he found that I had been hurt so badly, that he did everything +in his power for me, and that after I had been some days on board the +ship he offered to land me in Holland, and to give me money to pay my +fare back here if I would give him my word of honour not to divulge +his name or the name of the ship, or that of the port at which he +landed me. Of course, they can imprison me for a time if I refuse to +tell, but I would rather stay in gaol for a year than say aught that +might set them upon the track of Captain Madden. It was not until the +day he left me in Holland that I knew his name, for of course the men +always called him captain, and so did I." + +"That is the only way I can see out of it, lad. I don't think they +will imprison you after the service you have done in enabling them to +break up this gang, bring the head of it to justice, and recover a +large amount of property." + +So indeed, on their going to the Guildhall next morning, it turned +out. The sitting Alderman threatened Cyril with committal to prison +unless he gave a full account of all that had happened to him, but +Captain Dowsett spoke up for him, and said boldly that instead of +punishment he deserved honour for the great service he had done to +justice, and that, moreover, if he were punished for refusing to keep +the promise of secrecy he had made, there was little chance in the +future of desperate men sparing the lives of those who fell into +their hands. They would assuredly murder them in self-defence if they +knew that the law would force them to break any promise of silence +they might have made. The Magistrate, after a consultation with the +Chief Constable, finally came round to this view, and permitted Cyril +to leave the Court, after praising him warmly for the vigilance he +had shown in the protection of his employer's interests. He regretted +that he had not been able to furnish them with the name of a man who +had certainly been, to some extent, an accomplice of those who had +assaulted him, but this was not, however, so much to be regretted, +since the man had done all in his power to atone for his actions. + +"There is no further information you can give us, Master Cyril?" + +"Only this, your worship: that on the day before I left Holland, I +caught sight of the two persons who had escaped from the constables. +They had just landed." + +"I am sorry to hear it," the Alderman said. "I had hoped that they +were still in hiding somewhere in the City, and that the constables +might yet be able to lay hands on them. However, I expect they will +be back again erelong. Your ill-doer is sure to return here sooner or +later, either with the hope of further gain, or because he cannot +keep away from his old haunts and companions. If they fall into the +hands of the City Constables, I will warrant they won't escape +again." + +He nodded to Cyril, who understood that his business was over and +left the Court with Captain Dave. + +"I am not so anxious as the Alderman seemed to be that Black Dick and +Robert Ashford should return to London, Captain Dave." + +"No; I can understand that, Cyril. And even now that you know they +are abroad, it would be well to take every precaution, for the others +whose business has been sorely interrupted by the capture of that +villain Marner may again try to do you harm. No doubt other receivers +will fill his place in time, but the loss of a ready market must +incommode them much. Plate they can melt down themselves, and I +reckon they would have but little difficulty in finding knaves ready +to purchase the products of the melting-pot; but it is only a man +with premises specially prepared for it who will buy goods of all +kinds, however bulky, without asking questions about them." + +Cyril was now in high favour with Mistress Nellie, and whenever he +was not engaged when she went out he was invited to escort her. + +One day he went with her to hear a famous preacher hold forth at St. +Paul's. Only a portion of the cathedral was used for religious +services; the rest was utilised as a sort of public promenade, and +here people of all classes met--gallants of the Court, citizens, +their wives and daughters, idlers and loungers, thieves and +mendicants. + +As Nellie walked forward to join the throng gathered near the pulpit, +Cyril noticed a young man in a Court suit, standing among a group who +were talking and laughing much louder than was seemly, take off his +plumed hat, and make a deep bow, to which she replied by a slight +inclination of the head, and passed on with somewhat heightened +colour. + +Cyril waited until the service was over, when, as he left the +cathedral with her, he asked,-- + +"Who was that ruffler in gay clothes, who bowed so deeply to you, +Mistress Nellie?--that is, if there is no indiscretion in my asking." + +"I met him in a throng while you were away," she said, with an +attempt at carelessness which he at once detected. "There was a great +press, and I well-nigh fainted, but he very courteously came to my +assistance, and brought me safely out of the crowd." + +"And doubtless you have seen him since, Mistress?" + +Nellie tossed her head. + +"I don't see what right you have to question me, Master Cyril?" + +"No right at all," Cyril replied good-temperedly, "save that I am an +inmate of your father's house, and have received great kindness from +him, and I doubt if he would be pleased if he knew that you bowed to +a person unknown to him and unknown, I presume, to yourself, save +that he has rendered you a passing service." + +"He is a gentleman of the Court, I would have you know," she said +angrily. + +"I do not know that that is any great recommendation if the tales one +hears about the Court are true," Cyril replied calmly. "I cannot say +I admire either his companions or his manners, and if he is a +gentleman he should know that if he wishes to speak to an honest +citizen's daughter it were only right that he should first address +himself to her father." + +"Heigh ho!" Nellie exclaimed, with her face flushed with indignation. +"Who made you my censor, I should like to know? I will thank you to +attend to your own affairs, and to leave mine alone." + +"The affairs of Captain Dave's daughter are mine so long as I am +abroad with her," Cyril said firmly. "I am sorry to displease you, +but I am only doing what I feel to be my duty. Methinks that, were +John Wilkes here in charge of you, he would say the same, only +probably he would express his opinion as to yonder gallant more +strongly than I do;" he nodded in the direction of the man, who had +followed them out of the cathedral, and was now walking on the other +side of the street and evidently trying to attract Nellie's +attention. + +Nellie bit her lips. She was about to answer him passionately, but +restrained herself with a great effort. + +"You are mistaken in the gentleman, Cyril," she said, after a pause; +"he is of a good family, and heir to a fine estate." + +"Oh, he has told you as much as that, has he? Well, Mistress Nellie, +it may be as he says, but surely it is for your father to inquire +into that, when the gentleman comes forward in due course and +presents himself as a suitor. Fine feathers do not always make fine +birds, and a man may ruffle it at King Charles's Court without ten +guineas to shake in his purse." + +At this moment the young man crossed the street, and, bowing deeply +to Nellie, was about to address her when Cyril said gravely,-- + +"Sir, I am not acquainted with your name, nor do I know more about +you save that you are a stranger to this lady's family. That being +so, and as she is at present under my escort, I must ask you to +abstain from addressing her." + +"You insolent young varlet!" the man said furiously. "Had I a cane +instead of a sword I would chastise you for your insolence." + +"That is as it may be," Cyril said quietly. "That sort of thing may +do down at Whitehall, but if you attempt to make trouble here in +Cheapside you will very speedily find yourself in the hands of the +watch." + +"For Heaven's sake, sir," Nellie said anxiously, as several +passers-by paused to see what was the matter, "do not cause trouble. +For my sake, if not for your own, pray leave me." + +"I obey you, Mistress," the man said again, lifting his hat and +bowing deeply. "I regret that the officiousness of this blundering +varlet should have mistaken my intentions, which were but to salute +you courteously." + +So saying, he replaced his hat, and, with a threatening scowl at +Cyril, pushed his way roughly through those standing round, and +walked rapidly away. + +Nellie was very pale, and trembled from head to foot. + +"Take me home, Cyril," she murmured. + +He offered her his arm, and he made his way along the street, while +his face flushed with anger at some jeering remarks he heard from one +or two of those who looked on at the scene. It was not long before +Nellie's anger gained the upper hand of her fears. + +"A pretty position you have placed me in, with your interference!" + +"You mean, I suppose, Mistress Nellie, a pretty position that man +placed you in, by his insolence. What would Captain Dave say if he +heard that his daughter had been accosted by a Court gallant in the +streets?" + +"Are you going to tell him?" she asked, removing her hand sharply +from his arm. + +"I have no doubt I ought to do so, and if you will take my advice you +will tell him yourself as soon as you reach home, for it may be that +among those standing round was someone who is acquainted with both +you and your father; and you know as well as I do what Captain Dave +would say if it came to his ears in such fashion." + +Nellie walked for some time in silence. Her anger rose still higher +against Cyril at the position in which his interference had placed +her, but she could not help seeing that his advice was sound. She had +indeed met this man several times, and had listened without chiding +to his protestations of admiration and love. Nellie was ambitious. +She had been allowed to have her own way by her mother, whose sole +companion she had been during her father's absence at sea. She knew +that she was remarkably pretty, and saw no reason why she, like many +another citizen's daughter, should not make a good match. She had +readily given the man her promise to say nothing at home until he +gave her leave to do so, and she had been weak, enough to take all +that he said for gospel. Now she felt that, at any rate, she must +smooth matters over and put it so that as few questions as possible +should be asked. After a long pause, then, she said,-- + +"Perhaps you are right, Cyril. I will myself tell my father and +mother. I can assure you that I had no idea I should meet him +to-day." + +This Cyril could readily believe, for certainly she would not have +asked him to accompany her if she had known. However, he only replied +gravely,-- + +"I am glad to hear that you will tell them, Mistress Nellie, and +trust that you will take them entirely into your confidence." + +This Nellie had no idea of doing; but she said no further word until +they reached home. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAVED FROM A VILLAIN + + +"I find that I have to give you thanks for yet another service, +Cyril," Captain Dave said heartily, when they met the next morning. +"Nellie tells me a young Court gallant had the insolence to try to +address her yesterday in Cheapside, on her way back from St. Paul's, +that you prevented his doing so, and that there was quite a scene in +the street. If I knew who he was I would break his sconce for him, +were he Rochester himself. A pretty pass things have come to, when a +citizen's daughter cannot walk home from St. Paul's without one of +these impudent vagabonds of the Court venturing to address her! Know +you who he was?" + +"No; I have never seen the fellow before, Captain Dave. I do know +many of the courtiers by sight, having, when we first came over, +often gone down to Whitehall with my father when he was seeking to +obtain an audience with the King; but this man's face is altogether +strange to me." + +"Well, well! I will take care that Nellie shall not go abroad again +except under her mother's escort or mine. I know, Cyril, that she +would be as safe under your charge as in ours, but it is better that +she should have the presence of an older person. It is not that I +doubt your courage or your address, lad, but a ruffling gallant of +this sort would know naught of you, save that you are young, and +besides, did you interfere, there might be a scene that would do +serious harm to Nellie's reputation." + +"I agree with you thoroughly, Captain Dave," Cyril said warmly. "It +will be far better that you or Mrs. Dowsett should be by her side as +long as there is any fear of further annoyance from this fellow. I +should ask nothing better than to try a bout with him myself, for I +have been right well taught how to use my sword; but, as you say, a +brawl in the street is of all things to be avoided." + +Three or four weeks passed quietly. Nellie seldom went abroad; when +she did so her mother always accompanied her if it were in the +daytime, and her father whenever she went to the house of any friend +after dusk. + +Cyril one day caught sight of the gallant in Tower Street, and +although he was on his way to one of his customers, he at once +determined to break his appointment and to find out who the fellow +was. The man sauntered about looking into the shops for full half an +hour, but it was apparent to Cyril that he paid little attention to +their contents, and was really waiting for someone. When the clock +struck three he started, stamped his foot angrily on the ground, and, +walking away rapidly to the stairs of London Bridge, took a seat in a +boat, and was rowed up the river. + +Cyril waited until he had gone a short distance, and then hailed a +wherry rowing two oars. + +"You see that boat over there?" he said. "I don't wish to overtake it +at present. Keep a hundred yards or so behind it, but row inshore so +that it shall not seem that you are following them." + +The men obeyed his instructions until they had passed the Temple; +then, as the other boat still kept in the middle of the stream, Cyril +had no doubt that it would continue its course to Westminster. + +"Now stretch to your oars," he said to the watermen. "I want to get +to Westminster before the other boat, and to be well away from the +stairs before it comes up." + +The rest of the journey was performed at much greater speed, and +Cyril alighted at Westminster while the other boat was some three or +four hundred yards behind. Paying the watermen, he went up the +stairs, walked away fifty or sixty yards, and waited until he saw the +man he was following appear. The latter walked quietly up towards +Whitehall and entered a tavern frequented by young bloods of the +Court. Cyril pressed his hat down over his eyes. His dress was not +the same as that in which he had escorted Nellie to the cathedral, +and he had but small fear of being recognised. + +When he entered he sat down at a vacant table, and, having ordered a +stoup of wine, looked round. The man had joined a knot of young +fellows like himself, seated at a table. They were dissipated-looking +blades, and were talking loudly and boisterously. + +"Well, Harvey, how goes it? Is the lovely maiden we saw when we were +with you at St. Paul's ready to drop into your arms?" + +"Things are going on all right," Harvey said, with an air of +consciousness; "but she is watched by two griffins, her father and +mother. 'Tis fortunate they do not know me by sight, and I have thus +chances of slipping a note in her hand when I pass her. I think it +will not be long before you will have to congratulate me." + +"She is an heiress and only daughter, is she not, honest John?" +another asked. + +"She is an only child, and her father bears the reputation of doing a +good business; but as to what I shall finally do, I shall not yet +determine. As to that, I shall be guided by circumstances." + +"Of course, of course," the one who had first spoken said. + +Cyril had gained the information he required. The man's name was John +Harvey, and Nellie was keeping up a clandestine correspondence with +him. Cyril felt that were he to listen longer he could not restrain +his indignation, and, without touching the wine he had paid for, he +hastily left the tavern. + +As he walked towards the city, he was unable to decide what he had +better do. Were he to inform Captain Dave of what he had heard there +would be a terrible scene, and there was no saying what might happen. +Still, Nellie must be saved from falling into the hands of this +fellow, and if he abstained from telling her father he must himself +take steps to prevent the possibility of such a thing taking place. +The more he thought of it the more he felt of the heavy +responsibility it would be. Anxious as he was to save Nellie from the +anger of her father, it was of far greater consequence to save her +from the consequences of her own folly. At last he resolved to take +John Wilkes into his counsels. John was devoted to his master, and +even if his advice were not of much value, his aid in keeping watch +would be of immense service. Accordingly, that evening, when John +went out for his usual pipe after supper, Cyril, who had to go to a +trader in Holborn, followed him out quickly and overtook him a few +yards from the door. + +"I want to have a talk with you, John." + +"Ay, ay, sir. Where shall it be? Nothing wrong, I hope? That new +apprentice looks to me an honest sort of chap, and the man we have +got in the yard now is an old mate of mine. He was a ship's boy on +board the _Dolphin_ twenty-five years back, and he sailed under the +Captain till he left the sea. I would trust that chap just as I would +myself." + +"It is nothing of that sort, John. It is another sort of business +altogether, and yet it is quite as serious as the last. I have got +half an hour before I have to start to do those books at Master +Hopkins'. Where can we have a talk in a quiet place where there is no +chance of our being overheard?" + +"There is a little room behind the bar at the place I go to, and I +have no doubt the landlord will let us have it, seeing as I am a +regular customer." + +"At any rate we can see, John. It is too cold for walking about +talking here; and, besides, I think one can look at a matter in all +lights much better sitting down than one can walking about." + +"That is according to what you are accustomed to," John said, shaking +his head. "It seems to me that I can look further into the innards of +a question when I am walking up and down the deck on night watch with +just enough wind aloft to take her along cheerful, and not too much +of it, than I can at any other time; but then, you see, that is just +what one is accustomed to. This is the place." + +He entered a quiet tavern, and, nodding to five or six +weather-beaten-looking men, who were sitting smoking long pipes, each +with a glass of grog before him, went up to the landlord, who formed +one of the party. He had been formerly the master of a trader, and +had come into the possession of the tavern by marriage with its +mistress, who was still the acting head of the establishment. + +"We have got a piece of business we want to overhaul, Peter. I +suppose we can have that cabin in yonder for a bit?" + +"Ay, ay. There is a good fire burning. You will find pipes on the +table. You will want a couple of glasses of grog, of course?" + +John nodded, and then led the way into the little snuggery at the end +of the room. It had a glass door, so that, if desired, a view could +be obtained of the general room, but there was a curtain to draw +across this. There was a large oak settle on either side of the fire, +and there was a table, with pipes and a jar of tobacco standing +between them. + +"This is a tidy little crib," John said, as he seated himself and +began to fill a pipe. "There is no fear of being disturbed here. +There has been many a voyage talked over and arranged in this 'ere +room. They say that Blake himself, when the Fleet was in the river, +would drop in here sometimes, with one of his captains, for a quiet +talk." + +A minute later a boy entered and placed two steaming glasses of grog +on the table. The door closed after him, and John said,-- + +"Now you can get under way, Master Cyril. You have got a fair course +now, and nothing to bring you up." + +"It is a serious matter, John. And before I begin, I must tell you +that I rely on your keeping absolute silence as to what I am going to +tell you." + +"That in course," John said, as he lifted his glass to his lips. "You +showed yourself a first-rate pilot in that last job, and I am content +to sail under you this time without asking any questions as to the +ship's course, and to steer according to orders." + +Cyril told the story, interrupted frequently by angry ejaculations on +the part of the old bo'swain. + +"Dash my wig!" he exclaimed, when Cyril came to an end. "But this is +a bad business altogether, Master Cyril. One can engage a pirate and +beat him off if the crew is staunch, but when there is treason on +board ship, it makes it an awkward job for those in command." + +"The question is this, John: ought we to tell the Captain, or shall +we try to take the affair into our own hands, and so to manage it +that he shall never know anything about it?" + +The sailor was silent for a minute or two, puffing his pipe +meditatively. + +"I see it is an awkward business to decide," he said. "On one side, +it would pretty nigh kill Captain Dave to know that Mistress Nellie +has been steering wild and has got out of hand. She is just the apple +of his eye. Then, on the other hand, if we undertook the job without +telling him, and one fine morning we was to find out she was gone, we +should be in a mighty bad fix, for the Captain would turn round and +say, 'Why didn't you tell me? If you had done so, I would have locked +her up under hatches, and there she would be, safe now.'" + +"That is just what I see, and it is for that reason I come to you. I +could not be always on the watch, but I think that you and I together +would keep so sharp a look-out that we might feel pretty sure that +she could not get away without our knowledge." + +"We could watch sharply enough at night, Master Cyril. There would be +no fear of her getting away then without our knowing it. But how +would it be during the day? There am I in the shop or store from +seven in the morning until we lock up before supper-time. You are out +most of your time, and when you are not away, you are in the office +at the books, and she is free to go in and out of the front door +without either of us being any the wiser." + +"I don't think he would venture to carry her off by daylight," Cyril +said. "She never goes out alone now, and could scarcely steal away +unnoticed. Besides, she would know that she would be missed directly, +and a hue and cry set up. I should think she would certainly choose +the evening, when we are all supposed to be in bed. He would have a +chair waiting somewhere near; and there are so often chairs going +about late, after city entertainments, that they would get off +unnoticed. I should say the most dangerous time is between nine +o'clock and midnight. She generally goes off to bed at nine or soon +after, and she might very well put on her hood and cloak and steal +downstairs at once, knowing that she would not be missed till +morning. Another dangerous time would be when she goes out to a +neighbour's. The Captain always takes her, and goes to fetch her at +nine o'clock, but she might make some excuse to leave quite early, +and go off in that way." + +"That would be awkward, Mr. Cyril, for neither you nor I could be +away at supper-time without questions being asked. It seems to me +that I had better take Matthew into the secret. As he don't live in +the house he could very well watch wherever she is, till I slip round +after supper to relieve him, and he could watch outside here in the +evening till either you or I could steal downstairs and take his +place. You can count on him keeping his mouth shut just as you can on +me. The only thing is, how is he to stop her if he finds her coming +out from a neighbour's before the Captain has come for her?" + +"If he saw her coming straight home he could follow her to the door +without being noticed, John, but if he found her going some other way +he must follow her till he sees someone speak to her, and must then +go straight up and say, 'Mistress Dowsett, I am ready to escort you +home.' If she orders him off, or the man she meets threatens him, as +is like enough, he must say, 'Unless you come I shall shout for aid, +and call upon passers-by to assist me'; and, rather than risk the +exposure, she would most likely return with him. Of course, he would +carry with him a good heavy cudgel, and choose a thoroughfare where +there are people about to speak to her, and not an unfrequented +passage, for you may be sure the fellow would have no hesitation in +running him through if he could do so without being observed." + +"Matthew is a stout fellow," John Wilkes said, "and was as smart a +sailor as any on board till he had his foot smashed by being jammed +by a spare spar that got adrift in a gale, so that the doctors had to +cut off the leg under the knee, and leave him to stump about on a +timber toe for the rest of his life. I tell you what, Master Cyril: +we might make the thing safer still if I spin the Captain a yarn as +how Matthew has strained his back and ain't fit to work for a bit; +then I can take on another hand to work in the yard, and we can put +him on watch all day. He might come on duty at nine o'clock in the +morning, and stop until I relieve him as soon as supper is over. Of +course, he would not keep opposite the house, but might post himself +a bit up or down the street, so that he could manage to keep an eye +on the door." + +"That would be excellent," Cyril said. "Of course, at the supper-hour +he could go off duty, as she could not possibly leave the house +between that time and nine o'clock. You always come in about that +hour, and I hear you go up to bed. When you get there, you should at +once take off your boots, slip downstairs again with them, and go +quietly out. I often sit talking with Captain Dave till half-past +nine or ten, but directly I can get away I will come down and join +you. I think in that way we need feel no uneasiness as to harm coming +from our not telling Captain Dave, for it would be impossible for her +to get off unnoticed. Now that is all arranged I must be going, for I +shall be late at my appointment unless I hurry." + +"Shall I go round and begin my watch at once, Master Cyril?". + +"No, there is no occasion for that. We know that he missed her +to-day, and therefore can have made no appointment; and I am +convinced by what he said to the fellows he met, that matters are not +settled yet. However, we will begin to-morrow. You can take an +opportunity during the day to tell Matthew about it, and he can +pretend to strain his back in the afternoon, and you can send him +away. He can come round again next morning early, and when the +Captain comes down you can tell him that you find that Matthew will +not be able to work for the present, and ask him to let you take +another man on until he can come back again." + +Cyril watched Nellie closely at meal-times and in the evening for the +next few days. He thought that he should be certain to detect some +slight change in her manner, however well she might play her part, +directly she decided on going off with this man. She would not dream +that she was suspected in any way, and would therefore be the less +cautious. Matthew kept watch during the day, and followed if she went +out with her father to a neighbour's, remaining on guard outside the +house until John Wilkes relieved him as soon as he had finished his +supper. If she remained at home in the evening John went out +silently, after his return at his usual hour, and was joined by Cyril +as soon as Captain Dave said good-night and went in to his bedroom. +At midnight they re-entered the house and stole up to their rooms, +leaving their doors open and listening attentively for another hour +before they tried to get to sleep. + +On the sixth morning Cyril noticed that Nellie was silent and +abstracted at breakfast-time. She went out marketing with her mother +afterwards, and at dinner her mood had changed. She talked and +laughed more than usual. There was a flush of excitement on her +cheeks, and he drew the conclusion that in the morning she had not +come to an absolute decision, but had probably given an answer to the +man during the time she was out with her mother, and that she felt +the die was now cast. + +"Pass the word to Matthew to keep an extra sharp watch this afternoon +and to-morrow, John. I think the time is close at hand," he said, as +they went downstairs together after dinner. + +"Do you think so? Well, the sooner the better. It is trying work, +this here spying, and I don't care how soon it is over. I only hope +it will end by our running down this pirate and engaging him." + +"I hope so too, John. I feel it very hard to be sitting at table with +her and Captain Dave and her mother, and to know that she is +deceiving them." + +"I can't say a word for her," the old sailor said, shaking his head. +"She has as good parents as a girl could want to have. They would +give their lives for her, either of them, cheerful, and there she is +thinking of running away from them with a scamp she knows nothing of +and has probably never spoken with for an hour. I knew her head was a +bit turned with young fellows dangling after her, and by being +noticed by some of the Court gallants at the last City ball, and by +being made the toast by many a young fellow in City taverns--'Pretty +Mistress Nellie Dowsett'; but I did not think her head was so turned +that she would act as she is doing. Well, well, we must hope that +this will be a lesson, Master Cyril, that she will remember all her +life." + +"I hope so, John, and I trust that we shall be able to manage it all +so that the matter will never come to her parents' ears." + +"I hope so, and I don't see why it should. The fellow may bluster, +but he will say nothing about it because he would get into trouble +for trying to carry off a citizen's daughter." + +"And besides that, John,--which would be quite as serious in the eyes +of a fellow of this sort,--he would have the laugh against him among +all his companions for having been outwitted in the City. So I think +when he finds the game is up he will be glad enough to make off +without causing trouble." + +"Don't you think we might give him a sound thrashing? It would do him +a world of good." + +"I don't think it would do a man of that sort much good, John, and he +would be sure to shout, and then there would be trouble, and the +watch might come up, and we should all get hauled off together. In +the morning the whole story would be known, and Mistress Nellie's +name in the mouth of every apprentice in the City. No, no; if he is +disposed to go off quietly, by all means let him go." + +"I have no doubt that you are right, Master Cyril, but it goes +mightily against the grain to think that a fellow like that is to get +off with a whole skin. However, if one should fall foul of him some +other time, one might take it out of him." + +Captain Dave found Cyril but a bad listener to his stories that +evening, and, soon after nine, said he should turn in. + +"I don't know what ails you to-night, Cyril," he said. "Your wits are +wool-gathering, somewhere. I don't believe that you heard half that +last story I was telling you." + +"I heard it all, sir; but I do feel a little out of sorts this +evening." + +"You do too much writing, lad. My head would be like to go to pieces +if I were to sit half the hours that you do at a desk." + +When Captain Dave went into his room, Cyril walked upstairs and +closed his bedroom door with a bang, himself remaining outside. Then +he took off his boots, and, holding them in his hand, went +noiselessly downstairs to the front door. The lock had been carefully +oiled, and, after putting on his boots again, he went out. + +"You are right, Master Cyril, sure enough," John Wilkes said when he +joined him, fifty yards away from the house. "It is to-night she is +going to try to make off. I thought I had best keep Matthew at hand, +so I bid him stop till I came out, then sent him round to have a pint +of ale at the tavern, and when he came back told him he had best +cruise about, and look for signs of pirates. He came back ten minutes +ago, and told me that a sedan chair had just been brought to the +other end of the lane. It was set down some thirty yards from +Fenchurch Street. There were the two chairmen and three fellows +wrapped up in cloaks." + +"That certainly looks like action, John. Well, I should say that +Matthew had better take up his station at the other end of the lane, +there to remain quiet until he hears an uproar at the chair; then he +can run up to our help if we need it. We will post ourselves near the +door. No doubt Harvey, and perhaps one of his friends, will come and +wait for her. We can't interfere with them here, but must follow and +come up with her just before they reach the chair. The further they +are away from the house the better. Then if there is any trouble +Captain Dave will not hear anything of it." + +"That will be a good plan of operations," John agreed. "Matthew is +just round the next corner. I will send him to Fenchurch Street at +once." + +He went away, and rejoined Cyril in two or three minutes. They then +went along towards the house, and took post in a doorway on the other +side of the street, some thirty yards from the shop. They had +scarcely done so, when they heard footsteps, and presently saw two +men come along in the middle of the street. They stopped and looked +round. + +"There is not a soul stirring," one said. "We can give the signal." + +So saying, he sang a bar or two of a song popular at the time, and +they then drew back from the road into a doorway and waited. + +Five minutes later, Cyril and his fellow-watcher heard a very slight +sound, and a figure stepped out from Captain Dowsett's door. The two +men crossed at once and joined her. A few low words were spoken, and +they moved away together, and turned up the lane. + +As soon as they disappeared from sight, Cyril and John Wilkes issued +out. The latter had produced some long strips of cloth, which he +wound round both their boots, so as, he said, to muffle the oars. +Their steps, therefore, as they followed, were almost noiseless. +Walking fast, they came up to the three persons ahead of them just as +they reached the sedan chair. The two chairmen were standing at the +poles, and a third man was holding the door open with his hat in his +hand. + +"Avast heaving, mates!" John Wilkes said. "It seems to me as you are +running this cargo without proper permits." + +Nellie gave a slight scream on hearing the voice, while the man +beside her stepped forward, exclaiming furiously: + +"S" death, sir! who are you, and what are you interfering about?" + +"I am an honest man I hope, master. My name is John Wilkes, and, as +that young lady will tell you, I am in the employ of her father." + +"Then I tell you, John Wilkes, or John the Devil, or whatever your +name maybe, that if you don't at once take yourself off, I will let +daylight into you," and he drew his sword, as did his two companions. + +John gave a whistle, and the wooden-legged man was heard hurrying up +from Fenchurch Street. + +"Cut the scoundrel down, Penrose," Harvey exclaimed, "while I put the +lady into the chair." + +The man addressed sprang at Wilkes, but in a moment his Court sword +was shivered by a blow from the latter's cudgel, which a moment later +fell again on his head, sending him reeling back several paces. + +"Stay, sir, or I will run you through," Cyril said, pricking Harvey +sharply in the arm as he was urging Nellie to enter the chair. + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" the other exclaimed, in a tone of fury. "My +boy of Cheapside! Well, I can spare a moment to punish you." + +"Oh, do not fight with him, my lord!" Nellie exclaimed. + +"My lord!" Cyril laughed. "So he has become a lord, eh?" + +Then he changed his tone. + +"Mistress Nellie, you have been deceived. This fellow is no lord. He +is a hanger-on of the Court, one John Harvey, a disreputable +blackguard whom I heard boasting to his boon-companions of his +conquest. I implore you to return home as quietly as you went. None +will know of this." + +He broke off suddenly, for, with an oath, Harvey rushed at him. Their +swords clashed, there was a quick thrust and parry, and then Harvey +staggered back with a sword-wound through the shoulder, dropping his +sword to the ground. + +"Your game is up, John Harvey," Cyril said. "Did you have your +deserts I would pass my sword through your body. Now call your +fellows off, or it will be worse for them." + +"Oh, it is not true? Surely it cannot be true?" Nellie cried, +addressing Harvey. "You cannot have deceived me?" + +The fellow, smarting with pain, and seeing that the game was up, +replied with a savage curse. + +"You may think yourself lucky that you are only disabled, you +villain!" Cyril said, taking a step towards him with his sword +menacingly raised. "Begone, sir, before my patience is exhausted, or, +by heaven! it will be your dead body that the chairmen will have to +carry away." + +"Disabled or not," John Wilkes exclaimed, "I will have a say in the +matter;" and, with a blow with his cudgel, he stretched Harvey on the +ground, and belaboured him furiously until Cyril dragged him away by +force. Harvey rose slowly to his feet. + +"Take yourself off, sir," Cyril said. "One of your brave companions +has long ago bolted; the other is disarmed, and has his head broken. +You may thank your stars that you have escaped with nothing worse +than a sword-thrust through your shoulder, and a sound drubbing. +Hanging would be a fit punishment for knaves like you. I warn you, if +you ever address or in any way molest this lady again, you won't get +off so easily." + +Then he turned and offered his arm to Nellie, who was leaning against +the wall in a half-fainting state. Not a word was spoken until they +emerged from the lane. + +"No one knows of this but ourselves, Mistress Nellie, and you will +never hear of it from us. Glad indeed I am that I have saved you from +the misery and ruin that must have resulted from your listening to +that plausible scoundrel. Go quietly upstairs. We will wait here till +we are sure that you have gone safely into your room; then we will +follow. I doubt not that you are angry with me now, but in time you +will feel that you have been saved from a great danger." + +The door was not locked. He lifted the latch silently, and held the +door open for her to pass in. Then he closed it again, and turned to +the two men who followed them. + +"This has been a good night's work, John." + +"That has it. I don't think that young spark will be coming after +City maidens again. Well, it has been a narrow escape for her. It +would have broken the Captain's heart if she had gone in that way. +What strange things women are! I have always thought Mistress Nellie +as sensible a girl as one would want to see. Given a little +over-much, perhaps, to thinking of the fashion of her dress, but that +was natural enough, seeing how pretty she is and how much she is made +of; and yet she is led, by a few soft speeches from a man she knows +nothing of, to run away from home, and leave father, and mother, and +all. Well, Matthew, lad, we sha'n't want any more watching. You have +done a big service to the master, though he will never know it. I +know I can trust you to keep a stopper on your jaws. Don't you let a +soul know of this--not even your wife." + +"You trust me, mate," the man replied. "My wife is a good soul, but +her tongue runs nineteen to the dozen, and you might as well shout a +thing out at Paul's Cross as drop it into her ear. I think my back +will be well enough for me to come to work again to-morrow," he +added, with a laugh. + +"All right, mate. I shall be glad to have you again, for the chap who +has been in your place is a landsman, and he don't know a +marling-spike from an anchor. Good-night, mate." + +"Well, Master Cyril," he went on, as the sailor walked away, "I don't +think there ever was such a good wind as that which blew you here. +First of all you saved Captain Dave's fortune, and now you save his +daughter. I look on Captain Dave as being pretty nigh the same as +myself, seeing as I have been with him man and boy for over thirty +years, and I feel what you have done for him just as if you had done +it for me. I am only a rough sailor-man, and I don't know how to put +it in words, but I feel just full up with a cargo of thankfulness." + +"That is all right," Cyril said, holding out his hand, which John +Wilkes shook with a heartiness that was almost painful. "Captain Dave +offered me a home when I was alone without a friend in London, and I +am glad indeed that I have been able to render him service in return. +I myself have done little enough, though I do not say that the +consequences have not been important. It has been just taking a +little trouble and keeping a few watches--a thing not worth talking +about one way or the other. I hope this will do Mistress Nellie good. +She is a nice girl, but too fond of admiration, and inclined to think +that she is meant for higher things than to marry a London citizen. I +think to-night's work will cure her of that. This fellow evidently +made himself out to her to be a nobleman of the Court. Now she sees +that he is neither a nobleman nor a gentleman, but a ruffian who took +advantage of her vanity and inexperience, and that she would have +done better to have jumped down the well in the yard than to have put +herself in his power. Now we can go up to bed. There is no more +probability of our waking the Captain than there has been on other +nights; but mind, if we should do so, you stick to the story we +agreed on, that you thought there was someone by the gate in the lane +again, and so called me to go down with you to investigate, not +thinking it worth while to rouse up the Captain on what might be a +false alarm." + +Everything remained perfectly quiet as they made their way upstairs +to their rooms as silently as possible. + +"Where is Nellie?" Captain Dave asked, when they assembled at +breakfast. + +"She is not well," his wife replied, "I went to her room just now and +found that she was still a-bed. She said that she had a bad headache, +and I fear that she is going to have a fever, for her face is pale +and her eyes red and swollen, just as if she had been well-nigh +crying them out of her head; her hands are hot and her pulse fast. +Directly I have had breakfast I shall make her some camomile tea, and +if that does not do her good I shall send for the doctor." + +"Do so, wife, without delay. Why, the girl has never ailed a day for +years! What can have come to her?" + +"She says it is only a bad headache--that all she wants is to be left +alone." + +"Yes, yes; that is all very well, but if she does not get better soon +she must be seen to. They say that there were several cases last week +of that plague that has been doing so much harm in foreign parts, and +if that is so it behoves us to be very careful, and see that any +illness is attended to without delay." + +"I don't think that there is any cause for alarm," his wife said +quietly. "The child has got a headache and is a little feverish, but +there is no occasion whatever for thinking that it is anything more. +There is nothing unusual in a girl having a headache, but Nellie has +had such good health that if she had a prick in the finger you would +think it was serious." + +"By the way, John," Captain Dave said suddenly, "did you hear any +noise in the lane last night? Your room is at the back of the house, +and you were more likely to have heard it than I was. I have just +seen one of the watch, and he tells me that there was a fray there +last night, for there is a patch of blood and marks of a scuffle. It +was up at the other end. There is some mystery about it, he thinks, +for he says that one of his mates last night saw a sedan chair +escorted by three men turn into the lane from Fenchurch Street just +before ten o'clock, and one of the neighbours says that just after +that hour he heard a disturbance and a clashing of swords there. On +looking out, he saw something dark that might have been a chair +standing there, and several men engaged in a scuffle. It seemed soon +over, and directly afterwards three people came down the lane this +way. Then he fancied that someone got into the chair, which was +afterwards carried out into Fenchurch Street." + +"I did hear something that sounded like a quarrel or a fray," John +Wilkes said, "but there is nothing unusual about that. As everything +was soon quiet again, I gave no further thought to it." + +"Well, it seems a curious affair, John. However, it is the business +of the City watch and not mine, so we need not bother ourselves about +it. I am glad to see you have got Matthew at work again this morning. +He tells me that he thinks he has fairly got over that sprain in his +back." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CAPTAIN'S YARN + + +Mindful of the fact that this affair had added a new enemy to those +he had acquired by the break-up of the Black Gang, Cyril thought it +as well to go round and give notice to the two traders whose books he +attended to in the evening, that unless they could arrange for him to +do them in the daytime he must give up the work altogether. Both +preferred the former alternative, for they recognised the advantage +they had derived from his work, and that at a rate of pay for which +they could not have obtained the services of any scrivener in the +City. + +It was three or four days before Nellie Dowsett made her appearance +at the general table. + +"I can't make out what ails the girl," her mother said, on the +previous evening. "The fever speedily left her, as I told you, but +she is weak and languid, and seems indisposed to talk." + +"She will soon get over that, my dear," Captain Dave said. "Girls are +not like men. I have seen them on board ship. One day they are +laughing and fidgeting about like wild things, the next day they are +poor, woebegone creatures. If she gets no better in a few days, I +will see when my old friend, Jim Carroll, is starting in his brig for +Yarmouth, and will run down with her myself--and of course with you, +wife, if you will go--and stay there a few days while he is unloading +and filling up again. The sea-air will set her up again, I warrant." + +"Not at this time of year," Dame Dowsett said firmly. "With these +bitter winds it is no time for a lass to go a-sailing; and they say +that Yarmouth is a great deal colder than we are here, being exposed +to the east winds." + +"Well, well, Dame, then we will content ourselves with a run in the +hoy down to Margate. If we choose well the wind and tide we can start +from here in the morning and maybe reach there late in the evening, +or, if not, the next morning to breakfast. Or if you think that too +far we will stop at Sheerness, where we can get in two tides easily +enough if the wind be fair." + +"That would be better, David; but it were best to see how she goes +on. It may be, as you say, that she will shortly gain her strength +and spirits again." + +It was evident, when Nellie entered the room at breakfast-time the +next morning, that her mother's reports had not been exaggerated. She +looked, indeed, as if recovering from a severe illness, and when she +said good-morning to her father her voice trembled and her eyes +filled with tears. + +"Tut, tut, lass! This will never do. I shall soon hardly own you for +my Nellie. We shall have to feed you up on capons and wine, child, or +send you down to one of the baths for a course of strengthening +waters." + +She smiled faintly, and then turning, gave her hand to Cyril. As she +did so, a slight flush of colour came into her cheeks. + +"I am heartily glad to see you down again, Mistress Nellie," he said, +"and wish you a fair and speedy recovery." + +"I shall be better presently," she replied, with an effort. +"Good-morning, John." + +"Good-morning, Mistress Nellie. Right glad are we to see you down +again, for it makes but a dull table without your merry laugh to give +an edge to our appetites." + +She sat down now, and the others, seeing that it was best to let her +alone for a while, chatted gaily together. + +"There is no talk in the City but of the war, Cyril," the Captain +said presently. "They say that the Dutch make sure of eating us up, +but they won't find it as easy a job as they fancy. The Duke of York +is to command the Fleet. They say that Prince Rupert will be second. +To my mind they ought to have entrusted the whole matter to him. He +proved himself as brave a captain at sea as he was on land, and I +will warrant he would lead his ships into action as gallantly as he +rode at the head of his Cavaliers on many a stricken field. The ships +are fitting out in all haste, and they are gathering men at every +sea-port. I should say they will have no lack of hands, for there are +many ships laid up, that at other times trade with Holland, and +Dantzic, and Dunkirk, and many a bold young sailor who will be glad +to try whether he can fight as stoutly against the Dutch under York +and Rupert as his father did under Blake." + +"For my part," Cyril said, "I cannot understand it; for it seems to +me that the English and Dutch have been fighting for the last year. I +have been too busy to read the Journal, and have not been in the way +of hearing the talk of the coffeehouses and taverns; but, beyond that +it is some dispute about the colonies, I know little of the matter." + +"I am not greatly versed in it myself, lad. Nellie here reads the +Journal, and goes abroad more than any of us, and should be able to +tell us something about it. Now, girl, can't you do something to set +us right in this matter, for I like not to be behind my neighbours, +though I am such a stay-at-home, having, as I thank the Lord, much +happiness here, and no occasion to go out to seek it." + +"There was much discourse about it, father, the evening I went to +Dame King's. There were several gentlemen there who had trade with +the East, and one of them held shares in the English Company trading +thither. After supper was over, they discoursed more fully on the +matter than was altogether pleasing to some of us, who would much +rather that, as we had hoped, we might have dancing or singing. I +could see that Dame King herself was somewhat put out that her +husband should have, without her knowing of his intention, brought in +these gentlemen. Still, the matter of their conversation was new to +us, and we became at last so mightily interested in it that we +listened to the discourse without bemoaning ourselves that we had +lost the amusement we looked for. I know I wished at the time that +you had been there. I say not that I can repeat all that I heard, but +as I had before read some of the matters spoken of in the Journal, I +could follow what the gentlemen said more closely. Soon after the +coming of the King to the throne the friendship between us and the +Spaniards, that had been weakened during the mastership of Cromwell, +was renewed, and they gave our ships many advantages at their ports, +while, on the other hand, they took away the privileges the Dutch had +enjoyed there, and thus our commerce with Spain increased, while that +of the Dutch diminished." + +"That is certainly true, Nellie," her father said. "We have three +ships sailing through the Mediterranean now to one that sailed there +ten years ago, and doubtless the Dutch must have suffered by the +increase in our trade." + +"Then he said that, as we had obtained the Island of Bombay in the +East Indies and the City of Tangier in Africa as the dowry of the +Queen, and had received the Island of Poleron for our East India +Company by the treaty with Holland, our commerce everywhere +increased, and raised their jealousy higher and higher. There was +nothing in this of which complaint could be made by the Dutch +Government, but nevertheless they gave encouragement to their East +and West India Companies to raise trouble. Their East India Company +refused to hand over the Island, and laid great limitations as to the +places at which our merchants might trade in India. The other Company +acted in the same manner, and lawlessly took possession of Cape Coast +Castle, belonging to our English Company. + +"The Duke of York, who was patron and governor of our African +Company, sent Sir Robert Holmes with four frigates to Guinea to make +reprisals. He captured a place from the Dutch and named it James's +Fort, and then, proceeding to the river Gambia, he turned out the +Dutch traders there and built a fort. A year ago, as the Dutch still +held Cape Coast Castle, Sir Robert was sent out again with orders to +take it by force, and on the way he overhauled a Dutch ship and found +she carried a letter of secret instructions from the Dutch Government +to the West India Company to take the English Fort at Cormantin. +Seeing that the Hollanders, although professing friendship, were thus +treacherously inclined, he judged himself justified in exceeding the +commission he had received, and on his way south he touched at Cape +Verde. There he first captured two Dutch ships and then attacked +their forts on the Island of Gorse and captured them, together with a +ship lying under their guns. + +"In the fort he found a great quantity of goods ready to be shipped. +He loaded his own vessels, and those that he had captured, with the +merchandise, and carried it to Sierra Leone. Then he attacked the +Dutch fort of St. George del Mena, the strongest on the coast, but +failed there; but he soon afterwards captured Cape Coast Castle, +though, as the gentlemen said, a mightily strong place. Then he +sailed across to America, and, as you know, captured the Dutch +Settlements of New Netherlands, and changed the name into that of New +York. He did this not so much out of reprisal for the misconduct of +the Dutch in Africa, but because the land was ours by right, having +been discovered by the Cabots and taken possession of in the name of +King Henry VII., and our title always maintained until the Dutch +seized it thirty years ago. + +"Then the Dutch sent orders to De Ruyter, who commanded the fleet +which was in the Mediterranean, to sail away privately and to make +reprisals on the Coast of Guinea and elsewhere. He first captured +several of our trading forts, among them that of Cormantin, taking +great quantities of goods belonging to our Company; he then sailed to +Barbadoes, where he was beaten off by the forts. Then he captured +twenty of our ships off Newfoundland, and so returned to Holland, +altogether doing damage, as the House of Commons told His Majesty, to +the extent of eight hundred thousand pounds. All this time the Dutch +had been secretly preparing for war, which they declared in January, +which has forced us to do the same, although we delayed a month in +hopes that some accommodation might be arrived at. I think, father, +that is all that he told us, though there were many details that I do +not remember." + +"And very well told, lass, truly. I wonder that your giddy head +should have taken in so much matter. Of course, now you tell them +over, I have heard these things before--the wrong that the Dutch did +our Company by seizing their post at Cape Coast, and the reprisals +that Sir Robert Holmes took upon them with our Company's ships--but +they made no great mark on my memory, for I was just taking over my +father's work when the first expedition took place. At any rate, none +can say that we have gone into this war unjustly, seeing that the +Dutch began it, altogether without cause, by first attacking our +trading posts." + +"It seems to me, Captain Dave," John Wilkes said, "that it has been +mighty like the war that our English buccaneers waged against the +Spaniards in the West Indies, while the two nations were at peace at +home." + +"It is curious," Cyril said, "that the trouble begun in Africa should +have shifted to the other side of the Atlantic." + +"Ay, lad; just as that first trouble was at last fought out in the +English Channel, off the coast of France, so this is likely to be +decided in well-nigh the same waters." + +"The gentlemen, the other night, were all of opinion," Nellie said, +"that the matter would never have come to such a head had it not been +that De Witt, who is now the chief man in Holland, belongs to the +French party there, and has been urged on by King Louis, for his own +interest, to make war with us." + +"That may well be, Nellie. In all our English wars France has ever +had a part either openly or by intrigues. France never seems to be +content with attending to her own business, but is ever meddling with +her neighbours', and, if not fighting herself, trying to set them by +the ears against each other. If I were a bit younger, and had not +lost my left flipper, I would myself volunteer for the service. As +for Master Cyril here, I know he is burning to lay aside the pen and +take to the sword." + +"That is so, Captain Dave. As you know, I only took up the pen to +keep me until I was old enough to use a sword. I have been two years +at it now, and I suppose it will be as much longer before I can think +of entering the service of one of the Protestant princes; but as soon +as I am fit to do so, I shall get an introduction and be off; but I +would tenfold rather fight for my own country, and would gladly sail +in the Fleet, though I went but as a ship's boy." + +"That is the right spirit, Master Cyril," John Wilkes exclaimed. "I +would go myself if the Captain could spare me and they would take +such a battered old hulk." + +"I couldn't spare you, John," Captain Dave said. "I have been mighty +near making a mess of it, even with you as chief mate, and I might as +well shut up shop altogether if you were to leave me. I should miss +you, too, Cyril," he went on, stretching his arm across the table to +shake hands with the lad. "You have proved a real friend and a true; +but were there a chance of your going as an officer, I would not balk +you, even if I could do so. It is but natural that a lad of spirit +should speak and think as you do; besides, the war may not last for +long, and when you come back, and the ships are paid off, you would +soon wipe off the arrears of work, and get the books into ship-shape +order. But, work or no work, that room of yours will always stand +ready for you while I live, and there will always be a plate for you +on this table." + +"Thank you, Captain Dave. You always overrate my services, and forget +that they are but the consequence of the kindness that you have shown +to me. But I have no intention of going. It was but a passing +thought. I have but one friend who could procure me a berth as a +volunteer, and as it is to him I must look for an introduction to +some foreign prince, I would not go to him twice for a favour, +especially as I have no sort of claim on his kindness. To go as a +cabin boy would be to go with men under my own condition, and +although I do not shirk hard work and rough usage, I should not care +for them in such fashion. Moreover, I am doing work which, even +without your hospitality, would suffice to keep me comfortably, and +if I went away, though but for a month, I might find that those for +whom I work had engaged other assistance. Spending naught, I am +laying by money for the time when I shall have to travel at my own +expense and to provide myself necessaries, and, maybe, to keep myself +for a while until I can procure employment. I have the prospect that, +by the end of another two years, I shall have gathered a sufficient +store for all my needs, and I should be wrong to throw myself out of +employment merely to embark on an adventure, and so to make a break, +perhaps a long one, in my plans." + +"Don't you worry yourself on that score," Captain Dave said warmly, +and then checked himself. "It will be time to talk about that when +the time comes. But you are right, lad. I like a man who steadfastly +holds on the way he has chosen, and will not turn to the right or +left. There is not much that a man cannot achieve if he keeps his aim +steadily in view. Why, Cyril, if you said you had made up your mind +to be Lord Mayor of London, I would wager that you would some day be +elected." + +Cyril laughed. + +"I shall never set my eyes in that direction, nor do I think the +thing I have set myself to do will ever be in my power--that is, to +buy back my father's estate; but so long as I live I shall keep that +in view." + +"More unlikely things have happened, lad. You have got first to rise +to be a General; then, what with your pay and your share in the sack +of a city or two, and in other ways, you may come home with a purse +full enough even for that. But it is time for us to be going down +below. Matthew will think that we have forgotten him altogether." + +Another fortnight passed. Nellie had, to a considerable extent, +recovered from the shock that she had suffered, but her manner was +still quiet and subdued, her sallies were less lively, and her father +noticed, with some surprise, that she no longer took any great +interest in the gossip he retailed of the gay doings of the Court. + +"I can't think what has come over the girl," he said to his wife. +"She seems well in health again, but she is changed a good deal, +somehow. She is gentler and softer. I think she is all the better for +it, but I miss her merry laugh and her way of ordering things about, +as if her pleasure only were to be consulted." + +"I think she is very much improved," Mrs. Dowsett said decidedly; +"though I can no more account for it than you can. She never used to +have any care about the household, and now she assists me in my work, +and is in all respects dutiful and obedient, and is not for ever bent +upon gadding about as she was before. I only hope it will continue +so, for, in truth, I have often sighed over the thought that she +would make but a poor wife for an honest citizen." + +"Tut, tut, wife. It has never been as bad as that. Girls will be +girls, and if they are a little vain of their good looks, that will +soften down in time, when they get to have the charge of a household. +You yourself, dame, were not so staid when I first wooed you, as you +are now; and I think you had your own little share of vanity, as was +natural enough in the prettiest girl in Plymouth." + +When Nellie was in the room Cyril did his best to save her from being +obliged to take part in the conversation, by inducing Captain Dave to +tell him stories of some of his adventures at sea. + +"You were saying, Captain Dave, that you had had several engagements +with the Tunis Rovers," he said one evening. "Were they ever near +taking you?" + +"They did take me once, lad, and that without an engagement; but, +fortunately, I was not very long a prisoner. It was not a pleasant +time though, John, was it?" + +"It was not, Captain Dave. I have been in sore danger of wreck +several times, and in three big sea-fights; but never did I feel so +out of heart as when I was lying, bound hand and foot, on the ballast +in the hold of that corsair. No true sailor is afraid of being +killed; but the thought that one might be all one's life a slave +among the cruel heathen was enough to take the stiffness out of any +man's courage." + +"But how was it that you were taken without an engagement, Captain +Dave? And how did you make your escape?" + +"Well, lad, it was the carelessness of my first mate that did it; but +as he paid for his fault with his life let us say naught against him. +He was a handsome, merry young fellow, and had shipped as second +mate, but my first had died of fever in the Levant, and of course he +got the step, though all too young for the responsibility. We had met +with some bad weather when south of Malta, and had had a heavy gale +for three days, during which time we lost our main topmast, and badly +strained the mizzen. The weather abated when we were off Pantellaria, +which is a bare rock rising like a mountain peak out of the sea, and +with only one place where a landing can be safely effected. As the +gale had blown itself out, and it was likely we should have a spell +of settled weather, I decided to anchor close in to the Island, and +to repair damages. + +"We were hard at work for two days. All hands had had a stiff time of +it, and the second night, having fairly repaired damages, I thought +to give the crew a bit of a rest, and, not dreaming of danger, +ordered that half each watch might remain below. John Wilkes was +acting as my second mate. Pettigrew took the first watch; John had +the middle watch; and then the other came up again. I turned out once +or twice, but everything was quiet--we had not seen a sail all day. +There was a light breeze blowing, but no chance of its increasing, +and as we were well sheltered in the only spot where the anchorage +was good, I own that I did not impress upon Pettigrew the necessity +for any particular vigilance. Anyhow, just as morning was breaking I +was woke by a shout. I ran out on deck, but as I did so there was a +rush of dark figures, and I was knocked down and bound before I knew +what had happened. As soon as I could think it over, it was clear +enough. The Moor had been coming into the anchorage, and, catching +sight of us in the early light, had run alongside and boarded us. + +"The watch, of course, must have been asleep. There was not a shot +fired nor a drop of blood shed, for those on deck had been seized and +bound before they could spring to their feet, and the crew had all +been caught in their bunks. It was bitter enough. There was the +vessel gone, and the cargo, and with them my savings of twenty years' +hard work, and the prospect of slavery for life. The men were all +brought aft and laid down side by side. Young Pettigrew was laid next +to me. + +"'I wish to heaven, captain,' he said, 'you had got a pistol and your +hand free, and would blow out my brains for me. It is all my fault, +and hanging at the yard-arm is what I deserve. I never thought there +was the slightest risk--not a shadow of it--and feeling a bit dozy, +sat down for five minutes' caulk. Seeing that, no doubt the men +thought they might do the same; and this is what has come of it. I +must have slept half an hour at least, for there was no sail in sight +when I went off, and this Moor must have come round the point and +made us out after that.' + +"The corsair was lying alongside of us, her shrouds lashed to ours. +There was a long jabbering among the Moors when they had taken off +our hatches and seen that we were pretty well full up with cargo; +then, after a bit, we were kicked, and they made signs for us to get +on our feet and to cross over into their ship. The crew were sent +down into the forward hold, and some men went down with them to tie +them up securely. John Wilkes, Pettigrew, and myself were shoved down +into a bit of a place below the stern cabin. Our legs were tied, as +well as our arms. The trap was shut, and there we were in the dark. +Of course I told Pettigrew that, though he had failed in his duty, +and it had turned out badly, he wasn't to be blamed as if he had gone +to sleep in sight of an enemy. + +"'I had never given the Moors a thought myself,' I said, 'and it was +not to be expected that you would. But no sailor, still less an +officer, ought to sleep on his watch, even if his ship is anchored in +a friendly harbour, and you are to blame that you gave way to +drowsiness. Still, even if you hadn't, it might have come to the same +thing in the long run, for the corsair is a large one, and might have +taken us even if you had made her out as she rounded the point.' + +"But, in spite of all I could say to cheer him, he took it to heart +badly, and was groaning and muttering to himself when they left us in +the dark, so I said to him,-- + +"'Look here, lad, the best way to retrieve the fault you have +committed is to try and get us out of the scrape. Set your brains to +work, and let us talk over what had best be done. There is no time to +be lost, for with a fair wind they can run from here to Tunis in +four-and-twenty hours, and once there one may give up all hope. There +are all our crew on board this ship. The Moor carried twice as many +men as we do, but we may reckon they will have put more than half of +them on board our barque; they don't understand her sails as well as +they do their own, and will therefore want a strong prize crew on +board.' + +"'I am ready to do anything, captain,' the young fellow said firmly. +'If you were to give me the word, I would get into their magazine if +I could, and blow the ship into the air.' + +"'Well, I don't know that I will give you that order, Pettigrew. To +be a heathen's slave is bad, but, at any rate, I would rather try +that life for a bit than strike my colours at once. Now let us think +it over. In the first place we have to get rid of these ropes; then +we have to work our way forward to the crew; and then to get on deck +and fight for it. It is a stiff job, look at it which way one will, +but at any rate it will be better to be doing something--even if we +find at last that we can't get out of this dog-kennel--than to lie +here doing nothing.' + +"After some talk, we agreed that it was not likely the Moors would +come down to us for a long time, for they might reckon that we could +hold on without food or water easy enough until they got to Tunis; +having agreed as to that point, we set to work to get our ropes +loose. Wriggling wouldn't do it, though we tried until the cords cut +into our flesh. + +"At last Pettigrew said,-- + +"'What a fool I am! I have got my knife hanging from a lanyard round +my neck. It is under my blouse, so they did not notice it when they +turned my pockets out.' + +"It was a long job to get at that knife. At last I found the string +behind his neck, and, getting hold of it with my teeth, pulled till +the knife came up to his throat. Then John got it in his teeth, and +the first part of the job was done. The next was easy enough. John +held the handle of the knife in his teeth and Pettigrew got hold of +the blade in his, and between them they made a shift to open it; +then, after a good deal of trouble, Pettigrew shifted himself till he +managed to get the knife in his hands. I lay across him and worked +myself backwards and forwards till the blade cut through the rope at +my wrist; then, in two more minutes, we were free. Then we felt +about, and found that the boarding between us and the main hold was +old and shaky, and, with the aid of the knife and of our three +shoulders, we made a shift at last to wrench one of the boards from +its place. + +"Pettigrew, who was slightest, crawled through, and we soon got +another plank down. The hold was half full of cargo, which, no doubt, +they had taken out of some ship or other. We made our way forward +till we got to the bulkhead, which, like the one we had got through, +was but a make-shift sort of affair, with room to put your fingers +between the planks. So we hailed the men and told them how we had got +free, and that if they didn't want to work all their lives as slaves +they had best do the same. They were ready enough, you may be sure, +and, finding a passage between the planks wider in one place than the +rest, we passed the knife through to them, and told them how to set +about cutting the rope. They were a deal quicker over it than we had +been, for in our place there had been no height where we could stand +upright, but they were able to do so. Two men, standing back to back +and one holding the knife, made quick work of cutting the rope. + +"We had plenty of strength now, and were not long in getting down a +couple of planks. The first thing was to make a regular overhaul of +the cargo--as well as we could do it, without shifting things and +making a noise--to look for weapons or for anything that would come +in handy for the fight. Not a thing could we find, but we came upon a +lot of kegs that we knew, by their feel, were powder. If there had +been arms and we could have got up, we should have done it at once, +trusting to seize the ship before the other could come up to her +help. But without arms it would be madness to try in broad daylight, +and we agreed to wait till night, and to lie down again where we were +before, putting the ropes round our legs again and our hands behind +our backs, so that, if they did look in, everything should seem +secure. + +"'We shall have plenty of time,' one of the sailors said, 'for they +have coiled a big hawser down on the hatch.' + +"When we got back to our lazaret, we tried the hatch by which we had +been shoved down, but the three of us couldn't move it any more than +if it had been solid stone. We had a goodish talk over it, and it was +clear that the hatchway of the main hold was our only chance of +getting out; and we might find that a tough job. + +"'If we can't do it in any other way,' Pettigrew said, 'I should say +we had best bring enough bales and things to fill this place up to +within a foot of the top; then on that we might put a keg of powder, +bore a hole in it, and make a slow match that would blow the cabin +overhead into splinters, while the bales underneath it would prevent +the force of the explosion blowing her bottom out.' + +"We agreed that, if the worst came to the worst, we would try this, +and having settled that, went back to have a look at the main hatch. +Feeling about round it, we found the points of the staple on which +the hatchway bar worked above; they were not fastened with nuts as +they would have been with us, but were simply turned over and +clinched. We had no means of straightening them out, but we could cut +through the woodwork round them. Setting to work at that, we took it +by turns till we could see the light through the wood; then we left +it to finish after dark. All this time we knew we were under sail by +the rippling of the water along the sides. The men on board were +evidently in high delight at their easy capture, and kicked up so +much noise that there was no fear of their hearing any slight stir we +made below. + +"Very carefully we brought packages and bales under the hatchway, +till we built up a sort of platform about four feet below it. We +reckoned that, standing as thick as we could there, and all lifting +together, we could make sure of hoisting the hatchway up, and could +then spring out in a moment. + +"Pettigrew still stuck to his plan, and talked us into carrying it +out, both under the fore and aft hatches, pointing out that the two +explosions would scare the crew out of their wits, that some would be +killed, and many jump overboard in their fright. We came to see that +the scheme was really a good one, so set all the crew to carry out +the business, and they, working with stockinged feet, built up a +platform under their hatch, as well as in our den aft. Then we made +holes in two of the kegs of powder, and, shaking a little out, damped +it, and rubbed it into two strips of cotton. Putting an end of a slow +match into each of the holes, we laid the kegs in their places and +waited. + +"We made two other fuses, so that a man could go forward, and another +aft, to fire them both together. Two of the men were told off for +this job, and the rest of us gathered under the main hatch, for we +had settled now that if we heard them making any move to open the +hatches we would fire the powder at once, whatever hour it was. In +order to be ready, we cut deeper into the woodwork round the staple +till there was but the thickness of a card remaining, and we could +tell by this how light it was above. + +"It don't take long to tell you, but all this had taken us a good +many hours; and so baked were we by the heat down below, and parched +by thirst, that it was as much as I could do to persuade the men to +wait until nightfall. At last we saw the light in the cut fade and +darken. Again the men wanted to be at work, but I pointed out that if +we waited till the crew had laid down on the deck, we might carry it +through without losing a life, but if they were all awake, some of +them would be sure to come at us with their weapons, and, unarmed as +we were, might do us much harm. Still, though I succeeded in keeping +the men quiet, I felt it was hard work to put a stopper on my own +impatience. + +"At last even John here spoke up for action. + +"'I expect those who mean to sleep are off by this time,' he said. +'As to reckoning upon them all going off, there ain't no hope of it; +they will sit and jabber all night. They have made a good haul, and +have taken a stout ship with a full hold, and five-and-twenty stout +slaves, and that without losing a man. There won't be any sleep for +most of them. I reckon it is two bells now. I do think, Captain, we +might as well begin, for human nature can't stand this heat and +thirst much longer.' + +"'All right, John,' I said. 'Now, lads, remember that when the first +explosion comes--for we can't reckon on the two slow matches burning +just the same time--we all heave together till we find the hatch +lifts; then, when the second comes, we chuck it over and leap out. If +you see a weapon, catch it up, but don't waste time looking about, +but go at them with your fists. They will be scared pretty well out +of their senses, and you will not be long before you all get hold of +weapons of some sort. Now, Pettigrew, shove your blade up through the +wood and cut round the staple. Now, Jack Brown, get out that +tinder-box you said you had about you, and get a spark going.' + +"Three or four clicks were heard as the sailor struck his flint +against the steel lid of the tinder-box. + +"'All right, yer honour,' he said, 'I have got the spark.' + +"Then the two hands we had given the slow matches to, lit them at the +tinder-box, and went fore and aft, while as many of the rest of us as +could crowded under the hatch. + +"'Are you ready, fore and aft?' I asked. + +"The two men hailed in reply. + +"'Light the matches, then, and come here.' + +"I suppose it was not above a minute, but it seemed ten before there +was a tremendous explosion aft. The ship shook from stem to stern. +There was a moment's silence, and then came yells and screams mixed +with the sound of timbers and wreckage falling on the deck. + +"'Now lift,' I said. 'But not too high. That is enough--she is free. +Wait for the other.' + +"There was a rush of feet overhead as the Moors ran forward. Then +came the other explosion. + +"'Off with her, lads!' I shouted, and in a moment we flung the hatch +off and leapt out with a cheer. There was no fighting to speak of. +The officers had been killed by the first explosion under their +cabin, and many of the men had either been blown overboard or lay +crushed under the timber and wreckage. + +"The second explosion had been even more destructive, for it happened +just as the crew, in their terror, had rushed forward. Many of those +unhurt had sprung overboard at once, and as we rushed up most of the +others did the same. There was no difficulty about arms, for the deck +was strewn with weapons. Few of us, however, stopped to pick one up, +but, half mad with rage and thirst, rushed forward at the Moors. That +finished them; and before we got to them the last had sprung +overboard. There was a rush on the part of the men to the scuttle +butt. + +"'Take one drink, lads,' I shouted, 'and then to the buckets.' + +"It took us a quarter of an hour's hard work to put out the flames, +and it was lucky the powder had blown so much of the decks up that we +were enabled to get at the fire without difficulty, and so extinguish +it before it got any great hold. + +"As soon as we had got it out I called a muster. There was only one +missing;--it was Pettigrew, he being the first to leap out and rush +aft. There had been but one shot fired by the Moors. One fellow, as +he leapt on to the rail, drew his pistol from his belt and fired +before he sprang overboard. In the excitement and confusion no one +had noticed whether the shot took effect, for two or three men had +stumbled and fallen over fragments of timber or bodies as we rushed +aft. But now we searched, and soon came on the poor young fellow. The +ball had struck him fair on the forehead, and he had fallen dead +without a word or a cry. + +"There was, however, no time to grieve. We had got to re-capture the +barque, which had been but a cable's length away when we rushed on +deck; while we had been fighting the fire she had sailed on, +regardless of the shrieks and shouts of the wretches who had sprung +overboard from us. But she was still near us; both vessels had been +running before the wind, for I had sent John Wilkes to the tiller the +moment that we got possession of the corsair, and the barque was but +about a quarter of a mile ahead. + +"The wind was light, and we were running along at four knots an hour. +The Moors on board the _Kate_ had, luckily, been too scared by the +explosion to think of getting one of the guns aft and peppering us +while we were engaged in putting out the fire; and indeed, they could +not have done us much harm if they had, for the high fo'castle hid us +from their view. + +"As soon as we had found Pettigrew's body and laid it on the hatch we +had thrown off, I went aft to John. + +"'Are we gaining on her, John?' + +"'No; she has drawn away a little. But this craft is not doing her +best. I expect they wanted to keep close to the barque, and so kept +her sheets in. If you square the sails, captain, we shall soon be +upon her.' + +"That was quickly done, and then the first thing was to see that the +men were all armed. We could have got a gun forward, but I did not +want to damage the _Kate_, and we could soon see that we were +closing on her. We shoved a bag of musket-balls into each cannon, so +as to sweep her decks as we came alongside, for we knew that her crew +was a good deal stronger than we were. Still, no one had any doubt as +to the result, and it was soon evident that the Moors had got such a +scare from the fate of their comrades that they had no stomach for +fighting. + +"'They are lowering the boats,' John shouted. + +"'All the better,' I said. 'They would fight like rats caught in a +trap if we came up to them, and though we are men enough to capture +her, we might lose half our number.' + +"As soon as the boats reached the water they were all pulled up to +the starboard side, and then the helm was put down, and the barque +came round till she was broadside on to us. + +"'Down with your helm, John Wilkes!' I shouted. 'Hard down, man!' + +"John hesitated, for he had thought that I should have gone round to +the other side of her and so have caught all the boats; but, in +truth, I was so pleased at the thought of getting the craft back +again that I was willing to let the poor villains go, since they were +of a mind to do so without giving us trouble. We had punished them +enough, and the shrieks and cries of those left behind to drown were +ringing in my ears then. So we brought the corsair up quietly by the +side of the _Kate_, lashed her there, and then, with a shout of +triumph, sprang on board the old barky. + +"Not a Moor was left on board. The boats were four or five hundred +yards away, rowing at the top of their speed. The men would have run +to the guns, but I shouted,-- + +"'Let them go, lads. We have punished them heavily enough; we have +taken their ship, and sent half of them to Eternity. Let them take +the tale back to Tunis how a British merchantman re-captured their +ship. Now set to work to get some of the sail off both craft, and +then, when we have got things snug, we will splice the main brace and +have a meal.' + +"There is no more to tell. We carried the rover into Gibraltar and +sold her and her cargo there. It brought in a good round sum, and, +except for the death of Pettigrew, we had no cause to regret the +corsair having taken us by surprise that night off Pantellaria." + +"That was an exciting business, indeed, Captain Dave," Cyril said, +when the Captain brought his story to a conclusion. "If it had not +been for your good fortune in finding those kegs of powder, and +Pettigrew's idea of using them as he did, you and John might now, if +you had been alive, have been working as slaves among the Moors." + +"Yes, lad. And not the least lucky thing was that Pettigrew's knife +and Jack Brown's tinder-box had escaped the notice of the Moors. Jack +had it in an inside pocket sewn into his shirt so as to keep it dry. +It was a lesson to me, and for the rest of the time I was at sea I +always carried a knife, with a lanyard round my neck, and stowed away +in an inside pocket of my shirt, together with a tinder-box. They are +two as useful things as a sailor can have about him, for, if cast +upon a desert shore after a wreck, a man with a knife and tinder-box +may make shift to live, when, without them, he and his comrades might +freeze to death." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY + + +The next evening John Wilkes returned after an absence of but half an +hour. + +"Why, John, you can but have smoked a single pipe! Did you not find +your cronies there?" + +"I hurried back, Captain, because a man from one of the ships in the +Pool landed and said there was a great light in the sky, and that it +seemed to him it was either a big fire in the Temple, or in one of +the mansions beyond the walls; so methought I would come in and ask +Cyril if he would like to go with me to see what was happening." + +"I should like it much, John. I saw a great fire in Holborn just +after I came over from France, and a brave sight it was, though very +terrible; and I would willingly see one again." + +He took his hat and cloak and was about to be off, when Captain Dave +called after him,-- + +"Buckle on your sword, lad, and leave your purse behind you. A fire +ever attracts thieves and cut-throats, who flock round in hopes of +stealing something in the confusion. Besides, as I have told you +before, you should never go out after dark without your sword, even +were it but to cross the road." + +Cyril ran upstairs to his room, buckled on his weapon, and ran down +again. + +"The Captain is right," John Wilkes said, as he joined him at the +door. "After your two adventures, it would be folly for you to go out +unarmed." + +"Oh, I expect they have forgotten about me long ago," Cyril laughed +lightly. + +"I don't know," John Wilkes said seriously. "As to Marner's gang, I +think that there is not much fear from them, unless that young rascal +Robert and the scoundrel who was with him have returned from Holland; +and that they are not likely to do for some time to come. But it +would not be in human nature if the man you call John Harvey should +take his defeat without trying to pay you back for that wound you +gave him, for getting Mistress Nellie out of his hands, and for +making him the laughing-stock of his comrades. I tell you that there +is scarce an evening that I have gone out but some fellow passes me +before I have gone twenty yards, and, as he brushes my sleeve, turns +his head to look at me. But yesternight I said to one who so behaved, +'Look here, mate, this is not the first time you have run against me. +I warn you that if it happens again I will crack your head with my +cudgel.' The fellow went off, muttering and grumbling, but I have no +doubt that he and the others, for it certainly was not always the +same man, were watching for you. To-night there was no one about, or, +if there was, he did not come near me, and it may be that, finding +you never leave the house after nightfall, they have decided to give +it up for the present. But I thought I heard a footfall lower down +the street, just as we came out of the house, and it is like enough +that we are followed now." + +"At any rate, they would scarce attack two of us, John, and I should +not mind if they did. It is a stab in the back that I am afraid of +more than an open quarrel." + +"You may have a better swordsman to deal with next time. The fellow +himself would scarcely care to cross swords with you again, but he +would have no difficulty in getting half-a-dozen cut-throats from the +purlieus of the Temple or Westminster, professional bullies, who are +ready to use their swords to those who care to purchase them, and who +would cut a throat for a few crowns, without caring a jot whose +throat it was. Some of these fellows are disbanded soldiers. Some are +men who were ruined in the wars. Some are tavern bullies--broken men, +reckless and quarrelsome gamblers so long as they have a shilling in +their pockets, but equally ready to take to the road or to rob a +house when their pockets are empty." + +By this time they had passed the Exchange into Cheapside. Many people +were hurrying in the same direction and wondering where the fire was. +Presently one of the Fire Companies, with buckets, ladders, and axes, +passed them at a run. Even in Cheapside the glow in the sky ahead +could be plainly seen, but it was not until they passed St. Paul's +and stood at the top of Ludgate Hill that the flames, shooting up +high in the air, were visible. They were almost straight ahead. + +"It must be at the other end of Fleet Street," Cyril said, as they +broke into a run. + +"Farther than that, lad. It must be one of the mansions along the +Strand. A fire always looks closer than it is. I have seen a ship in +flames that looked scarce a mile away, and yet, sailing with a brisk +wind, it took us over an hour to come up to it." + +The crowd became thicker as they approached Temple Bar. The upper +windows of the houses were all open, and women were leaning out +looking at the sight. From every lane and alley men poured into the +street and swelled the hurrying current. They passed through the Bar, +expecting to find that the fire was close at hand. They had, however, +some distance farther to go, for the fire was at a mansion in the +Savoy. Another Fire Company came along when they were within a +hundred yards of the spot. + +"Join in with them," Cyril said; and he and John Wilkes managed to +push their way into the ranks, joining in the shout, "Way there, way! +Make room for the buckets!" + +Aided by some of the City watch the Company made its way through the +crowd, and hurried down the hill from the Strand into the Savoy. A +party of the King's Guard, who had just marched up, kept back the +crowd, and, when once in the open space, Cyril and his companion +stepped out from the ranks and joined a group of people who had +arrived before the constables and soldiers had come up. + +The mansion from which the fire had originated was in flames from top +to bottom. The roof had fallen in. Volumes of flame and sparks shot +high into the air, threatening the safety of several other houses +standing near. The Fire Companies were working their hand-pumps, +throwing water on to the doors and woodwork of these houses. Long +lines of men were extended down to the edge of the river and passed +the buckets backwards and forwards. City officials, gentlemen of the +Court, and officers of the troops, moved to and fro shouting +directions and superintending the work. From many of the houses the +inhabitants were bringing out their furniture and goods, aided by the +constables and spectators. + +"It is a grand sight," Cyril said, as, with his companion, he took +his place in a quiet corner where a projecting portico threw a deep +shadow. + +"It will soon be grander still. The wind is taking the sparks and +flames westwards, and nothing can save that house over there. Do you +see the little jets of flame already bursting through the roof?" + +"The house seems empty. There is not a window open." + +"It looks so, Cyril, but there may be people asleep at the back. Let +us work round and have a look from behind." + +They turned down an alley, and in a minute or two came out behind the +house. There was a garden and some high trees, but it was surrounded +by a wall, and they could not see the windows. + +"Here, Cyril, I will give you a hoist up. If you stand on my +shoulders, you can reach to the top of the wall and pull yourself up. +Come along here to where that branch projects over. That's it. Now +drop your cloak, and jump on to my back. That is right. Now get on to +my shoulders." + +Cyril managed to get up. + +"I can just touch the top, but I can't get my fingers on to it." + +"Put your foot on my head. I will warrant it is strong enough to bear +your weight." + +Cyril did as he was told, grasped the top of the wall, and, after a +sharp struggle, seated himself astride on it. Just as he did so, a +window in a wing projecting into the garden was thrown open, and a +female voice uttered a loud scream for help. There was light enough +for Cyril to see that the lower windows were all barred. He shouted +back,-- + +"Can't you get down the staircase?" + +"No; the house is full of smoke. There are some children here. Help! +Help!" and the voice rose in a loud scream again. + +Cyril dropped down into the roadway by the side of John Wilkes. + +"There are some women and children in there, John. They can't get +out. We must go round to the other side and get some axes and break +down the door." + +Snatching up his cloak, he ran at full speed to his former position, +followed by Wilkes. The roof of the house was now in flames. Many of +the shutters and window-frames had also caught fire, from the heat. +He ran up to two gentlemen who seemed to be directing the operations. + +"There are some women and children in a room at the back of that +house," he said. "I have just been round there to see. They are in +the second storey, and are crying for help." + +"I fear the ladders are too short." + +"I can tie two or three of them together," Wilkes said. "I am an old +sailor and can answer for the knots." + +The firemen were already dashing water on the lower windows of the +front of the house. A party with axes were cutting at the door, but +this was so massive and solid that it resisted their efforts. One of +the gentlemen went down to them. At his orders eight or ten men +seized ladders. Cyril snatched some ropes from a heap that had been +thrown down by the firemen, and the party, with one of the gentlemen, +ran round to the back of the house. Two ladders were placed against +the wall. John Wilkes, running up one of them, hauled several of the +others up, and lowered them into the garden. + +The flames were now issuing from some of the upper windows. Cyril +dropped from the wall into the garden, and, running close up to the +house, shouted to three or four women, who were screaming loudly, and +hanging so far out that he thought they would fall, that help was at +hand, and that they would be speedily rescued. John Wilkes rapidly +tied three of the short ladders together. These were speedily raised, +but it was found that they just reached the window. One of the +firemen ran up, while John set to work to prepare another long +ladder. As there was no sign of life at any other window he laid it +down on the grass when finished. + +"If you will put it up at the next window," Cyril said, "I will mount +it. The woman said there were children in the house, and possibly I +may find them. Those women are so frightened that they don't know +what they are doing." + +One woman had already been got on to the other ladder, but instead of +coming down, she held on tightly, screaming at the top of her voice, +until the fireman with great difficulty got up by her side, wrenched +her hands from their hold, threw her across his shoulder, and carried +her down. + +The room was full of smoke as Cyril leapt into it, but he found that +it was not, as he had supposed, the one in which the women at the +next window were standing. Near the window, however, an elderly woman +was lying on the floor insensible, and three girls of from eight to +fourteen lay across her. Cyril thrust his head out of the window. + +"Come up, John," he shouted. "I want help." + +He lifted the youngest of the girls, and as he got her out of the +window, John's head appeared above the sill. + +"Take her down quick, John," he said, as he handed the child to him. +"There are three others. They are all insensible from the smoke." + +Filling his lungs with fresh air, he turned into the blinding smoke +again, and speedily reappeared at the window with another of the +girls. John was not yet at the bottom; he placed her with her head +outside the window, and was back with the eldest girl by the time +Wilkes was up again. He handed her to him, and then, taking the +other, stepped out on to the ladder and followed Wilkes down. + +"Brave lad!" the gentleman said, patting him on the shoulder. "Are +there any more of them?" + +"One more--a woman, sir. Do you go up, John. I will follow, for I +doubt whether I can lift her by myself." + +He followed Wilkes closely up the ladder. There was a red glow now in +the smoke. Flames were bursting through the door. John was waiting at +the window. + +"Which way, lad? There is no seeing one's hand in the smoke." + +"Just in front, John, not six feet away. Hold your breath." + +They dashed forward together, seized the woman between them, and, +dragging her to the window, placed her head and shoulders on the +sill. + +"You go first, John. She is too heavy for me," Cyril gasped. + +John stumbled out, half suffocated, while Cyril thrust his head as +far as he could outside the window. + +"That is it, John; you take hold of her shoulder, and I will help you +get her on to your back." + +Between them they pushed her nearly out, and then, with Cyril's +assistance, John got her across his shoulders. She was a heavy woman, +and the old sailor had great difficulty in carrying her down. Cyril +hung far out of the window till he saw him put his foot on the +ground; then he seized a rung of the ladder, swung himself out on to +it, and was soon down. + +For a time he felt confused and bewildered, and was conscious that if +he let go the ladder he should fall. He heard a voice say, "Bring one +of those buckets of water," and directly afterwards, "Here, lad, put +your head into this," and a handful of water was dashed into his +face. It revived him, and, turning round, he plunged his head into a +bucket that a man held up for him. Then he took a long breath or two, +pressed the water from his hair, and felt himself again. The women at +the other window had by this time been brought down. A door in the +garden wall had been broken down with axes, and the women and girls +were taken away to a neighbouring house. + +"There is nothing more to do here," the gentlemen said. "Now, men, +you are to enter the houses round about. Wherever a door is fastened, +break it in. Go out on to the roofs with buckets, put out the sparks +as fast as they fall. I will send some more men to help you at once." +He then put his hand on Cyril's shoulder, and walked back with him to +the open space. + +"We have saved them all," he said to the other gentleman who had now +come up, "but it has been a close touch, and it was only by the +gallantry of this young gentleman and another with him that the lives +of three girls and a woman were rescued. I think all the men that can +be spared had better go round to the houses in that direction. You +see, the wind is setting that way, and the only hope of stopping the +progress of the fire is to get plenty of men with buckets out on the +roofs and at all the upper windows." + +The other gentleman gave the necessary orders to an officer. + +"Now, young sir, may I ask your name?" the other said to Cyril. + +"Cyril Shenstone, sir," he replied respectfully; for he saw that the +two men before him were persons of rank. + +"Shenstone? I know the name well. Are you any relation of Sir Aubrey +Shenstone?" + +"He was my father, sir." + +"A brave soldier, and a hearty companion," the other said warmly. "He +rode behind me scores of times into the thick of the fight. I am +Prince Rupert, lad." + +Cyril doffed his hat in deep respect. His father had always spoken of +the Prince in terms of boundless admiration, and had over and over +again lamented that he had not been able to join the Prince in his +exploits at sea. + +"What has become of my old friend?" the Prince asked. + +"He died six months ago, Prince." + +"I am sorry to hear it. I did hear that, while I was away, he had +been suing at Court. I asked for him, but could get no tidings of his +whereabouts. But we cannot speak here. Ask for me to-morrow at +Whitehall. Do you know this gentleman?" + +"No, sir, I have not the honour." + +"This is the Duke of Albemarle, my former enemy, but now my good +friend. You will like the lad no worse, my Lord, because his father +more than once rode with me into the heart of your ranks." + +"Certainly not," the Duke said. "It is clear that the son will be as +gallant a gentleman as his father was before him, and, thank God! it +is not against Englishmen that he will draw his sword. You may count +me as your friend, sir, henceforth." + +Cyril bowed deeply and retired, while Prince Rupert and the Duke +hurried away again to see that the operations they had directed were +properly carried out. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HOW JOHN WILKES FOUGHT THE DUTCH + + +After leaving Prince Rupert, Cyril returned to John Wilkes, who was +standing a short distance away. + +"John! John!" he said eagerly, as he joined him. "Who do you think +those gentlemen are?" + +"I don't know, lad. It is easy to see that they are men of importance +by the way they order everyone about." + +"The one who went with us to the garden is Prince Rupert; the other +is the Duke of Albemarle. And the Prince has told me to call upon him +to-morrow at Whitehall." + +"That is a stroke of luck, indeed, lad, and right glad am I that I +took it into my head to fetch you out to see the fire. But more than +that, you have to thank yourself, for, indeed, you behaved right +gallantly. You nearly had the Prince for your helper, for just before +I went up the ladder the last time he stepped forward and said to me, +'You must be well-nigh spent, man. I will go up this time.' However, +I said that I would finish the work, and so, without more ado, I +shook off the hand he had placed on my arm, and ran up after you. +Well, it is a stroke of good fortune to you, lad, that you should +have shown your courage under his eye--no one is more able to +appreciate a gallant action. This may help you a long way towards +bringing about the aim you were talking about the other night, and I +may live to see you Sir Cyril Shenstone yet." + +"You can see me that now," Cyril said, laughing. "My father was a +baronet, and therefore at his death I came into the title, though I +am not silly enough to go about the City as Sir Cyril Shenstone when +I am but a poor clerk. It will be time enough to call myself 'Sir' +when I see some chance of buying back our estate, though, indeed, I +have thought of taking the title again when I embark on foreign +service, as it may help me somewhat in obtaining promotion. But do +not say anything about it at home. I am Cyril Shenstone, and have +been fortunate enough to win the friendship of Captain Dave, and I +should not be so comfortable were there any change made in my +position in the family. A title is an empty thing, John, unless there +are means to support it, and plain Cyril Shenstone suits my position +far better than a title without a guinea in my purse. Indeed, till +you spoke just now, I had well-nigh forgotten that I have the right +to call myself 'Sir.'" + +They waited for two hours longer. At the end of that time four +mansions had been burnt to the ground, but the further progress of +the flames had been effectually stayed. The crowd had already begun +to scatter, and as they walked eastward the streets were full of +people making their way homeward. The bell of St. Paul's was striking +midnight as they entered. The Captain and his family had long since +gone off to bed. + +"This reminds one of that last business," John whispered, as they +went quietly upstairs. + +"It does, John. But it has been a pleasanter evening in every way +than those fruitless watches we kept in the street below." + +The next morning the story of the fire was told, and excited great +interest. + +"Who were the girls you saved, Cyril?" Nellie asked. + +"I don't know. I did not think of asking to whom the house belonged, +nor, indeed, was there anyone to ask. Most of the people were too +busy to talk to, and the rest were spectators who had, like +ourselves, managed to make their way in through the lines of the +soldiers and watch." + +"Were they ladies?" + +"I really don't know," Cyril laughed. "The smoke was too thick to see +anything about them, and I should not know them if I met them to-day; +and, besides, when you only see a young person in her nightdress, it +is hard to form any opinion as to her rank." + +Nellie joined in the laugh. + +"I suppose not, Cyril. It might make a difference to you, though. +Those houses in the Savoy are almost all the property of noblemen, +and you might have gained another powerful friend if they had been +the daughters of one." + +"I should not think they were so," Cyril said. "There seemed to be no +one else in the house but three maid servants and the woman who was +in the room with them. I should say the family were all away and the +house left in charge of servants. The woman may have been a +housekeeper, and the girls her children; besides, even had it been +otherwise, it was merely by chance that I helped them out. It was +John who tied the ladders together and who carried the girls down, +one by one. If I had been alone I should only have had time to save +the youngest, for I am not accustomed to running up and down ladders, +as he is, and by the time I had got her down it would have been too +late to have saved the others. Indeed, I am not sure that we did save +them; they were all insensible, and, for aught I know, may not have +recovered from the effects of the smoke. My eyes are smarting even +now." + +"And so you are to see Prince Rupert to-day, Cyril?" Captain Dave +said. "I am afraid we shall be losing you, for he will, I should say, +assuredly appoint you to one of his ships if you ask him." + +"That would be good fortune indeed," Cyril said. "I cannot but think +myself that he may do so, though it would be almost too good to be +true. Certainly he spoke very warmly, and, although he may not +himself have the appointment of his officers, a word from him at the +Admiralty would, no doubt, be sufficient. At any rate, it is a great +thing indeed to have so powerful a friend at Court. It may be that, +at the end of another two years, we may be at war with some other +foreign power, and that I may be able to enter our own army instead +of seeking service abroad. If not, much as I should like to go to sea +to fight against the Dutch, service in this Fleet would be of no real +advantage to me, for the war may last but for a short time, and as +soon as it is over the ships will be laid up again and the crews +disbanded." + +"Ay, but if you find the life of a sailor to your liking, Cyril, you +might do worse than go into the merchant service. I could help you +there, and you might soon get the command of a trader. And, let me +tell you, it is a deal better to walk the decks as captain than it is +to be serving on shore with twenty masters over you; and there is +money to be made, too. A captain is always allowed to take in a +certain amount of cargo on his own account; that was the way I +scraped together money enough to buy my own ship at last, and to be +master as well as owner, and there is no reason why you should not do +the same." + +"Thank you, Captain Dave. I will think it over when I find out +whether I like a sea life, but at present it seems to me that my +inclinations turn rather towards the plan that my father recommended, +and that, for the last two years, I have always had before me. You +said, the other day, you had fought the Dutch, John?" + +"Ay, ay, Master Cyril; but, in truth, it was from no wish or desire +on my part that I did so. I had come ashore from Captain Dave's ship +here in the Pool, and had been with some of my messmates who had +friends in Wapping and had got three days' leave ashore, as the cargo +we expected had not come on board the ship. We had kept it up a bit, +and it was latish when I was making my way down to the stairs. I +expect that I was more intent on making a straight course down the +street than in looking about for pirates, when suddenly I found +myself among a lot of men. One of them seized me by the arm. + +"'Hands off, mate!' says I, and I lifted my fist to let fly at him, +when I got a knock at the back of the head. The next thing I knew +was, I was lying in the hold of a ship, and, as I made out presently, +with a score of others, some of whom were groaning, and some cursing. + +"'Hullo, mates!' says I. 'What port is this we are brought up in?' + +"'We are on board the _Tartar_,' one said. + +"I knew what that meant, for the _Tartar_ was the receiving hulk +where they took the pressed men. + +"The next morning, without question asked, we were brought up on +deck, tumbled into a small sloop, and taken down to Gravesend, and +there put, in batches of four or five, into the ships of war lying +there. It chanced that I was put on board Monk's flagship the +_Resolution_. And that is how it was I came to fight the Dutch." + +"What year was that in, John?" + +"'53--in May it was. Van Tromp, at that time, with ninety-eight ships +of war, and six fire-ships, was in the Downs, and felt so much Master +of the Sea that he sailed in and battered Dover Castle." + +"Then you were in the fight of the 2nd of June?" + +"Ay; and in that of the 31st of July, which was harder still." + +"Tell me all about it, John." + +"Lor' bless you, sir, there is nothing to tell as far as I was +concerned. I was at one of the guns on the upper deck, but I might as +well have been down below for anything I saw of it. It was just load +and fire, load and fire. Sometimes, through the clouds of smoke, one +caught a sight of the Dutchman one was firing at; more often one +didn't. There was no time for looking about, I can tell you, and if +there had been time there was nothing to see. It was like being in a +big thunderstorm, with thunderbolts falling all round you, and a +smashing and a grinding and a ripping that would have made your hair +stand on end if you had only had time to think of it. But we hadn't +time. It was 'Now then, my hearties, blaze away! Keep it up, lads! +The Dutchmen have pretty near had enough of it!' And then, at last, +'They are running, lads. Run in your guns, and tend the sails.' And +then a cheer as loud as we could give--which wasn't much, I can tell +you, for we were spent with labour, and half choked with powder, and +our tongues parched up with thirst." + +"How many ships had you?" + +"We had ninety-five war-ships, and five fire-ships, so the game was +an equal one. They had Tromp and De Ruyter to command them, and we +had Monk and Deane. Both Admirals were on board our ship, and in the +very first broadside the Dutch fired a chain-shot, and pretty well +cut Admiral Deane in two. I was close to him at the time. Monk, who +was standing by his side, undid his own cloak in a moment, threw it +over his comrade, and held up his hand to the few of us that had seen +what had happened, to take no notice of it. + +"It was a good thing that Deane and Monk were on board the same ship. +If it had not been so, Deane's flag would have been hauled down and +all the Fleet would have known of his death, which, at the +commencement of the fight, would have greatly discouraged the men. + +"They told me, though I know naught about it, that Rear-Admiral +Lawson charged with the Blue Squadron right through the Dutch line, +and so threw them into confusion. However, about three o'clock, the +fight having begun at eleven, Van Tromp began to draw off, and we got +more sail on the _Resolution_ and followed them for some hours, they +making a sort of running fight of it, till one of their big ships +blew up, about nine in the evening, when they laid in for shore. +Blake came up in the night with eighteen ships. The Dutch tried to +draw off, but at eight o'clock we came up to them, and, after +fighting for four hours, they hauled off and ran, in great confusion, +for the flats, where we could not follow them, and so they escaped to +Zeeland. We heard that they had six of their best ships sunk, two +blown up and eleven taken, but whether it was so or not I knew not, +for, in truth, I saw nothing whatever of the matter. + +"We sailed to the Texel, and there blocked in De Ruyter's squadron of +twenty-five large ships, and we thought that there would be no more +fighting, for the Dutch had sent to England to ask for terms of +peace. However, we were wrong, and, to give the Dutchmen their due, +they showed resolution greater than we gave them credit for, for we +were astonished indeed to hear, towards the end of July, that Van +Tromp had sailed out again with upwards of ninety ships. + +"On the 29th they came in view, and we sailed out to engage them, but +they would not come to close quarters, and it was seven at night +before the _Resolution_, with some thirty other ships, came up to +them and charged through their line. By the time we had done that it +was quite dark, and we missed them altogether and sailed south, +thinking Van Tromp had gone that way; but, instead, he had sailed +north, and in the morning we found he had picked up De Ruyter's +fleet, and was ready to fight. But we had other things to think of +besides fighting that day, for the wind blew so hard that it was as +much as we could do to keep off the shore, and if the gale had +continued a good part of the ships would have left their bones there. +However, by nightfall the gale abated somewhat, and by the next +morning the sea had gone down sufficient for the main deck ports to +be opened. So the Dutch, having the weather gauge, sailed down to +engage us. + +"I thought it rough work in the fight two months before, but it was +as nothing to this. To begin with, the Dutch fire-ships came down +before the wind, and it was as much as we could do to avoid them. +They did, indeed, set the _Triumph_ on fire, and most of the crew +jumped overboard; but those that remained managed to put out the +flames. + +"Lawson, with the Blue Squadron, began the fighting, and that so +briskly, that De Ruyter's flagship was completely disabled and towed +out of the fight. However, after I had seen that, our turn began, and +I had no more time to look about. I only know that ship after ship +came up to engage us, seeming bent upon lowering Monk's flag. Three +Dutch Admirals, Tromp, Evertson, and De Ruyter, as I heard +afterwards, came up in turn. We did not know who they were, but we +knew they were Admirals by their flags, and pounded them with all our +hearts; and so good was our aim that I myself saw two of the +Admirals' flags brought down, and they say that all three of them +were lowered. But you may guess the pounding was not all on our side, +and we suffered very heavily. + +"Four men were hurt at the gun I worked, and nigh half the crew were +killed or wounded. Two of our masts were shot away, many of our guns +disabled, and towards the end of the fight we were towed out of the +line. How the day would have gone if Van Tromp had continued in +command of the Dutch, I cannot say, but about noon he was shot +through the body by a musket-ball, and this misfortune greatly +discouraged the Dutchmen, who fight well as long as things seem to be +going their way, but lose heart very easily when they think the +matter is going against them. + +"By about two o'clock the officers shouted to us that the Dutch were +beginning to draw off, and it was not long before they began to fly, +each for himself, and in no sort of order. Some of our light +frigates, that had suffered less than the line-of-battle ships, +followed them until the one Dutch Admiral whose flag was left flying, +turned and fought them till two or three of our heavier ships came up +and he was sunk. + +"We could see but little of the chase, having plenty of work, for, +had a gale come on, our ship, and a good many others, would assuredly +have been driven ashore, in the plight we were in. Anyhow, at night +their ships got into the Texel, and our vessels, which had been +following them, anchored five or six leagues out, being afraid of the +sands. Altogether we had burnt or sunk twenty-six of their ships of +war, while we lost only two frigates, both of which were burnt by +their fire-ships. + +"As it was certain that they would not come out for some time again, +and many of our ships being unfit for further contention until +repaired, we returned to England, and I got my discharge and joined +Captain Dave again a fortnight later, when his ship came up the +river. + +"Monk is a good fighter, Master Cyril, and should have the command of +the Fleet instead of, as they say, the Duke of York. Although he is +called General, and not Admiral, he is as good a sea-dog as any of +them, and he can think as well as fight. + +"Among our ships that day were several merchantmen that had been +taken up for the service at the last moment and had guns slapped on +board, with gunners to work them. Some of them had still their +cargoes in the hold, and Monk, thinking that it was likely the +captains would think more of saving their ships and goods than of +fighting the Dutch, changed the captains all round, so that no man +commanded his own vessel. And the consequence was that, as all +admitted, the merchantmen were as willing to fight as any, and bore +themselves right stoutly. + +"Don't you think, Master Cyril, if you go with the Fleet, that you +are going to see much of what goes on. It will be worse for you than +it was for me, for there was I, labouring and toiling like a dumb +beast, with my mind intent upon working the gun, and paying no heed +to the roar and confusion around, scarce even noticing when one +beside me was struck down. You will be up on the poop, having naught +to do but to stand with your hand on your sword hilt, and waiting to +board an enemy or to drive back one who tries to board you. You will +find that you will be well-nigh dazed and stupid with the din and +uproar." + +"It does not sound a very pleasant outlook, John," Cyril laughed. +"However, if I ever do get into an engagement, I will think of what +you have said, and will try and prevent myself from getting either +dazed or stupid; though, in truth, I can well imagine that it is +enough to shake anyone's nerves to stand inactive in so terrible a +scene." + +"You will have to take great care of yourself, Cyril," Nellie said +gravely. + +Captain Dave and John Wilkes both burst into a laugh. + +"How is he to take care of himself, Nellie?" her father said. "Do you +suppose that a man on deck would be any the safer were he to stoop +down with his head below the rail, or to screw himself up on the +leeward side of a mast? No, no, lass; each man has to take his share +of danger, and the most cowardly runs just as great a risk as the man +who fearlessly exposes himself." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +PRINCE RUPERT + + +The next day Cyril went down to breakfast in what he had often +called, laughingly, his Court suit. This suit he had had made for him +a short time before his father's death, to replace the one he had +when he came over, that being altogether outgrown. He had done so to +please Sir Aubrey, who had repeatedly expressed his anxiety that +Cyril should always be prepared to take advantage of any good fortune +that might befall him. This was the first time he had put it on. + +"Well, truly you look a pretty fellow, Cyril," the Captain said, as +he entered. "Don't you think so, Nellie?" + +The girl nodded. + +"I don't know that I like him better than in his black suit, father. +But he looks very well." + +"Hullo, lass! This is a change of opinion, truly! For myself I care +not one jot for the fashion of a man's clothes, but I had thought +that you always inclined to gay attire, and Cyril now would seem +rather to belong to the Court than to the City." + +"If it had been any other morning, father, I might have thought more +of Cyril's appearance; but what you were telling us but now of the +continuance of the Plague is so sad, that mourning, rather than Court +attire, would seem to be the proper wear." + +"Is the Plague spreading fast, then, Captain Dave?" + +"No; but it is not decreasing, as we had hoped it would do. From the +beginning of December the deaths rose steadily until the end of +January. While our usual death-rate is under three hundred it went to +four hundred and seventy-four. Then the weather setting in very +severe checked it till the end of February, and we all hoped that the +danger was over, and that we should be rid of the distemper before +the warm weather set in; but for the last fortnight there has been a +rise rather than a fall--not a large one, but sufficient to cause +great alarm that it will continue until warm weather sets in, and may +then grow into terrible proportions. So far, there has been no case +in the City, and it is only in the West that it has any hold, the +deaths being altogether in the parishes of St. Giles's, St. Andrew's, +St. Bride's, and St. James's, Clerkenwell. Of course, there have been +cases now and then for many years past, and nine years ago it spread +to a greater extent than now, and were we at the beginning of winter +instead of nearing summer there would be no occasion to think much of +the matter; but, with the hot weather approaching, and the tales we +hear of the badness of the Plague in foreign parts one cannot but +feel anxious." + +"And they say, too, that there have been prophecies of grievous evils +in London," Nellie put in. + +"We need not trouble about that," her father replied. "The +Anabaptists prophesied all sorts of evils in Elizabeth's time, but +naught came of it. There are always men and women with disordered +minds, who think that they are prophets, and have power to see +further into the future than other people, but no one minds them or +thinks aught of their wild words save at a time like the present, +when there is a danger of war or pestilence. You remember Bill Vokes, +John?" + +"I mind him, yer honour. A poor, half-crazed fellow he was, and yet a +good seaman, who would do his duty blow high or blow low. He sailed +six voyages with us, Captain." + +"And never one of them without telling the crew that the ship would +never return to port. He had had dreams about it, and the black cat +had mewed when he left home, and he saw the three magpies in a tree +hard by when he stepped from the door, and many other portents of +that kind. The first time he well-nigh scared some of the crew, but +after the first voyage--from which we came back safely, of +course--they did but laugh at him; and as in all other respects he +was a good sailor, and a willing fellow, I did not like to discharge +him, for, once the men found out that his prophecies came to naught, +they did no harm, and, indeed, they afforded them much amusement. +Just as it is on board a ship, so it is elsewhere. If our vessel had +gone down that first voyage, any man who escaped drowning would have +said that Bill Vokes had not been without reason in his warnings, and +that it was nothing less than flying in the face of Providence, to +put to sea when the loss of the ship had been so surely foretold. So, +on shore, the fools or madmen who have dreams and visions are not +heeded when times are good, and men's senses sound, whereas, in +troubled times, men take their ravings to heart. If all the +scatterbrains had a good whipping at the pillory it would be well, +both for them and for the silly people who pay attention to their +ravings." + +A few minutes later, Cyril took a boat to the Whitehall steps, and +after some delay was shown up to Prince Rupert's room. + +"None the worse for your exertions yester-even, young gentleman, I +hope?" the Prince said, shaking hands with him warmly. + +"None, sir. The exertion was not great, and it was but the +inconvenience of the smoke that troubled me in any way." + +"Have you been to inquire after the young ladies who owe their lives +to you?" + +"No, sir; I know neither their names nor their condition, nor, had I +wished it, could I have made inquiries, for I know not whither they +were taken." + +"I sent round early this morning," the Prince said, "and heard that +they were as well as might be expected after the adventure they went +through. And now tell me about yourself, and what you have been +doing. 'Tis one of the saddest things to me, since I returned to +England, that so many good men who fought by my side have been made +beggars in the King's service, and that I could do naught for them. +'Tis a grievous business, and yet I see not how it is to be mended. +The hardest thing is, that those who did most for the King's service +are those who have suffered most deeply. None of those who were +driven to sell their estates at a fraction of their value, in order +to raise money for the King's treasury or to put men into the field, +have received any redress. It would need a vast sum to buy back all +their lands, and Parliament would not vote money for that purpose; +nor would it be fair to turn men out of the estates that they bought +and paid for. Do you not think so?" he asked suddenly, seeing, by the +lad's face, that he was not in agreement with him. + +"No, sir; it does not seem to me that it would be unfair. These men +bought the lands for, as you say, but a fraction of their value; they +did so in the belief that Parliament would triumph, and their +purchase was but a speculation grounded on that belief. They have had +the enjoyment of the estates for years, and have drawn from them an +income which has, by this time, brought them in a sum much exceeding +that which they have adventured, and it does not seem to me that +there would be any hardship whatever were they now called upon to +restore them to their owners. 'Tis as when a man risks his money in a +venture at sea. If all goes as he hopes he will make a great profit +on his money. If the ship is cast away or taken by pirates, it is +unfortunate, but he has no reason to curse his ill-luck if the ship +had already made several voyages which have more than recouped the +money he ventured." + +"Well and stoutly argued!" the Prince said approvingly. "But you must +remember, young sir, that the King, on his return, was by no means +strongly seated on the throne. There was the Army most evilly +affected towards him; there were the Puritans, who lamented the upset +of the work they or their fathers had done. All those men who had +purchased the estates of the Royalists had families and friends, and, +had these estates been restored to their rightful owners, there might +have been an outbreak that would have shaken the throne again. Many +would have refused to give up possession, save to force; and where +was the force to come from? Even had the King had troops willing to +carry out such a measure, they might have been met by force, and had +blood once been shed, none can say how the trouble might have spread, +or what might have been the end of it. And now, lad, come to your own +fortunes." + +Cyril briefly related the story of his life since his return to +London, stating his father's plan that he should some day take +foreign service. + +"You have shown that you have a stout heart, young sir, as well as a +brave one, and have done well, indeed, in turning your mind to earn +your living by such talents as you have, rather than in wasting your +time in vain hopes and in ceaseless importunities for justice. It may +be that you have acted wisely in thinking of taking service on the +Continent, seeing that we have no Army; and when the time comes, I +will further your wishes to the utmost of my power. But in the +meantime there is opportunity for service at home, and I will gladly +appoint you as a Volunteer in my own ship. There are many gentlemen +going with me in that capacity, and it would be of advantage to you, +if, when I write to some foreign prince on your behalf, I can say +that you have fought under my eye." + +"Thank you greatly, Prince. I have been wishing, above all things, +that I could join the Fleet, and it would be, indeed, an honour to +begin my career under the Prince of whom I heard so often from my +father." + +Prince Rupert looked at his watch. + +"The King will be in the Mall now," he said. "I will take you across +and present you to him. It is useful to have the _entrée_ at Court, +though perhaps the less you avail yourself of it the better." + +So saying, he rose, put on his hat, and, throwing his cloak over his +shoulder, went across to the Mall, asking questions of Cyril as he +went, and extracting from him a sketch of the adventure of his being +kidnapped and taken to Holland. + +Presently they arrived at the spot where the King, with three or four +nobles and gentlemen, had been playing. Charles was in a good humour, +for he had just won a match with the Earl of Rochester. + +"Well, my grave cousin," he said merrily, "what brings you out of +your office so early? No fresh demands for money, I hope?" + +"Not at present. And indeed, it is not to you that I should come on +such a quest, but to the Duke of York." + +"And he would come to me," said the King; "so it is the same thing." + +"I have come across to present to your Majesty a very gallant young +gentleman, who yesterday evening, at the risk of his life, saved the +three daughters of the Earl of Wisbech from being burned at the fire +in the Savoy, where his Lordship's mansion was among those that were +destroyed. I beg to present to your Majesty Sir Cyril Shenstone, the +son of the late Sir Aubrey Shenstone, a most gallant gentleman, who +rode under my banner in many a stern fight in the service of your +royal father." + +"I knew him well," the King said graciously, "but had not heard of +his death. I am glad to hear that his son inherits his bravery. I +have often regretted deeply that it was out of my power to requite, +in any way, the services Sir Aubrey rendered, and the sacrifices he +made for our House." + +His brow clouded a little, and he looked appealingly at Prince +Rupert. + +"Sir Cyril Shenstone has no more intention of asking for favours than +I have, Charles," the latter said. "He is going to accompany me as a +Volunteer against the Dutch, and if the war lasts I shall ask for a +better appointment for him." + +"That he shall have," the King said warmly. "None have a better claim +to commissions in the Navy and Army than sons of gentlemen who fought +and suffered in the cause of our royal father. My Lords," he said to +the little group of gentlemen, who had been standing a few paces away +while this conversation had been going on, "I would have you know Sir +Cyril Shenstone, the son of a faithful adherent of my father, and +who, yesterday evening, saved the lives of the three daughters of My +Lord of Wisbech in the fire at the Savoy. He is going as a Volunteer +with my cousin Rupert when he sails against the Dutch." + +The gentlemen all returned Cyril's salute courteously. + +"He will be fortunate in beginning his career under the eyes of so +brave a Prince," the Earl of Rochester said, bowing to Prince Rupert. + +"It would be well if you all," the latter replied bluntly, "were to +ship in the Fleet for a few months instead of wasting your time in +empty pleasures." + +The Earl smiled. Prince Rupert's extreme disapproval of the life at +Court was well known. + +"We cannot all be Bayards, Prince, and most of us would, methinks, be +too sick at sea to be of much assistance, were we to go. But if the +Dutchmen come here, which is not likely--for I doubt not, Prince, +that you will soon send them flying back to their own ports--we shall +all be glad to do our best to meet them when they land." + +The Prince made no reply, but, turning to the King, said,-- + +"We will not detain you longer from your game, Cousin Charles. I have +plenty to do, with all the complaints as to the state of the ships, +and the lack of stores and necessaries." + +"Remember, I shall be glad to see you at my _levées_, Sir Cyril," +the King said, holding out his hand. "Do not wait for the Prince to +bring you, for if you do you will wait long." + +Cyril doffed his hat, raised the King's hand to his lips, then, with +a deep bow and an expression of thanks, followed Prince Rupert, who +was already striding away. + +"You might have been better introduced," the Prince said when he +overtook him. "Still it is better to be badly introduced than to have +no introduction at all. I am too old for the flippancies of the +Court. You had better show yourself there sometimes; you will make +friends that may be useful. By the way, I have not your address, and +it may be a fortnight or more before the _Henrietta_ is ready to +take her crew on board." He took out his tablet and wrote down the +address. "Come and see me if there is anything you want to ask me. Do +not let the clerks keep you out with the pretence that I am busy, but +send up your name to me, and tell them that I have ordered it shall +be taken up, however I may be engaged." + +Having no occasion for haste, Cyril walked back to the City after +leaving Prince Rupert. A great change had taken place in his fortunes +in the last twenty-four hours. Then he had no prospects save +continuing his work in the City for another two years, and even after +that time he foresaw grave difficulties in the way of his obtaining a +commission in a foreign army; for Sir John Parton, even if ready to +carry out the promise he had formerly made him, might not have +sufficient influence to do so. Now he was to embark in Prince +Rupert's own ship. He would be the companion of many other gentlemen +going out as Volunteers, and, at a bound, spring from the position of +a writer in the City to that occupied by his father before he became +involved in the trouble between King and Parliament. He was already +admitted to Court, and Prince Rupert himself had promised to push his +fortunes abroad. + +And yet he felt less elated than he would have expected from his +sudden change. The question of money was the cloud that dulled the +brightness of his prospects. As a Volunteer he would receive no pay, +and yet he must make a fair show among the young noblemen and +gentlemen who would be his companions. Doubtless they would be +victualled on board, but he would have to dress well and probably pay +a share in the expenses that would be incurred for wine and other +things on board. Had it not been for the future he would have been +inclined to regret that he had not refused the tempting offer; but +the advantages to be gained by Prince Rupert's patronage were so +large that he felt no sacrifice would be too great to that end--even +that of accepting the assistance that Captain Dave had more than once +hinted he should give him. It was just the dinner-hour when he +arrived home. + +"Well, Cyril, I see by your face that the Prince has said nothing in +the direction of your wishes," Captain Dave said, as he entered. + +"Then my face is a false witness, Captain Dave, for Prince Rupert has +appointed me a Volunteer on board his own ship." + +"I am glad, indeed, lad, heartily glad, though your going will be a +heavy loss to us all. But why were you looking so grave over it?" + +"I have been wondering whether I have acted wisely in accepting it," +Cyril said. "I am very happy here, I am earning my living, I have no +cares of any sort, and I feel that it is a very serious matter to +make a change. The Prince has a number of noblemen and gentlemen +going with him as Volunteers, and I feel that I shall be out of my +element in such company. At the same time I have every reason to be +thankful, for Prince Rupert has promised that he will, after the war +is over, give me introductions which will procure me a commission +abroad." + +"Well, then, it seems to me that things could not look better," +Captain Dave said heartily. "When do you go on board?" + +"The Prince says it may be another fortnight; so that I shall have +time to make my preparations, and warn the citizens I work for, that +I am going to leave them." + +"I should say the sooner the better, lad. You will have to get your +outfit and other matters seen to. Moreover, now that you have been +taken under Prince Rupert's protection, and have become, as it were, +an officer on his ship--for gentlemen Volunteers, although they have +no duties in regard to working the ship, are yet officers--it is +hardly seemly that you should be making up the accounts of bakers and +butchers, ironmongers, and ship's storekeepers." + +"The work is honest, and I am in no way ashamed of it," Cyril said; +"but as I have many things to see about, I suppose I had better give +them notice at once. Prince Rupert presented me to the King to-day, +and His Majesty requested me to attend at Court, which I should be +loath to do, were it not that the Prince urged upon me that it was of +advantage that I should make myself known." + +"One would think, Master Cyril, that this honour which has suddenly +befallen you is regarded by you as a misfortune," Mrs. Dowsett said, +laughing. "Most youths would be overjoyed at such a change in their +fortune." + +"It would be all very pleasant," Cyril said, "had I the income of my +father's estate at my back; but I feel that I shall be in a false +position, thus thrusting myself among men who have more guineas in +their pockets than I have pennies. However, it seems that the matter +has been taken out of my own hands, and that, as things have turned +out, so I must travel. Who would have thought, when John Wilkes +fetched me out last night to go to the fire, it would make an +alteration in my whole life, and that such a little thing as climbing +up a ladder and helping to get three girls out of a room full of +smoke--and John Wilkes did the most difficult part of the work--was +to change all my prospects?" + +"There was a Providence in it, Cyril," Mrs. Dowsett said gently. +"Why, else, should you have gone up that ladder, when, to all +seeming, there was no one there. The maids were so frightened, John +says, that they would never have said a word about there being anyone +in that room, and the girls would have perished had you not gone up. +Now as, owing to that, everything has turned out according to your +wishes, it would be a sin not to take advantage of it, for you may be +sure that, as the way has thus been suddenly opened to you, so will +all other things follow in due course." + +"Thank you, madam," Cyril said simply. "I had not thought of it in +that light, but assuredly you are right, and I will not suffer myself +to be daunted by the difficulties there may be in my way." + +John Wilkes now came in and sat down to the meal. He was vastly +pleased when he heard of the good fortune that had befallen Cyril. + +"It seems to me," Cyril said, "that I am but an impostor, and that at +least some share in the good luck ought to have fallen to you, John, +seeing that you carried them all down the ladder." + +"I have carried heavier bales, many a time, much longer distances +than that--though I do not say that the woman was not a tidy weight, +for, indeed, she was; but I would have carried down ten of them for +the honour I had in being shaken by the hand by Prince Rupert, as +gallant a sailor as ever sailed a ship. No, no; what I did was all in +a day's work, and no more than lifting anchors and chains about in +the storehouse. As for honours, I want none of them. I am moored in a +snug port here, and would not leave Captain Dave if they would make a +Duke of me." + +Nellie had said no word of congratulation to Cyril, but as they rose +from dinner, she said, in low tones,-- + +"You know I am pleased, and hope that you will have all the good +fortune you deserve." + +Cyril set out at once to make a round of the shops where he worked. +The announcement that he must at once terminate his connection with +them, as he was going on board the Fleet, was everywhere received +with great regret. + +"I would gladly pay double," one said, "rather than that you should +go, for, indeed, it has taken a heavy load off my shoulders, and I +know not how I shall get on in the future." + +"I should think there would be no difficulty in getting some other +young clerk to do the work," Cyril said. + +"Not so easy," the man replied. "I had tried one or two before, and +found they were more trouble than they were worth. There are not many +who write as neatly as you do, and you do as much in an hour as some +would take a day over. However, I wish you good luck, and if you +should come back, and take up the work again, or start as a scrivener +in the City, I can promise you that you shall have my books again, +and that among my friends I can find you as much work as you can get +through." + +Something similar was said to him at each of the houses where he +called, and he felt much gratified at finding that his work had given +such satisfaction. + +When he came in to supper, Cyril was conscious that something had +occurred of an unusual nature. Nellie's eyes were swollen with +crying; Mrs. Dowsett had also evidently been in tears; while Captain +Dave was walking up and down the room restlessly. + +The servant was placing the things upon the table, and, just as they +were about to take their seats, the bell of the front door rang +loudly. + +"See who it is, John," Captain Dave said. "Whoever it is seems to be +in a mighty hurry." + +In a minute or two John returned, followed by a gentleman. The latter +paused at the door, and then said, bowing courteously, as he +advanced, to Mrs. Dowsett,-- + +"I must ask pardon for intruding on your meal, madam, but my business +is urgent. I am the Earl of Wisbech, and I have called to see Sir +Cyril Shenstone, to offer him my heartfelt thanks for the service he +has rendered me by saving the lives of my daughters." + +All had risen to their feet as he entered, and there was a slight +exclamation of surprise from the Captain, his wife, and daughter, as +the Earl said "Sir Cyril Shenstone." + +Cyril stepped forward. + +"I am Cyril Shenstone, my Lord," he said, "and had the good fortune +to be able, with the assistance of my friend here, John Wilkes, to +rescue your daughters, though, at the time, indeed, I was altogether +ignorant of their rank. It was a fortunate occurrence, but I must +disclaim any merit in the action, for it was by mere accident that, +mounting to the window by a ladder, I saw them lying insensible on +the ground." + +"Your modesty does you credit, sir," the Earl said, shaking him +warmly by the hand. "But such is not the opinion of Prince Rupert, +who described it to me as a very gallant action; and, moreover, he +said that it was you who first brought him the news that there were +females in the house, which he and others had supposed to be empty, +and that it was solely owing to you that the ladders were taken +round." + +"Will you allow me, my Lord, to introduce to you Captain Dowsett, his +wife, and daughter, who have been to me the kindest of friends?" + +"A kindness, my Lord," Captain Dave said earnestly, "that has been +repaid a thousandfold by this good youth, of whose rank we were +indeed ignorant until you named it. May I ask you to honour us by +joining in our meal?" + +"That will I right gladly, sir," the Earl said, "for, in truth, I +have scarce broke my fast to-day. I was down at my place in Kent when +I was awoke this morning by one of my grooms, who had ridden down +with the news that my mansion in the Savoy had been burned, and that +my daughters had had a most narrow escape of their lives. Of course, +I mounted at once and rode to town, where I was happy in finding that +they had well-nigh recovered from the effects of their fright and the +smoke. Neither they nor the nurse who was with them could give me any +account of what had happened, save that they had, as they supposed, +become insensible from the smoke. When they recovered, they found +themselves in the Earl of Surrey's house, to which it seems they had +been carried. After inquiry, I learned that the Duke of Albemarle and +Prince Rupert had both been on the scene directing operations. I went +to the latter, with whom I have the honour of being well acquainted, +and he told me the whole story, saying that had it not been for Sir +Cyril Shenstone, my daughters would certainly have perished. He gave +credit, too, to Sir Cyril's companion, who, he said, carried them +down the ladder, and himself entered the burning room the last time, +to aid in bringing out the nurse, who was too heavy for the rescuer +of my daughters to lift. Save a cup of wine and a piece of bread, +that I took on my first arrival, I have not broken my fast to-day." + +Then he seated himself on a chair that Cyril had placed for him +between Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie. + +Captain Dave whispered to John Wilkes, who went out, and returned in +two or three minutes with three or four flasks of rare Spanish wine +which the Captain had brought back on his last voyage, and kept for +drinking on special occasions. The dame always kept an excellent +table, and although she made many apologies to the Earl, he assured +her that none were needed, for that he could have supped no better in +his own house. + +"I hear," he said presently to Cyril, "that you are going out as a +Volunteer in Prince Rupert's ship. My son is also going with him, and +I hope, in a day or two, to introduce him to you. He is at present at +Cambridge, but, having set his mind on sailing with the Prince, I +have been fain to allow him to give up his studies. I heard from +Prince Rupert that you had recently been kidnapped and taken to +Holland. He gave me no particulars, nor did I ask them, being +desirous of hurrying off at once to express my gratitude to you. How +was it that such an adventure befell you--for it would hardly seem +likely that you could have provoked the enmity of persons capable of +such an outrage?" + +"It was the result of his services to me, my Lord," Captain Dave +said. "Having been a sea-captain, I am but a poor hand at accounts; +but, having fallen into this business at the death of my father, it +seemed simple enough for me to get on without much book-learning. I +made but a bad shape at it; and when Master Shenstone, as he then +called himself, offered to keep my books for me, it seemed to me an +excellent mode of saving myself worry and trouble. However, when he +set himself to making up the accounts of my stock, he found that I +was nigh eight hundred pounds short; and, setting himself to watch, +discovered that my apprentices were in alliance with a band of +thieves, and were nightly robbing me. We caught them and two of the +thieves in the act. One of the latter was the receiver, and on his +premises the proceeds of a great number of robberies were found, and +there was no doubt that he was the chief of a notorious gang, called +the 'Black Gang,' which had for a long time infested the City and the +surrounding country. It was to prevent Sir Cyril from giving evidence +at the trial that he was kidnapped and sent away. He was placed in +the house of a diamond merchant, to whom the thieves were in the +habit of consigning jewels; and this might well have turned out fatal +to him, for to the same house came my elder apprentice and one of the +men captured with him--a notorious ruffian--who had been rescued from +the constables by a gang of their fellows, in open daylight, in the +City. These, doubtless, would have compassed his death had he not +happily seen them enter the house, and made his escape, taking +passage in a coaster bound for Dunkirk, from which place he took +another ship to England. Thus you see, my Lord, that I am indebted to +him for saving me from a further loss that might well have ruined +me." + +He paused, and glanced at Nellie, who rose at once, saying to the +Earl,-- + +"I trust that your Lordship will excuse my mother and myself. My +father has more to tell you; at least, I should wish him to do so." + +Then, taking her mother's hand, she curtsied deeply, and they left +the room together. + +"Such, my Lord, as I have told you, is the service, so far as I knew +till this afternoon, Sir Cyril Shenstone has rendered me. That was no +small thing, but it is very little to what I know now that I am +indebted to him. After he went out I was speaking with my wife on +money matters, desiring much to be of assistance to him in the matter +of the expedition on which he is going. Suddenly my daughter burst +into tears and left the room. I naturally bade my wife follow her and +learn what ailed her. Then, with many sobs and tears, she told her +mother that we little knew how much we were indebted to him. She said +she had been a wicked girl, having permitted herself to be accosted +several times by a well-dressed gallant, who told her that he was the +Earl of Harwich, who had professed great love for her, and urged her +to marry him privately. + +"He was about to speak to her one day when she was out under Master +Cyril's escort. The latter interfered, and there was well-nigh a +_fracas_ between them. Being afraid that some of the lookers-on +might know her, and bring the matter to our ears, she mentioned so +much to us, and, in consequence, we did not allow her to go out +afterwards, save in the company of her mother. Nevertheless, the man +continued to meet her, and, as he was unknown to her mother, passed +notes into her hand. To these she similarly replied, and at last +consented to fly with him. She did so at night, and was about to +enter a sedan chair in the lane near this house when they were +interrupted by the arrival of Master Shenstone and my friend John +Wilkes. The former, it seems, had his suspicions, and setting himself +to watch, had discovered that she was corresponding with this +man--whom he had found was not the personage he pretended to be, but +a disreputable hanger-on of the Court, one John Harvey--and had then +kept up an incessant watch, with the aid of John Wilkes, outside the +house at night, until he saw her come out and join the fellow with +two associates, when he followed her to the chair they had in +readiness for her. + +"There was, she says, a terrible scene. Swords were drawn. John +Wilkes knocked down one of the men, and Master Shenstone ran John +Harvey through the shoulder. Appalled now at seeing how she had been +deceived, and how narrowly she had escaped destruction, she returned +with her rescuers to the house, and no word was ever said on the +subject until she spoke this afternoon. We had noticed that a great +change had come over her, and that she seemed to have lost all her +tastes for shows and finery, but little did we dream of the cause. +She said that she could not have kept the secret much longer in any +case, being utterly miserable at the thought of how she had degraded +herself and deceived us. + +"It was a sad story to have to hear, my Lord, but we have fully +forgiven her, having, indeed, cause to thank God both for her +preservation and for the good that this seems to have wrought in her. +She had been a spoilt child, and, being well-favoured, her head had +been turned by flattery, and she indulged in all sorts of foolish +dreams. Now she is truly penitent for her folly. Had you not arrived, +my Lord, I should, when we had finished our supper, have told Master +Shenstone that I knew of this vast service he has rendered us--a +service to which the other was as nothing. That touched my pocket +only; this my only child's happiness. I have told you the story, my +Lord, by her consent, in order that you might know what sort of a +young fellow this gentleman who has rescued your daughter is. John, I +thank you for your share in this matter," and, with tears in his +eyes, he held out his hand to his faithful companion. + +"I thank you deeply, Captain Dowsett, for having told me this story," +the Earl said gravely. "It was a painful one to tell, and I feel sure +that the circumstance will, as you say, be of lasting benefit to your +daughter. It shows that her heart is a true and loyal one, or she +would not have had so painful a story told to a stranger, simply that +the true character of her preserver should be known. I need not say +that it has had the effect she desired of raising Sir Cyril Shenstone +highly in my esteem. Prince Rupert spoke of him very highly and told +me how he had been honourably supporting himself and his father, +until the death of the latter. Now I see that he possesses unusual +discretion and acuteness, as well as bravery. Now I will take my +leave, thanking you for the good entertainment that you have given +me. I am staying at the house of the Earl of Surrey, Sir Cyril, and I +hope that you will call to-morrow morning, in order that my daughters +may thank you in person." + +Captain Dave and Cyril escorted the Earl to the door and then +returned to the chamber above. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +NEW FRIENDS + + +On arriving at the room upstairs, Captain Dave placed his hand on +Cyril's shoulder and said: + +"How can I thank you, lad, for what you have done for us?" + +"By saying nothing further about it, Captain Dave. I had hoped that +the matter would never have come to your ears, and yet I rejoice, for +her own sake, that Mistress Nellie has told you all. I thought that +she would do so some day, for I, too, have seen how much she has been +changed since then, and though it becomes me not to speak of one +older than myself, I think that the experience has been for her good, +and, above all, I am rejoiced to find that you have fully forgiven +her, for indeed I am sure that she has been grievously punished." + +"Well, well, lad, it shall be as you say, for indeed I am but a poor +hand at talking, but believe me that I feel as grateful as if I could +express myself rightly, and that the Earl of Wisbech cannot feel one +whit more thankful to you for having saved the lives of his three +children than I do for your having saved my Nellie from the +consequences of her own folly. There is one thing that you must let +me do--it is but a small thing, but at present I have no other way of +showing what I feel: you must let me take upon myself, as if you had +been my son, the expenses of this outfit of yours. I was talking of +the matter, as you may have guessed by what I said to the Earl, when +Nellie burst into tears; and if I contemplated this when I knew only +you had saved me from ruin, how much more do I feel it now that you +have done this greater thing? I trust that you will not refuse me and +my wife this small opportunity of showing our gratitude. What say +you, John Wilkes?" + +"I say, Captain Dave, that it is well spoken, and I am sure Master +Cyril will not refuse your offer." + +"I will not, Captain Dave, providing that you let it be as a loan +that I may perhaps some day be enabled to repay you. I feel that it +would be churlish to refuse so kind an offer, and it will relieve me +of the one difficulty that troubled me when the prospects in all +other respects seemed so fair." + +"That is right, lad, and you have taken a load off my mind. You have +not acted quite fairly by us in one respect, Master Cyril!" + +"How is that?" Cyril asked in surprise. + +"In not telling us that you were Sir Cyril Shenstone, and in letting +us put you up in an attic, and letting you go about as Nellie's +escort, as if you had been but an apprentice." + +Cyril laughed. + +"I said that my father was Sir Aubrey Shenstone, though I own that I +did not say so until I had been here some time; but the fact that he +was a Baronet and not a Knight made little difference. It was a +friendless lad whom you took in and gave shelter to, Captain Dave, +and--it mattered not whether he was plain Cyril or Sir Cyril. I had +certainly no thought of taking my title again until I entered a +foreign army, and indeed it would have been a disservice to me here +in London. I should have cut but a poor figure asking for work and +calling myself Sir Cyril Shenstone. I should have had to enter into +all sorts of explanations before anyone would have believed me, and I +don't think that, even with you, I should have been so comfortable as +I have been." + +"Well, at any rate, no harm has been done," Captain Dave said; "but I +think you might have told me." + +"If I had, Captain Dave, you would assuredly have told your wife and +Mistress Nellie; and it was much more pleasant for me that things +should be as they were." + +"Well, perhaps you were right, lad. And I own that I might not have +let you work at my books, and worry over that robbery, had I known +that you were of a station above me." + +"That you could never have known," Cyril said warmly. "We have been +poor ever since I can remember. I owed my education to the kindness +of friends of my mother, and in no way has my station been equal to +that of a London trader like yourself. As to the title, it was but a +matter of birth, and went but ill with an empty purse and a shabby +doublet. In the future it may be useful, but until now, it has been +naught, and indeed worse than naught, to me." + +The next morning when Cyril went into the parlour he found that +Nellie was busy assisting the maid to lay the table. When the latter +had left the room, the girl went up to Cyril and took his hand. + +"I have never thanked you yet," she said. "I could not bring myself +to speak of it, but now that I have told them I can do so. Ever since +that dreadful night I have prayed for you, morning and evening, and +thanked God for sending you to my rescue. What a wicked girl you must +have thought me--and with reason! But you could not think of me worse +than I thought of myself. Now that my father and mother have forgiven +me I shall be different altogether. I had before made up my mind to +tell them. Still, it did not seem to me that I should ever be happy +again. But now that I have had the courage to speak out, and they +have been so good to me, a great weight is lifted off my mind, and I +mean to learn to be a good housewife like my mother, and to try to be +worthy, some day, of an honest man's love." + +"I am sure you will be," Cyril said warmly. "And so, Mistress Nellie, +it has all turned out for the best, though it did not seem so at one +time." + +At this moment Captain Dave came in. "I am glad to see you two +talking together as of old," he said. "We had thought that there must +be some quarrel between you, for you had given up rating him, Nellie. +Give her a kiss, Cyril; she is a good lass, though she has been a +foolish one. Nay, Nellie, do not offer him your cheek--it is the +fashion to do that to every idle acquaintance. Kiss him heartily, as +if you loved him. That is right, lass. Now let us to breakfast. Where +is your mother? She is late." + +"I told her that I would see after the breakfast in future, father, +and I have begun this morning--partly because it is my duty to take +the work off her hands, and partly because I wanted a private talk +with Sir Cyril." + +"I won't be called Sir Cyril under this roof," the lad said, +laughing. "And I warn you that if anyone calls me so I will not +answer. I have always been Cyril with you all, and I intend to remain +so to the end, and you must remember that it is but a few months that +I have had the right to the title, and was never addressed by it +until by Prince Rupert. I was for the moment well nigh as much +surprised as you were last night." + +An hour later Cyril again donned his best suit, and started to pay +his visit to the Earl. Had he not seen him over-night, he would have +felt very uncomfortable at the thought of the visit; but he had found +him so pleasant and friendly, and so entirely free from any air of +pride or condescension, that it seemed as if he were going to meet a +friend. He was particularly struck with the manner in which he had +placed Captain Dave and his family at their ease, and got them to +talk as freely and naturally with him as if he had been an +acquaintance of long standing. It seemed strange to him to give his +name as Sir Cyril Shenstone to the lackeys at the door, and he almost +expected to see an expression of amusement on their faces. They had, +however, evidently received instructions respecting him, for he was +without question at once ushered into the room in which the Earl of +Wisbech and his daughters were sitting. + +The Earl shook him warmly by the hand, and then, turning to his +daughters, said,-- + +"This is the gentleman to whom you owe your lives, girls. Sir Cyril, +these are my daughters--Lady Dorothy, Lady Bertha, and Lady Beatrice. +It seems somewhat strange to have to introduce you, who have saved +their lives, to them; but you have the advantage of them, for you +have seen them before, but they have not until now seen your face." + +Each of the girls as she was named made a deep curtsey, and then +presented her cheek to be kissed, as was the custom of the times. + +"They are somewhat tongue-tied," the Earl said, smiling, as the +eldest of the three cast an appealing glance to him, "and have begged +me to thank you in their names, which I do with all my heart, and beg +you to believe that their gratitude is none the less deep because +they have no words to express it. They generally have plenty to say, +I can assure you, and will find their tongues when you are a little +better acquainted." + +"I am most happy to have been of service to you, ladies," Cyril said, +bowing deeply to them. "I can hardly say that I have the advantage +your father speaks of, for in truth the smoke was so thick, and my +eyes smarted so with it, that I could scarce see your faces." + +"Their attire, too, in no way helped you," the Earl said, with a +laugh, "for, as I hear, their costume was of the slightest. I believe +that Dorothy's chief concern is that she did not have time to attire +herself in a more becoming toilette before the smoke overpowered +her." + +"Now, father," the girl protested, with a pretty colour in her +cheeks, "you know I have never said anything of the sort, though I +did say that I wished I had thrown a cloak round me. It is not +pleasant, whatever you may think, to know that one was handed down a +ladder in one's nightdress." + +"I don't care about that a bit," Beatrice said; "but you did not say, +father, that it was a young gentleman, no older than Sydney, who +found us and carried us out. I had expected to see a great big man." + +"I don't think I said anything about his age, Beatrice, but simply +told you that I had found out that it was Sir Cyril Shenstone that +had saved you." + +"Is the nurse recovering, my Lord?" + +"She is still in bed, and the doctor says she will be some time +before she quite recovers from the fright and shock. They were all +sleeping in the storey above. It was Dorothy who first woke, and, +after waking her sisters, ran into the nurse's room, which was next +door, and roused her. The silly woman was so frightened that she +could do nothing but stand at the window and scream until the girls +almost dragged her away, and forced her to come downstairs. The +smoke, however, was so thick that they could get no farther than the +next floor; then, guided by the screams of the other servants, they +opened a door and ran in, but, as you know, it was not the room into +which the women had gone. The nurse fell down in a faint as soon as +she got in. The girls, as it seems, dragged her as far as they could +towards the window, but she was too heavy for them; and as they had +not shut the door, the smoke poured in and overpowered them, and they +fell beside her. The rest you know. She is a silly woman, and she has +quite lost my confidence by her folly and cowardice, but she has been +a good servant, and the girls, all of whom she nursed, were fond of +her. Still, it is evident that she is not to be trusted in an +emergency, and it was only because the girls' governess is away on a +visit to her mother that she happened to be left in charge of them. +Now, young ladies, you can leave us, as I have other matters to talk +over with Sir Cyril." + +The three girls curtsied deeply, first to their father, and then to +Cyril, who held the door for them to pass out. + +"Now, Sir Cyril," the Earl said, as the door closed behind them, "we +must have a talk together. You may well believe that, after what has +happened, I look upon you almost as part of my family, and that I +consider you have given me the right to look after your welfare as if +you were a near relation of my own; and glad I am to have learned +yesterday evening that you are, in all respects, one whom I might be +proud indeed to call a kinsman. Had you been a cousin of mine, with +parents but indifferently off in worldly goods, it would have been my +duty, of course, to push you forward and to aid you in every way to +make a proper figure on this expedition. I think that, after what has +happened, I have equally the right to do so, and what would have been +my duty, had you been a relation, is no less a duty, and will +certainly be a great gratification to me to do now. You understand +me, do you not? I wish to take upon myself all the charges connected +with your outfit, and to make you an allowance, similar to that which +I shall give to my son, for your expenses on board ship. All this is +of course but a slight thing, but, believe me, that when the +expedition is over it will be my pleasure to help you forward to +advancement in any course which you may choose." + +"I thank you most heartily, my Lord," Cyril said, "and would not +hesitate to accept your help in the present matter, did I need it. +However, I have saved some little money during the past two years, +and Captain Dowsett has most generously offered me any sum I may +require for my expenses, and has consented to allow me to take it as +a loan to be repaid at some future time, should it be in my power to +do so. Your offer, however, to aid me in my career afterwards, I most +thankfully accept. My idea has always been to take service under some +foreign prince, and Prince Rupert has most kindly promised to aid me +in that respect; but after serving for a time at sea I shall be +better enabled to judge than at present as to whether that course is +indeed the best, and I shall be most thankful for your counsel in +this and all other matters, and feel myself fortunate indeed to have +obtained your good will and patronage." + +"Well, if it must be so, it must," the Earl said. "Your friend +Captain Dowsett seems to me a very worthy man. You have placed him +under an obligation as heavy as my own, and he has the first claim to +do you service. In this matter, then, I must be content to stand +aside, but on your return from sea it will be my turn, and I shall be +hurt and grieved indeed if you do not allow me an opportunity of +proving my gratitude to you. As to the career you speak of, it is a +precarious one. There are indeed many English and Scotch officers who +have risen to high rank and honour in foreign service; but to every +one that so succeeds, how many fall unnoticed, and lie in unmarked +graves, in well-nigh every country in Europe? Were you like so many +of your age, bent merely on adventure and pleasure, the case would be +different, but it is evident that you have a clear head for business, +that you are steady and persevering, and such being the case, there +are many offices under the Crown in which you might distinguish +yourself and do far better than the vast majority of those who sell +their swords to foreign princes, and become mere soldiers of fortune, +fighting for a cause in which they have no interest, and risking +their lives in quarrels that are neither their own nor their +country's. + +"However, all this we can talk over when you come back after having, +as I hope, aided in destroying the Dutch Fleet. I expect my son up +to-morrow, and trust that you will accompany him to the King's +_levée_, next Monday. Prince Rupert tells me that he has already +presented you to the King, and that you were well received by him, as +indeed you had a right to be, as the son of a gentleman who had +suffered and sacrificed much in the Royal cause. But I will take the +opportunity of introducing you to several other gentlemen who will +sail with you. On the following day I shall be going down into Kent, +and shall remain there until it is time for Sydney to embark. If you +can get your preparations finished by that time, I trust that you +will give us the pleasure of your company, and will stay with me +until you embark with Sydney. In this way you will come to know us +better, and to feel, as I wish you to feel, as one of the family." + +Cyril gratefully accepted the invitation, and then took his leave. + +Captain Dave was delighted when he heard the issue of his visit to +the Earl. + +"I should never have forgiven you, lad, if you had accepted the +Earl's offer to help you in the matter of this expedition. It is no +great thing, and comes well within my compass, and I should have been +sorely hurt had you let him come between us; but in the future I can +do little, and he much. I have spoken to several friends who are +better acquainted with public affairs than I am, and they all speak +highly of him. He holds, for the most part, aloof from Court, which +is to his credit seeing how matters go on there; but he is spoken of +as a very worthy gentleman and one of merit, who might take a +prominent part in affairs were he so minded. He has broad estates in +Kent and Norfolk, and spends the greater part of his life at one or +other of his country seats. Doubtless, he will be able to assist you +greatly in the future." + +"I did not like to refuse his offer to go down with him to Kent," +Cyril said, "though I would far rather have remained here with you +until we sail." + +"You did perfectly right, lad. It will cut short your stay here but a +week, and it would be madness to refuse the opportunity of getting to +know him and his family better. The Countess died three years ago, I +hear, and he has shown no disposition to take another wife, as he +might well do, seeing he is but a year or two past forty, and has as +pleasant a face and manner as I have ever seen. He is not the sort of +man to promise what he will not perform, Cyril, and more than ever do +I think that it was a fortunate thing for you that John Wilkes +fetched you to that fire in the Savoy. And now, lad, you have no time +to lose. You must come with me at once to Master Woods, the tailor, +in Eastcheap, who makes clothes not only for the citizens but for +many of the nobles and gallants of the Court. In the first place, you +will need a fitting dress for the King's _levée_; then you will need +at least one more suit similar to that you now wear, and three for on +board ship and for ordinary occasions, made of stout cloth, but in +the fashion; then you must have helmet, and breast- and back-pieces +for the fighting, and for these we will go to Master Lawrence, the +armourer, in Cheapside. All these we will order to-day in my name, +and put them down in your account to me. As to arms, you have your +sword, and there is but a brace of pistols to be bought. You will +want a few things such as thick cloaks for sea service; for though I +suppose that Volunteers do not keep their watch, you may meet with +rains and heavy weather, and you will need something to keep you +dry." + +They sallied out at once. So the clothes were ordered, and the Court +suit, with the best of the others promised by the end of the week; +the armour was fitted on and bought, and a stock of fine shirts with +ruffles, hose, and shoes, was also purchased. The next day Sydney +Oliphant, the Earl's son, called upon Cyril. He was a frank, pleasant +young fellow, about a year older than Cyril. He was very fond of his +sisters, and expressed in lively terms his gratitude for their +rescue. + +"This expedition has happened in the nick of time for me," he said, +when, in accordance with his invitation, Cyril and he embarked in the +Earl's boat in which he had been rowed to the City, "for I was in bad +odour with the authorities, and was like, erelong, to have been sent +home far less pleasantly; and although the Earl, my father, is very +indulgent, he would have been terribly angry with me had it been so. +To tell you the truth, at the University we are divided into two +sets--those who read and those who don't--and on joining I found +myself very soon among the latter. I don't think it was quite my +fault, for I naturally fell in with companions whom I had known +before, and it chanced that some of these were among the wildest +spirits in the University. + +"Of course I had my horses, and, being fond of riding, I was more +often in the saddle than in my seat in the college schools. Then +there were constant complaints against us for sitting up late and +disturbing the college with our melodies, and altogether we stood in +bad odour with the Dons; and when they punished us we took our +revenge by playing them pranks, until lately it became almost open +war, and would certainly have ended before long in a score or more of +us being sent down. I should not have minded that myself, but it +would have grieved the Earl, and I am not one of the new-fashioned +ones who care naught for what their fathers may say. He has been +praising you up to the skies this morning, I can tell you--I don't +mean only as to the fire but about other things--and says he hopes we +shall be great friends, and I am sure I hope so too, and think so. He +had been telling me about your finding out about their robbing that +good old sea-captain you live with, and how you were kidnapped +afterwards, and sent to Holland; and how, in another adventure, +although he did not tell me how that came about, you pricked a +ruffling gallant through the shoulder; so that you have had a larger +share of adventure, by a great deal, than I have. I had expected to +see you rather a solemn personage, for the Earl told me you had more +sense in your little finger than I had in my whole body, which was +not complimentary to me, though I dare say it is true." + +"Now, as a rule, they say that sensible people are very disagreeable; +but I hope I shall not be disagreeable," Cyril laughed, "and I am +certainly not aware that I am particularly sensible." + +"No, I am sure you won't be disagreeable, but I should have been +quite nervous about coming to see you if it had not been for the +girls. Little Beatrice told me she thought you were a prince in +disguise, and had evidently a private idea that the good fairies had +sent you to her rescue. Bertha said that you were a very proper young +gentleman, and that she was sure you were nice. Dorothy didn't say +much, but she evidently approved of the younger girls' sentiments, so +I felt that you must be all right, for the girls are generally pretty +severe critics, and very few of my friends stand at all high in their +good graces. What amusement are you most fond of?" + +"I am afraid I have had very little time for amusements," Cyril said. +"I was very fond of fencing when I was in France, but have had no +opportunity of practising since I came to England. I went to a +bull-bait once, but thought it a cruel sport." + +"I suppose you go to a play-house sometimes?" + +"No; I have never been inside one. A good deal of my work has been +done in the evening, and I don't know that the thought ever occurred +to me to go. I know nothing of your English sports, and neither ride +nor shoot, except with a pistol, with which I used to be a good shot +when I was in France." + +They rowed down as low as Greenwich, then, as the tide turned, made +their way back; and by the time Cyril alighted from the boat at +London Bridge stairs the two young fellows had become quite intimate +with each other. + +Nellie looked with great approval at Cyril as he came downstairs in a +full Court dress. Since the avowal she had made of her fault she had +recovered much of her brightness. She bustled about the house, intent +upon the duties she had newly taken up, to the gratification of Mrs. +Dowsett, who protested that her occupation was gone. + +"Not at all, mother. It is only that you are now captain of the ship, +and have got to give your orders instead of carrying them out +yourself. Father did not pull up the ropes or go aloft to furl the +sails, while I have no doubt he had plenty to do in seeing that his +orders were carried out. You will be worse off than he was, for he +had John Wilkes, and others, who knew their duty, while I have got +almost everything to learn." + +Although her cheerfulness had returned, and she could again be heard +singing snatches of song about the house, her voice and manner were +gentler and softer, and Captain Dave said to Cyril,-- + +"It has all turned out for the best, lad. The ship was very near +wrecked, but the lesson has been a useful one, and there is no fear +of her being lost from want of care or good seamanship in future. I +feel, too, that I have been largely to blame in the matter. I spoilt +her as a child, and I spoilt her all along. Her mother would have +kept a firmer hand upon the helm if I had not always spoken up for +the lass, and said, 'Let her have her head; don't check the sheets in +too tautly.' I see I was wrong now. Why, lad, what a blessing it is +to us all that it happened when it did! for if that fire had been but +a month earlier, you would probably have gone away with the Earl, and +we should have known nothing of Nellie's peril until we found that +she was gone." + +"Sir Cyril--no, I really cannot call you Cyril now," Nellie said, +curtseying almost to the ground after taking a survey of the lad, +"your costume becomes you rarely; and I am filled with wonder at the +thought of my own stupidity in not seeing all along that you were a +prince in disguise. It is like the fairy tales my old nurse used to +tell me of the king's son who went out to look for a beautiful wife, +and who worked as a scullion in the king's palace without anyone +suspecting his rank. I think fortune has been very hard upon me, in +that I was born five years too soon. Had I been but fourteen instead +of nineteen, your Royal Highness might have cast favourable eyes upon +me." + +"But then, Mistress Nellie," Cyril said, laughing, "you would be +filled with grief now at the thought that I am going away to the +wars." + +The girl's face changed. She dropped her saucy manner and said +earnestly,-- + +"I am grieved, Cyril; and if it would do any good I would sit down +and have a hearty cry. The Dutchmen are brave fighters, and their +fleet will be stronger than ours; and there will be many who sail +away to sea who will never come back again. I have never had a +brother; but it seems to me that if I had had one who was wise, and +thoughtful, and brave, I should have loved him as I love you. I think +the princess must always have felt somehow that the scullion was not +what he seemed; and though I have always laughed at you and scolded +you, I have known all along that you were not really a clerk. I don't +know that I thought you were a prince; but I somehow felt a little +afraid of you. You never said that you thought me vain and giddy, but +I knew you did think so, and I used to feel a little malice against +you; and yet, somehow, I respected and liked you all the more, and +now it seems to me that you are still in disguise, and that, though +you seem to be but a boy, you are really a man to whom some good +fairy has given a boy's face. Methinks no boy could be as thoughtful +and considerate, and as kind as you are." + +"You are exaggerating altogether," Cyril said; "and yet, in what you +say about my age, I think you are partly right. I have lived most of +my life alone; I have had much care always on my shoulders, and grave +responsibility; thus it is that I am older in many ways than I should +be at my years. I would it were not so. I have not had any boyhood, +as other boys have, and I think it has been a great misfortune for +me." + +"It has not been a misfortune for us, Cyril; it has been a blessing +indeed to us all that you have not been quite like other boys, and I +think that all your life it will be a satisfaction for you to know +that you have saved one house from ruin, one woman from misery, and +disgrace. Now it is time for you to be going; but although you are +leaving us tomorrow, Cyril, I hope that you are not going quite out +of our lives." + +"That you may be sure I am not, Nellie. If you have reason to be +grateful to me, truly I have much reason to be grateful to your +father. I have never been so happy as since I have been in this +house, and I shall always return to it as to a home where I am sure +of a welcome--as the place to which I chiefly owe any good fortune +that may ever befall me." + +The _levée_ was a brilliant one, and was attended, in addition to +the usual throng of courtiers, by most of the officers and gentlemen +who were going with the Fleet. Cyril was glad indeed that he was with +the Earl of Wisbech and his son, for he would have felt lonely and +out of place in the brilliant throng, in which Prince Rupert's face +would have been the only one with which he was familiar. The Earl +introduced him to several of the gentlemen who would be his +shipmates, and by all he was cordially received when the Earl named +him as the gentleman who had rescued his daughters from death. + +At times, when the Earl was chatting with his friends, Cyril moved +about through the rooms with Sydney, who knew by appearance a great +number of those present, and was able to point out all the +distinguished persons of the Court to him. + +"There is the Prince," he said, "talking with the Earl of Rochester. +What a grave face he has now! It is difficult to believe that he is +the Rupert of the wars, and the headstrong prince whose very bravery +helped to lose well-nigh as many battles as he won. We may be sure +that he will take us into the very thick of the fight, Cyril. Even +now his wrist is as firm, and, I doubt not, his arm as strong as when +he led the Cavaliers. I have seen him in the tennis-court; there is +not one at the Court, though many are well-nigh young enough to be +his sons, who is his match at tennis. There is the Duke of York. They +say he is a Catholic, but I own that makes no difference to me. He is +fond of the sea, and is never so happy as when he is on board ship, +though you would hardly think it by his grave face. The King is fond +of it, too. He has a pleasure vessel that is called a yacht, and so +has the Duke of York, and they have races one against the other; but +the King generally wins. He is making it a fashionable pastime. Some +day I will have one myself--that is, if I find I like the sea; for it +must be pleasant to sail about in your own vessel, and to go +wheresoever one may fancy without asking leave from any man." + +When it came to his turn Cyril passed before the King with the Earl +and his son. The Earl presented Sydney, who had not before been at +Court, to the King, mentioning that he was going out as a Volunteer +in Prince Rupert's vessel. + +"That is as it should be, my Lord," the King said. "England need +never fear so long as her nobles and gentlemen are ready themselves +to go out to fight her battles, and to set an example to the seamen. +You need not present this young gentleman to me; my cousin Rupert has +already done so, and told me of the service he has rendered to your +daughters. He, too, sails with the Prince, and after what happened +there can be no doubt that he can stand fire well. I would that this +tiresome dignity did not prevent my being of the party. I would +gladly, for once, lay my kingship down and go out as one of the +company to help give the Dutchmen a lesson that will teach them that, +even if caught unexpectedly, the sea-dogs of England can well hold +their own, though they have no longer a Blake to command them." + +"I wonder that the King ventures to use Blake's name," Sydney +whispered, as they moved away, "considering the indignities that he +allowed the judges to inflict on the body of the grand old sailor." + +"It was scandalous!" Cyril said warmly; "and I burned with +indignation when I heard of it in France. They may call him a traitor +because he sided with the Parliament, but even Royalists should never +have forgotten what great deeds he did for England. However, though +they might have dishonoured his body, they could not touch his fame, +and his name will be known and honoured as long as England is a +nation and when the names of the men who condemned him have been long +forgotten." + +After leaving the _levée_, Cyril went back to the City, and the next +morning started on horseback, with the Earl and his son, to the +latter's seat, near Sevenoaks, the ladies having gone down in the +Earl's coach on the previous day. Wholly unaccustomed as Cyril was to +riding, he was so stiff that he had difficulty in dismounting when +they rode up to the mansion. The Earl had provided a quiet and +well-trained horse for his use, and he had therefore found no +difficulty in retaining his seat. + +"You must ride every day while you are down here," the Earl said, +"and by the end of the week you will begin to be fairly at home in +the saddle. A good seat is one of the prime necessities of a +gentleman's education, and if it should be that you ever carry out +your idea of taking service abroad it will be essential for you, +because, in most cases, the officers are mounted. You can hardly +expect ever to become a brilliant rider. For that it is necessary to +begin young; but if you can keep your seat under all circumstances, +and be able to use your sword on horseback, as well as on foot, it +will be all that is needful." + +The week passed very pleasantly. Cyril rode and fenced daily with +Sydney, who was surprised to find that he was fully his match with +the sword. He walked in the gardens with the girls, who had now quite +recovered from the effects of the fire. Bertha and Beatrice, being +still children, chatted with him as freely and familiarly as they did +with Sydney. Of Lady Dorothy he saw less, as she was in charge of her +_gouvernante_, who always walked beside her, and was occupied in +training her into the habits of preciseness and decorum in vogue at +the time. + +"I do believe, Dorothy," Sydney said, one day, "that you are +forgetting how to laugh. You walk like a machine, and seem afraid to +move your hands or your feet except according to rule. I like you +very much better as you were a year ago, when you did not think +yourself too fine for a romp, and could laugh when you were pleased. +That dragon of yours is spoiling you altogether." + +"That is a matter of opinion, Sydney," Dorothy said, with a deep +curtsey. "When you first began to fence, I have no doubt you were +stiff and awkward, and I am sure if you had always had someone by +your side, saying, 'Keep your head up!' 'Don't poke your chin +forward!' 'Pray do not swing your arms!' and that sort of thing, you +would be just as awkward as I feel. I am sure I would rather run +about with the others; the process of being turned into a young lady +is not a pleasant one. But perhaps some day, when you see the +finished article, you will be pleased to give your Lordship's august +approval," and she ended with a merry laugh that would have shocked +her _gouvernante_ if she had heard it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BATTLE OF LOWESTOFT + + +The Earl returned with his son and Cyril to town, and the latter +spent the night in the City. + +"I do not know, Cyril," Captain Dave said, as they talked over his +departure, "that you run much greater risk in going than do we in +staying here. The Plague makes progress, and although it has not +invaded the City, we can hardly hope that it will be long before it +appears here. There are many evil prophecies abroad, and it is the +general opinion that a great misfortune hangs over us, and they say +that many have prepared to leave London. I have talked the matter +over with my wife. We have not as yet thought of going, but should +the Plague come heavily, it may be that we shall for a time go away. +There will be no business to be done, for vessels will not come up +the Thames and risk infection, nor, indeed, would they be admitted +into ports, either in England or abroad, after coming from an +infected place. Therefore I could leave without any loss in the way +of trade. It will, of course, depend upon the heaviness of the +malady, but if it becomes widespread we shall perhaps go for a visit +to my wife's cousin, who lives near Gloucester, and who has many +times written to us urging us to go down with Nellie for a visit to +her. Hitherto, business has prevented my going, but if all trade +ceases, it would be a good occasion for us, and such as may never +occur again. Still, I earnestly desire that it may not arise, for it +cannot do so without sore trouble and pain alighting on the City. Did +the Earl tell you, Cyril, what he has done with regard to John?" + +"No; he did not speak to me on the subject." + +"His steward came here three days since with a gold watch and chain, +as a gift from the Earl. The watch has an inscription on the case, +saying that it is presented to John Wilkes from the Earl of Wisbech, +as a memorial of his gratitude for the great services rendered to his +daughters. Moreover, he brought a letter from the Earl saying that if +John should at any time leave my service, owing to my death or +retirement from business, or from John himself wishing, either from +age or other reason, to leave me, he would place at his service a +cottage and garden on his estate, and a pension of twenty pounds a +year, to enable him to live in comfort for the remainder of his days. +John is, as you may suppose, mightily pleased, for though I would +assuredly never part with him as long as I live, and have by my will +made provision that will keep him from want in case I die before him, +it was mighty pleasant to receive so handsome a letter and offer of +service from the Earl. Nellie wrote for him a letter in which he +thanked the Earl for the kindness of his offer, for which, although +he hoped he should never be forced to benefit from it, he was none +the less obliged and grateful, seeing that he had done nothing that +any other bystander would not have done, to deserve it." + +Early the next morning Sydney Oliphant rode up to the door, followed +by two grooms, one of whom had a led horse, and the other a +sumpter-mule, which was partly laden. Captain Dave went down with +Cyril to the door. + +"I pray you to enter, my Lord," he said. "My wife will not be happy +unless you take a cup of posset before you start. Moreover, she and +my daughter desire much to see you, as you are going to sail with Sir +Cyril, whom we regard as a member of our family." + +"I will come up right willingly," the young noble said, leaping +lightly from his horse. "If your good dame's posset is as good as the +wine the Earl, my father, tells me you gave him, it must be good +indeed; for he told me he believed he had none in his cellar equal to +it." + +He remained for a few minutes upstairs, chatting gaily, vowing that +the posset was the best he had ever drank, and declaring to Nellie +that he regarded as a favourable omen for his expedition that he +should have seen so fair a face the last thing before starting. He +shook hands with John Wilkes heartily when he came up to say that +Cyril's valises were all securely packed on the horses, and then went +off, promising to send Captain Dave a runnet of the finest schiedam +from the Dutch Admiral's ship. + +"Truly, I am thankful you came up," Cyril said, as they mounted and +rode off. "Before you came we were all dull, and the Dame and +Mistress Nellie somewhat tearful; Now we have gone off amidst smiles, +which is vastly more pleasant." + +Crossing London Bridge, they rode through Southwark, and then out +into the open country. Each had a light valise strapped behind the +saddle, and the servants had saddle-bags containing the smaller +articles of luggage, while the sumpter-mule carried two trunks with +their clothes and sea necessaries. It was late in the evening when +they arrived at Chatham. Here they put up at an hotel which was +crowded with officers of the Fleet, and with Volunteers like +themselves. + +"I should grumble at these quarters, Cyril," Sydney said, as the +landlord, with many apologies, showed them into a tiny attic, which +was the only place he had unoccupied, "were it not that we are going +to sea to-morrow, and I suppose that our quarters will be even +rougher there. However, we may have elbow-room for a time, for most +of the Volunteers will not join, I hear, until the last thing before +the Fleet sails, and it may be a fortnight yet before all the ships +are collected. I begged my father to let me do the same, but he goes +back again to-day to Sevenoaks, and he liked not the idea of my +staying in town, seeing that the Plague is spreading so rapidly. I +would even have stayed in the country had he let me, but he was of +opinion that I was best on board--in the first place, because I may +not get news down there in time to join the Fleet before it sails, +and in the second, that I might come to get over this sickness of the +sea, and so be fit and able to do my part when we meet the Dutch. +This was so reasonable that I could urge nothing against it; for, in +truth, it would be a horrible business if I were lying like a sick +dog, unable to lift my head, while our men were fighting the Dutch. I +have never been to sea, and know not how I shall bear it. Are you a +good sailor?" + +"Yes; I used to go out very often in a fishing-boat at Dunkirk, and +never was ill from the first. Many people are not ill at all, and it +will certainly be of an advantage to you to be on board for a short +time in quiet waters before setting out for sea." + +On going downstairs, Lord Oliphant found several young men of his +acquaintance among those staying in the house. He introduced Cyril to +them. But the room was crowded and noisy; many of those present had +drunk more than was good for them, and it was not long before Cyril +told his friend that he should go up to bed. + +"I am not accustomed to noisy parties, Sydney, and feel quite +confused with all this talk." + +"You will soon get accustomed to it, Cyril. Still, do as you like. I +dare say I shall not be very long before I follow you." + +The next morning after breakfast they went down to the quay, and took +a boat to the ship, which was lying abreast of the dockyard. The +captain, on their giving their names, consulted the list. + +"That is right, gentlemen, though indeed I know not why you should +have come down until we are ready to sail, which may not be for a +week or more, though we shall go out from here to-morrow and join +those lying in the Hope; for indeed you can be of no use while we are +fitting, and would but do damage to your clothes and be in the way of +the sailors. It is but little accommodation you will find on board +here, though we will do the best we can for you." + +"We do not come about accommodation, captain," Lord Oliphant laughed, +"and we have brought down gear with us that will not soil, or rather, +that cannot be the worse for soiling. There are three or four others +at the inn where we stopped last night who are coming on board, but I +hear that the rest of the Volunteers will probably join when the +Fleet assembles in Yarmouth roads." + +"Then they must be fonder of journeying on horseback than I am," the +captain said. "While we are in the Hope, where, indeed, for aught I +know, we may tarry but a day or two, they could come down by boat +conveniently without trouble, whereas to Yarmouth it is a very long +ride, with the risk of losing their purses to the gentlemen of the +road. Moreover, though the orders are at present that the Fleet +gather at Yarmouth, and many are already there 'tis like that it may +be changed in a day for Harwich or the Downs. I pray you get your +meals at your inn to-day, for we are, as you see, full of work taking +on board stores. If it please you to stay and watch what is doing +here you are heartily welcome, but please tell the others that they +had best not come off until late in the evening, by which time I will +do what I can to have a place ready for them to sleep. We shall sail +at the turn of the tide, which will be at three o'clock in the +morning." + +Oliphant wrote a few lines to the gentlemen on shore, telling them +that the captain desired that none should come on board until the +evening, and having sent it off by their boatmen, telling them to +return in time to take them back to dinner, he and Cyril mounted to +the poop and surveyed the scene round them. The ship was surrounded +with lighters and boats from the dockyards, and from these casks and +barrels, boxes and cases, were being swung on board by blocks from +the yards, or rolled in at the port-holes. A large number of men were +engaged at the work, and as fast as the stores came on board they +were seized by the sailors and carried down into the hold, the +provisions piled in tiers of barrels, the powder-kegs packed in the +magazine. + +"'Tis like an ant-hill," Cyril said. "'Tis just as I have seen when a +nest has been disturbed. Every ant seizes a white egg as big as +itself, and rushes off with it to the passage below." + +"They work bravely," his companion said. "Every man seems to know +that it is important that the ship should be filled up by to-night. +See! the other four vessels lying above us are all alike at work, and +may, perhaps, start with us in the morning. The other ships are busy, +too, but not as we are. I suppose they will take them in hand when +they have got rid of us." + +"I am not surprised that the captain does not want idlers here, for, +except ourselves, every man seems to have his appointed work." + +"I feel half inclined to take off my doublet and to go and help to +roll those big casks up the planks." + +"I fancy, Sydney, we should be much more in the way there than here. +There is certainly no lack of men, and your strength and mine +together would not equal that of one of those strong fellows; +besides, we are learning something here. It is good to see how +orderly the work is being carried on, for, in spite of the number +employed, there is no confusion. You see there are three barges on +each side; the upper tiers of barrels and bales are being got on +board through the portholes, while the lower ones are fished up from +the bottom by the ropes from the yards and swung into the waist, and +so passed below; and as fast as one barge is unloaded another drops +alongside to take its place." + +They returned to the inn to dinner, after which they paid a visit to +the victualling yard and dockyard, where work was everywhere going +on. After supper they, with the other gentlemen for Prince Rupert's +ship, took boat and went off together. They had learned that, while +they would be victualled on board, they must take with them wine and +other matters they required over and above the ship's fare. They had +had a consultation with the other gentlemen after dinner, and +concluded that it would be best to take but a small quantity of +things, as they knew not how they would be able to stow them away, +and would have opportunities of getting, at Gravesend or at Yarmouth, +further stores, when they saw what things were required. They +therefore took only a cheese, some butter, and a case of wine. As +soon as they got on board they were taken below. They found that a +curtain of sail-cloth had been hung across the main deck, and +hammocks slung between the guns. Three or four lanterns were hung +along the middle. + +"This is all we can do for you, gentlemen," the officer who conducted +them down said. "Had we been going on a pleasure trip we could have +knocked up separate cabins, but as we must have room to work the +guns, this cannot be done. In the morning the sailors will take down +these hammocks, and will erect a table along the middle, where you +will take your meals. At present, as you see, we have only slung +hammocks for you, but when you all come on board there will be +twenty. We have, so far, only a list of sixteen, but as the Prince +said that two or three more might come at the last moment we have +railed off space enough for ten hammocks on each side. We will get +the place cleaned for you to-morrow, but the last barge was emptied +but a few minutes since, and we could do naught but just sweep the +deck down. To-morrow everything shall be scrubbed and put in order." + +"It will do excellently well," one of the gentlemen said. "We have +not come on board ship to get luxuries, and had we to sleep on the +bare boards you would hear no grumbling." + +"Now, gentlemen, as I have shown you your quarters, will you come up +with me to the captain's cabin? He has bade me say that he will be +glad if you will spend an hour with him there before you retire to +rest." + +On their entering, the captain shook hands with Lord Oliphant and +Cyril. + +"I must apologise, gentlemen, for being short with you when you came +on board this morning; but my hands were full, and I had no time to +be polite. They say you can never get a civil answer from a housewife +on her washing-day, and it is the same thing with an officer on board +a ship when she is taking in her stores. However, that business is +over, and now I am glad to see you all, and will do my best to make +you as comfortable as I can, which indeed will not be much; for as we +shall, I hope, be going into action in the course of another ten +days, the decks must all be kept clear, and as we have the Prince on +board, we have less cabin room than we should have were we not an +admiral's flagship." + +Wine was placed on the table, and they had a pleasant chat. They +learnt that the Fleet was now ready for sea. + +"Four ships will sail with ours to-morrow," the captain said, "and +the other five will be off the next morning. They have all their +munitions on board, and will take in the rest of their provisions +to-morrow. The Dutch had thought to take us by surprise, but from +what we hear they are not so forward as we, for things have been +pushed on with great zeal at all our ports, the war being generally +popular with the nation, and especially with the merchants, whose +commerce has been greatly injured by the pretensions and violence of +the Dutch. The Portsmouth ships, and those from Plymouth, are already +on their way round to the mouth of the Thames, and in a week we may +be at sea. I only hope the Dutch will not be long before they come +out to fight us. However, we are likely to pick up a great many +prizes, and, next to fighting, you know, sailors like prize-money." + +After an hour's talk the five gentlemen went below to their hammocks, +and then to bed, with much laughter at the difficulty they had in +mounting into their swinging cots. + +It was scarce daylight when they were aroused by a great stir on +board the ship, and, hastily putting on their clothes, went on deck. +Already a crowd of men were aloft loosening the sails. Others had +taken their places in boats in readiness to tow the ship, for the +wind was, as yet, so light that it was like she would scarce have +steerage way, and there were many sharp angles in the course down the +river to be rounded, and shallows to be avoided. A few minutes later +the moorings were cast off, the sails sheeted home, and the crew gave +a great cheer, which was answered from the dockyard, and from boats +alongside, full of the relations and friends of the sailors, who +stood up and waved their hats and shouted good bye. + +The sails still hung idly, but the tide swept the ship along, and the +men in the boats ahead simply lay on their oars until the time should +come to pull her head round in one direction or another. They had not +long to wait, for, as they reached the sharp corner at the end of the +reach, orders were shouted, the men bent to their oars, and the +vessel was taken round the curve until her head pointed east. +Scarcely had they got under way when they heard the cheer from the +ship astern of them, and by the time they had reached the next curve, +off the village of Gillingham, the other four ships had rounded the +point behind them, and were following at a distance of about a +hundred yards apart. Soon afterwards the wind sprang up and the sails +bellied out, and the men in the boats had to row briskly to keep +ahead of the ship. The breeze continued until they passed Sheerness, +and presently they dropped anchor inside the Nore sands. There they +remained until the tide turned, and then sailed up the Thames to the +Hope, where some forty men-of-war were already at anchor. + +The next morning some barges arrived from Tilbury, laden with +soldiers, of whom a hundred and fifty came on board, their quarters +being on the main deck on the other side of the canvas division. A +cutter also brought down a number of impressed men, twenty of whom +were put on board the _Henrietta_ to complete her crew. Cyril was +standing on the poop watching them come on board, when he started as +his eye fell on two of their number. One was Robert Ashford; the +other was Black Dick. They had doubtless returned from Holland when +war was declared. Robert Ashford had assumed the dress of a sailor +the better to disguise himself, and the two had been carried off +together from some haunt of sailors at Wapping. He pointed them out +to his friend Sydney. + +"So those are the two scamps? The big one looks a truculent ruffian. +Well, they can do you no harm here, Cyril. I should let them stay and +do their share of the fighting, and then, when the voyage is over, if +they have not met with a better death than they deserve at the hands +of the Dutch, you can, if you like, denounce them, and have them +handed over to the City authorities." + +"That I will do, as far as the big ruffian they call Black Dick is +concerned. He is a desperate villain, and for aught I know may have +committed many a murder, and if allowed to go free might commit many +more. Besides, I shall never feel quite safe as long as he is at +large. As to Robert Ashford, he is a knave, but I know no worse of +him, and will therefore let him go his way." + +In the evening the other ships from Chatham came up, and the captain +told them later that the Earl of Sandwich, who was in command, would +weigh anchor in the morning, as the contingent from London, Chatham, +and Sheerness was now complete. Cyril thought that he had never seen +a prettier sight, as the Fleet, consisting of fifty men-of-war, of +various sizes, and eight merchant vessels that had been bought and +converted into fire-ships, got under way and sailed down the river. +That night they anchored off Felixstowe, and the next day proceeded, +with a favourable wind, to Yarmouth, where already a great number of +ships were at anchor. So far the five Volunteers had taken their +meals with the captain, but as the others would be coming on board, +they were now to mess below, getting fresh meat and vegetables from +the shore as they required them. As to other stores, they resolved to +do nothing till the whole party arrived. + +They had not long to wait, for, on the third day after their arrival, +the Duke of York and Prince Rupert, with a great train of gentlemen, +arrived in the town, and early the next morning embarked on board +their respective ships. A council was held by the Volunteers in their +quarters, three of their number were chosen as caterers, and, a +contribution of three pounds a head being agreed upon, these went +ashore in one of the ship's boats, and returned presently with a +barrel or two of good biscuits, the carcasses of five sheep, two or +three score of ducks and chickens, and several casks of wine, +together with a large quantity of vegetables. The following morning +the signal was hoisted on the mast-head of the _Royal Charles_, the +Duke of York's flagship, for the Fleet to prepare to weigh anchor, +and they presently got under way in three squadrons, the red under +the special orders of the Duke, the white under Prince Rupert, and +the blue under the Earl of Sandwich. + +The Fleet consisted of one hundred and nine men-of-war and frigates, +and twenty-eight fire-ships and ketches, manned by 21,006 seamen and +soldiers. They sailed across to the coast of Holland, and cruised, +for a few days, off Texel, capturing ten or twelve merchant vessels +that tried to run in. So far, the weather had been very fine, but +there were now signs of a change of weather. The sky became overcast, +the wind rose rapidly, and the signal was made for the Fleet to +scatter, so that each vessel should have more sea-room, and the +chance of collision be avoided. By nightfall the wind had increased +to the force of a gale, and the vessels were soon labouring heavily. +Cyril and two or three of his comrades who, like himself, did not +suffer from sickness, remained on deck; the rest were prostrate +below. + +For forty-eight hours the gale continued, and when it abated and the +ships gradually closed up round the three admirals' flags, it was +found that many had suffered sorely in the gale. Some had lost their +upper spars, others had had their sails blown away, some their +bulwarks smashed in, and two or three had lost their bowsprits. There +was a consultation between the admirals and the principal captains, +and it was agreed that it was best to sail back to England for +repairs, as many of the ships were unfitted to take their place in +line of battle, and as the Dutch Fleet was known to be fully equal to +their own in strength, it would have been hazardous to risk an +engagement. So the ketches and some of the light frigates were at +once sent off to find the ships that had not yet joined, and give +them orders to make for Yarmouth, Lowestoft, or Harwich. All vessels +uninjured were to gather off Lowestoft, while the others were to make +for the other ports, repair their damages as speedily as possible, +and then rejoin at Lowestoft. + +No sooner did the Dutch know that the English Fleet had sailed away +than they put their fleet to sea. It consisted of one hundred and +twelve men-of-war, and thirty fire-ships, and small craft manned by +22,365 soldiers and sailors. It was commanded by Admiral Obdam, +having under him Tromp, Evertson, and other Dutch admirals. On their +nearing England they fell in with nine ships from Hamburg, with rich +cargoes, and a convoy of a thirty-four gun frigate. These they +captured, to the great loss of the merchants of London. + +The _Henrietta_ had suffered but little in the storm, and speedily +repaired her damages without going into port. With so much haste and +energy did the crews of the injured ships set to work at refitting +them, that in four days after the main body had anchored off +Lowestoft, they were rejoined by all the ships that had made for +Harwich and Yarmouth. + +At midnight on June 2nd, a fast-sailing fishing-boat brought in the +news that the Dutch Fleet were but a few miles away, sailing in that +direction, having apparently learnt the position of the English from +some ship or fishing-boat they had captured. + +The trumpets on the admiral's ship at once sounded, and Prince Rupert +and the Earl of Sandwich immediately rowed to her. They remained but +a few minutes, and on their return to their respective vessels made +the signals for their captains to come on board. The order, at such +an hour, was sufficient to notify all that news must have been +received of the whereabouts of the Dutch Fleet, and by the time the +captains returned to their ships the crews were all up and ready to +execute any order. At two o'clock day had begun to break, and soon +from the mastheads of several of the vessels the look-out shouted +that they could perceive the Dutch Fleet but four miles away. A +mighty cheer rose throughout the Fleet, and as it subsided a gun from +the _Royal Charles_ gave the order to weigh anchor, and a few +minutes later the three squadrons, in excellent order, sailed out to +meet the enemy. + +They did not, however, advance directly towards them, but bore up +closely into the wind until they had gained the weather gauge of the +enemy. Having obtained this advantage, the Duke flew the signal to +engage. The Volunteers were all in their places on the poop, being +posted near the rail forward, that they might be able either to run +down the ladder to the waist and aid to repel boarders, or to spring +on to a Dutch ship should one come alongside, and also that the +afterpart of the poop, where Prince Rupert and the captain had taken +their places near the wheel, should be free. The Prince himself had +requested them so to station themselves. + +"At other times, gentlemen, you are my good friends and comrades," he +said, "but, from the moment that the first gun fires, you are +soldiers under my orders; and I pray you take your station and remain +there until I call upon you for action, for my whole attention must +be given to the manoeuvring of the ship, and any movement or talking +near me might distract my thoughts. I shall strive to lay her +alongside of the biggest Dutchman I can pick out, and as soon as the +grapnels are thrown, and their sides grind together, you will have +the post of honour, and will lead the soldiers aboard her. Once among +the Dutchmen, you will know what to do without my telling you." + +"'Tis a grand sight, truly, Cyril," Sydney said, in a low tone, as +the great fleets met each other. + +"A grand sight, truly, Sydney, but a terrible one. I do not think I +shall mind when I am once at it, but at present I feel that, despite +my efforts, I am in a tremor, and that my knees shake as I never felt +them before." + +"I am glad you feel like that, Cyril, for I feel much like it myself, +and began to be afraid that I had, without knowing it, been born a +coward. There goes the first gun." + +As he spoke, a puff of white smoke spouted out from the bows of one +of the Dutch ships, and a moment later the whole of their leading +vessels opened fire. There was a rushing sound overhead, and a ball +passed through the main topsail of the _Henrietta_. No reply was +made by the English ships until they passed in between the Dutchmen; +then the _Henrietta_ poured her broadsides into the enemy on either +side of her, receiving theirs in return. There was a rending of wood, +and a quiver through the ship. One of the upper-deck-guns was knocked +off its carriage, crushing two of the men working it as it fell. +Several others were hurt with splinters, and the sails pierced with +holes. Again and again as she passed, did the _Henrietta_ exchange +broadsides with the Dutch vessels, until--the two fleets having +passed through each other--she bore up, and prepared to repeat the +manoeuvre. + +"I feel all right now," Cyril said, "but I do wish I had something to +do instead of standing here useless. I quite envy the men there, +stripped to the waist, working the guns. There is that fellow Black +Dick, by the gun forward; he is a scoundrel, no doubt, but what +strength and power he has! I saw him put his shoulder under that gun +just now, and slew it across by sheer strength, so as to bear upon +the stern of the Dutchman. I noticed him and Robert looking up at me +just before the first gun was fired, and speaking together. I have no +doubt he would gladly have pointed the gun at me instead of at the +enemy, for he knows that, if I denounce him, he will get the due +reward of his crimes." + +As soon as the ships were headed round they passed through the Dutch +as before, and this manoeuvre was several times repeated. Up to one +o'clock in the day no great advantage had been gained on either side. +Spars had been carried away; there were yawning gaps in the bulwarks; +portholes had been knocked into one, guns dismounted, and many +killed; but as yet no vessel on either side had been damaged to an +extent that obliged her to strike her flag, or to fall out of the +fighting line. There had been a pause after each encounter, in which +both fleets had occupied themselves in repairing damages, as far as +possible, reeving fresh ropes in place of those that had been shot +away, clearing the wreckage of fallen spars and yards, and carrying +the wounded below. Four of the Volunteers had been struck down--two +of them mortally wounded, but after the first passage through the +enemy's fleet, Prince Rupert had ordered them to arm themselves with +muskets from the racks, and to keep up a fire at the Dutch ships as +they passed, aiming specially at the man at the wheel. The order had +been a very welcome one, for, like Cyril, they had all felt +inactivity in such a scene to be a sore trial. They were now ranged +along on both sides of the poop. + +At one o'clock Lord Sandwich signalled to the Blue Squadron to close +up together as they advanced, as before, against the enemy's line. +His position at the time was in the centre, and his squadron, sailing +close together, burst into the Dutch line before their ships could +make any similar disposition. Having thus broken it asunder, instead +of passing through it, the squadron separated, and the ships, turning +to port and starboard, each engaged an enemy. The other two squadrons +similarly ranged up among the Dutch, and the battle now became +furious all along the line. Fire-ships played an important part in +the battles of the time, and the thoughts of the captain of a ship +were not confined to struggles with a foe of equal size, but were +still more engrossed by the need for avoiding any fire-ship that +might direct its course towards him. + +Cyril had now no time to give a thought as to what was passing +elsewhere. The _Henrietta_ had ranged up alongside a Dutch vessel of +equal size, and was exchanging broadsides with her. All round were +vessels engaged in an equally furious encounter. The roar of the guns +and the shouts of the seamen on both sides were deafening. One moment +the vessel reeled from the recoil of her own guns, the next she +quivered as the balls of the enemy crashed through her sides. + +Suddenly, above the din, Cyril heard the voice of Prince Rupert sound +like a trumpet. + +"Hatchets and pikes on the starboard quarter! Draw in the guns and +keep off this fire-ship." + +Laying their muskets against the bulwarks, he and Sydney sprang to +the mizzen-mast, and each seized a hatchet from those ranged against +it. They then rushed to the starboard side, just as a small ship came +out through the cloud of smoke that hung thickly around them. + +There was a shock as she struck the _Henrietta_, and then, as she +glided alongside, a dozen grapnels were thrown by men on her yards. +The instant they had done so, the men disappeared, sliding down the +ropes and running aft to their boat. Before the last leaped in he +stooped. A flash of fire ran along the deck, there was a series of +sharp explosions, and then a bright flame sprang up from the +hatchways, ran up the shrouds and ropes, that had been soaked with +oil and tar, and in a moment the sails were on fire. In spite of the +flames, a score of men sprang on to the rigging of the _Henrietta_ +and cut the ropes of the grapnels, which, as yet--so quickly had the +explosion followed their throwing--had scarce begun to check the way +the fire-ship had on her as she came up. + +Cyril, having cast over a grapnel that had fallen on the poop, looked +down on the fire-ship as she drifted along. The deck, which, like +everything else, had been smeared with tar, was in a blaze, but the +combustible had not been carried as far as the helm, where doubtless +the captain had stood to direct her course. A sudden thought struck +him. He ran along the poop until opposite the stern of the fire-ship, +climbed over the bulwark and leapt down on to the deck, some fifteen +feet below him. Then he seized the helm and jammed it hard down. The +fire-ship had still steerage way on her, and he saw her head at once +begin to turn away from the _Henrietta_; the movement was aided by +the latter's crew, who, with poles and oars, pushed her off. + +The heat was terrific, but Cyril's helmet and breast-piece sheltered +him somewhat; yet though he shielded his face with his arm, he felt +that it would speedily become unbearable. His eye fell upon a coil of +rope at his feet. Snatching it up, he fastened it to the tiller and +then round a belaying-pin in the bulwark, caught up a bucket with a +rope attached, threw it over the side and soused its contents over +the tiller-rope, then, unbuckling the straps of his breast- and +back-pieces, he threw them off, cast his helmet on the deck, +blistering his hands as he did so, and leapt overboard. It was with a +delicious sense of coolness that he rose to the surface and looked +round. Hitherto he had been so scorched by the flame and smothered by +the smoke that it was with difficulty he had kept his attention upon +what he was doing, and would doubtless, in another minute, have +fallen senseless. The plunge into the sea seemed to restore his +faculties, and as he came up he looked eagerly to see how far success +had attended his efforts. + +He saw with delight that the bow of the fire-ship was thirty or forty +feet distant from the side of the _Henrietta_ and her stern half +that distance. Two or three of the sails of the man-of-war had caught +fire, but a crowd of seamen were beating the flames out of two of +them while another, upon which the fire had got a better hold, was +being cut away from its yard. As he turned to swim to the side of the +_Henrietta_, three or four ropes fell close to him. He twisted one +of these round his body, and, a minute later, was hauled up into the +waist. He was saluted with a tremendous cheer, and was caught up by +three or four strong fellows, who, in spite of his remonstrances, +carried him up on to the poop. Prince Rupert was standing on the top +of the ladder. + +"Nobly done, Sir Cyril!" he exclaimed. "You have assuredly saved the +_Henrietta_ and all our lives. A minute later, and we should have +been on fire beyond remedy. But I will speak more to you when we have +finished with the Dutchman on the other side." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HONOURABLE SCARS + + +During the time that the greater part of the crew of the _Henrietta_ +had been occupied with the fire-ship, the enemy had redoubled their +efforts, and as the sailors returned to their guns, the mizzen-mast +fell with a crash. A minute later, a Dutch man-of-war ran alongside, +fired a broadside, and grappled. Then her crew, springing over the +bulwarks, poured on to the deck of the _Henrietta_. They were met +boldly by the soldiers, who had hitherto borne no part in the fight, +and who, enraged at the loss they had been compelled to suffer, fell +upon the enemy with fury. For a moment, however, the weight of +numbers of the Dutchmen bore them back, but the sailors, who had at +first been taken by surprise, snatched up their boarding pikes and +axes. + +Prince Rupert, with the other officers and Volunteers, dashed into +the thick of the fray, and, step by step, the Dutchmen were driven +back, until they suddenly gave way and rushed back to their own ship. +The English would have followed them, but the Dutch who remained on +board their ship, seeing that the fight was going against their +friends, cut the ropes of the grapnels, and the ships drifted apart, +some of the last to leave the deck of the _Henrietta_ being forced +to jump into the sea. The cannonade was at once renewed on both +sides, but the Dutch had had enough of it--having lost very heavily +in men--and drew off from the action. + +Cyril had joined in the fray. He had risen to his feet and drawn his +sword, but he found himself strangely weak. His hands were blistered +and swollen, his face was already so puffed that he could scarce see +out of his eyes; still, he had staggered down the steps to the waist, +and, recovering his strength from the excitement, threw himself into +the fray. + +Scarce had he done so, when a sailor next to him fell heavily against +him, shot through the head by one of the Dutch soldiers. Cyril +staggered, and before he could recover himself, a Dutch sailor struck +at his head. He threw up his sword to guard the blow, but the guard +was beaten down as if it had been a reed. It sufficed, however, +slightly to turn the blow, which fell first on the side of the head, +and then, glancing down, inflicted a terrible wound on the shoulder. + +He fell at once, unconscious, and, when he recovered his senses, +found himself laid out on the poop, where Sydney, assisted by two of +the other gentlemen, had carried him. His head and shoulder had +already been bandaged, the Prince having sent for his doctor to come +up from below to attend upon him. + +The battle was raging with undiminished fury all round, but, for the +moment, the _Henrietta_ was not engaged, and her crew were occupied +in cutting away the wreckage of the mizzen-mast, and trying to repair +the more important of the damages that she had suffered. Carpenters +were lowered over the side, and were nailing pieces of wood over the +shot-holes near the water-line. Men swarmed aloft knotting and +splicing ropes and fishing damaged spars. + +Sydney, who was standing a short distance away, at once came up to +him. + +"How are you, Cyril?" + +"My head sings, and my shoulder aches, but I shall do well enough. +Please get me lifted up on to that seat by the bulwark, so that I can +look over and see what is going on." + +"I don't think you are strong enough to sit up, Cyril." + +"Oh, yes I am; besides, I can lean against the bulwark." + +Cyril was placed in the position he wanted, and, leaning his arm on +the bulwark and resting his head on it, was able to see what was +passing. + +Suddenly a tremendous explosion was heard a quarter of a mile away. + +"The Dutch admiral's ship has blown up," one of the men aloft +shouted, and a loud cheer broke from the crew. + +It was true. The Duke of York in the _Royal Charles_, of eighty +guns, and the _Eendracht_, of eighty-four, the flagship of Admiral +Obdam, had met and engaged each other fiercely. For a time the +Dutchmen had the best of it. A single shot killed the Earl of +Falmouth, Lord Muskerry, and Mr. Boyle, three gentlemen Volunteers, +who at the moment were standing close to the Duke, and the _Royal +Charles_ suffered heavily until a shot from one of her guns struck +the Dutchman's magazine, and the _Eendracht_ blew up, only five men +being rescued out of the five hundred that were on board of her. + +This accident in no small degree decided the issue of the engagement, +for the Dutch at once fell into confusion. Four of their ships, a few +hundred yards from the _Henrietta_, fell foul of each other, and +while the crews were engaged in trying to separate them an English +fire-ship sailed boldly up and laid herself alongside. A moment later +the flames shot up high, and the boat with the crew of the fire-ship +rowed to the _Henrietta_. The flames instantly spread to the Dutch +men-of-war, and the sailors were seen jumping over in great numbers. +Prince Rupert ordered the boats to be lowered, but only one was found +to be uninjured. This was manned and pushed off at once, and, with +others from British vessels near, rescued a good many of the Dutch +sailors. + +Still the fight was raging all round; but a short time afterwards +three other of the finest ships in the Dutch Fleet ran into each +other. Another of the English fire-ships hovering near observed the +opportunity, and was laid alongside, with the same success as her +consort, the three men-of-war being all destroyed. + +This took place at some distance from the _Henrietta_, but the +English vessels near them succeeded in saving, in their boats, a +portion of the crews. The Dutch ship _Orange_, of seventy-five guns, +was disabled after a sharp fight with the _Mary_, and was likewise +burnt. Two Dutch vice-admirals were killed, and a panic spread +through the Dutch Fleet. About eight o'clock in the evening between +thirty and forty of their ships made off in a body, and the rest +speedily followed. During the fight and the chase eighteen Dutch +ships were taken, though some of these afterwards escaped, as the +vessels to which they had struck joined the rest in the chase. +Fourteen were sunk, besides those burnt and blown up. Only one +English ship, the _Charity_, had struck, having, at the beginning of +the fight been attacked by three Dutch vessels, and lost the greater +part of her men, and was then compelled to surrender to a Dutch +vessel of considerably greater strength that came up and joined the +others. The English loss was, considering the duration of the fight, +extremely small, amounting to but 250 killed, and 340 wounded. Among +the killed were the Earl of Marlborough, the Earl of Portland, who +was present as a Volunteer, Rear-Admiral Sampson, and Vice-Admiral +Lawson, the latter of whom died after the fight, from his wounds. + +The pursuit of the Dutch was continued for some hours, and then +terminated abruptly, owing to a Member of Parliament named Brounker, +who was in the suite of the Duke of York, giving the captain of the +_Royal Charles_ orders, which he falsely stated emanated from the +Duke, for the pursuit to be abandoned. For this he was afterwards +expelled the House of Commons, and was ordered to be impeached, but +after a time the matter was suffered to drop. + +As soon as the battle was over Cyril was taken down to a hammock +below. He was just dozing off to sleep when Sydney came to him. + +"I am sorry to disturb you, Cyril, but an officer tells me that a man +who is mortally wounded wishes to speak to you; and from his +description I think it is the fellow you call Black Dick. I thought +it right to tell you, but I don't think you are fit to go to see +him." + +"I will go," Cyril said, "if you will lend me your arm. I should like +to hear what the poor wretch has to say." + +"He lies just below; the hatchway is but a few yards distant." + +There had been no attempt to remove Cyril's clothes, and, by the aid +of Lord Oliphant and of a sailor he called to his aid, he made his +way below, and was led through the line of wounded, until a doctor, +turning round, said,-- + +"This is the man who wishes to see you, Sir Cyril." + +Although a line of lanterns hung from the beams, so nearly blind was +he that Cyril could scarce distinguish the man's features. + +"I have sent for you," the latter said faintly, "to tell you that if +it hadn't been for your jumping down on to that fire-ship you would +not have lived through this day's fight. I saw that you recognised +me, and knew that, as soon as we went back, you would hand us over to +the constables. So I made up my mind that I would run you through in +the _mêlée_ if we got hand to hand with the Dutchmen, or would put a +musket-ball into you while the firing was going on. But when I saw +you standing there with the flames round you, giving your life, as it +seemed, to save the ship, I felt that, even if I must be hung for it, +I could not bring myself to hurt so brave a lad; so there is an end +of that business. Robert Ashford was killed by a gun that was knocked +from its carriage, so you have got rid of us both. I thought I should +like to tell you before I went that the brave action you did saved +your life, and that, bad as I am, I had yet heart enough to feel that +I would rather take hanging than kill you." + +The last words had been spoken in a scarcely audible whisper. The man +closed his eyes; and the doctor, laying his hand on Cyril's arm, +said,-- + +"You had better go back to your hammock now, Sir Cyril. He will never +speak again. In a few minutes the end will come." + +Cyril spent a restless night. The wind was blowing strongly from the +north, and the crews had hard work to keep the vessels off the shore. +His wounds did not pain him much, but his hands, arms, face, and legs +smarted intolerably, for his clothes had been almost burnt off him, +and, refreshing as the sea-bath had been at the moment, it now added +to the smarting of the wounds. + +In the morning Prince Rupert came down to see him. + +"It was madness of you to have joined in that _mêlée_, lad, in the +state in which you were. I take the blame on myself in not ordering +you to remain behind; but when the Dutchmen poured on board I had no +thought of aught but driving them back again. It would have marred +our pleasure in the victory we have won had you fallen, for to you we +all owe our lives and the safety of the ship. No braver deed was +performed yesterday than yours. I fear it will be some time before +you are able to fight by my side again; but, at least, you have done +your share, and more, were the war to last a lifetime." + +Cyril was in less pain now, for the doctor had poured oil over his +burns, and had wrapped up his hands in soft bandages. + +"It was the thought of a moment, Prince," he said. "I saw the +fire-ship had steerage way on her, and if the helm were put down she +would drive away from our side, so without stopping to think about it +one way or the other, I ran along to the stern, and jumped down to +her tiller." + +"Yes, lad, it was but a moment's thought, no doubt, but it is one +thing to think, and another to execute, and none but the bravest +would have ventured that leap on to the fire-ship. By to-morrow +morning we shall be anchored in the river. Would you like to be +placed in the hospital at Sheerness, or to be taken up to London?" + +"I would rather go to London, if I may," Cyril said. "I know that I +shall be well nursed at Captain Dave's, and hope, erelong, to be able +to rejoin." + +"Not for some time, lad--not for some time. Your burns will doubtless +heal apace, but the wound in your shoulder is serious. The doctor +says that the Dutchman's sword has cleft right through your +shoulder-bone. 'Tis well that it is your left, for it may be that you +will never have its full use again. You are not afraid of the Plague, +are you? for on the day we left town there was a rumour that it had +at last entered the City." + +"I am not afraid of it," Cyril said; "and if it should come to +Captain Dowsett's house, I would rather be there, that I may do what +I can to help those who were so kind to me." + +"Just as you like, lad. Do not hurry to rejoin. It is not likely +there will be any fighting for some time, for it will be long before +the Dutch are ready to take the sea again after the hammering we have +given them, and all there will be to do will be to blockade their +coast and to pick up their ships from foreign ports as prizes." + +The next morning Cyril was placed on board a little yacht, called the +_Fan Fan_, belonging to the Prince, and sailed up the river, the +ship's company mustering at the side and giving him a hearty cheer. +The wind was favourable, and they arrived that afternoon in town. +According to the Prince's instructions, the sailors at once placed +Cyril on a litter that had been brought for the purpose, and carried +him up to Captain Dowsett's. + +The City was in a state of agitation. The news of the victory had +arrived but a few hours before, and the church bells were all +ringing, flags were flying, the shops closed, and the people in the +streets. John Wilkes came down in answer to the summons of the bell. + +"Hullo!" he said; "whom have we here?" + +"Don't you know me, John?" Cyril said. + +John gave a start of astonishment. + +"By St. Anthony, it is Master Cyril! At least, it is his voice, +though it is little I can see of him, and what I see in no way +resembles him." + +"It is Sir Cyril Shenstone," the captain of the _Fan Fan_, who had +come with the party, said sternly, feeling ruffled at the familiarity +with which this rough-looking servitor of a City trader spoke of the +gentleman in his charge. "It is Sir Cyril Shenstone, as brave a +gentleman as ever drew sword, and who, as I hear, saved Prince +Rupert's ship from being burnt by the Dutchmen." + +"He knows me," John Wilkes said bluntly, "and he knows no offence is +meant. The Captain and his dame, and Mistress Nellie are all out, Sir +Cyril, but I will look after you till they return. Bring him up, +lads. I am an old sailor myself, and fought the Dutch under Blake and +Monk more than once." + +He led the way upstairs into the best of the spare rooms. Here Cyril +was laid on a bed. He thanked the sailors heartily for the care they +had taken of him, and the captain handed a letter to John, saying,-- + +"The young Lord Oliphant asked me to give this to Captain Dowsett, +but as he is not at home I pray you to give it him when he returns." + +As soon as they had gone, John returned to the bed. + +"This is terrible, Master Cyril. What have they been doing to you? I +can see but little of your face for those bandages, but your eyes +look mere slits, your flesh is all red and swollen, your eyebrows +have gone, your arms and legs are all swathed up in bandages--Have +you been blown up with gunpowder?--for surely no wound could have so +disfigured you." + +"I have not been blown up, John, but I was burnt by the flames of a +Dutch fire-ship that came alongside. It is a matter that a fortnight +will set right, though I doubt not that I am an unpleasant-looking +object at present, and it will be some time before my hair grows +again." + +"And you are not hurt otherwise, Master?" John asked anxiously. + +"Yes; I am hurt gravely enough, though not so as to imperil my life. +I have a wound on the side of my head, and the same blow, as the +doctor says, cleft through my shoulder-bone." + +"I had best go and get a surgeon at once," John said; "though it will +be no easy matter, for all the world is agog in the streets." + +"Leave it for the present, John. There is no need whatever for haste. +In that trunk of mine is a bottle of oils for the burns, though most +of the sore places are already beginning to heal over, and the doctor +said that I need not apply it any more, unless I found that they +smarted too much for bearing. As for the other wounds, they are +strapped up and bandaged, and he said that unless they inflamed +badly, they would be best let alone for a time. So sit down quietly, +and let me hear the news." + +"The news is bad enough, though the Plague has not yet entered the +City." + +"The Prince told me that there was a report, before he came on board +at Lowestoft, that it had done so." + +"No, it is not yet come; but people are as frightened as if it was +raging here. For the last fortnight they have been leaving in crowds +from the West End, and many of the citizens are also beginning to +move. They frighten themselves like a parcel of children. The comet +seemed to many a sign of great disaster." + +Cyril laughed. + +"If it could be seen only in London there might be something in it, +but as it can be seen all over Europe, it is hard to say why it +should augur evil to London especially. It was shining in the sky +three nights ago when we were chasing the Dutch, and they had quite +as good reason for thinking it was a sign of misfortune to them as +have the Londoners." + +"That is true enough," John Wilkes agreed; "though, in truth, I like +not to see the' thing in the sky myself. Then people have troubled +their heads greatly because, in Master Lilly's Almanack, and other +books of prediction, a great pestilence is foretold." + +"It needed no great wisdom for that," Cyril said, "seeing that the +Plague has been for some time busy in foreign parts, and that it was +here, though not so very bad, in the winter, when these books would +have been written." + +"Then," John Wilkes went on, "there is a man going through the +streets, night and day. He speaks to no one, but cries out +continually, 'Oh! the great and dreadful God!' This troubles many +men's hearts greatly." + +"It is a pity, John, that the poor fellow is not taken and shut up in +some place where madmen are kept. Doubtless, it is some poor coward +whose brain has been turned by fright. People who are frightened by +such a thing as that must be poor-witted creatures indeed." + +"That may be, Master Cyril, but methinks it is as they say, one fool +makes many. People get together and bemoan themselves till their +hearts fail them altogether. And yet, methinks they are not +altogether without reason, for if the pestilence is so heavy without +the walls, where the streets are wider and the people less crowded +than here, it may well be that we shall have a terrible time of it in +the City when it once passes the walls." + +"That may well be, John, but cowardly fear will not make things any +better. We knew, when we sailed out against the Dutch the other day, +that very many would not see the setting sun, yet I believe there was +not one man throughout the Fleet who behaved like a coward." + +"No doubt, Master Cyril; but there is a difference. One can fight +against men, but one cannot fight against the pestilence, and I do +not believe that if the citizens knew that a great Dutch army was +marching on London, and that they would have to withstand a dreadful +siege, they would be moved with fear as they are now." + +"That may be so," Cyril agreed. "Now, John, I think that I could +sleep for a bit." + +"Do so, Master, and I will go into the kitchen and see what I can do +to make you a basin of broth when you awake; for the girl has gone +out too. She wanted to see what was going on in the streets; and as I +had sooner stay quietly at home I offered to take her place, as the +shop was shut and I had nothing to do. Maybe by the time you wake +again Captain Dave and the others will be back from their cruise." + +It was dark when Cyril woke at the sound of the bell. He heard voices +and movements without, and then the door was quietly opened. + +"I am awake," he said. "You see I have taken you at your word, and +come back to be patched up." + +"You are heartily welcome," Mrs. Dowsett said. "Nellie, bring the +light. Cyril is awake. We were sorry indeed when John told us that +you had come in our absence. It was but a cold welcome for you to +find that we were all out." + +"There was nothing I needed, madam. Had there been, John would have +done it for me." + +Nellie now appeared at the door with the light, and gave an +exclamation of horror as she approached the bedside. + +"It is not so bad as it looks, Nellie," Cyril said. "Not that I know +how it looks, for I have not seen myself in a glass since I left +here; but I can guess that I am an unpleasant object to look at." + +Mrs. Dowsett made a sign to Nellie to be silent. + +"John told us that you were badly burned and were all wrapped up in +bandages, but we did not expect to find you so changed. However, that +will soon pass off, I hope." + +"I expect I shall be all right in another week, save for this wound +in my shoulder. As for that on my head, it is but of slight +consequence. My skull was thick enough to save my brain." + +"Well, Master Cyril," Captain Dave said heartily, as he entered the +room with a basin of broth in his hand, and then stopped abruptly. + +"Well, Captain Dave, here I am, battered out of all shape, you see, +but not seriously damaged in my timbers. There, you see, though I +have only been a fortnight at sea, I am getting quite nautical." + +"That is right, lad--that is right," Captain Dave said, a little +unsteadily. "My dame and Nellie will soon put you into ship-shape +trim again. So you got burnt, I hear, by one of those rascally Dutch +fire-ships? and John tells me that the captain of the sailors who +carried you here said that you had gained mighty credit for +yourself." + +"I did my best, as everyone did, Captain Dave. There was not a man on +board the Fleet who did not do his duty, or we should never have +beaten the Dutchmen so soundly." + +"You had better not talk any more," Mrs. Dowsett said. "You are in my +charge now, and my first order is that you must keep very quiet, or +else you will be having fever come on. You had best take a little of +this broth now. Nellie will sit with you while I go out to prepare +you a cooling drink." + +"I will take a few spoonfuls of the soup since John has taken the +trouble to prepare it for me," Cyril said; "though, indeed, my lips +are so parched and swollen that the cooling drink will be much more +to my taste." + +"I think it were best first, dame," the Captain said, "that John and +I should get him comfortably into bed, instead of lying there wrapped +up in the blanket in which they brought him ashore. The broth will be +none the worse for cooling a bit." + +"That will be best," his wife agreed. "I will fetch some more +pillows, so that we can prop him up. He can swallow more comfortably +so, and will sleep all the better when he lies down again." + +As soon as Cyril was comfortably settled John Wilkes was sent to call +in a doctor, who, after examining him, said that the burns were doing +well, and that he would send in some cooling lotion to be applied to +them frequently. As to the wounds, he said they had been so skilfully +bandaged that it were best to leave them alone, unless great pain set +in. + +Another four days, and Cyril's face had so far recovered its usual +condition that the swelling was almost abated, and the bandages could +be removed. The peak of the helmet had sheltered it a good deal, and +it had suffered less than his hands and arms. Captain Dave and John +had sat up with him by turns at night, while the Dame and her +daughter had taken care of him during the day. He had slept a great +deal, and had not been allowed to talk at all. This prohibition was +now removed, as the doctor said that the burns were now all healing +fast, and that he no longer had any fear of fever setting in. + +"By the way, Captain," John Wilkes said, that day, at dinner, "I have +just bethought me of this letter, that was given me by the sailor who +brought Cyril here. It is for you, from young Lord Oliphant. It has +clean gone out of my mind till now. I put it in the pocket of my +doublet, and have forgotten it ever since." + +"No harm can have come of the delay, John," Captain Dave said. "It +was thoughtful of the lad. He must have been sure that Cyril would +not be in a condition to tell us aught of the battle, and he may have +sent us some details of it, for the Gazette tells us little enough, +beyond the ships taken and the names of gentlemen and officers +killed. Here, Nellie, do you read it. It seems a long epistle, and my +eyes are not as good as they were." + +Nellie took the letter and read aloud:-- + +"'DEAR AND WORTHY SIR,--I did not think when I was so pleasantly +entertained at your house that it would befall me to become your +correspondent, but so it has happened, for, Sir Cyril being sorely +hurt, and in no state to tell you how the matter befell him--if +indeed his modesty would allow him, which I greatly doubt--it is +right that you should know how the business came about, and what +great credit Sir Cyril has gained for himself. In the heat of the +fight, when we were briskly engaged in exchanging broadsides with a +Dutchman of our own size, one of their fire-ships, coming unnoticed +through the smoke, slipped alongside of us, and, the flames breaking +out, would speedily have destroyed us, as indeed they went near +doing. The grapnels were briskly thrown over, but she had already +touched our sides, and the flames were blowing across us when Sir +Cyril, perceiving that she had still some way on her, sprang down on +to her deck and put over the helm. She was then a pillar of flame, +and the decks, which were plentifully besmeared with pitch, were all +in a blaze, save just round the tiller where her captain had stood to +steer her. It was verily a furnace, and it seemed impossible that one +could stand there for only half a minute and live. Everyone on board +was filled with astonishment, and the Prince called out loudly that +he had never seen a braver deed. As the fire-ship drew away from us, +we saw Sir Cyril fasten the helm down with a rope, and then, lowering +a bucket over, throw water on to it; then he threw off his helmet and +armour--his clothes being, by this time, all in a flame--and sprang +into the sea, the fire-ship being now well nigh her own length from +us. She had sheered off none too soon, for some of our sails were on +fire, and it was with great difficulty that we succeeded in cutting +them from the yards and so saving the ship. + +"'All, from the Prince down, say that no finer action was ever +performed, and acknowledge that we all owe our lives, and His Majesty +owes his ship, to it. Then, soon after we had hauled Sir Cyril on +board, the Dutchmen boarded us, and there was a stiff fight, all +hands doing their best to beat them back, in which we succeeded. + +"'Sir Cyril, though scarce able to stand, joined in the fray, +unnoticed by us all, who in the confusion had not thought of him, and +being, indeed, scarce able to hold his sword, received a heavy wound, +of which, however, the doctor has all hopes that he will make a good +recovery. + +"'It would have done you good to hear how the whole crew cheered Sir +Cyril as we dragged him on board. The Prince is mightily taken with +him, and is sending him to London in his own yacht, where I feel sure +that your good dame and fair daughter will do all that they can to +restore him to health. As soon as I get leave--though I do not know +when that will be, for we cannot say as yet how matters will turn +out, or what ships will keep the sea--I shall do myself the honour of +waiting upon you. I pray you give my respectful compliments to Mrs. +Dowsett and Mistress Nellie, who are, I hope, enjoying good health. + + "'Your servant to command, + + "'SYDNEY OLIPHANT.'" + +The tears were standing in Nellie's eyes, and her voice trembled as +she read. When she finished she burst out crying. + +"There!" John Wilkes exclaimed, bringing his fist down upon the +table. "I knew, by what that skipper said, the lad had been doing +something quite out of the way, but when I spoke to him about it +before you came in he only said that he had tried his best to do his +duty, just as every other man in the Fleet had done. Who would have +thought, Captain Dave, that that quiet young chap, who used to sit +down below making out your accounts, was going to turn out a hero?" + +"Who, indeed?" the Captain said, wiping his eyes with the back of his +hands. "Why, he wasn't more than fifteen then, and, as you say, such +a quiet fellow. He used to sit there and write, and never speak +unless I spoke to him. 'Tis scarce two years ago, and look what he +has done! Who would have thought it? I can't finish my breakfast," he +went on, getting up from his seat, "till I have gone in and shaken +him by the hand." + +"You had better not, David," Mrs. Dowsett said gently. "We had best +say but little to him about it now. We can let him know we have heard +how he came by his burns from Lord Oliphant, but do not let us make +much of it. Had he wished it he would have told us himself." + +Captain Dave sat down again. + +"Perhaps you are right, my dear. At any rate, till he is getting +strong we will not tell him what we think of him. Anyhow, it can't do +any harm to tell him we know it, and may do him good, for it is clear +he does not like telling it himself, and may be dreading our +questioning about the affair." + +Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie went into Cyril's room as soon as they had +finished breakfast. Captain Dave followed them a few minutes later. + +"We have been hearing how you got burnt," he began. "Your friend, +Lord Oliphant, sent a letter about it by the skipper of his yacht. +That stupid fellow, John, has been carrying it about ever since, and +only remembered it just now, when we were at breakfast. It was a +plucky thing to do, lad." + +"It turned out a very lucky one," Cyril said hastily, "for it was the +means of saving my life." + +"Saving your life, lad! What do you mean?" + +Cyril then told how Robert Ashford and Black Dick had been brought on +board as impressed men, how the former had been killed, and the +confession that Black Dick had made to him before dying. + +"He said he had made up his mind to kill me during the fight, but +that, after I had risked my life to save the _Henrietta_, he was +ashamed to kill me, and that, rather than do so, he had resolved to +take his chance of my denouncing him when he returned to land." + + "There was some good in the knave, then," Captain Dave said. "Yes, +it was a fortunate as well as a brave action, as it turned out." + +"Fortunate in one respect, but not in another," Cyril put in, anxious +to prevent the conversation reverting to the question of his bravery. +"I put down this wound in my shoulder to it, for if I had been myself +I don't think I should have got hurt. I guarded the blow, but I was +so shaky that he broke my guard down as if I had been a child, though +I think that it did turn the blow a little, and saved it from falling +fair on my skull. Besides, I should have had my helmet and armour on +if it had not been for my having to take a swim. So, you see, Captain +Dave, things were pretty equally balanced, and there is no occasion +to say anything more about them." + +"We have one piece of bad news to tell you, Cyril," Mrs. Dowsett +remarked, in order to give the conversation the turn which she saw he +wished for. "We heard this morning that the Plague has come at last +into the City. Dr. Burnet was attacked yesterday." + +"That is bad news indeed, Dame, though it was not to be expected that +it would spare the City. If you will take my advice, you will go away +at once, before matters get worse, for if the Plague gets a hold here +the country people will have nothing to do with Londoners, fearing +that they will bring the infection among them." + +"We shall not go until you are fit to go with us, Cyril," Nellie said +indignantly. + +"Then you will worry me into a fever," Cyril replied. "I am getting +on well now, and as you said, when you were talking of it before, you +should leave John in charge of the house and shop, he will be able to +do everything that is necessary for me. If you stay here, and the +Plague increases, I shall keep on worrying myself at the thought that +you are risking your lives needlessly for me, and if it should come +into the house, and any of you die, I shall charge myself all my life +with having been the cause of your death. I pray you, for my sake as +well as your own, to lose no time in going to the sister Captain Dave +spoke of, down near Gloucester." + +"Do not agitate yourself," Mrs. Dowsett said gently, pressing him +quietly back on to the pillows from which he had risen in his +excitement. "We will talk it over, and see what is for the best. It +is but a solitary case yet, and may spread no further. In a few days +we shall see how matters go. Things have not come to a bad pass yet." + +Cyril, however, was not to be consoled. Hitherto he had given +comparatively small thought to the Plague, but now that it was in the +City, and he felt that his presence alone prevented the family from +leaving, he worried incessantly over it. + +"Your patient is not so well," the doctor said to Mrs. Dowsett, next +morning. "Yesterday he was quite free from fever--his hands were +cool; now they are dry and hard. If this goes on, I fear that we +shall have great trouble." + +"He is worrying himself because we do not go out of town. We had, +indeed, made up our minds to do so, but we could not leave him here." + +"Your nursing would be valuable certainly, but if he goes on as he is +he will soon be in a high fever; his wounds will grow angry and +fester. While yesterday he seemed in a fair way to recovery, I should +be sorry to give any favourable opinion as to what may happen if this +goes on. Is there no one who could take care of him if you went?" + +"John Wilkes will remain behind, and could certainly be trusted to do +everything that you directed; but that is not like women, doctor." + +"No, I am well aware of that; but if things go on well he will really +not need nursing, while, if fever sets in badly, the best nursing may +not save him. Moreover, wounds and all other ailments of this sort do +badly at present; the Plague in the air seems to affect all other +maladies. If you will take my advice, Dame, you will carry out your +intention, and leave at once. I hear there are several new cases of +the Plague today in the City, and those who can go should lose no +time in doing so; but, even if not for your own sakes, I should say +go for that of your patient." + +"Will you speak to my husband, doctor? I am ready to do whatever is +best for your patient, whom we love dearly, and regard almost as a +son." + +"If he were a son I should give the same advice. Yes, I will see +Captain Dowsett." + +Half an hour later, Cyril was told what the doctor's advice had been, +and, seeing that he was bent on it, and that if they stayed they +would do him more harm than good, they resolved to start the next day +for Gloucestershire. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE PLAGUE + + +Reluctant as they were to leave Cyril, Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter +speedily saw that the doctor's advice was good. Cyril did not say +much, but an expression of restful satisfaction came over his face, +and it was not long before he fell into a quiet sleep that contrasted +strongly with the restless and fretful state in which he had passed +the night. + +"You see I was right, madam," the doctor said that evening. "The +fever has not quite left him, but he is a different man to what he +was this morning; another quiet night's rest, and he will regain the +ground he has lost. I think you can go in perfect comfort so far as +he is concerned. Another week and he will be up, if nothing occurs to +throw him back again; but of course it will be weeks before he can +use his arm." + +John Wilkes had been sent off as soon as it was settled that they +would go, and had bought, at Epping, a waggon and a pair of strong +horses. It had a tilt, and the ladies were to sleep in it on the +journey, as it was certain that, until they were far away from +London, they would be unable to obtain lodgings. A man was engaged to +drive them down, and a sail and two or three poles were packed in the +waggon to make a tent for him and Captain Dowsett. A store of +provisions was cooked, and a cask of beer, another of water, and a +case of wine were also placed in. Mattresses were laid down for the +ladies to sit on during the day and to sleep on at night; so they +would be practically independent during the journey. Early next +morning they started. + +"It seems heartless to leave you, Cyril," Nellie said, as they came +in to say good-bye. + +"Not heartless at all," Cyril replied. "I know that you are going +because I wish it." + +"It is more than wishing, you tiresome boy. We are going because you +have made up your mind that you will be ill if we don't. You are too +weak to quarrel with now, but when we meet again, tremble, for I warn +you I shall scold you terribly then." + +"You shall scold me as much as you please, Nellie; I shall take it +all quite patiently." + +Nellie and her mother went away in tears, and Captain Dave himself +was a good deal upset. They had thought the going away from home on +such a long journey would be a great trial, but this was now quite +lost sight of in their regret at what they considered deserting +Cyril, and many were the injunctions that were given to John Wilkes +before the waggon drove off. They were somewhat consoled by seeing +that Cyril was undoubtedly better and brighter. He had slept all +night without waking, his hands were cool, and the flush had entirely +left his cheek. + +"If they were starting on a voyage to the Indies they could not be in +a greater taking," John Wilkes said, on returning to Cyril's bedside. +"Why, I have seen the Captain go off on a six months' voyage and less +said about it." + +"I am heartily glad they are gone, John. If the Plague grows there +will be a terrible time here. Is the shop shut?" + +"Ay; the man went away two days ago, and we sent off the two +'prentices yesterday. There is naught doing. Yesterday half the +vessels in the Pool cleared out on the news of the Plague having got +into the City, and I reckon that, before long, there won't be a ship +in the port. We shall have a quiet time of it, you and I; we shall be +like men in charge of an old hulk." + +Another week, and Cyril was up. All his bandages, except those on the +shoulder and head, had been thrown aside, and the doctor said that, +erelong, the former would be dispensed with. John had wanted to sit +up with him, but as Cyril would not hear of this he had moved his bed +into the same room, so that he could be up in a moment if anything +was wanted. He went out every day to bring in the news. + +"There is little enough to tell, Master Cyril," he said one day. "So +far, the Plague grows but slowly in the City, though, indeed, it is +no fault of the people that it does not spread rapidly. Most of them +seem scared out of their wits; they gather together and talk, with +white faces, and one man tells of a dream that his wife has had, and +another of a voice that he says he has heard; and some have seen +ghosts. Yesterday I came upon a woman with a crowd round her; she was +staring up at a white cloud, and swore that she could plainly see an +angel with a white sword, and some of the others cried that they saw +it too. I should like to have been a gunner's mate with a stout +rattan, and to have laid it over their shoulders, to give them +something else to think about for a few hours. It is downright +pitiful to see such cowards. At the corner of one street there was a +quack, vending pills and perfumes that he warranted to keep away the +Plague, and the people ran up and bought his nostrums by the score; I +hear there are a dozen such in the City, making a fortune out of the +people's fears. I went into the tavern I always use, and had a glass +of Hollands and a talk with the landlord. He says that he does as +good a trade as ever, though in a different way. There are no sailors +there now, but neighbours come in and drink down a glass of strong +waters, which many think is the best thing against the Plague, and +then hurry off again. I saw the Gazette there, and it was half full +of advertisements of people who said they were doctors from foreign +parts, and all well accustomed to cure the Plague. They say the +magistrates are going to issue notices about shutting up houses, as +they do at St. Giles's, and to have watchmen at the doors to see none +come in or go out, and that they are going to appoint examiners in +every parish to go from house to house to search for infected +persons." + +"I suppose these are proper steps to take," Cyril said, "but it will +be a difficult thing to keep people shut up in houses where one is +infected. No doubt it would be a good thing at the commencement of +the illness, but when it has once spread itself, and the very air +become infected, it seems to me that it will do but little good, +while it will assuredly cause great distress and trouble. I long to +be able to get up myself, and to see about things." + +"The streets have quite an empty aspect, so many have gone away; and +what with that, and most of the shops being closed, and the dismal +aspect of the people, there is little pleasure in being out, Master +Cyril." + +"I dare say, John. Still, it will be a change, and, as soon as I am +strong enough, I shall sally out with you." + +Another fortnight, and Cyril was able to do so. The Plague had still +spread, but so slowly that people began to hope that the City would +be spared any great calamity, for they were well on in July, and in +another six weeks the heat of summer would be passed. Some of those +who had gone into the country returned, more shops had been opened, +and the panic had somewhat subsided. + +"What do you mean to do, Master Cyril?" John Wilkes asked that +evening. "Of course you cannot join the Fleet again, for it will be, +as the doctor says, another two months before your shoulder-bone will +have knit strongly enough for you to use your arm, and at sea it is a +matter of more consequence than on land for a man to have the use of +both arms. The ship may give a sudden lurch, and one may have to make +a clutch at whatever is nearest to prevent one from rolling into the +lee scuppers; and such a wrench as that would take from a weak arm +all the good a three months' nursing had done it, and might spoil the +job of getting the bone to grow straight again altogether. I don't +say you are fit to travel yet, but you should be able before long to +start on a journey, and might travel down into Gloucestershire, +where, be sure, you will be gladly welcomed by the Captain, his dame, +and Mistress Nellie. Or, should you not care for that, you might go +aboard a ship. There are hundreds of them lying idle in the river, +and many families have taken up their homes there, so as to be free +from all risks of meeting infected persons in the streets." + +"I think I shall stay here, John, and keep you company. If the Plague +dies away, well and good. If it gets bad, we can shut ourselves up. +You say that the Captain has laid in a great store of provisions, so +that you could live without laying out a penny for a year, and it is +as sure as anything can be, that when the cold weather comes on it +will die out. Besides, John, neither you nor I are afraid of the +Plague, and it is certain that it is fear that makes most people take +it. If it becomes bad, there will be terrible need for help, and +maybe we shall be able to do some good. If we are not afraid of +facing death in battle, why should we fear it by the Plague. It is as +noble a death to die helping one's fellow-countrymen in their sore +distress as in fighting for one's country." + +"That is true enough, Master Cyril, if folks did but see it so. I do +not see what we could do, but if there be aught, you can depend on +me. I was in a ship in the Levant when we had a fever, which, it +seems to me, was akin to this Plague, though not like it in all its +symptoms. Half the crew died, and, as you say, I verily believe that +it was partly from the lowness of spirits into which they fell from +fear. I used to help nurse the sick, and throw overboard the dead, +and it never touched me. I don't say that I was braver than others, +but it seemed to me as it was just as easy to take things comfortable +as it was to fret over them." + +Towards the end of the month the Plague spread rapidly, and all work +ceased in the parishes most affected. But, just as it had raged for +weeks in the Western parishes outside the City, so it seemed +restricted by certain invisible lines, after it had made its entry +within the walls, and while it raged in some parts others were +entirely unaffected, and here shops were open, and the streets still +retained something of their usual appearance. There had been great +want among the poorer classes, owing to the cessation of work, +especially along the riverside. The Lord Mayor, some of the Aldermen, +and most other rich citizens had hastened to leave the City. While +many of the clergy were deserting their flocks, and many doctors +their patients, others remained firmly at their posts, and worked +incessantly, and did all that was possible in order to check the +spread of the Plague and to relieve the distress of the poor. + +Numbers of the women were engaged as nurses. Examiners were appointed +in each parish, and these, with their assistants, paid house-to-house +visitations, in order to discover any who were infected; and as soon +as the case was discovered the house was closed, and none suffered to +go in or out, a watchman being placed before the door day and night. +Two men therefore were needed to each infected house, and this +afforded employment for numbers of poor. Others were engaged in +digging graves, or in going round at night, with carts, collecting +the dead. + +So great was the dread of the people at the thought of being shut up +in their houses, without communication with the world, that every +means was used for concealing the fact that one of the inmates was +smitten down. This was the more easy because the early stages of the +disease were without pain, and people were generally ignorant that +they had been attacked until within a few hours, and sometimes within +a few minutes, of their death; consequently, when the Plague had once +spread, all the precautions taken to prevent its increase were +useless, while they caused great misery and suffering, and doubtless +very much greater loss of life. For, owing to so many being shut up +in the houses with those affected, and there being no escape from the +infection, whole families, with the servants and apprentices, sickened +and died together. + +Cyril frequently went up to view the infected districts. He was not +moved by curiosity, but by a desire to see if there were no way of +being of use. There was not a street but many of the houses were +marked with the red cross. In front of these the watchmen sat on +stools or chairs lent by the inmates, or borrowed from some house +whence the inhabitants had all fled. The air rang with pitiful cries. +Sometimes women, distraught with terror or grief, screamed wildly +through open windows. Sometimes people talked from the upper stories +to their neighbours on either hand, or opposite, prisoners like +themselves, each telling their lamentable tale of misery, of how many +had died and how many remained. + +It was by no means uncommon to see on the pavement men and women who, +in the excess of despair or pain, had thrown themselves headlong +down. While such sounds and sights filled Cyril with horror, they +aroused still more his feelings of pity and desire to be of some use. +Very frequently he went on errands for people who called down from +above to him. Money was lowered in a tin dish, or other vessel, in +which it lay covered with vinegar as a disinfectant. Taking it out, +he would go and buy the required articles, generally food or +medicine, and, returning, place them in a basket that was again +lowered. + +The watchmen mostly executed these commissions, but many of them were +surly fellows, and, as they were often abused and cursed by those +whom they held prisoners, would do but little for them. They had, +moreover, an excuse for refusing to leave the door, because, as often +happened, it might be opened in their absence and the inmates escape. +It was true that the watchmen had the keys, but the screws were often +drawn from the locks inside; and so frequently was this done that at +last chains with padlocks were fastened to all the doors as soon as +the watch was set over them. But even this did not avail. Many of the +houses had communications at the backs into other streets, and so +eluded the vigilance of the watch; while, in other cases, +communications were broken through the walls into other houses, empty +either by desertion or death, and the escape could thus be made under +the very eye of the watchman. + +Very frequently Cyril went into a church when he saw the door open. +Here very small congregations would be gathered, for there was a fear +on the part of all of meeting with strangers, for these might, +unknown to themselves, be already stricken with the pest, and all +public meetings of any kind were, for this reason, strictly +forbidden. One day, he was passing a church that had hitherto been +always closed, its incumbent being one of those who had fled at the +outbreak of the Plague. Upon entering he saw a larger congregation +than usual, some twenty or thirty people being present. + +The minister had just mounted the pulpit, and was beginning his +address as Cyril entered. The latter was struck with his appearance. +He was a man of some thirty years of age, with a strangely earnest +face. His voice was deep, but soft and flexible, and in the stillness +of the almost empty church its lowest tones seemed to come with +impressive power, and Cyril thought that he had never heard such +preaching before. The very text seemed strange at such a time: +_"Rejoice ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."_ From most of +the discourses he had heard Cyril had gone out depressed rather than +inspirited. They had been pitched in one tone. The terrible scourge +that raged round them was held up as a punishment sent by the wrath +of God upon a sinful people, and the congregation were warned to +prepare themselves for the fate, that might at any moment be theirs, +by repentance and humiliation. The preacher to whom Cyril was now +listening spoke in an altogether different strain. + +"You are all soldiers of Christ," he said, "and now is an opportunity +given to you to show that you are worthy soldiers. When the troops of +a worldly monarch go into battle they do so with head erect, with +proud and resolute bearing, with flashing eye, and with high courage, +determined to bear aloft his banner and to crown it with victory, +even though it cost them their lives. Such is the mien that soldiers +of Christ should bear in the mortal strife now raging round us. Let +them show the same fearlessness of death, the same high courage, the +same unlimited confidence in their Leader. What matter if they die in +His service? He has told them what their work should be. He has +bidden them visit the sick and comfort the sorrowing. What if there +be danger in the work? Did He shrink from the Cross which was to end +His work of love, and is it for His followers to do so? 'Though you +go down into the pit,' He has said, 'I am there also'; and with His +companionship one must be craven indeed to tremble. This is a noble +opportunity for holding high the banner of Christ. There is work to +be done for all, and as the work is done, men should see by the calm +courage, the cheerfulness, and the patience of those that do it, that +they know that they are doing His work, and that they are content to +leave the issue, whatever it be, in His hands." + +Such was the tone in which, for half an hour, he spoke. When he had +finished he offered up a prayer, gave the blessing, and then came +down from the pulpit and spoke to several of the congregation. He was +evidently personally known to most of them. One by one, after a few +words, they left the church. Cyril remained to the last. + +"I am willing to work, sir," he said, as the preacher came up, "but, +so far, no work has come in my way." + +"Have you father or mother, or any dependent on you?" + +"No one, sir." + +"Then come along with me; I lodge close by. I have eaten nothing +to-day, and must keep up my strength, and I have a long round of +calls to make." + +"This is the first time I have seen the church open," Cyril said, as +they went out. + +"It is not my church, sir, nor do I belong to the Church of England; +I am an Independent. But as many of the pastors have fled and left +their sheep untended, so have we--for there are others besides myself +who have done so--taken possession of their empty pulpits, none +gainsaying us, and are doing what good we can. You have been in the +war, I see," he went on, glancing at Cyril's arm, which was carried +in a sling. + +"Yes; I was at the battle of Lowestoft, and having been wounded +there, came to London to stay in a friend's house till I was cured. +He and his family have left, but I am living with a trusty foreman +who is in charge of the house. I have a great desire to be useful. I +myself have little fear of the Plague." + +"That is the best of all preservatives from its ravages, although not +a sure one; for many doctors who have laboured fearlessly have yet +died. Have you thought of any way of being useful?" + +"No, sir; that is what is troubling me. As you see, I have but the +use of one arm, and I have not got back my full strength by a long +way." + +"Everyone can be useful if he chooses," the minister said. "There is +need everywhere among this stricken, frightened, helpless people, of +men of calm courage and cool heads. Nine out of ten are so scared out +of their senses, when once the Plague enters the houses, as to be +well-nigh useless, and yet the law hinders those who would help if +they could. I am compelled to labour, not among those who are sick, +but among those who are well. When one enters a house with the red +cross on the door, he may leave it no more until he is either borne +out to the dead-cart, or the Plague has wholly disappeared within it, +and a month has elapsed. The sole exception are the doctors; they are +no more exempt from spreading the infection than other men, but as +they must do their work so far as they can they have free passage; +and yet, so few is their number and so heavy already their losses, +that not one in a hundred of those that are smitten can have their +aid. Here is one coming now, one of the best--Dr. Hodges. If you are +indeed willing so to risk your life, I will speak to him. But I know +not your name?" + +"My name is Cyril Shenstone." + +The clergyman looked at him suddenly, and would have spoken, but the +doctor was now close to them. + +"Ah! Mr. Wallace," he said, "I am glad to see you, and to know that, +so far, you have not taken the disease, although constantly going +into the worst neighbourhoods." + +"Like yourself, Dr. Hodges, I have no fear of it." + +"I do not say I have no fear," the doctor replied. "I do my duty so +far as I can, but I do not doubt that, sooner or later, I shall catch +the malady, as many of us have done already. I take such precautions +as I can, but the distemper seems to baffle all precautions. My only +grief is that our skill avails so little. So far we have found +nothing that seems to be of any real use. Perhaps if we could attack +it in the earlier stages we might be more successful. The strange +nature of the disease, and the way in which it does its work +well-nigh to the end, before the patient is himself aware of it, puts +it out of our power to combat it. In many cases I am not sent for +until the patient is at the point of death, and by the time I reach +his door I am met with the news that he is dead. But I must be +going." + +"One moment, Dr. Hodges. This young gentleman has been expressing to +me his desire to be of use. I know nothing of him save that he was +one of my congregation this morning, but, as he fears not the Plague, +and is moved by a desire to help his fellows in distress, I take it +that he is a good youth. He was wounded in the battle of Lowestoft, +and, being as ready to encounter the Plague as he was the Dutch, +would now fight in the cause of humanity. Would you take him as an +assistant? I doubt if he knows anything of medicine, but I think he +is one that would see your orders carried out. He has no relations or +friends, and therefore considers himself free to venture his life." + +The doctor looked earnestly at Cyril and then raised his hat. + +"Young sir," he said, "since you are willing so to venture your life, +I will gladly accept your help. There are few enough clear heads in +this city, God knows. As for the nurses, they are Jezebels. They have +the choice of starving or nursing, and they nurse; but they neglect +their patients, they rob them, and there is little doubt that in many +cases they murder them, so that at the end of their first nursing +they may have enough money to live on without going to another house. +But I am pressed for time. Here is my card. Call on me this evening +at six, and we will talk further on the matter." + +Shaking hands with the minister he hurried away. + +"Come as far as my lodgings," Mr. Wallace said to Cyril, "and stay +with me while I eat my meal. 'Tis a diversion to one's mind to turn +for a moment from the one topic that all men are speaking of. + +"Your name is Shenstone. I come from Norfolk. There was a family of +that name formerly had estates near my native place. One Sir Aubrey +Shenstone was at its head--a brave gentleman. I well remember seeing +him when I was a boy, but he took the side of the King against the +Parliament, and, as we heard, passed over with Charles to France when +his cause was lost. I have not heard of him since." + +"Sir Aubrey was my father," Cyril said quietly; "he died a year ago. +I am his only son." + +"And therefore Sir Cyril," the minister said, "though you did not so +name yourself." + +"It was needless," Cyril said. "I have no estates to support my +title, and though it is true that, when at sea with Prince Rupert, I +was called Sir Cyril, it was because the Prince had known my father, +and knew that I, at his death, inherited the title, though I +inherited nothing else." + +They now reached the door of Mr. Wallace's lodging, and went up to +his room on the first floor. + +"Neglect no precaution," the minister said. "No one should throw away +his life. I myself, although not a smoker, nor accustomed to take +snuff, use it now, and would, as the doctors advise, chew a piece of +tobacco, but 'tis too nasty, and when I tried it, I was so ill that I +thought even the risk of the Plague preferable. But I carry camphor +in my pockets, and when I return from preaching among people of whom +some may well have the infection, I bathe my face and hands with +vinegar, and, pouring some on to a hot iron, fill the room with its +vapour. My life is useful, I hope, and I would fain keep it, as long +as it is the Lord's will, to work in His service. As a rule, I take +wine and bread before I go out in the morning, though to-day I was +pressed for time, and neglected it. I should advise you always to do +so. I am convinced that a full man has less chance of catching the +infection than a fasting one, and that it is the weakness many men +suffer from their fears, and from their loss of appetite from grief, +that causes them to take it so easily. When the fever was so bad in +St. Giles's, I heard that in many instances, where whole families +were carried away, the nurses shut up with them were untouched with +the infection, and I believe that this was because they had become +hardened to the work, and ate and drank heartily, and troubled not +themselves at all at the grief of those around them. They say that +many of these harpies have grown, wealthy, loading themselves with +everything valuable they could lay hands on in the houses of those +they attended." + +After the meal, in which he insisted upon Cyril joining him, was +concluded, Mr. Wallace uttered a short prayer that Cyril might safely +pass through the work he had undertaken. + +"I trust," he said, "that you will come here frequently? I generally +have a few friends here of an evening. We try to be cheerful, and to +strengthen each other, and I am sure we all have comfort at these +meetings." + +"Thank you, I will come sometimes, sir; but as a rule I must return +home, for my friend, John Wilkes, would sorely miss my company, and +is so good and faithful a fellow that I would not seem to desert him +on any account." + +"Do as you think right, lad, but remember there will always be a +welcome for you here when you choose to come." + +John Wilkes was dismayed when he heard of Cyril's intention. + +"Well, Master Cyril," he said, after smoking his pipe in silence for +some time, "it is not for me to hinder you in what you have made up +your mind to do. I don't say that if I wasn't on duty here that I +mightn't go and do what I could for these poor creatures. But I don't +know. It is one thing to face a deadly fever like this Plague if it +comes on board your own ship, for there is no getting out of it; and +as you have got to face it, why, says I, do it as a man; but as for +going out of your way to put yourself in the middle of it, that is +going a bit beyond me." + +"Well, John, you didn't think it foolish when I went as a Volunteer +to fight the Dutch. It was just the same thing, you know." + +"I suppose it was," John said reluctantly, after a pause. "But then, +you see, you were fighting for your country." + +"Well, but in the present case I shall be fighting for my countrymen +and countrywomen, John. It is awful to think of the misery that +people are suffering, and it seems to me that, having nothing else to +do here, it is specially my duty to put my hand to the work of +helping as far as I can. The risk may, at present, be greater than it +would be if I stayed at home, but if the Plague spreads--and it looks +as if all the City would presently be affected--all will have to run +the risk of contagion. There are thousands of women now who +voluntarily enter the houses as nurses for a small rate of pay. Even +robbers, they say, will enter and ransack the houses of the dead in +search of plunder. It will be a shame indeed then if one should +shrink from doing so when possibly one might do good." + +"I will say nothing more against it, Master Cyril. Still, I do not +see exactly what you are going to do; with one arm you could scarce +hold down a raving man." + +"I am not going to be a nurse, certainly, John," Cyril said, with a +laugh. "I expect that the doctor wants certain cases watched. Either +he may doubt the nurses, or he may want to see how some particular +drug works. Nothing, so far, seems of use, but that may be partly +because the doctors are all so busy that they cannot watch the +patients and see, from hour to hour, how medicines act." + +"When I was in the Levant, and the pest was bad there," John Wilkes +said, "I heard that the Turks, when seized with the distemper, +sometimes wrapped themselves up in a great number of clothes, so that +they sweated heavily, and that this seemed, in some cases, to draw +off the fever, and so the patient recovered." + +"That seems a sensible sort of treatment, John, and worth trying with +this Plague." + +On calling on Dr. Hodges that afternoon, Cyril found that he had +rightly guessed the nature of the work that the doctor wished him to +perform. + +"I can never rely upon the nurses," he said. "I give instructions +with medicines, but in most cases I am sure that the instructions are +never carried out. The relations and friends are too frightened to +think or act calmly, too full of grief for the sick, and anxiety for +those who have not yet taken the illness, to watch the changes in the +patient. As to the nurses, they are often drunk the whole time they +are in the house. Sometimes they fear to go near the sick man or +woman; sometimes, undoubtedly, they hasten death. In most cases it +matters little, for we are generally called in too late to be of any +service. The poor people view us almost as enemies; they hide their +malady from us in every way. Half our time, too, is wasted uselessly, +for many are there who frighten themselves into the belief that they +are ill, and send for us in all haste. So far, we feel that we are +working altogether in the dark; none of us can see that any sort of +drug avails even in the slightest degree when the malady has once got +a hold. One in twenty cases may live, but why we know not. Still the +fact that some do live shows that the illness is not necessarily +mortal, and that, could the right remedy befound, we might yet +overcome it. The first thing, however, is to try to prevent its +spread. Here we have ten or more people shut up in a house with one +sick person. It is a terrible necessity, for it is a sentence of +death to many, if not to all. We give the nurses instructions to +fumigate the room by evaporating vinegar upon hot irons, by burning +spices and drugs, by sprinkling perfumes. So far, I cannot see that +these measures have been of any service, but I cannot say how +thoroughly they have been carried out, and I sorely need an assistant +to see that the system is fairly tried. It is not necessary that he +should be a doctor, but he must have influence and power over those +in the house. He must be calm and firm, and he must be regarded by +the people as a doctor. If you will undertake this, you must put on a +wig, for you know that that is looked upon as a necessary part of a +doctor's outfit by people in general. I shall introduce you as my +assistant, and say that you are to be obeyed as implicitly as if I +myself were present. There is another reason why you must pass as a +doctor, for you would otherwise be a prisoner and unable to pass in +and out. You had best wear a black suit. I will lend you one of my +canes and a snuff-box, and should advise you to take snuff, even if +it is not your habit, for I believe that it is good against +infection, and one of the experiments I wish to try is as to what its +result may be if burnt freely in the house. Are you ready to +undertake this work?" + +"Quite ready, sir." + +"Then come round here at eight in the morning. I shall have heard by +that hour from the examiners of this parish of any fresh case they +have found. They begin their rounds at five o'clock." + +The next day Cyril presented himself at the doctor's, dressed in +black, with white ruffles to his shirt, and a flowing wig he had +purchased the night before. + +"Here are the cane and snuff-box," Dr. Hodges said. "Now you will +pass muster very well as my assistant. Let us be off at once; for I +have a long list of cases." + +Cyril remained outside while Dr. Hodges went into three or four +houses. Presently he came down to the door, and said to him,-- + +"This is a case where things are favourable for a first trial. It is +a boy who is taken ill, and the parents, though in deep grief, seem +to have some sense left." + +He turned to the watchman, who had already been placed at the door. +The man, who evidently knew him, had saluted respectfully when he +entered the house. + +"This gentleman is my assistant," he said, "and you will allow him to +pass in and out just as you would myself. He is going to take this +case entirely in hand, and you will regard him as being in charge +here." + +He then re-entered the house with Cyril, and led him to the room +where the parents of the boy, and two elder sisters, were assembled. + +"This is my assistant," he said, "and he has consented to take entire +charge of the case, though I myself shall look in and consult with +him every morning. In the first place, your son must be taken to the +top storey of the house. You say that you are ready to nurse him +yourselves, and do not wish that a paid nurse should be had in. I +commend your determination, for the nurses are, for the most part, +worse than useless, and carry the infection all over the house. But +only one of you must go into the room, and whoever goes in must stay +there. It is madness for all to be going in and out and exposing +themselves to the infection when no good can be done. When this is +the case, one or other is sure to take the malady, and then it +spreads to all. Which of you will undertake the duty?" + +All four at once offered themselves, and there was an earnest contest +between them for the dangerous post. Dr. Hodges listened for a minute +or two, and then decided upon the elder of the two sisters--a quiet, +resolute-looking girl with a healthy face. + +"This young lady shall be nurse," he said. "I feel that I can have +confidence in her. She looks healthy and strong, and would, methinks, +best resist the malady, should she take it. I am leaving my assistant +here for a time to see to the fumigation of the house. You will +please see that his orders are carried out in every respect. I have +every hope that if this is done the Plague will not spread further; +but much must depend upon yourselves. Do not give way to grief, but +encourage each other, and go about with calm minds. I see," he said, +pointing to a Bible on the table, "that you know where to go for +comfort and strength. The first thing is to carry the boy up to the +room that we chose for him." + +"I will do that," the father said. + +"He had better be left in the blankets in which he is lying. Cover +him completely over with them, for, above all, it is necessary that +you should not inhale his breath. You had better take the head and +your daughter the feet. But first see that the room upstairs is +prepared." + +In a few minutes the lad was transferred to the upper room, the +doctor warning the others not to enter that from which he had been +carried until it had been fumigated and sprinkled with vinegar. + +"Now," he said to the girl who was to remain with the patient, "keep +the window wide open; as there is no fireplace, keep a brazier of +charcoal burning near the window. Keep the door shut, and open it +only when you have need for something. Give him a portion of this +medicine every half hour. Do not lean over him--remember that his +breath is a fatal poison. Put a pinch of these powdered spices into +the fire every few minutes. Pour this perfume over your handkerchief, +and put it over your mouth and nose whenever you approach the bed. He +is in a stupor now, poor lad, and I fear that his chance of recovery +is very slight; but you must remember that your own life is of value +to your parents, and that it behoves you to do all in your power to +preserve it, and that if you take the contagion it may spread through +the house. We shall hang a sheet, soaked in vinegar, outside the +door." + +"We could not have a better case for a trial," he said, as he went +downstairs and joined Cyril, whom he had bidden wait below. "The +people are all calm and sensible, and if we succeed not here, there +is small chance of our succeeding elsewhere." + +The doctor then gave detailed orders as to fumigating the house, and +left. Cyril saw at once that a brazier of charcoal was lighted and +carried upstairs, and he called to the girl to come out and fetch it +in. As soon as she had done so the sheet was hung over the door. Then +he took another brazier, placed it in the room from which the boy had +been carried, laid several lumps of sulphur upon it, and then left +the room. All the doors of the other rooms were then thrown open, and +a quantity of tobacco, spices, and herbs, were burnt on a red-hot +iron at the foot of the stairs, until the house was filled with a +dense smoke. Half an hour later all the windows were opened. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FATHER AND SON + + +The process of fumigation had well-nigh suffocated the wife and +daughter of the trader, but, as soon as the smoke cleared away, Cyril +set them all to work to carry up articles of furniture to another +bedroom on the top floor. + +"When your daughter is released from nursing, madam," he said, "she +must at once come into this room, and remain there secluded for a few +days. Therefore, it will be well to make it as comfortable as +possible for her. Her food must be taken up and put outside the door, +so that she can take it in there without any of you going near her." + +The occupation was a useful one, as it distracted the thoughts of +those engaged in it from the sick room. + +Cyril did not enter there. He had told the girl to call him should +there be any necessity, but said,-- + +"Do not call me unless absolutely needful, if, for instance, he +becomes violent, in which case we must fasten the sheets across him +so as to restrain him. But it is of no use your remaining shut up +there if I go in and out of the room to carry the infection to the +others." + +"You have hurt your arm, doctor?" the mother said, when the +arrangements were all made, and they had returned to the room below. + +"Yes," he said; "I met with an accident, and must, for a short time, +keep my arm in a sling." + +"You look young, sir, to be running these fearful perils." + +"I am young," Cyril said, "and have not yet completed all my studies; +but Dr. Hodges judged that I was sufficiently advanced to be able to +be of service to him, not so much in prescribing as by seeing that +his orders were carried out." + +Every half hour he went upstairs, and inquired, through the door, as +to the state of the boy. + +Late in the afternoon he heard the girl crying bitterly within. He +knocked, and she cried out,-- + +"He is dead, sir; he has just expired." + +"Then you must think of yourself and the others," he said. "The small +packet I placed on the chair contains sulphur. Close the window, then +place the packet on the fire, and leave the room at once and go into +the next room, which is all ready for you. There, I pray you, +undress, and sponge yourself with vinegar, then make your clothes +into a bundle and put them outside the door. There will be a bowl of +hot broth in readiness for you there; drink that, and then go to bed +at once, and keep the blankets over you and try to sleep." + +He went part of the way downstairs, and, in a minute or two, heard a +door open and shut, then another door shut. Knowing that the order +had been carried out, he went downstairs. + +"Madam," he said, "God has taken your boy. The doctor had but little +hope for him. For the sake of yourself and those around you, I pray +you all to bear up against the sorrow." + +The mother burst into tears, and, leaving her with her husband and +daughter, Cyril went into the kitchen, where the maid and an +apprentice were sitting with pale faces, and bade the servant at once +warm up the broth, that had already been prepared. As soon as it was +ready, he carried a basin upstairs. The bundle of clothes had already +been placed outside the girl's room. He took this down and put it on +the kitchen fire. + +"Now," he said, "take four basins up to the parlour, and do you and +the boy each make a hearty meal. I think there is little fear of the +Plague spreading, and your best chance of avoiding it is by keeping +up your spirits and not fretting about it." + +As soon as the broth had been taken into the parlour, he went in and +persuaded them to eat and to take a glass of wine with it, while he +himself sat down with them. + +"You are all weak," he said, "for, doubtless, you have eaten nothing +to-day, and you need strength as well as courage. I trust that your +daughter will presently go off into a sound sleep. The last thing +before you go to bed, take up with you a basin of good posset with a +glass of wine in it; knock gently at her door; if she is awake, tell +her to come out and take it in as soon as you have gone, but if she +does not reply, do not rouse her. I can be of no further use +to-night, but will return in the morning, when I hope to find all is +well." + +The father accompanied him to the door. + +"You will of course bring the poor boy down to-night. It were best +that you made some excuse to sleep in another room. Let your daughter +sleep with her mother. When you go in to fetch him, be careful that +you do not enter at once, for the fumes of the sulphur will scarcely +have abated. As you go in, place a wet handkerchief to your mouth, +and make to the window and throw it open, closing the door behind +you. Sit at the window till the air is tolerable, then wrap the +blankets round him and carry him downstairs when you hear the bell. +After he has gone tell the servant to have a brazier lighted, and to +keep up the kitchen fire. As soon as he is gone, burn on the brazier +at the foot of the stairs, tobacco and spices, as we did before; then +take off your clothes and burn them on the kitchen fire, and then go +up to bed. You can leave the doors and windows of the rooms that are +not in use open, so that the smoke may escape." + +"God bless you, sir!" the man said. "You have been a comfort indeed +to us, and I have good hopes that the Plague will spread no further +among us." + +Cyril went first to the doctor's, and reported what had taken place. + +"I will go round in the morning and see how they are," he concluded, +"and bring you round word before you start on your rounds." + +"You have done very well indeed," the doctor said. "If people +everywhere would be as calm, and obey orders as well as those you +have been with, I should have good hopes that we might check the +spread of the Plague; but you will find that they are quite the +exception." + +This, indeed, proved to be the case. In many instances, the people +were so distracted with grief and fear that they ran about the house +like mad persons, crying and screaming, running in and out of the +sick chamber, or sitting there crying helplessly, and refusing to +leave the body until it was carried out to the dead-cart. But with +such cases Cyril had nothing to do, as the doctor would only send him +to the houses where he saw that his instructions would be carried +out. + +To his great satisfaction, Cyril found that the precautions taken in +the first case proved successful. Regularly, every morning, he +inquired at the door, and received the answer, "All are well." + +In August the Plague greatly increased in violence, the deaths rising +to ten thousand a week. A dull despair had now seized the population. +It seemed that all were to be swept away. Many went out of their +minds. The quacks no longer drove a flourishing trade in their +pretended nostrums; these were now utterly discredited, for nothing +seemed of the slightest avail. Some went to the opposite extreme, and +affected to defy fate. The taverns were filled again, and boisterous +shouts and songs seemed to mock the dismal cries from the houses with +the red cross on the door. Robberies were rife. Regardless of the +danger of the pest, robbers broke into the houses where all the +inmates had perished by the Plague, and rifled them of their +valuables. The nurses plundered the dying. All natural affection +seemed at an end. + +Those stricken were often deserted by all their relatives, and left +alone to perish. + +Bands of reckless young fellows went through the streets singing, +and, dressing up in masks, performed the dance of death. The dead +were too many to be carried away in carts at night to the great pits +prepared for them, but the dismal tones of the bell, and the cries of +"Bring out your dead!" sounded in the streets all day. It was no +longer possible to watch the whole of the infected houses. Sometimes +Plague-stricken men would escape from their beds and run through the +streets until they dropped dead. One such man, in the height of his +delirium, sprang into the river, and, after swimming about for some +time, returned to the shore, marvellously cured of his malady by the +shock. + +Cyril went occasionally in the evening to the lodgings of Mr. +Wallace. At first he met several people gathered there, but the +number became fewer every time he went. He had told the minister that +he thought that it would be better for him to stay away, exposed as +he was to infection, but Mr. Wallace would take no excuses on this +score. + +"We are all in the hands of God," he said. "The streets are full of +infected people, and I myself frequently go to pray with my friends +in the earliest stages of the malady. There is no longer any use in +precautions. We can but all go on doing our duty until we are called +away, and even among the few who gather here of an evening there may +be one or more who are already smitten, though unconscious yet that +their summons has come." + +Among others Cyril was introduced to a Mr. and Mrs. Harvey, who were, +the minister told him, from the country, but were staying in town on +account of a painful family business. + +"I have tried to persuade them to return home and to stay there until +the Plague ceases, but they conceive it their duty to remain. They +are, like myself, Independents, and are not easily to be turned from +a resolution they have taken." + +Cyril could easily understand that Mr. Harvey was exactly what he, +from the description he had heard of them, had pictured to himself +that a Roundhead soldier would be. He had a stern face, eyes deeply +sunk in his head, high cheekbones, a firm mouth, and a square jaw. He +wore his hair cut close. His figure was bony, and he must, as a young +man, have been very powerful. He spoke in a slow, deliberate way, +that struck Cyril as being the result of long effort, for a certain +restless action of the fingers and the quick movement of the eye, +told of a naturally impulsive and fiery disposition. He constantly +used scriptural texts in the course of his speech. His wife was +gentle and quiet, but it was evident that there was a very strong +sympathy between them, and Cyril found, after meeting them once or +twice, that he liked them far better than he thought he should do on +their first introduction. This was, no doubt, partly due to the fact +that Mr. Harvey frequently entered into conversation with him, and +appeared to interest himself in him. He was, too, a type that was +altogether new to the lad. From his father, and his father's +companions, he had heard nothing good of the Puritans, but the +evident earnestness of this man's nature was, to some extent, in +accordance with his own disposition, and he felt that, widely as he +might differ from him on all points of politics, he could not but +respect him. The evenings were pleasant. As if by common consent, the +conversation never turned on the Plague, but they talked of other +passing events, of the trials of their friends, and of the laws that +were being put in force against Nonconformists. + +"What think you of these persecutions, young sir?" Mr. Harvey +abruptly asked Cyril, one evening, breaking off in the midst of a +general conversation. + +Cyril was a little confused at the unexpected question. + +"I think all persecutions for conscience' sake are wrong," he said, +after a moment's pause, "and generally recoil upon the persecutors. +Spain lost Holland owing to her persecution of the people. France +lost great numbers of her best citizens by her laws against the +Protestants. I agree with you thoroughly, that the persecution of the +Nonconformists at present is a grievous error, and a cruel injustice; +but, at the same time, if you will excuse my saying so, it is the +natural consequence of the persecution by the Nonconformists, when +they were in power, of the ministers of the Church of England. My +tutor in France was an English clergyman, who had been driven from +his living, like thousands of other ministers, because he would not +give up his opinions. Therefore, you see, I very early was imbued +with a hatred of persecution in any form. I trust that I have not +spoken too boldly; but you asked for my opinion, and I was forced to +give it." + +"At any rate, young sir, you have spoken manfully, and I like you +none the worse for it. Nor can I altogether gainsay your words. But +you must remember that we had before been oppressed, and that we have +been engaged in a desperate struggle for liberty of conscience." + +"Which, having won for ourselves, we proceeded to deny to others," +Mr. Wallace said, with a smile. "Cyril has us fairly, Mr. Harvey. We +are reaping what our fathers sowed. They thought that the power they +had gained was to be theirs to hold always, and they used it +tyrannously, being thereby false to all their principles. It is ever +the persecuted, when he attains power, who becomes the persecutor, +and, hard as is the pressure of the laws now, we should never forget +that we have, in our time, been persecutors, and that in defiance of +the rights of conscience we had fought to achieve. Man's nature is, I +fear, unchangeable. The slave longs, above all things, for freedom, +but when he rises successfully against his master he, in turn, +becomes a tyrant, and not infrequently a cruel and bloodthirsty one. +Still, we must hope. It may be in the good days that are to come, we +may reach a point when each will be free to worship in his own +fashion, without any fear or hindrance, recognising the fact that +each has a right to follow his own path to Heaven, without its being +a subject of offence to those who walk in other ways." + +One or two of the other visitors were on the point of speaking, when +Mr. Wallace put a stop to further argument by fetching a Bible from +his closet, and preparing for the short service of prayer with which +the evening always closed. + +One evening, Mr. Harvey and his wife were absent from the usual +gathering. + +"I feel anxious about them," Mr. Wallace said; "they have never, +since they arrived in town, missed coming here at seven o'clock. The +bells are usually striking the hour as they come. I fear that one or +other of them may have been seized by the Plague." + +"With your permission, sir, I will run round and see," Cyril said. "I +know their lodging, for I have accompanied them to the door several +times. It is but five minutes' walk from here. If one or other is ill +I will run round to Dr. Hodges, and I am sure, at my request, he will +go round at once to see them." + +Cyril walked fast towards the lodging occupied by the Harveys. It was +at the house of a mercer, but he and his family had, three weeks +before, gone away, having gladly permitted his lodgers to remain, as +their presence acted as a guard to the house. They had brought up an +old servant with them, and were therefore able to dispense with other +attendants. Cyril hurried along, trying, as usual, to pay as little +heed as he could to the doleful cries that arose from many of the +houses. Although it was still broad daylight there was scarce a soul +in the streets, and those he met were, like himself, walking fast, +keeping as far as possible from any one they met, so as to avoid +contact. + +As he neared the house he heard a woman scream. A moment later a +casement was thrown open, and Mrs. Harvey's head appeared. She gave +another piercing cry for help, and was then suddenly dragged back, +and the casement was violently closed. Cyril had so frequently heard +similar cries that he would have paid no attention to it had it come +from a stranger, but he felt that Mrs. Harvey was not one to give way +to wild despair, even had her husband been suddenly attacked with the +Plague. Her sudden disappearance, and the closing of the casement, +too, were unaccountable, unless, indeed, her husband were in a state +of violent delirium. He ran to the door and flung himself against it. + +"Help me to force it down," he cried to a man who was passing. + +"You are mad," the man replied. "Do you not see that they have got +the Plague? You may hear hundreds of such cries every day." + +Cyril drew his sword, which he always carried when he went out of an +evening--for, owing to the deaths among the City watch, deeds of +lawlessness and violence were constantly perpetrated--and struck, +with all his strength, with the hilt upon the fastening of the +casement next the door. Several of the small panes of glass fell in, +and the whole window shook. Again and again he struck upon the same +spot, when the fastening gave way, and the window flew open. He +sprang in at once, ran through the shop into the passage, and then +upstairs. The door was open, and he nearly fell over the body of a +man. As he ran into the room he heard the words,-- + +"For the last time: Will you sign the deed? You think I will not do +this, but I am desperate." + +As the words left his mouth, Cyril sprang forward between the man and +Mr. Harvey, who was standing with his arms folded, looking +steadfastly at his opponent, who was menacing him with a drawn sword. +The man, with a terrible oath, turned to defend himself, repeating +the oath when he saw who was his assailant. + +"I let you off last time lightly, you scoundrel!" Cyril exclaimed. +"This time it is your life or mine." + +The man made a furious lunge at him. Cyril parried it, and would at +the next moment have run him through had not Mr. Harvey suddenly +thrown himself between them, hurling Cyril's antagonist to the +ground. + +"Put up your sword," he said to Cyril. "This man is my son; scoundrel +and villain, yet still my son, even though he has raised his hand +against me. Leave him to God." + +Cyril had stepped a pace back in his surprise. At first he thought +that Mr. Harvey's trouble had turned his brain; then it flashed +across him that this ruffian's name was indeed John Harvey. The man +was about to rise from the floor when Cyril again sprang forward. + +"Drop that sword," he exclaimed, "or I will run you through. Now, +sir," he said to Mr. Harvey, "will you draw out that pistol, whose +butt projects from his pocket, or your son may do one of us mischief +yet?" + +That such had been the man's intention was evident from the glance of +baffled rage he threw at Cyril. + +"Now, sir, go," his father said sternly. "Remember that, henceforth, +you are no son of mine. Did I do my duty I should hand you over to +the watch--not for your threats to me, but for the sword-thrust you +have given to Joseph Edmonds, who has many times carried you on his +shoulder when a child. You may compass my death, but be assured that +not one farthing will you gain thereby. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the +Lord.' I leave it to Him to pay it. Now go." + +John Harvey rose to his feet, and walked to the door. Then he turned +and shook his fist at Cyril. + +"Curse you!" he said. "I will be even with you yet." + +Cyril now had time to look round. His eye fell upon the figure of +Mrs. Harvey, who had fallen insensible. He made a step towards her, +but her husband said, "She has but fainted. This is more pressing," +and he turned to the old servant. Cyril aided him in lifting the old +man up and laying him on the couch. + +"He breathes," said he. + +"He is wounded to death," Mr. Harvey said sadly; "and my son hath +done it." + +Cyril opened the servant's coat. + +"Here is the wound, high up on the left side. It may not touch a +vital part. It bleeds freely, and I have heard that that is a good +sign." + +"It is so," Mr. Harvey said excitedly. "Perhaps he may yet recover. I +would give all that I am worth that it might be so, and that, bad as +he may be, the sin of this murder should not rest on my son's soul." + +"I will run for the doctor, sir, but before I go let me help you to +lift your wife. She will doubtless come round shortly, and will aid +you to stanch the wound till the doctor comes." + +Mrs. Harvey was indeed already showing signs of returning animation. +She was placed on a couch, and water sprinkled on her face. As soon +as he saw her eyes open Cyril caught up his hat and ran to Dr. +Hodges. The doctor had just finished his supper, and was on the point +of going out again to see some of his patients. On hearing from Cyril +that a servant of some friends of his had been wounded by a robber, +he put some lint and bandages in his pocket, and started with him. + +"These robberies are becoming more and more frequent," he said; "and +so bold and reckless are the criminals that they seem to care not a +jot whether they add murder to their other crimes. Where do you say +the wound is?" + +Cyril pointed below his own shoulder. + +"It is just about there, doctor." + +"Then it may be above the upper edge of the lung. If so, we may save +the man. Half an inch higher or lower will make all the difference +between life and death. As you say that it was bleeding freely, it is +probable that the sword has missed the lung, for had it pierced it, +the bleeding would have been chiefly internal, and the hope of saving +him would have been slight indeed." + +When they reached the house Cyril found that Mrs. Harvey had quite +recovered. They had cut open the man's clothes and her husband was +pressing a handkerchief, closely folded, upon the wound. + +"It is serious, but, I think, not vital," Dr. Hodges said, after +examining it. "I feel sure that the sword has missed the lung." + +After cutting off the rest of the man's upper garments, he poured, +from a phial he had brought with him, a few drops of a powerful +styptic into the wound, placed a thick pad of lint over it, and +bandaged it securely. Then, giving directions that a small quantity +of spirits and water should be given to the patient from time to +time, and, above all things, that he should be kept perfectly quiet, +he hurried away. + +"Is there anything more I can do, sir?" Cyril asked Mr. Harvey. + +"Nothing more. You will understand, sir, what our feelings are, and +that our hearts are too full of grief and emotion for us to speak. We +shall watch together to-night, and lay our case before the Lord." + +"Then I will come early in the morning and see if there is aught I +can do, sir. I am going back now to Mr. Wallace, who was uneasy at +your absence. I suppose you would wish me to say only that I found +that there was a robber in the place who, having wounded your +servant, was on the point of attacking you when I entered, and that +he fled almost immediately." + +"That will do. Say to him that for to-night we shall be busy nursing, +and that my wife is greatly shaken; therefore I would not that he +should come round, but I pray him to call here in the morning." + +"I will do so, sir." + +Cyril went downstairs, closed the shutters of the window into which +he had broken, and put up the bars, and then went out at the door, +taking special pains to close it firmly behind him. + +He was glad to be out of the house. He had seen many sad scenes +during the last few weeks, but it seemed to him that this was the +saddest of all. Better, a thousand times, to see a son stricken by +the Plague than this. He walked slowly back to the minister's. He met +Mr. Wallace at the door of his house. + +"I was coming round," the latter said. "Of course one or other of +them are stricken?" + +"No, sir; it was another cause that prevented their coming. Just as I +reached the house I heard a scream, and Mrs. Harvey appeared at the +casement calling for help. I forced open a window and ran up. I found +that a robber had entered the house. He had seriously wounded the old +servant, and was on the point of attacking Mr. Harvey when I entered. +Taken by surprise, the man fled almost immediately. Mrs. Harvey had +fainted. At first, we thought the servant was killed, but, finding +that he lived, I ran off and fetched Dr. Hodges, who has dressed the +wound, and thinks that the man has a good chance of recovery. As Mrs. +Harvey had now come round, and was capable of assisting her husband, +they did not accept my offer to stay and do anything I could. I said +I was coming to you, and Mr. Harvey asked me to say that, although +they were too much shaken to see you this evening, they should be +glad if you would go round to them the first thing in the morning." + +"Then the robber got away unharmed?" Mr. Wallace asked. + +"He was unharmed, sir. I would rather that you did not question me on +the subject. Mr. Harvey will doubtless enter fully into the matter +with you in the morning. We did not exchange many words, for he was +greatly disturbed in spirit at the wounding of his old servant, and +the scene he had gone through; and, seeing that he and his wife would +rather be alone with their patient, I left almost directly after Dr. +Hodges went away. However, I may say that I believe that there are +private matters in the affair, which he will probably himself +communicate to you." + +"Then I will ask no more questions, Cyril. I am well content to know +that it is not as I feared, and that the Plague had not attacked +them." + +"I said that I would call round in the morning, sir; but I have been +thinking of it as I came along, and consider that, as you will be +there, it is as well that I should not do so. I will come round here +at ten o'clock, and should you not have returned, will wait until you +do. I do not know that I can be of any use whatever, and do not wish +to intrude there. Will you kindly say this to them, but add that +should they really wish me to go, I will of course do so?" + +Mr. Wallace looked a little puzzled. + +"I will do as you ask me, but it seems to me that they will naturally +wish to see you, seeing that, had it not been for your arrival, they +might have been robbed and perhaps murdered." + +"You will understand better when you have seen Mr. Harvey, sir. Now I +will be making for home; it is about my usual hour, and John Wilkes +will be beginning to wonder and worry about me." + +To John, Cyril told the same story as to Mr. Wallace. + +"But, how was it that you let the villain escape, Master Cyril? Why +did you not run him through the body?" + +"I had other things to think of, John. There was Mrs. Harvey lying +insensible, and the servant desperately wounded, and I thought more +of these than of the robber, and was glad enough, when he ran out, to +be able to turn my attention to them." + +"Ay, ay, that was natural enough, lad; but 'tis a pity the villain +got off scot-free. Truly it is not safe for two old people to be in +an empty house by themselves in these times, specially as, maybe, the +houses on either side are also untenanted, and robbers can get into +them and make their way along the roof, and so enter any house they +like by the windows there. It was a mercy you chanced to come along. +Men are so accustomed now to hear screams and calls for aid, that +none trouble themselves as to such sounds. And you still feel quite +well?" + +"Never better, John, except for occasional twitches in my shoulder." + +"It does not knit so fast as it should do," John said. "In the first +place, you are always on the move; then no one can go about into +infected houses without his spirits being disturbed, and of all +things a calm and easy disposition is essential for the proper +healing of wounds. Lastly, it is certain that when there is poison in +the air wounds do not heal so quickly as at other times." + +"It is going on well enough, John; indeed, I could not desire it to +do better. As soon as it is fairly healed I ought to join Prince +Rupert again; but in truth I do not wish to go, for I would fain see +this terrible Plague come to an end before I leave; for never since +the days of the Black Death, hundreds of years ago, was there so +strange and terrible a malady in this country." + +Mr. Wallace had returned to his house when Cyril called the next +morning. + +"Thinking over what you said last night, Cyril, I arrived at a pretty +correct conclusion as to what had happened, though I thought not that +it could be as bad as it was. I knew the object with which Mr. Harvey +and his wife had come up to London, at a time when most men were +fleeing from it. Their son has, ever since he came up three years +ago, been a source of grievous trouble to them, as he was, indeed, +for a long time previously. Some natures seem naturally to turn to +evil, and this boy's was one of them. It may be that the life at home +was too rigid and severe, and that he revolted against it. Certain it +is that he took to evil courses and consorted with bad companions. +Severity was unavailing. He would break out of the house at night and +be away for days. He was drunken and dissolute. + +"At last, just after a considerable sum of money had come into the +house from the tenants' rents, he stole it, and went up to London. +His name was not mentioned at home, though his father learnt from +correspondents here that he had become a hanger-on of the Court, +where, his father being a man of condition, he found friends without +difficulty. He was a gambler and a brawler, and bore a bad reputation +even among the riff-raff of the Court. His father learnt that he had +disappeared from sight at the time the Court went to Oxford early in +June, and his correspondent found that he was reported to have joined +a band of abandoned ruffians, whose least crimes were those of +robbery. + +"When the Plague spread rapidly, Mr. Harvey and his wife determined +to come up to London, to make one more effort to draw him from his +evil courses. The only thing that they have been able to learn for +certain was, that he was one of the performers in that wicked mockery +the dance of death, but their efforts to trace him have otherwise +failed. + +"They had intended, if they had found him, and he would have made +promises of amendment, to have given him money that would have +enabled him to go over to America and begin a new life there, +promising him a regular allowance to maintain him in comfort. As they +have many friends over there, some of whom went abroad to settle +before the Civil War broke out here, they would be able to have news +how he was going on; and if they found he was living a decent life, +and truly repented his past course, they would in five years have had +him back again, and reinstated him as their heir. + +"I knew their intentions in the matter, and have done my best to gain +them news of him. I did not believe in the reformation of one who had +shown himself to be of such evil spirit; but God is all-powerful, and +might have led him out from the slough into which he had fallen. + +"Yesterday evening, half an hour before you went there, his father +and mother were astonished at his suddenly entering. He saluted them +at first with ironical politeness, and said that having heard from +one from the same part of the country that he had seen them in +London, he had had the streets thereabouts watched, and having found +where they lodged, had come to pay his respects. + +"There was a reckless bravado in his manner that alarmed his mother, +and it was not long before the purpose of his visit came out. He +demanded that his father should at once sign a deed which he had +brought drawn out in readiness, assigning to him at once half his +property. + +"'You have,' he said, 'far more than you can require. Living as you +do, you must save three-quarters of your income, and it would be at +once an act of charity, and save you the trouble of dealing with +money that is of no use to you.' + +"His father indignantly refused to take any such step, and then told +him the plans he had himself formed for him. At this he laughed +scoffingly. + +"'You have the choice,' he said, 'of giving me half, or of my taking +everything.' And then he swore with terrible oaths that unless his +father signed the paper, that day should be his last. 'You are in my +power,' he said, 'and I am desperate. Do you think that if three dead +bodies are found in a house now any will trouble to inquire how they +came to their end? They will be tossed into the plague-cart, and none +will make inquiry about them.' + +"Hearing voices raised in anger, the old servant ran in. At once the +villain drew and ran at him, passing his sword through his body. +Then, as if transported at the sight of the blood he had shed, he +turned upon his father. It was at this moment that his mother ran to +the window and called for help. He dragged her back, and as she fell +fainting with horror and fear he again turned upon his father; his +passion grew hotter and hotter as the latter, upbraiding him with the +deed he had done, refused to sign; and there is no doubt that he +would have taken his life had you not luckily ran in at this moment. + +"It has truly been a terrible night for them. They have passed it in +prayer, and when I went this morning were both calm and composed, +though it was easy to see by their faces how they had suffered, and +how much the blow has told upon them. They have determined to save +their son from any further temptation to enrich himself by their +deaths. I fetched a lawyer for them; and when I left Mr. Harvey was +giving him instructions for drawing up his will, by which every +farthing is left away from him. They request me to go to them this +evening with two or three of our friends to witness it, as it is +necessary in a time like this that a will should be witnessed by as +many as possible, as some may be carried off by the Plague; and +should all the witnesses be dead, the will might be disputed as a +forgery. So the lawyer will bring his clerks with him, and I shall +take four or five of our friends. + +"They will return to the country as soon as their servant can be +moved. Dr. Hodges came when I was there, and gives hopes that the +cure will be a speedy one. We are going to place some men in the +house. I have among my poorer friends two men who will be glad to +establish themselves there with their wives, seeing that they will +pay no rent, and will receive wages as long as Mr. Harvey remains +there. There will thus be no fear of any repetition of the attempt. +Mr. Harvey, on my advice, will also draw up and sign a paper giving a +full account of the occurrence of last evening, and will leave this +in the hands of the lawyer. + +"This will be a protection to him should his son follow him into the +country, as he will then be able to assure him that if he proceeds to +violence suspicion will at once fall upon him, and he will be +arrested for his murder. But, indeed, the poor gentleman holds but +little to his life; and it was only on my representing to him that +this document might be the means of averting the commission of the +most terrible of all sins from the head of his son, that he agreed to +sign it. I gave him your message, and he prays me to say that, deeply +grateful as he and his wife are to you, not so much for the saving of +their lives, as for preventing their son's soul being stained by the +crime, they would indeed rather that you did not call for a time, for +they are so sorely shaken that they do not feel equal to seeing you. +You will not, I hope, take this amiss." + +"By no means," Cyril replied; "it is but a natural feeling; and, in +truth, I myself am relieved that such is their decision, for it would +be well-nigh as painful to me as to them to see them again, and to +talk over the subject." + +"By the way, Cyril, Mr. Harvey said that when you saw his son you +cried out his name, and that by the manner in which he turned upon +you it was clear that he had some cause for hating you. Is this so, +or was it merely his fancy?" + +"It was no fancy, sir. It is not long since I thwarted his attempt to +carry off the daughter of a city merchant, to whom he had represented +himself as a nobleman. He was in the act of doing so, with the aid of +some friends, when, accompanied by John Wilkes, I came up. There was +a fray, in the course of which I ran him through the shoulder. The +young lady returned home with us, and has since heartily repented of +her folly. I had not seen the man since that time till I met him +yesterday; but certainly the house was watched for some time, as I +believe, by his associates who would probably have done me an ill +turn had I gone out after nightfall." + +"That explains it, Cyril. I will tell Mr. Harvey, whose mind has been +much puzzled by your recognition of his son." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SMITTEN DOWN + + +Two days later, Cyril started at his usual hour to go to Dr. Hodges'; +but he had proceeded but a few yards when a man, who was leaning +against the wall, suddenly lurched forward and caught him round the +neck. Thinking that the fellow had been drinking, Cyril angrily tried +to shake him off. As he did so the man's hat, which had been pressed +down over his eyes, fell off, and, to his astonishment, Cyril +recognised John Harvey. + +"You villain! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, as he freed +himself from the embrace, sending his assailant staggering back +against the wall. + +The man's face lit up with a look of savage exultation.. + +"I told you you should hear from me again," he said, "and I have kept +my word. I knew the hour you went out, and I have been waiting for +you. You are a doomed man. I have the Plague, and I have breathed in +your face. Before twenty-four hours have passed you will be, as I am, +a dying man. That is a good piece of vengeance. You may be a better +swordsman than I am, but you can't fight with the Plague." + +Cyril drew back in horror. As he did so, a change came over John +Harvey's face, he muttered a few words incoherently, swayed backwards +and forwards, and then slid to the ground in a heap. A rush of blood +poured from his mouth, and he fell over dead. + +Cyril had seen more than one similar death in the streets, but the +horrible malignity of this man, and his sudden death, gave him a +terrible shock. He felt for the moment completely unmanned, and, +conscious that he was too unhinged for work, he turned and went back +to the house. + +"You look pale, lad," John Wilkes said, as Cyril went upstairs. "What +brings you back so soon?" + +"I have had rather a shock, John." And he told him of what had +happened. + +"That was enough to startle you, lad. I should say the best thing you +could do would be to take a good strong tumbler of grog, and then lay +down." + +"That I will do, and will take a dose of the medicine Dr. Hodges +makes everyone take when the infection first shows itself in a house. +As you know, I have never had any fear of the Plague hitherto. I +don't say that I am afraid of it now, but I have run a far greater +risk of catching it than I have ever done before, for until now I +have never been in actual contact with anyone with the disease." + +After a sleep Cyril rose, and feeling himself again, went to call +upon Mr. Wallace. + +"I shall not come again for a few days," he said, after telling him +what had happened, but without mentioning the name of John Harvey, +"but I will send you a note every other day by John Wilkes. If he +does not come, you will know that I have taken the malady, and in +that case, Mr. Wallace, I know that I shall have your prayers for my +recovery. I am sure that I shall be well cared for by John Wilkes." + +"Of my prayers you maybe sure, Cyril; and, indeed, I have every faith +that, should you catch the malady, you will recover from it. You have +neither well-nigh frightened yourself to death, nor have you dosed +yourself with drugs until nature was exhausted before the struggle +began. You will, I am sure, be calm and composed, and above all you +have faith in God, and the knowledge that you have done your part to +carry out His orders, and to visit the sick and aid those in sorrow." + +The next day Cyril was conscious of no change except that he felt a +disinclination to exert himself. The next morning he had a feeling of +nausea. + +"I think that I am in for it, John," he said. "But at any rate it can +do no harm to try that remedy you spoke of that is used in the East. +First of all, let us fumigate the room. As far as I have seen, the +smoke of tobacco is the best preservative against the Plague. Now do +you, John, keep a bit of tobacco in your mouth." + +"That I mostly do, lad." + +"Well, keep a bigger bit than usual, John, and smoke steadily. Still, +that will not be enough. Keep the fire burning, and an iron plate +heated to redness over it. Bring that into my room from time to time, +and burn tobacco on it. Keep the room full of smoke." + +"I will do that," John said, "but you must not have too much of it. I +am an old hand, and have many times sat in a fo'castle so full of +smoke that one could scarce see one's hands, but you are not +accustomed to it, and it may like enough make you sick." + +"There will be no harm in that, John, so that one does not push it +too far. Now, how are you going to set about this sweating process?" + +"While you undress and get into bed I will get a blanket ready. It is +to be dipped in boiling water, and then wrung out until it is as dry +as we can get it. Then you are wrapped in that, and then rolled in +five or six dry blankets to keep in the heat. You will keep in that +until you feel almost weak with sweating; then I take you out and +sponge you with warmish water, and then wrap you in another dry +blanket." + +"You had better sponge me with vinegar, John." + +Cyril undressed. When he had done so he carefully examined himself, +and his eye soon fell on a black spot on the inside of his leg, just +above the knee. It was the well-known sign of the Plague. + +"I have got it, John," he said, when the latter entered with a pile +of blankets. + +"Well, then, we have got to fight it, Master Cyril, and we will beat +it if it is to be beaten. Now, lad, for the hot blanket." + +"Lay it down on the bed, and I will wrap myself in it, and the same +with the others. Now I warn you, you are not to come nearer to me +than you can help, and above all you are not to lean over me. If you +do, I will turn you out of the room and lock the door, and fight it +out by myself. Now puff away at that pipe, and the moment you wrap me +up get the room full of smoke." + +John nodded. + +"Don't you bother about me," he growled. "I reckon the Plague ain't +going to touch such a tough old bit of seasoned mahogany as I am. +Still, I will do as you tell me." + +In a few minutes Cyril was in a profuse perspiration, in which even +his head, which was above the blankets, shared. + +"That is grand," John said complacently. + +The cloud of tobacco, with which the room was soon filled, was not +long in having the effect that John had predicted, and Cyril was soon +violently sick, which had the effect of further increasing the +perspiration. + +"You must open the window and let the smoke out a bit, John," he +gasped. "I can't stand any more of it." + +This was done, and for another hour Cyril lay between the blankets. + +"I shall faint if I lie here any longer," he said at last. "Now, +John, do you go out of the room, and don't come back again until I +call you. I see you have put the vinegar handy. It is certain that if +this is doing me any good the blankets will be infected. You say you +have got a big fire in the kitchen. Well, I shall take them myself, +and hang them up in front of it, and you are not to go into the room +till they are perfectly dry again. You had better light another fire +at once in the parlour, and you can do any cooking there. I will keep +the kitchen for my blankets." + +John nodded and left the room, and Cyril at once proceeded to unroll +the blankets. As he came to the last he was conscious of a strong +fetid odour, similar to that he had more than once perceived in +houses infected by the Plague. + +"I believe it is drawing it out of me," he said to himself. "I will +give it another trial presently." + +He first sponged himself with vinegar, and felt much refreshed. He +then wrapped himself up and lay down for a few minutes, for he felt +strangely weak. Then he got up and carried the blankets into the +kitchen, where a huge fire had been made up by John. He threw the one +that had been next to him into a tub, and poured boiling water on it, +and the others he hung on chairs round it. Then he went back to his +room, and lay down and slept for half an hour. He returned to the +kitchen and rearranged the blankets. When John saw him go back to his +room he followed him. + +"I have got some strong broth ready," he said. "Do you think that you +could take a cupful?" + +"Ay, and a good-sized one, John. I feel sure that the sweating has +done me good, and I will have another turn at it soon. You must go at +once and report that I have got it, or when the examiners come round, +and find that the Plague is in the house, you will be fined, or +perhaps imprisoned. Before you go there, please leave word at Dr. +Hodges' that I am ill, and you might also call at Mr. Wallace's and +leave the same message. Tell them, in both cases, that I have +everything that I want, and trust that I shall make a good recovery." + +"Ay, ay, sir; I will be off as soon as I have brought you in your +broth, and will be back here in half an hour." + +Cyril drank the broth, and then dozed again until John returned. When +he heard his step he called out to him to bring the hot iron, and he +filled the room with tobacco smoke before allowing him to enter. + +"Now, John, the blankets are dry, and can be handled again, and I am +ready for another cooking." + +Four times that day did Cyril undergo the sweating process. By the +evening he was as weak as a child, but his skin was soft and cool, +and he was free from all feeling of pain or uneasiness. Dr. Hodges +called half an hour after he had taken it for the last time, having +only received his message when he returned late from a terrible day's +work. Cyril had just turned in for the night. + +"Well, lad, how are you feeling? I am so sorry that I did not get +your message before." + +"I am feeling very well, doctor." + +"Your hand is moist and cool," Dr. Hodges said in surprise. "You must +have been mistaken. I see no signs whatever of the Plague." + +"There was no mistake, doctor; there were the black marks on my +thighs, but I think I have pretty well sweated it out of me." + +He then described the process he had followed, and said that John +Wilkes had told him that it was practised in the Levant. + +"Sweating is greatly used here, and I have tried it very repeatedly +among my patients, and in some cases, where I had notice of the +disease early, have saved them. Some bleed before sweating, but I +have not heard of one who did so who recovered. In many cases the +patient, from terror or from weakness of body, cannot get up the heat +required, and even if they arrive at it, have not the strength to +support it. In your case you lost no time; you had vital heat in +plenty, and you had strength to keep up the heat in full force until +you washed, as it were, the malady out of you. Henceforth I shall +order that treatment with confidence when patients come to me whom I +suspect to have the Plague, although it may not have as yet fully +declared itself. What have you done with the blankets?" + +"I would not suffer John to touch them, but carried them myself into +the kitchen. The blankets next to me I throw into a tub and pour +boiling water over them; the others I hang up before a huge fire, so +as to be dry for the next operation. I take care that John does not +enter the kitchen." + +"How often have you done this?" + +"Four times, and lay each time for an hour in the blankets. I feel +very weak, and must have lost very many pounds in weight, but my head +is clear, and I suffer no pain whatever. The marks on my legs have +not spread, and seem to me less dark in colour than they were." + +"Your case is the most hopeful that I have seen," Dr. Hodges said. +"The system has had every advantage, and to this it owes its success. +In the first place, you began it as soon as you felt unwell. Most +people would have gone on for another twelve hours before they paid +much attention to the first symptoms, and might not have noticed the +Plague marks even when they went to bed. In the second place, you are +cool and collected, and voluntarily delivered yourself to the +treatment. And in the third place, which is the most important +perhaps of all, you were in good health generally. You had not +weakened yourself by swallowing every nostrum advertised, or wearing +yourself out by vain terrors. Ninety-nine cases out of a hundred +would be probably beyond the reach of help before they were conscious +of illness, and be too weak to stand so severe a strain on the system +as that you have undergone. Another thing is that the remedy could +hardly be attempted in a house full of frightened people. There would +be sure to be carelessness in the matter of the blankets, which, +unless treated as you have done, would be a certain means of +spreading the infection over the house. At any rate, I would continue +the sweating as long as you can possibly stand it. Take nourishment +in the shape of broth frequently, but in small quantity. I would do +it again at midnight; 'tis well not to let the virus have time to +gather strength again. I see you have faith in tobacco." + +"Yes, doctor. I never let John Wilkes into the room after I have +taken a bath until it is full of tobacco smoke. I have twice made +myself ill with it to-day." + +"Don't carry it too far, lad; for although I also believe in the +virtue of the weed, 'tis a powerful poison, and you do not want to +weaken yourself. Well, I see I can do nothing for you. You and your +man seem to me to have treated the attack far more successfully than +I should have done; for, indeed, this month very few of those +attacked have recovered, whatever the treatment has been. I shall +come round early tomorrow morning to see how you are going on. At +present nothing can be better. Since the first outbreak, I have not +seen a single case in which the patient was in so fair a way towards +recovery in so short a time after the discovery of the infection." + +John Wilkes at this moment came in with a basin of broth. + +"This is my good friend, John Wilkes, doctor." + +"You ought to be called Dr. John Wilkes," the doctor, who was one of +the most famous of his time, said, with a smile, as he shook hands +with him. "Your treatment seems to be doing wonders." + +"It seems to me he is doing well, doctor, but I am afraid he is +carrying it too far; he is so weak he can hardly stand." + +"Never mind that," the doctor said; "it will be easy enough to build +him up when we have once got the Plague out of him. I have told him +to have another turn in the blankets at twelve o'clock to-night; it +will not do to let the malady get a fresh hold of him. But don't push +it too far, lad. If you begin to feel faint, stop it, even if you +have not been a quarter of an hour in the blankets. Do not cover +yourself up too warmly when you have done; let nature have a rest. I +shall be round between eight and nine, and no doubt you will have had +another bath before I come. Do not sleep in the room, Wilkes; he is +sure to go off soundly to sleep, and there is no use your running any +needless risk. Let his window stand open; indeed, it should always be +open, except when he gets out of his blankets, or is fumigating the +room. Let him have a chair by the open window, so as to get as much +fresh air as possible; but be sure that he is warmly wrapped up with +blankets, so as to avoid getting a chill. You might place a hand-bell +by the side of his bed to-night, so that he can summons you should he +have occasion." + +When the doctor came next morning he nodded approvingly as soon as he +felt Cyril's hand. + +"Nothing could be better," he said; "your pulse is even quieter than +last night. Now let me look at those spots." + +"They are fainter," Cyril said. + +"A great deal," Dr. Hodges said, in a tone of the greatest pleasure. +"Thank God, my lad, it is dying out. Not above three or four times +since the Plague began have I been able to say so. I shall go about +my work with a lighter heart today, and shall order your treatment in +every case where I see the least chance of its being carried out, but +I cannot hope that it will often prove as successful as it has with +you. You have had everything in your favour--youth, a good +constitution, a tranquil mind, an absence of fear, and a faith in +God." + +"And a good attendant, doctor--don't forget that." + +"No, that goes for a great deal, lad--for a great deal. Not one nurse +out of a hundred would carry out my instructions carefully; not one +patient in a thousand would be able to see that they were carried +out. Of course you will keep on with the treatment, but do not push +it to extremes; you have pulled yourself down prodigiously, and must +not go too far. Do you perceive any change in the odour when you take +off the blankets?" + +"Yes, doctor, a great change; I could scarcely distinguish it this +morning, and indeed allowed John Wilkes to carry them out, as I don't +think I myself could have walked as far as the kitchen, though it is +but ten or twelve paces away. I told him to smoke furiously all the +time, and to come out of the kitchen as soon as he had hung them up." + +Cyril took three more baths in the course of the day, but was only +able to sustain them for twenty minutes each, as by the end of that +time he nearly fainted. The doctor came in late in the evening. + +"The spots are gone, doctor," Cyril said. + +"Then I think you may consider yourself cured, lad. Do not take the +treatment again to-night; you can take it once in the morning; and +then if I find the spots have not reappeared by the time I come, I +shall pronounce the cure as complete, and shall begin to build you up +again." + +The doctor was able to give this opinion in the morning. + +"I shall not come again, lad, unless you send for me, for every +moment of my time is very precious, and I shall leave you in the +hands of Dr. Wilkes. All you want now is nourishment; but take it +carefully at first, and not too much at a time; stick to broths for +the next two or three days, and when you do begin with solids do so +very sparingly." + +"There was a gentleman here yesterday asking about you," John Wilkes +said, as Cyril, propped up in bed, sipped his broth. "It was Mr. +Harvey. He rang at the bell, and I went down to the lower window and +talked to him through that, for of course the watchman would not let +me go out and speak to him. I had heard you speak of him as one of +the gentlemen you met at the minister's, and he seemed muchly +interested in you. He said that you had done him a great service, and +of course I knew it was by frightening that robber away. I never saw +a man more pleased than he was when I told him that the doctor +thought you were as good as cured, and he thanked God very piously +for the same. After he had done that, he asked me first whether you +had said anything to me about him. I said that you had told me you +had met him and his wife at the minister's, and that you said you had +disturbed a robber you found at his house. He said, quite sharp, +'Nothing more?' 'No, not as I can think of. He is always doing good +to somebody,' says I, 'and never a word would he say about it, if it +did not get found out somehow. Why, he saved Prince Rupert's ship +from being blown up by a fire-vessel, and never should we have known +of it if young Lord Oliphant had not written to the Captain telling +him all about it, and saying that it was the gallantest feat done in +the battle. Then there were other things, but they were of the nature +of private affairs.' 'You can tell me about them, my good man,' he +said; 'I am no vain babbler; and as you may well believe, from what +he did for me, and for other reasons, I would fain know as much as I +can of him.' So then I told him about how you found out about the +robbery and saved master from being ruined, and how you prevented +Miss Nellie from going off with a rascal who pretended he was an +earl." + +"Then you did very wrong, John," Cyril said angrily. "I say naught +about your speaking about the robbery, for that was told in open +Court, but you ought not, on any account, to have said a word about +Mistress Nellie's affairs." + +"Well, your honour, I doubt not Mistress Nellie herself would have +told the gentleman had she been in my place. I am sure he can be +trusted not to let it go further. I took care to tell him what good +it had done Mistress Nellie, and that good had come out of evil." + +"Well, you ought not to have said anything about it, John. It may be +that Mistress Nellie out of her goodness of heart might herself have +told, but that is no reason why anyone else should do so. I charge +you in future never to open your lips about that to anyone, no matter +who. I say not that any harm will come of it in this case, for Mr. +Harvey is indeed a sober and God-fearing man, and assuredly asked +only because he felt an interest in me, and from no idle curiosity. +Still, I would rather that he had not known of a matter touching the +honour of Mistress Nellie." + +"Mum's the word in future, Master Cyril. I will keep the hatches fast +down on my tongue. Now I will push your bed up near the window as the +doctor ordered, and then I hope you will get a good long sleep." + +The Plague and the process by which it had been expelled had left +Cyril so weak that it was some days before he could walk across the +room. Every morning he inquired anxiously of John how he felt, and +the answer was always satisfactory. John had never been better in his +life; therefore, by the time Cyril was able to walk to his easy-chair +by the window, he began to hope that John had escaped the infection, +which generally declared itself within a day or two, and often within +a few hours, of the first outbreak in a house. + +A week later the doctor, who paid him a flying visit every two or +three days, gave him the welcome news that he had ordered the red +cross to be removed from the door, and the watchmen to cease their +attendance, as the house might now be considered altogether free from +infection. + +The Plague continued its ravages with but slight abatement, moving +gradually eastward, and Aldgate and the district lying east of the +walls were now suffering terribly. It was nearly the end of September +before Cyril was strong enough to go out for his first walk. Since +the beginning of August some fifty thousand people had been carried +off, so that the streets were now almost entirely deserted, and in +many places the grass was shooting up thickly in the road. In some +streets every house bore the sign of a red cross, and the tolling of +the bells of the dead-carts and piteous cries and lamentations were +the only sounds that broke the strange silence. + +The scene was so disheartening that Cyril did not leave the house +again for another fortnight. His first visit was to Mr. Wallace. The +sight of a watchman at the door gave him quite a shock, and he was +grieved indeed when he heard from the man that the brave minister had +died a fortnight before. Then he went to Mr. Harvey's. There was no +mark on the door, but his repeated knockings met with no response, +and a woman, looking out from a window opposite, called to him that +the house had been empty for well-nigh a month, and the people that +were in it had gone off in a cart, she supposed into the country. + +"There was a gentleman and lady," she said, "who seemed well enough, +and their servant, who was carried down and placed in the cart. It +could not have been the Plague, though the man looked as if he had +been sorely ill." + +The next day he called on Dr. Hodges, who had not been near him for +the last month. There was no watchman at the door, and his man opened +it. + +"Can I see the doctor?" + +"Ay, you can see him," he said; "he is cured now, and will soon be +about again." + +"Has he had the Plague, then?" + +"That he has, but it is a week now since the watchman left." + +Cyril went upstairs. The doctor was sitting, looking pale and thin, +by the window. + +"I am grieved indeed to hear that you have been ill, doctor," Cyril +said; "had I known it I should have come a fortnight since, for I was +strong enough to walk this distance then. I did indeed go out, but +the streets had so sad an aspect that I shrank from stirring out +again." + +"Yes, I have had it," the doctor said. "Directly I felt it come on I +followed your system exactly, but it had gone further with me than it +had with you, and it was a week before I fairly drove the enemy out. +I ordered sweating in every case, but, as you know, they seldom sent +for me until too late, and it is rare that the system got a fair +chance. However, in my case it was a complete success. Two of my +servants died; they were taken when I was at my worst. Both were dead +before I was told of it. The man you saw was the one who waited on +me, and as I adopted all the same precautions you had taken with your +man, he did not catch it, and it was only when he went downstairs one +day and found the other two servants lying dead in the kitchen that +he knew they had been ill." + +"Mr. Wallace has gone, you will be sorry to hear, sir." + +"I am sorry," the doctor said; "but no one was more fitted to die. He +was a brave man and a true Christian, but he ran too many risks, and +your news does not surprise me." + +"The only other friends I have, Mr. Harvey and his wife, went out of +town a month ago, taking with them their servant." + +"Yes; I saw them the day before I was taken ill," the doctor said, +"and told them that the man was so far out of danger that he might +safely be moved. They seemed very interested in you, and were very +pleased when I told them that I had now given up attending you, and +that you were able to walk across the room, and would, erelong, be +yourself again. I hope we are getting to the end of it now, lad. As +the Plague travels East it abates in the West, and the returns for +the last week show a distinct fall in the rate of mortality. There is +no further East for it to go now, and I hope that in another few +weeks it will have worn itself out. We are half through October, and +may look for cold weather before long." + +"I should think that I am strong enough to be useful again now, sir." + +"I don't think you are strong enough, and I am sure I shall not give +you leave to do so," the doctor said. "I can hardly say how far a +first attack is a protection against a second, for the recoveries +have been so few that we have scarce means of knowing, but there +certainly have been cases where persons have recovered from a first +attack and died from a second. Your treatment is too severe to be +gone through twice, and it is, therefore, more essential that you +should run no risk of infection than it was before. I can see that +you are still very far from strong, and your duty now is, in the +first place, to regain your health. I should say get on board a hoy +and go to Yarmouth. A week in the bracing air there would do you more +good than six months here. But it is useless to give you that advice, +because, in the first place, no shipping comes up the river, and, +even if you could get down to Yarmouth by road, no one would receive +you. Still, that is what I should do myself as soon as I could get +away, were it not that, in my case, I have my duties here." + +"But, doctor, what you said to me surely applies to yourself also?" +Cyril said, with a smile. + +"I know that," the doctor said good-humouredly, "and expected it, but +it is not for a doctor to choose. He is not free, like other men; he +has adopted a vocation in which it is his first duty to go among the +sick, whatever their ailment may be, to do all that he can for them, +and if, as in the present case, he can do practically nothing else, +to set them an example of calmness and fearlessness. Still, for a +time, at any rate, I shall be able to go no more into houses where +the Plague is raging. 'Tis more than a month since you were cured, +yet you are still a mere shadow of what you were. I had a much harder +fight with the enemy, and cannot walk across the room yet without +William's help. Therefore, it will be a fortnight or three weeks yet +before I can see patients, and much longer before I shall have +strength to visit them in their houses. By that time I trust that the +Plague will have very greatly abated. Thus, you see, I shall not be +called upon to stand face to face with it for some time. Those who +call upon me here are seldom Plague-stricken. They come for other +ailments, or because they feel unwell, and are nervous lest it should +be the beginning of an attack; but of late I have had very few come +here. My patients are mostly of the middle class, and these have +either fled or fallen victims to the Plague, or have shut themselves +up in their houses like fortresses, and nothing would tempt them to +issue abroad. Therefore, I expect that I shall have naught to do but +to gain strength again. Come here when you will, lad, and the oftener +the better. Conversation is the best medicine for both of us, and as +soon as I can I will visit you. I doubt not that John Wilkes has many +a story of the sea that will take our thoughts away from this sad +city. Bring him with you sometimes; he is an honest fellow, and the +talk of sailors so smacks of the sea that it seems almost to act as a +tonic." + +Cyril stayed for an hour, and promised to return on the following +evening. He said, however, that he was sure John Wilkes would not +accompany him. + +"He never leaves the house unless I am in it. He considers himself on +duty; and although, as I tell him, there is little fear of anyone +breaking in, seeing how many houses with much more valuable and more +portable goods are empty and deserted, he holds to his purpose, +saying that, even with the house altogether empty, it would be just +as much his duty to remain in charge." + +"Well, come yourself, Cyril. If we cannot get this old watch-dog out +I must wait until I can go to him." + +"I shall be very glad to come, doctor, for time hangs heavily on my +hands. John Wilkes spends hours every day in washing and scrubbing +decks, as he calls it, and there are but few books in the house." + +"As to that, I can furnish you, and will do so gladly. Go across to +the shelves there, and choose for yourself." + +"Thank you very much indeed, sir. But will you kindly choose for me? +I have read but few English books, for of course in France my reading +was entirely French." + +"Then take Shakespeare. I hold his writings to be the finest in our +tongue. I know them nearly by heart, for there is scarce an evening +when I do not take him down for an hour, and reading him I forget the +worries and cares of my day's work, which would otherwise often keep +me from sleep. 'Tis a bulky volume, but do not let that discourage +you; it is full of wit and wisdom, and of such romance that you will +often find it hard to lay it down. Stay--I have two editions, and can +well spare one of them, so take the one on that upper shelf, and keep +it when you have read it. There is but little difference between +them, but I generally use the other, and have come to look upon it as +a friend." + +"Nay, sir, I will take it as a loan." + +"You will do nothing of the sort. I owe you a fee, and a bumping +one." + +Henceforth Cyril did not find his time hang heavy on his hands. It +seemed to him, as he sat at the window and read, that a new world +opened to him. His life had been an eminently practical one. He had +studied hard in France, and when he laid his books aside his time had +been spent in the open air. It was only since he had been with +Captain Dave that he had ever read for amusement, and the Captain's +library consisted only of a few books of travels and voyages. He had +never so much as dreamt of a book like this, and for the next few +days he devoured its pages. + +"You are not looking so well, Cyril," Dr. Hodges said to him abruptly +one day. + +"I am doing nothing but reading Shakespeare, doctor." + +"Then you are doing wrong, lad. You will never build yourself up +unless you take exercise." + +"The streets are so melancholy, doctor, and whenever I go out I +return sick at heart and in low spirits." + +"That I can understand, lad. But we must think of something," and he +sat for a minute or two in silence. Then he said suddenly, "Do you +understand the management of a boat?" + +"Yes, doctor; it was my greatest pleasure at Dunkirk to be out with +the fishermen." + +"That will do, then. Go down at once to the riverside. There are +hundreds of boats lying idle there, for there are no passengers and +no trade, and half of their owners are dead. You are sure to see some +men there; having nothing else to do, some will be hanging about. Say +you want to hire a boat for a couple of months or to buy one. You +will probably get one for a few shillings. Get one with a sail as +well as oars. Go out the first thing after breakfast, and go up or +down the river as the tide or wind may suit. Take some bread and meat +with you, and don't return till supper-time. Then you can spend your +evenings with Shakespeare. Maybe I myself will come down and take a +sail with you sometimes. That will bring the colour back into your +cheeks, and make a new man of you. Would that I had thought of it +before!" + +Cyril was delighted with the idea, and, going down to Blackfriars, +bought a wherry with a sail for a pound. Its owner was dead, but he +learned where the widow lived, and effected the bargain without +difficulty, for she was almost starving. + +"I have bought it," he said, "because it may be that I may get it +damaged or sunk; but I only need it for six weeks or two months, and +at the end of that time I will give it you back again. As soon as the +Plague is over there will be work for boats, and you will be able to +let it, or to sell it at a fair price." + +John Wilkes was greatly pleased when Cyril came back and told him +what he had done. + +"That is the very thing for you," he said. "I have been a thick-head +not to think of it. I have been worrying for the last week at seeing +you sit there and do nothing but read, and yet there seemed nothing +else for you to do, for ten minutes out in the streets is enough to +give one the heartache. Maybe I will go out for a sail with you +myself sometimes, for there is no fear of the house being broken into +by daylight." + +"Not in the slightest, John. I hope that you will come out with me +always. I should soon find it dull by myself, and besides, I don't +think that I am strong enough yet to manage a pair of sculls for +long, and one must reckon occasionally on having to row against the +tide. Even if the worst happened, and anyone did break in and carry +off a few things, I am sure Captain Dave would not grumble at the +loss when he knew that I had wanted you to come out and help me to +manage the boat, which I was ordered to use for my health's sake." + +"That he wouldn't," John said heartily; "not if they stripped the +house and shop of everything there was in them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE + + +Having finally disposed of John Wilkes's scruples as to leaving the +house during the daytime, Cyril thenceforth went out with him every +day. If the tide was in flood they rowed far up the river, and came +down on the ebb. If it was running out they went down as far as it +would take them. Whenever the wind was favourable they hoisted the +sail; at other times, they rowed. The fresh air, and the exercise, +soon did their work. Cyril at first could only take one scull, and +that only for a short time, but at the end of a fortnight was able to +manage both for a time, or to row with one for hours. The feeling of +lassitude which had oppressed him passed away speedily, the colour +came back to his cheeks, his muscles strengthened, and he began to +put on flesh. + +They were now in November, and needed warm garments when on the +water, and John insisted on completely muffling him up whenever they +hoisted the sail; but the colder weather braced him up, and he was +often inclined to shout with pleasure as the wind drove the boat +along before it. + +It was cheering to know that others were benefiting by the change. In +the week ending October 3rd the deaths officially given were 4,328, +though at least another thousand must be added to this, for great +numbers of deaths from the Plague were put down to other causes, and +very many, especially those of infants, were never counted at all. It +was said that as many people were infected as ever, but that the +virulence of the disease was abated, and that, whereas in August +scarce one of those attacked recovered, in October but one out of +every three died of the malady. + +In the second week of October, the number of deaths by the Plague was +but 2,665, and only 1,250 in the third week, though great numbers +were still attacked. People, however, grew careless, and ran +unnecessary risks, and, in consequence, in the first week of November +the number of deaths rose by 400. After this it decreased rapidly, +and the people who had fled began to come back again--the more so +because it had now spread to other large cities, and it seemed that +there was less danger in London, where it had spent its force, than +in places where it had but lately broken out. The shops began to open +again, and the streets to reassume their former appearance. + +Cyril had written several times to Captain Dowsett, telling him how +matters were going on, and in November, hearing that they were +thinking of returning, he wrote begging them not to do so. + +"Many of those who have returned have fallen sick, and died," he +said. "It seems to me but a useless risk of life, after taking so +much pains to avoid infection, to hurry back before the danger has +altogether passed. In your case, Captain Dave, there is the less +reason for it, since there is no likelihood of the shipping trade +being renewed for the present. All the ports of Europe are closed to +our ships, and it is like to be a long time before they lose fear of +us. Even the coasting trade is lost for the present. Therefore, my +advice is very strongly against your returning for some weeks. All is +going on well here. I am getting quite strong again, and, by the +orders of the doctor, go out with John daily for a long row, and have +gained much benefit from it. John sends his respects. He says that +everything is ship-shape above and below, and the craft holding well +on her way. He also prays you not to think of returning at present, +and says that it would be as bad seamanship, as for a captain who has +made a good offing in a gale, and has plenty of sea-room, to run down +close to a rocky shore under the lee, before the storm has altogether +blown itself out." + +Captain Dave took the advice, and only returned with his wife and +Nellie a week before Christmas. + +"I am glad indeed to be back," he said, after the first greetings +were over. "'Twas well enough for the women, who used to help in the +dairy, and to feed the fowls, and gather the eggs, and make the +butter, but for me there was nothing to do, and it seemed as if the +days would never come to an end." + +"It was not so bad as that, father," Nellie said. "First of all, you +had your pipe to smoke. Then, once a week you used to go over with +the market-cart to Gloucester and to look at the shipping there, and +talk with the masters and sailors. Then, on a Sunday, of course, +there was church. So there were only five days each week to get +through; and you know you took a good deal of interest in the horses +and cows and pigs." + +"I tried to take an interest in them, Nellie; but it was very hard +work." + +"Well, father, that is just what you were saying you wanted, and I am +sure you spent hours every day walking about with the children, or +telling them stories." + +"Well, perhaps, when I think of it, it was not so very bad after +all," Captain Dave admitted. "At any rate, I am heartily glad I am +back here again. We will open the shop to-morrow morning, John." + +"That we will, master. We sha'n't do much trade at present. Still, a +few coasters have come in, and I hope that every day things will get +better. Besides, all the vessels that have been lying in the Pool +since June will want painting up and getting into trim again before +they sail out of the river, so things may not be so slack after all. +You will find everything in order in the store. I have had little to +do but to polish up brass work and keep the metal from rusting. When +do the apprentices come back again?" + +"I shall write for them as soon as I find that there is something for +them to do. You are not thinking of running away as soon as we come +back I hope, Cyril? You said, when you last wrote, that you were fit +for sea again." + +"I am not thinking of going for some little time, if you will keep +me, Captain Dave. There is no news of the Fleet fitting out at +present, and they will not want us on board till they are just ready +to start. They say that Albemarle is to command this time instead of +the Duke, at which I am right glad, for he has fought the Dutch at +sea many times, and although not bred up to the trade, he has shown +that he can fight as steadily on sea as on land. All say the Duke +showed courage and kept a firm countenance at Lowestoft, but there +was certainly great slackness in the pursuit, though this, 'tis said, +was not so much his fault as that of those who were over-careful of +his safety. Still, as he is the heir to the throne, it is but right +that he should be kept out of the fighting." + +"It is like to be stern work next time, Cyril, if what I hear be +true. Owing partly to all men's minds being occupied by the Plague, +and partly to the great sums wasted by the King in his pleasures, +nothing whatever has been done for the Fleet. Of course, the squadron +at sea has taken great numbers of prizes; but the rest of the Fleet +is laid up, and no new ships are being built, while they say that the +Dutch are busy in all their ship-yards, and will send out a much +stronger fleet this spring than that which fought us at Lowestoft. I +suppose you have not heard of any of your grand friends?" + +"No. I should have written to Sydney Oliphant, but I knew not whether +he was at sea or at home, and, moreover, I read that most folks in +the country are afraid of letters from London, thinking that they +might carry contagion. Many noblemen have now returned to the West +End, and when I hear that the Earl has also come back with his family +it will, of course, be my duty to wait upon him, and on Prince Rupert +also. But I hope the Prince will not be back yet, for he will be +wanting me to go to Court again, and for this, in truth, I have no +inclination, and, moreover, it cannot be done without much expense +for clothes, and I have no intention to go into expenses on follies +or gew-gaws, or to trench upon the store of money that I had from +you, Captain Dave." + +They had just finished breakfast on the day before Christmas, when +one of the apprentices came up from the shop and said that one Master +Goldsworthy, a lawyer in the Temple, desired to speak to Sir Cyril +Shenstone. Cyril was about to go down when Captain Dave said,-- + +"Show the gentleman up, Susan. We will leave you here to him, Cyril." + +"By no means," Cyril said. "I do not know him, and he can assuredly +have no private business with me that you may not hear." + +Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter, however, left the room. The lawyer, a +grave-looking gentleman of some fifty years of age, glanced at Cyril +and the Captain as he entered the room, and then advanced towards the +former. + +"My name is unknown to you, Sir Cyril," he said, "but it has been +said that a bearer of good news needs no introduction, and I come in +that capacity. I bring you, sir, a Christmas-box," and he took from a +bag he carried a bundle of some size, and a letter. "Before you open +it, sir, I will explain the character of its contents, which would +take you some time to decipher and understand, while I can explain +them in a very few words. I may tell you that I am the legal adviser +of Mr. Ebenezer Harvey, of Upmead Court, Norfolk. You are, I presume, +familiar with the name?" + +Cyril started. Upmead Court was the name of his father's place, but +with the name of its present owner he was not familiar. Doubtless, he +might sometimes have heard it from his father, but the latter, when +he spoke of the present possessor of the Court, generally did so as +"that Roundhead dog," or "that canting Puritan." + +"The Court I know, sir," he said gravely, "as having once been my +father's, but I do not recall the name of its present owner, though +it may be that in my childhood my father mentioned it in my hearing." + +"Nevertheless, sir, you know the gentleman himself, having met him, +as he tells me, frequently at the house of Mr. Wallace, who was +minister of the chapel at which he worshipped, and who came up to +London to minister to those sorely afflicted and needing comfort. Not +only did you meet with Mr. Harvey and his wife, but you rendered to +them very material service." + +"I was certainly unaware," Cyril said, "that Mr. Harvey was the +possessor of what had been my father's estate, but, had I known it, +it would have made no difference in my feeling towards him. I found +him a kind and godly gentleman whom, more than others there, was good +enough to converse frequently with me, and to whom I was pleased to +be of service." + +"The service was of a most important nature," the lawyer said, "being +nothing less than the saving of his life, and probably that of his +wife. He sent for me the next morning, and then drew out his will. By +that will he left to you the estates which he had purchased from your +father." + +Cyril gave a start of surprise, and would have spoken, but Master +Goldsworthy held up his hand, and said,-- + +"Please let me continue my story to the end. This act was not the +consequence of the service that you had rendered him. He had +previously consulted me on the subject, and stated his intentions to +me. He had met you at Mr. Wallace's, and at once recognised your +name, and learnt from Mr. Wallace that you were the son of Sir Aubrey +Shenstone. He studied your character, had an interview with Dr. +Hodges, and learnt how fearlessly you were devoting yourself to the +work of aiding those stricken with the Plague. With his own son he +had reason for being profoundly dissatisfied. The young man had +thrown off his authority, had become a notorious reprobate, and had, +he believed, sunk down to become a companion of thieves and +highwaymen. He had come up to London solely to make a last effort to +save him from his evil courses and to give him a chance of +reformation by sending him out to New England. + +"Mr. Harvey is possessed of considerable property in addition to the +estates purchased of your father, for, previous to that purchase he +had been the owner of large tanneries at Norwich, which he has ever +since maintained, not so much for the sake of the income he derived +from them as because they afforded a livelihood to a large number of +workmen. He had, therefore, ample means to leave to his son, should +the latter accept his offer and reform his life, without the estates +of Upmead. When he saw you, he told me his conscience was moved. He +had, of course, a legal right to the estates, but he had purchased +them for a sum not exceeding a fifth of their value, and he +considered that in the twenty years he had held them he had drawn +from them sums amply sufficient to repay him for the price he had +given for them, and had received a large interest on the money in +addition. He questioned, therefore, strongly whether he had any right +longer to retain them. + +"When he consulted me on the subject, he alluded to the fact that, by +the laws of the Bible, persons who bought lands were bound to return +the land to its former possessors, at the end of seven times seven +years. He had already, then, made up his mind to leave that portion +of his property to you, when you rendered him that great service, and +at the same time it became, alas! but too evident to him that his son +was hopelessly bad, and that any money whatever left to him would +assuredly be spent in evil courses, and would do evil rather than +good. Therefore, when I came in the morning to him he said,-- + +"'My will must be made immediately. Not one penny is to go to my son. +I may be carried off to-morrow by the Plague, or my son may renew his +attempt with success. So I must will it away from him at once. For +the moment, therefore, make a short will bequeathing the estate of +Upmead to Sir Cyril Shenstone, all my other possessions to my wife +for her lifetime, and at her death also to Sir Cyril Shenstone. + +"'I may alter this later on,' he said, 'but for the present I desire +chiefly to place them beyond my son's reach. Please draw up the +document at once, for no one can say what half an hour may bring +forth to either of us. Get the document in form by this evening, when +some friends will be here to witness it. Pray bring your two clerks +also!' + +"A few days later he called upon me again. + +"'I have been making further inquiries about Sir Cyril Shenstone,' he +said, 'and have learnt much concerning him from a man who is in the +employment of the trader with whom he lives. What I have learnt more +than confirms me in my impression of him. He came over from France, +three years ago, a boy of scarce fourteen. He was clever at figures, +and supported his reprobate father for the last two years of his life +by keeping the books of small traders in the City. So much was he +esteemed that, at his father's death, Captain Dowsett offered him a +home in his house. He rewarded the kindness by making the discovery +that the trader was being foully robbed, and brought about the arrest +of the thieves, which incidentally led to the breaking-up of one of +the worst gangs of robbers in London. Later on he found that his +employer's daughter was in communication with a hanger-on of the +Court, who told her that he was a nobleman. The young fellow set a +watch upon her, came upon her at the moment she was about to elope +with this villain, ran him through the shoulder, and took her back to +her home, and so far respected her secret that her parents would +never have known of it had she not, some time afterwards, confessed +it to them. That villain, Mr. Goldsworthy,' he said, 'was my son! +Just after that Sir Cyril obtained the good will of the Earl of +Wisbech, whose three daughters he saved from being burnt to death at +a fire in the Savoy. Thus, you see, this youth is in every way worthy +of good fortune, and can be trusted to administer the estate of his +fathers worthily and well. I wish you to draw out, at once, a deed +conveying to him these estates, and rehearsing that, having obtained +them at a small price, and having enjoyed them for a time long enough +to return to me the money I paid for them with ample interest +thereon, I now return them to him, confident that they will be in +good hands, and that their revenues will be worthily spent.' + +"In this parcel is the deed in question, duly signed and witnessed, +together with the parchments, deeds, and titles of which he became +possessed at his purchase of the estate. I may say, Sir Cyril, that I +have never carried out a legal transfer with greater pleasure to +myself, considering, as I do, that the transaction is alike just and +honourable on his part and most creditable to yourself. He begged me +to hand the deeds to you myself. They were completed two months +since, but he himself suggested that I should bring them to you on +Christmas Eve, when it is the custom for many to give to their +friends tokens of their regard and good will. I congratulate you +heartily, sir, and rejoice that, for once, merit has met with a due +reward." + +"I do not know, sir," Cyril replied, "how I can express my feelings +of deep pleasure and gratitude at the wonderful tidings you have +brought me. I had set it before me as the great object of my life, +that, some day, should I live to be an old man, I might be enabled to +repurchase the estate of my father's. I knew how improbable it was +that I should ever be able to do so, and I can scarce credit that +what seemed presumptuous even as a hope should have thus been so +strangely and unexpectedly realised. I certainly do not feel that it +is in any way due to what you are good enough to call my merits, for +in all these matters that you have spoken of there has been nothing +out of the way, or, so far as I can see, in any way praiseworthy, in +what I have done. It would seem, indeed, that in all these matters, +and in the saving of my life from the Plague, things have arranged +themselves so as to fall out for my benefit." + +"That is what Mr. Harvey feels very strongly, Sir Cyril. He has told +me, over and over again, that it seemed to him that the finger of God +was specially manifest in thus bringing you together, and in placing +you in a position to save his life. And now I will take my leave. I +may say that in all legal matters connected with the estate I have +acted for Mr. Harvey, and should be naturally glad if you will +continue to entrust such matters to me. I have some special +facilities in the matter, as Mr. Popham, a lawyer of Norwich, is +married to my daughter, and we therefore act together in all business +connected with the estate, he performing what may be called the local +business, while I am advised by him as to matters requiring attention +here in London." + +"I shall be glad indeed if you and Mr. Popham will continue to act in +the same capacity for me," Cyril said warmly. "I am, as you see, very +young, and know nothing of the management of an estate, and shall be +grateful if you will, in all matters, act for me until I am of an age +to assume the duties of the owner of Upmead." + +"I thank you, Sir Cyril, and we shall, I trust, afford you +satisfaction. The deed, you will observe, is dated the 29th of +September, the day on which it was signed, though there have been +other matters to settle. The tenants have already been notified that +from that date they are to regard you as their landlord. Now that you +authorise us to act for you, my son-in-law will at once proceed to +collect the rents for this quarter. I may say that, roughly, they +amount to seventeen hundred pounds a year, and as it may be a +convenience to you to draw at once, if it so please you I will place, +on Monday next, the sum of four hundred pounds to your credit with +Messrs. Murchison and Graham, who are my bankers, or with any other +firm you may prefer." + +"With the bankers you name, by all means," Cyril said; "and I thank +you heartily for so doing, for as I shall shortly rejoin the Fleet, a +portion, at least, of the money will be very useful to me." + +Mr. Goldsworthy took his hat. + +"There is one thing further I have forgotten. Mr. Harvey requested me +to say that he wished for no thanks in this matter. He regards it as +an act of rightful restitution, and, although you will doubtless +write to him, he would be pleased if you will abstain altogether from +treating it as a gift." + +"I will try to obey his wishes," Cyril said, "but it does not seem to +me that it will be possible for me to abstain from any expression of +gratitude for his noble act." + +Cyril accompanied the lawyer to the door, and then returned upstairs. + +"Now I can speak," Captain Dowsett said. "I have had hard work to +keep a stopper on my tongue all this time, for I have been well-nigh +bursting to congratulate you. I wish you joy, my lad," and he wrung +Cyril's hand heartily, "and a pleasant voyage through life. I am as +glad, ay, and a deal more glad than if such a fortune had come in my +way, for it would have been of little use to me, seeing I have all +that the heart of man could desire." + +He ran to the door and shouted loudly for his wife and daughter. + +"I have news for you both," he said, as they came in. "What do you +think? Cyril, like the King, has come to his own again, and he is now +Sir Cyril Shenstone, the owner of the estate of Upmead." + +Both broke into exclamations of surprise and pleasure. + +"How has the wonder come about?" Nellie asked, after the first +congratulations were over. "What good fairy has brought this round?" + +"The good fairy was the Mr. Harvey whose name Cyril once mentioned +casually, and whose life, as it now appears, he saved, though he has +said nothing to us about it. That gentleman was, most strangely, the +man who bought the estate from his father. He, it seems, is a wealthy +man, and his conscience has for some time been pricked with the +thought that he had benefited too largely from the necessities of Sir +Aubrey, and that, having received back from the rents all the money +he paid, and goodly interest thereon, he ought to restore the estate +to its former owner. Possibly he might never have acted on this +thought, but he considered the circumstance that he had so strangely +met Cyril here at the time of the Plague, and still more strangely +that Cyril had saved his life, was a matter of more than chance, and +was a direct and manifest interposition of Providence; and he has +therefore made restitution, and that parcel on the table contains a +deed of gift to Cyril of all his father's estates." + +"He has done quite rightly," Mrs. Dowsett said warmly, "though, +indeed, it is not everyone who would see matters in that light. If +men always acted in that spirit it would be a better world." + +"Ay, ay, wife. There are not many men who, having got the best of a +bargain, voluntarily resign the profits they have made. It is +pleasant to come across one who so acts, more especially when one's +best friend is the gainer. Ah! Nellie, what a pity some good fairy +did not tell you of what was coming! What a chance you have lost, +girl! See what might have happened if you had set your cap at Cyril!" + +"Indeed, it is terrible to think of," Nellie laughed. "It was hard on +me that he was not five or six years older. Then I might have done +it, even if my good fairy had not whispered in my ear about this +fortune. Never mind. I shall console myself by looking forward to +dance at his wedding--that is, if he will send me an invitation." + +"Like as not you will be getting past your dancing days by the time +that comes off, Nellie. I hope that, years before then, I shall have +danced at your wedding--that is to say," he said, imitating her, "if +you will send me an invitation." + +"What are you going to do next, Cyril?" Captain Dave asked, when the +laugh had subsided. + +"I don't know, I am sure," Cyril replied. "I have not really woke up +to it all yet. It will be some time before I realise that I am not a +penniless young baronet, and that I can spend a pound without looking +at it a dozen times. I shall have to get accustomed to the thought +before I can make any plans. I suppose that one of the first things +to do will be to go down to Oxford to see Prince Rupert--who, I +suppose, is with the Court, though this I can doubtless learn at the +offices of the Admiralty--and to tell him that I am ready to rejoin +his ship as soon as he puts to sea again. Then I shall find out where +Sydney Oliphant is, and how his family have fared in the Plague. I +would fain find out what has become of the Partons, to whom, and +especially to Lady Parton, I owe much. I suppose, too, I shall have +to go down to Norfolk, but that I shall put off as long as I can, for +it will be strange and very unpleasant at first to go down as master +to a place I have never seen. I shall have to get you to come down +with me, Captain Dave, to keep me in countenance." + +"Not I, my lad. You will want a better introducer. I expect that the +lawyer who was here will give you a letter to his son-in-law, who +will, of course, place himself at your service, establishing you in +your house and taking you round to your tenants." + +"Oh, yes," Nellie said, clapping her hands. "And there will be fine +doings, and bonfires, and arches, and all sorts of festivities. I do +begin to feel how much I have missed the want of that good fairy." + +"It will be all very disagreeable," Cyril said seriously; whereat the +others laughed. + +Cyril then went downstairs with Captain Dave, and told John Wilkes of +the good fortune that had befallen him, at which he was as much +delighted as the others had been. + +Ten days later Cyril rode to Oxford, and found that Prince Rupert was +at present there. The Prince received him with much warmth. + +"I have wondered many times what had become of you, Sir Cyril," he +said. "From the hour when I saw you leave us in the _Fan Fan_ I have +lost sight of you altogether. I have not been in London since, for +the Plague had set in badly before the ships were laid up, and as I +had naught particular to do there I kept away from it. Albemarle has +stayed through it, and he and Mr. Pepys were able to do all there was +to do, but I have thought of you often and wondered how you fared, +and hoped to see you here, seeing that there was, as it seemed to me, +nothing to keep you in London after your wounds had healed. I have +spoken often to the King of the brave deed by which you saved us all, +and he declared that, had it not been that you were already a +baronet, he would knight you as soon as you appeared, as many of the +captains and others have already received that honour; and he agreed +with me that none deserved it better than yourself. Now, what has +become of you all this time?" + +Cyril related how he had stayed in London, had had the Plague, and +had recovered from it. + +"I must see about getting you a commission at once in the Navy," the +Prince said, "though I fear you will have to wait until we fit out +again. There will be no difficulty then, for of course there were +many officers killed in the action." + +Cyril expressed his thanks, adding,-- + +"There is no further occasion for me to take a commission, Prince, +for, strangely enough, the owner of my father's property has just +made it over to me. He is a good man, and, considering that he has +already reaped large benefits by his purchase, and has been repaid +his money with good interest, his conscience will no longer suffer +him to retain it." + +"Then he is a Prince of Roundheads," the Prince said, "and I most +heartily congratulate you; and I believe that the King will be as +pleased as I am. He said but the other day, when I was speaking to +him of you, that it grieved him sorely that he was powerless to do +anything for so many that had suffered in his cause, and that, after +the bravery you had shown, he was determined to do something, and +would insist with his ministers that some office should be found for +you,--though it is not an easy matter, when each of them has special +friends of his own among whom to divide any good things that fall +vacant. He holds a Court this evening, and I will take you with me." + +The King was most gracious when the Prince again presented Cyril to +him and told him of the good fortune that had befallen him. + +"By my faith, Sir Cyril, you were born under a lucky star. First of +all you saved my Lord of Wisbech's daughters; then, as Prince Rupert +tells me, you saved him and all on board his ship from being burned; +and now a miracle has well-nigh happened in your favour. I see, too, +that you have the use of your arm, which the Prince doubted would +ever altogether recover." + +"More still, Your Majesty," the Prince said. "He had the Plague in +August and recovered from it." + +"I shall have to keep you about me, Sir Cyril," the King said, "as a +sort of amulet to guard me against ill luck." + +"I am going to take him to sea first," Prince Rupert broke in, seeing +that Cyril was about to disclaim the idea of coming to Court. "I may +want him to save my ship again, and I suppose he will be going down +to visit his estate till I want him. You have never seen it, have +you, Sir Cyril?" + +"No, sir; at least not to have any remembrance of it. I naturally +long to see Upmead, of which I have heard much from my father. I +should have gone down at once, but I thought it my duty to come +hither and report myself to you as being ready to sail again as soon +as you put to sea." + +"Duty first and pleasure afterwards," the King said. "I am afraid +that is a little beyond me--eh, Rupert?" + +"Very much so, I should say, Cousin Charles," the Prince replied, +with a smile. "However, I have no doubt Sir Cyril will not grudge us +a few days before he leaves. There are several of the gentlemen who +were his comrades on the _Henrietta_ here, and they will be glad to +renew their acquaintance with him, knowing, as they all do, that they +owe their lives to him." + +As Cyril was walking down the High Street, he saw a student coming +along whose face seemed familiar to him. He looked hard at him. + +"Surely you must be Harry Parton?" he said. + +"That is my name, sir; though I cannot recall where I have met you. +Yet there seems something familiar in your face, and still more in +your voice." + +"I am Cyril Shenstone." + +"Why, what has become of you, Cyril?" Harry said, shaking him warmly +by the hand. "I searched for you a year ago when I was in London, but +could obtain no tidings whatever of you, save that you had lost your +father. We are alike there, for my father died a few months after +yours did." + +"I am sorry indeed, Harry. I had not heard of it before. I was not, +indeed, in the way of doing so, as I was working in the City and knew +nothing of what was passing elsewhere." + +"This is my college, Cyril. Come up to my room; there we can talk +comfortably, and we have much to tell each other. How is it that you +have never been near us?" he went on, when they were seated in front +of a blazing fire in his room. "I know that there was some quarrel +between our fathers, but when we heard of Sir Aubrey's death, both my +father and mother thought that you would come to see us or would have +written--for indeed it was not until after my father's death that we +paid a visit to London. It was then my mother asked me to search for +you; and after great difficulty I found the quarter in which you had +lived, and then from the parish register learned where your father +had died. Going there, I learned that you had left the lodging +directly after his death, but more than that the people could not +tell me." + +"I should have come to see your mother and Sir John, Harry. I know +how deeply I am indebted to them, and as long as I live shall never +cease to be grateful for Lady Parton's kindness to me. But I had +received so much kindness that I shrank from seeming to wish to +presume upon it further. I had, of course, to work for my living, and +I wanted, before I recalled myself to them, to be able to say that I +had not come as a beggar for further favours, but that I was making +my way independently. Sooner or later I should have come, for your +father once promised me that if I followed out what you remember was +my plan, of entering foreign service, he would give me letters of +introduction that would be useful to me. Had I that favour still to +ask I could do it without shame. But more than that I would not have +asked, even had I wanted bread, which, thank God! was never the +case." + +"I can understand your feeling, Cyril, but my mother assuredly would +always have been pleased to see you. You know you were a favourite of +hers." + +"Had you been near town, Harry, I should certainly have come to see +her and you as soon as I had fairly established myself, but I heard +from my father that you had all gone away into the country soon after +the unfortunate quarrel he had with Sir John, and therefore delayed +taking any step for the time, and indeed did not know in what part of +the country your father's estates lay. I know that he recovered them +as soon as he returned." + +"They had never been forfeited," Harry said. "My father retired from +the struggle after Naseby, and as he had influential friends among +the Puritans, there was no forfeiture of his estates, and we were +therefore able, as you know, to live in comfort at Dunkirk, his +steward sending over such monies as were required. And now about +yourself. Your brains must have served you rarely somehow, for you +are dressed in the latest fashion, and indeed I took you for a Court +gallant when you accosted me." + +"I have been truly fortunate, Harry, and indeed everything has turned +out as if specially designed for my good, and, in a most strange and +unlooked-for manner, I have just come into my father's estates +again." + +"I am glad indeed to hear it, Cyril. Tell me how it has all come +about." + +Cyril told the story of his life since he had come to London. + +"You have, indeed, had strange adventures, Cyril, and, though you say +little about it, you must have done something special to have gained +Prince Rupert's patronage and introduction to Court; but I shall worm +all that out of you some day, or get it from other lips. What a +contrast your life has been to mine! Here have you been earning your +living bravely, fighting in the great battle against the Dutch, going +through that terrible Plague, and winning your way back to fortune, +while I have been living the life of a school-boy. Our estates lie in +Shropshire, and as soon as we went down there my father placed me at +a school at Shrewsbury. There I remained till his death, and then, as +was his special wish, entered here. I have still a year of my course +to complete. I only came up into residence last week. When the summer +comes I hope that you will come down to Ardleigh and stay with us; it +will give my mother great pleasure to see you again, for I never see +her but she speaks of you, and wonders what has become of you, and if +you are still alive." + +"Assuredly I will come, and that with the greatest pleasure," Cyril +said, "providing only that I am not then at sea, which is, I fear, +likely, as I rejoin the ship as soon as Prince Rupert takes the sea +against the Dutch. However, directly we return I will write to you." + +"If you do so, let it be to Ardleigh, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. +Should I be here when your letter arrives, my mother will forward it +to me." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +TAKING POSSESSION + + +Cyril stayed a week at Oxford. He greatly enjoyed the visit; and not +only was he most warmly received by his former comrades on board the +_Henrietta_, but Prince Rupert spoke so strongly in his favour to +other gentlemen to whom he introduced him that he no longer felt a +stranger at Court. Much of his spare time he spent with Harry Parton, +and in his rooms saw something of college life, which seemed to him a +very pleasant and merry one. He had ascertained, as soon as he +arrived, that the Earl of Wisbech and his family were down at his +estate, near the place from which he took his title, and had at once +written to Sydney, from whom he received an answer on the last day of +his stay at Oxford. It contained a warm invitation for him to come +down to Wisbech. + +"You say you will be going to Norwich to take possession of your +estate. If you ride direct from Oxford, our place will be but little +out of your way, therefore we shall take no excuse for your not +coming to see us, and shall look for you within a week or so from the +date of this. We were all delighted to get your missive, for although +what you say about infection carried by letters is true enough, and, +indeed there was no post out of London for months, we had begun to +fear that the worst must have befallen you when no letter arrived +from you in December. Still, we thought that you might not know where +we were, and so hoped that you might be waiting until you could find +that out. My father bids me say that he will take no refusal. Since +my return he more than ever regards you as being the good genius of +the family, and it is certainly passing strange that, after saving my +sisters' lives from fire you should, though in so different a way, +have saved me from a similar death. So set off as soon as you get +this--that is, if you can tear yourself away from the gaieties of +Oxford." + +Cyril had, indeed, been specially waiting for Sydney's answer, having +told him that he should remain at Oxford until he received it, and on +the following morning he packed his valise and rode for Wisbech, +where he arrived three days' later. His welcome at the Earl's was a +most cordial one. He spent a week there, at the end of which time +Sydney, at his earnest request, started for Norwich with him. The +Earl had insisted on Cyril's accepting a splendid horse, and behind +him, on his other animal, rode a young fellow, the son of a small +tenant on the Earl's estate, whom he had engaged as a servant. He had +written, three days before, to Mr. Popham, telling him that he would +shortly arrive, and begging him to order the two old servants of his +father, whom he had, at his request, engaged to take care of the +house to get two or three chambers in readiness for him, which could +doubtless be easily done, as he had learnt from the deed that the +furniture and all contents of the house had been included in the +gift. After putting up at the inn, he went to the lawyer's. Mr. +Popham, he found, had had a room prepared in readiness for him at his +house, but Cyril, while thanking him for so doing, said that, as Lord +Oliphant was with him, he would stay at the inn for the night. + +The next morning they rode over with Mr. Popham to Upmead, which was +six miles distant from the town. + +"That is the house," the lawyer said, as a fine old mansion came in +sight. "There are larger residences in the county, but few more +handsome. Indeed, it is almost too large for the estate, but, as +perhaps you know, that was at one time a good deal larger than it is +at present, for it was diminished by one of your ancestors in the +days of Elizabeth." + +At the gate where they turned into the Park an arch of evergreens had +been erected. + +"You don't mean to say you let them know that I was coming home?" +Cyril said, in a tone of such alarm that Lord Oliphant laughed and +Mr. Popham said apologetically,-- + +"I certainly wrote to the tenants, sir, when I received your letter, +and sent off a message saying that you would be here this morning. +Most of them or their fathers were here in the old time, for Mr. +Harvey made no changes, and I am sure they would have been very +disappointed if they had not had notice that Sir Aubrey's son was +coming home." + +"Of course it was quite right for you to do so, Mr. Popham, but you +see I am quite unaccustomed to such things, and would personally have +been much more pleased to have come home quietly. Still, as you say, +it is only right that the tenants should have been informed, and at +any rate it will be a satisfaction to get it all over at once." + +There were indeed quite a large number of men and women assembled in +front of the house--all the tenants, with their wives and families, +having gathered to greet their young landlord--and loud bursts of +cheering arose as he rode up, Sydney and Mr. Popham reining back +their horses a little to allow him to precede them. Cyril took off +his hat, and bowed repeatedly in reply to the acclamations that +greeted him. The tenants crowded round, many of the older men +pressing forward to shake him by the hand. + +"Welcome back to your own again, Sir Cyril!" + +"I fought under your father, sir, and a good landlord he was to us +all." + +Such were the exclamations that rose round him until he reached the +door of the mansion, and, dismounting, took his place at the top of +the steps. Then he took off his hat again, and when there was silence +he said,-- + +"I thank you heartily, one and all, good friends, for the welcome +that you have given me. Glad indeed I am to come down to my father's +home, and to be so greeted by those who knew him, and especially by +those who followed him in the field in the evil days which have, we +may hope, passed away for ever. You all know, perhaps, that I owe my +return here as master to the noble generosity of Mr. Harvey, your +late landlord, who restored me the estates, not being bound in any +way to do so, but solely because he considered that he had already +been repaid the money he gave for them. This may be true, but, +nevertheless, there is not one man in a hundred thousand who would so +despoil himself of the benefits of a bargain lawfully made, and I beg +you therefore to give three cheers, as hearty as those with which you +greeted me, for Mr. Harvey." + +Three cheers, as long and loud as those that had before risen, +responded to the appeal. + +"Such a man," Cyril went on, when they subsided, "must have been a +just and good landlord to you all, and I shall do my best to give you +no cause for regret at the change that has come about." + +He paused for a moment to speak to Mr. Popham, who stood beside him, +and then went on,-- + +"I did not know whether I could ask you to drink to my health, but I +learn from Mr. Popham that the cellars have been left well filled; +therefore, my first orders on coming to the house of my fathers will +be that a cask of wine shall be speedily broached, and that you shall +be enabled to drink my health. While that is being done, Mr. Popham +will introduce you to me one by one." + +Another loud cheer arose, and then the tenants came forward with +their wives and families. + +Cyril shook hands with them all, and said a few words to each. The +elder men had all ridden by his father in battle, and most of the +younger ones said, as he shook hands with them,-- + +"My father fell, under Sir Aubrey, at Naseby," or "at Worcester," or +in other battles. + +By the time all had been introduced, a great cask of wine had been +broached, and after the tenants had drunk to his health, and he had, +in turn, pledged them, Cyril entered the house with Sydney and Mr. +Popham, and proceeded to examine it under the guidance of the old man +who had been his father's butler, and whose wife had also been a +servant in Sir Aubrey's time. + +"Everything is just as it was then, Sir Cyril. A few fresh articles +of furniture have been added, but Mr. Harvey would have no general +change made. The family pictures hang just where they did, and your +father himself would scarce notice the changes." + +"It is indeed a fine old mansion, Cyril," Lord Oliphant said, when +they had made a tour of the house; "and now that I see it and its +furniture I am even more inclined than before to admire the man who +could voluntarily resign them. I shall have to modify my ideas of the +Puritans. They have shown themselves ready to leave the country and +cross the ocean to America, and begin life anew for conscience' +sake--that is to say, to escape persecution--and they fought very +doughtily, and we must own, very successfully, for the same reason, +but this is the first time I have ever heard of one of them +relinquishing a fine estate for conscience' sake." + +"Mr. Harvey is indeed a most worthy gentleman," Mr. Popham said, "and +has the esteem and respect of all, even of those who are of wholly +different politics. Still, it may be that although he would in any +case, I believe, have left this property to Sir Cyril, he might not +have handed it over to him in his lifetime, had not he received so +great a service at his hands." + +"Why, what is this, Cyril?" Sydney said, turning upon him. "You have +told us nothing whatever of any services rendered. I never saw such a +fellow as you are for helping other people." + +"There was nothing worth speaking of," Cyril said, much vexed. + +Mr. Popham smiled. + +"Most people would think it was a very great service, Lord Oliphant. +However, I may not tell you what it was, although I have heard all +the details from my father-in-law, Mr. Goldsworthy. They were told in +confidence, and in order to enlighten me as to the relations between +Mr. Harvey and Sir Cyril, and as they relate to painful family +matters I am bound to preserve an absolute silence." + +"I will be content to wait, Cyril, till I get you to myself. It is a +peculiarity of Sir Cyril Shenstone, Mr. Popham, that he goes through +life doing all sorts of services for all sorts of people. You may not +know that he saved the lives of my three sisters in a fire at our +mansion in the Savoy; he also performed the trifling service of +saving Prince Rupert's ship and the lives of all on board, among whom +was myself, from a Dutch fire-ship, in the battle of Lowestoft. These +are insignificant affairs, that he would not think it worth while to +allude to, even if you knew him for twenty years." + +"You do not know Lord Oliphant, Mr. Popham," Cyril laughed, "or you +would be aware that his custom is to make mountains out of molehills. +But let us sit down to dinner. I suppose it is your forethought, Mr. +Popham, that I have to thank for having warned them to make this +provision? I had thought that we should be lucky if the resources of +the establishment sufficed to furnish us with a meal of bread and +cheese." + +"I sent on a few things with my messenger yesterday evening, Sir +Cyril, but for the hare and those wild ducks methinks you have to +thank your tenants, who doubtless guessed that an addition to the +larder would be welcome. I have no doubt that, good landlord as Mr. +Harvey was, they are really delighted to have you among them again. +As you know, these eastern counties were the stronghold of +Puritanism, and that feeling is still held by the majority. It is +only among the tenants of many gentlemen who, like your father, were +devoted Royalists, that there is any very strong feeling the other +way. As you heard from their lips, most of your older tenants fought +under Sir Aubrey, while the fathers of the younger ones fell under +his banner. Consequently, it was galling to them that one of +altogether opposite politics should be their landlord, and although +in every other respect they had reason to like him, he was, as it +were, a symbol of their defeat, and I suppose they viewed him a good +deal as the Saxons of old times regarded their Norman lords." + +"I can quite understand that, Mr. Popham." + +"Another feeling has worked in your favour, Sir Cyril," the lawyer +went on. "It may perhaps be a relic of feudalism, but there can be no +doubt that there exists, in the minds of English country folks, a +feeling of respect and of something like affection for their +landlords when men of old family, and that feeling is never +transferred to new men who may take their place. Mr. Harvey was, in +their eyes, a new man--a wealthy one, no doubt, but owing his wealth +to his own exertions--and he would never have excited among them the +same feeling as they gave to the family who had, for several hundred +years, been owners of the soil." + +Cyril remained for a fortnight at Upmead, calling on all the tenants, +and interesting himself in them and their families. The day after his +arrival he rode into Norwich, and paid a visit to Mr. Harvey. He had, +in compliance to his wishes, written but a short letter of +acknowledgment of the restitution of the estate, but he now expressed +the deep feeling of gratitude that he entertained. + +"I have only done what is right," Mr. Harvey said quietly, "and would +rather not be thanked for it; but your feelings are natural, and I +have therefore not checked your words. It was assuredly God's doing +in so strangely bringing us together, and making you an instrument in +saving our lives, and so awakening an uneasy conscience into +activity. I have had but small pleasure from Upmead. I have a house +here which is more than sufficient for all my wants, and I have, I +hope, the respect of my townsfellows, and the affection of my +workmen. At Upmead I was always uncomfortable. Such of the county +gentlemen who retained their estates looked askance at me. The +tenants, I knew, though they doffed their hats as I passed them, +regarded me as a usurper. I had no taste for the sports and pleasures +of country life, being born and bred a townsman. The ill-doing of my +son cast a gloom over my life of late. I have lived chiefly here with +the society of friends of my own religious and political feeling. +Therefore, I have made no sacrifice in resigning my tenancy of +Upmead, and I pray you say no further word of your gratitude. I have +heard, from one who was there yesterday, how generously you spoke of +me to your tenants, and I thank you for so doing, for it is pleasant +for me to stand well in the thoughts of those whose welfare I have +had at heart." + +"I trust that Mrs. Harvey is in good health?" Cyril said. + +"She is far from well, Cyril. The events of that night in London have +told heavily upon her, as is not wonderful, for she has suffered much +sorrow for years, and this last blow has broken her sorely. She +mourns, as David mourned over the death of Absalom, over the +wickedness of her son, but she is quite as one with me in the +measures that I have taken concerning him, save that, at her earnest +prayer, I have made a provision for him which will keep him from +absolute want, and will leave him no excuse to urge that he was +driven by poverty into crime. Mr. Goldsworthy has not yet discovered +means of communicating with him, but when he does so he will notify +him that he has my instructions to pay to him fifteen pounds on the +first of every month, and that the offer of assistance to pay his +passage to America is still open to him, and that on arriving there +he will receive for three years the same allowance as here. Then if a +favourable report of his conduct is forthcoming from the magistrates +and deacons of the town where he takes up his residence, a +correspondent of Mr. Goldsworthy's will be authorised to expend four +thousand pounds on the purchase of an estate for him, and to hand to +him another thousand for the due working and maintenance of the same. +For these purposes I have already made provisions in my will, with +proviso that if, at the end of five years after my death, no news of +him shall be obtained, the money set aside for these purposes shall +revert to the main provisions of the will. It may be that he died of +the Plague. It may be that he has fallen, or will fall, a victim to +his own evil courses and evil passions. But I am convinced that, +should he be alive, Mr. Goldsworthy will be able to obtain tidings of +him long before the five years have expired. And now," he said, +abruptly changing the subject, "what are you thinking of doing, Sir +Cyril?" + +"In the first place, sir, I am going to sea again with the Fleet very +shortly. I entered as a Volunteer for the war, and could not well, +even if I wished it, draw back." + +"They are a stiff-necked people," Mr. Harvey said. "That the +Sovereigns of Europe should have viewed with displeasure the +overthrow of the monarchy here was natural enough; but in Holland, if +anywhere, we might have looked for sympathy, seeing that as they had +battled for freedom of conscience, so had we done here; and yet they +were our worst enemies, and again and again had Blake to sail forth +to chastise them. They say that Monk is to command this time?" + +"I believe so, sir." + +"Monk is the bruised reed that pierced our hand, but he is a good +fighter. And after the war is over, Sir Cyril, you will not, I trust, +waste your life in the Court of the profligate King?" + +"Certainly not," Cyril said earnestly. "As soon as the war is over I +shall return to Upmead and take up my residence there. I have lived +too hard a life to care for the gaieties of Court, still less of a +Court like that of King Charles. I shall travel for a while in Europe +if there is a genuine peace. I have lost the opportunity of +completing my education, and am too old now to go to either of the +Universities. Not too old perhaps; but I have seen too much of the +hard side of life to care to pass three years among those who, no +older than myself, are still as boys in their feelings. The next best +thing, therefore, as it seems to me, would be to travel, and perhaps +to spend a year or two in one of the great Universities abroad." + +"The matter is worth thinking over," Mr. Harvey said. "You are +assuredly young yet to settle down alone at Upmead, and will reap +much advantage from speaking French which is everywhere current, and +may greatly aid you in making your travels useful to you. I have no +fear of your falling into Popish error, Sir Cyril; but if my wishes +have any weight with you I would pray you to choose the schools of +Leyden or Haarlem, should you enter a foreign University, for they +turn out learned men and good divines." + +"Certainly your wishes have weight with me, Mr. Harvey, and should +events so turn out that I can enter one of the foreign Universities, +it shall be one of those you name--that is, should we, after this war +is ended, come into peaceful relations with the Dutch." + +Before leaving the Earl's, Cyril had promised faithfully that he +would return thither with Sydney, and accordingly, at the end of the +fortnight, he rode back with him there, and, three weeks later, +journeyed up to London with the Earl and his family. + +It was the middle of March when they reached London. The Court had +come up a day or two before, and the Fleet was, as Cyril learnt, +being fitted out in great haste. The French had now, after hesitating +all through the winter, declared war against us, and it was certain +that we should have their fleet as well as that of the Dutch to cope +with. Calling upon Prince Rupert on the day he arrived, Cyril learnt +that the Fleet would assuredly put to sea in a month's time. + +"Would you rather join at once, or wait until I go on board?" the +Prince asked. + +"I would rather join at once, sir. I have no business to do in +London, and it would be of no use for me to take an apartment when I +am to leave so soon; therefore, if I can be of any use, I would +gladly join at once." + +"You would be of no use on board," the Prince said, "but assuredly +you could be of use in carrying messages, and letting me know +frequently, from your own report, how matters are going on. I heard +yesterday that the _Fan Fan_ is now fitted out. You shall take the +command of her. I will give you a letter to the boatswain, who is at +present in charge, saying that I have placed her wholly under your +orders. You will, of course, live on board. You will be chiefly at +Chatham and Sheerness. If you call early to-morrow I will have a +letter prepared for you, addressed to all captains holding commands +in the White Squadron, bidding them to acquaint you, whensoever you +go on board, with all particulars of how matters have been pushed +forward, and to give you a list of all things lacking. Then, twice a +week you will sail up to town, and report to me, or, should there be +any special news at other times, send it to me by a mounted +messenger. Mr. Pepys, the secretary, is a diligent and hard-working +man, but he cannot see to everything, and Albemarle so pushes him +that I think the White Squadron does not get a fair share of +attention; but if I can go to him with your reports in hand, I may +succeed in getting what is necessary done." + +Bidding farewell to the Earl and his family, and thanking him for his +kindness, Cyril stopped that night at Captain Dave's, and told him of +all that had happened since they met. The next morning he went early +to Prince Rupert's, received the two letters, and rode down to +Chatham. Then, sending the horses back by his servant, who was to +take them to the Earl's stable, where they would be cared for until +his return, Cyril went on board the _Fan Fan_. For the next month he +was occupied early and late with his duties. The cabin was small, but +very comfortable. The crew was a strong one, for the yacht rowed +twelve oars, with which she could make good progress even without her +sails. He was waited on by his servant, who returned as soon as he +had left the horses in the Earl's stables; his cooking was done for +him in the yacht's galley. On occasions, as the tide suited, he +either sailed up to London in the afternoon, gave his report to the +Prince late in the evening, and was back at Sheerness by daybreak, or +he sailed up at night, saw the Prince as soon as he rose, and +returned at once. + +The Prince highly commended his diligence, and told him that his +reports were of great use to him, as, with them in his hand, he could +not be put off at the Admiralty with vague assurances. Every day one +or more ships went out to join the Fleet that was gathering in the +Downs, and on April 20th Cyril sailed in the _Fan Fan_, in company +with the last vessel of the White Squadron, and there again took up +his quarters on board the _Henrietta_, the _Fan Fan_ being anchored +hard by in charge of the boatswain. + +On the 23rd, the Prince, with the Duke of Albemarle, and a great +company of noblemen and gentlemen, arrived at Deal, and came on board +the Fleet, which, on May 1st, weighed anchor. + +Lord Oliphant was among the volunteers who came down with the Prince, +and, as many of the other gentlemen had also been on board during the +first voyage, Cyril felt that he was among friends, and had none of +the feeling of strangeness and isolation he had before experienced. + +The party was indeed a merry one. For upwards of a year the fear of +the Plague had weighed on all England. At the time it increased so +terribly in London, that all thought it would, like the Black Death, +spread over England, and that, once again, half the population of the +country might be swept away. Great as the mortality had been, it had +been confined almost entirely to London and some of the great towns, +and now that it had died away even in these, there was great relief +in men's minds, and all felt that they had personally escaped from a +terrible and imminent danger. That they were about to face peril even +greater than that from which they had escaped did not weigh on the +spirits of the gentlemen on board Prince Rupert's ship. To be killed +fighting for their country was an honourable death that none feared, +while there had been, in the minds of even the bravest, a horror of +death by the Plague, with all its ghastly accompaniments. Sailing out +to sea to the Downs, then, they felt that the past year's events lay +behind them as an evil dream, and laughed and jested and sang with +light-hearted mirth. + +As yet, the Dutch had not put out from port, and for three weeks the +Fleet cruised off their coast. Then, finding that the enemy could not +be tempted to come out, they sailed back to the Downs. The day after +they arrived there, a messenger came down from London with orders to +Prince Rupert to sail at once with the White Squadron to engage the +French Fleet, which was reported to be on the point of putting to +sea. The Prince had very little belief that the French really +intended to fight. Hitherto, although they had been liberal in their +promises to the Dutch, they had done nothing whatever to aid them, +and the general opinion was that France rejoiced at seeing her rivals +damage each other, but had no idea of risking her ships or men in the +struggle. + +"I believe, gentlemen," Prince Rupert said to his officers, "that +this is but a ruse on the part of Louis to aid his Dutch allies by +getting part of our fleet out of the way. Still, I have nothing to do +but to obey orders, though I fear it is but a fool's errand on which +we are sent." + +The wind was from the north-east, and was blowing a fresh gale. The +Prince prepared to put to sea. While the men were heaving at the +anchors a message came to Cyril that Prince Rupert wished to speak to +him in his cabin. + +"Sir Cyril, I am going to restore you to your command. The wind is so +strong and the sea will be so heavy that I would not risk my yacht +and the lives of the men by sending her down the Channel. I do not +think there is any chance of our meeting the French, and believe that +it is here that the battle will be fought, for with this wind the +Dutch can be here in a few hours, and I doubt not that as soon as +they learn that one of our squadrons has sailed away they will be +out. The _Fan Fan_ will sail with us, but will run into Dover as we +pass. Here is a letter that I have written ordering you to do so, and +authorising you to put out and join the Admiral's Fleet, should the +Dutch attack before my return. If you like to have young Lord +Oliphant with you he can go, but he must go as a Volunteer under you. +You are the captain of the _Fan Fan_, and have been so for the last +two months; therefore, although your friend is older than you are, he +must, if he choose to go, be content to serve under you. Stay, I will +put it to him myself." + +He touched the bell, and ordered Sydney to be sent for. + +"Lord Oliphant," he said, "I know that you and Sir Cyril are great +friends. I do not consider that the _Fan Fan_, of which he has for +some time been commander, is fit to keep the sea in a gale like this, +and I have therefore ordered him to take her into Dover. If the Dutch +come out to fight the Admiral, as I think they will, he will join the +Fleet, and although the _Fan Fan_ can take but small share in the +fighting, she may be useful in carrying messages from the Duke while +the battle is going on. It seems to me that, as the _Fan Fan_ is +more likely to see fighting than my ships, you, as a Volunteer, might +prefer to transfer yourself to her until she again joins us. Sir +Cyril is younger than you are, but if you go, you must necessarily be +under his command seeing that he is captain of the yacht. It is for +you to choose whether you will remain here or go with him." + +"I should like to go with him, sir. He has had a good deal of +experience of the sea, while I have never set foot on board ship till +last year. And after what he did at Lowestoft I should say that any +gentleman would be glad to serve under him." + +"That is the right feeling," Prince Rupert said warmly. "Then get +your things transferred to the yacht. If you join Albemarle's Fleet, +Sir Cyril, you will of course report yourself to him, and say that I +directed you to place yourself under his orders." + +Five minutes later Cyril and his friend were on board the _Fan Fan._ +Scarcely had they reached her, when a gun was fired from Prince +Rupert's ship as a signal, and the ships of the White Squadron shook +out their sails, and, with the wind free, raced down towards the +South Foreland. + +"We are to put into Dover," Cyril said to the boatswain, a +weatherbeaten old sailor. + +"The Lord be praised for that, sir! She is a tight little craft, but +there will be a heavy sea on as soon we are beyond shelter of the +sands, and with these two guns on board of her she will make bad +weather. Besides, in a wind like this, it ain't pleasant being in a +little craft in the middle of a lot of big ones, for if we were not +swamped by the sea, we might very well be run down. We had better +keep her close to the Point, yer honour, and then run along, under +shelter of the cliffs, into Dover. The water will be pretty smooth in +there, though we had best carry as little sail as we can, for the +gusts will come down from above fit to take the mast out of her." + +"I am awfully glad you came with me, Sydney," Cyril said, as he took +his place with his friend near the helmsman, "but I wish the Prince +had put you in command. Of course, it is only a nominal thing, for +the boatswain is really the captain in everything that concerns +making sail and giving orders to the crew. Still, it would have been +much nicer the other way." + +"I don't see that it would, Cyril," Sydney laughed, "for you know as +much more about handling a boat like this than I do, as the boatswain +does than yourself. You have been on board her night and day for more +than a month, and even if you knew nothing about her at all, Prince +Rupert would have been right to choose you as a recognition of your +great services last time. Don't think anything about it. We are +friends, and it does not matter a fig which is the nominal commander. +I was delighted to come, not only to be with you, but because it will +be a very great deal pleasanter being our own masters on board this +pretty little yacht than being officers on board the _Henrietta_ +where we would have been only in the way except when we went into +action." + +As soon as they rounded the Point most of the sail was taken off the +_Fan Fan,_ but even under the small canvas she carried she lay over +until her lee rail was almost under water when the heavy squalls +swooped down on her from the cliffs. The rest of the squadron was +keeping some distance out, presenting a fine sight as the ships lay +over, sending the spray flying high into the air from their bluff +bows, and plunging deeply into the waves. + +"Yes, it is very distinctly better being where we are," Lord Oliphant +said, as he gazed at them. "I was beginning to feel qualmish before +we got under shelter of the Point, and by this time, if I had been on +board the _Henrietta,_ I should have been prostrate, and should have +had I know not how long misery before me." + +A quarter of an hour later they were snugly moored in Dover Harbour. +For twenty-four hours the gale continued; the wind then fell +somewhat, but continued to blow strongly from the same quarter. Two +days later it veered round to the south-west, and shortly afterwards +the English Fleet could be seen coming out past the Point. As soon as +they did so they headed eastward. + +"They are going out to meet the Dutch," Sydney said, as they watched +the ships from the cliffs, "The news must have arrived that their +fleet has put out to sea." + +"Then we may as well be off after them, Sydney; they will sail faster +than we shall in this wind, for it is blowing too strongly for us to +carry much sail." + +They hurried on board. A quarter of an hour later the _Fan Fan_ put +out from the harbour. The change of wind had caused an ugly cross sea +and the yacht made bad weather of it, the waves constantly washing +over her decks, but before they were off Calais she had overtaken +some of the slower sailers of the Fleet. The sea was less violent as +they held on, for they were now, to some extent, sheltered by the +coast. + +In a short time Cyril ran down into the cabin where Sydney was lying +ill. + +"The Admiral has given the signal to anchor, and the leading ships +are already bringing up. We will choose a berth as near the shore as +we can; with our light draught we can lie well inside of the others, +and shall be in comparatively smooth water." + +Before dusk the Fleet was at anchor, with the exception of two or +three of the fastest frigates, which were sent on to endeavour to +obtain some news of the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FIGHT OFF DUNKIRK + + +As soon as the _Fan Fan_ had been brought to an anchor the boat was +lowered, and Cyril was rowed on board the Admiral's ship. + +Albemarle was on the poop, and Cyril made his report to him. + +"Very well, sir," the Duke said, "I dare say I shall be able to make +you of some use. Keep your craft close to us when we sail. I seem to +know your face." + +"I am Sir Cyril Shenstone, my Lord Duke. I had the honour of meeting +you first at the fire in the Savoy, and Prince Rupert afterwards was +good enough to present me to you." + +"Yes, yes, I remember. And it was you who saved the _Henrietta_ from +the fire-ship at Lowestoft. You have begun well indeed, young sir, +and are like to have further opportunities of showing your bravery." + +Cyril bowed, and then, going down the side to his boat, returned to +the _Fan Fan._ She was lying in almost smooth water, and Sydney had +come up on deck again. + +"You heard no news of the Dutch, I suppose, Cyril?" + +"No; I asked a young officer as I left the ship, and he said that, so +far as he knew, nothing had been heard of them, but news had come in, +before the Admiral sailed from the Downs, that everything was ready +for sea, and that orders were expected every hour for them to put +out." + +"It is rather to be hoped that they won't put out for another two +days," Sydney said. "That will give the Prince time to rejoin with +his squadron. The wind is favourable now for his return, and I should +think, as soon as they hear in London that the Dutch are on the point +of putting out, and Albemarle has sailed, they will send him orders +to join us at once. We have only about sixty sail, while they say +that the Dutch have over ninety, which is too heavy odds against us +to be pleasant." + +"I should think the Duke will not fight till the Prince comes up." + +"I don't think he will wait for him if he finds the Dutch near. All +say that he is over-confident, and apt to despise the Dutch too much. +Anyhow, he is as brave as a lion, and, though he might not attack +unless the Dutch begin it, I feel sure he will not run away from +them." + +The next morning early, the _Bristol_ frigate was seen returning +from the east. She had to beat her way back in the teeth of the wind, +but, when still some miles away, a puff of white smoke was seen to +dart out from her side, and presently the boom of a heavy gun was +heard. Again and again she fired, and the signal was understood to be +a notification that she had seen the Dutch. The signal for the +captains of the men-of-war to come on board was at once run up to the +mast-head of the flagship, followed by another for the Fleet to be +prepared to weigh anchor. Captain Bacon, of the _Bristol_, went on +board as soon as his ship came up. In a short time the boats were +seen to put off, and as the captains reached their respective ships +the signal to weigh anchor was hoisted. + +This was hailed with a burst of cheering throughout the Fleet, and +all felt that it signified that they would soon meet the Dutch. The +_Fan Fan_ was under sail long before the men-of-war had got up their +heavy anchors, and, sailing out, tacked backwards and forwards until +the Fleet were under sail, when Cyril told the boatswain to place her +within a few cables' length of the flagship on her weather quarter. +After two hours' sail the Dutch Fleet were made out, anchored off +Dunkirk. The Blue Squadron, under Sir William Berkley, led the way, +the Red Squadron, under the Duke, following. + +"I will put a man in the chains with the lead," the boatswain said to +Cyril. "There are very bad sands off Dunkirk, and though we might get +over them in safety, the big ships would take ground, and if they did +so we should be in a bad plight indeed." + +"In that case, we had best slack out the sheet a little, and take up +our post on the weather bow of the Admiral, so that we can signal to +him if we find water failing." + +The topsail was hoisted, and the _Fan Fan,_ which was a very fast +craft in comparatively smooth water, ran past the Admiral's flagship. + +"Shall I order him back, your Grace?" the Captain asked angrily. + +Albemarle looked at the _Fan Fan_ attentively. + +"They have got a man sounding," he said. "It is a wise precaution. +The young fellow in command knows what he is doing. We ought to have +been taking the same care. See! he is taking down his topsail again. +Set an officer to watch the yacht, and if they signal, go about at +once." + +The soundings continued for a short time at six fathoms, when +suddenly the man at the lead called out sharply,-- + +"Three fathoms!" + +Cyril ran to the flagstaff, and as the next cry came--"Two +fathoms!"--hauled down the flag and stood waving his cap, while the +boatswain, who had gone to the tiller, at once pushed it over to +starboard, and brought the yacht up into the wind. Cyril heard orders +shouted on board the flagship, and saw her stern sweeping round. A +moment later her sails were aback, but the men, who already clustered +round the guns, were not quick enough in hauling the yards across, +and, to his dismay, he saw the main topmast bend, and then go over +the side with a crash. All was confusion on board, and for a time it +seemed as if the other topmast would also go. + +"Run her alongside within hailing distance," Cyril said to the +boatswain. "They will want to question us." + +As they came alongside the flagship the Duke himself leant over the +side. + +"What water had you when you came about, sir?" + +"We went suddenly from six fathoms to three, your Grace," Cyril +shouted, "and a moment after we found but two." + +"Very well, sir," the Duke called back. "In that case you have +certainly saved our ship. I thought perhaps that you had been +over-hasty, and had thus cost us our topmast, but I see it was not +so, and thank you. Our pilot assured us there was plenty of water on +the course we were taking." + +The ships of the Red Squadron had all changed their course on seeing +the flagship come about so suddenly, and considerable delay and +confusion was caused before they again formed in order, and, in +obedience to the Duke's signal, followed in support of the Blue +Squadron. This had already dashed into the midst of the Dutch Fleet, +who were themselves in some confusion; for, so sudden had been the +attack, that they had been forced to cut their cables, having no time +to get up their anchors. + +The British ships poured in their broadsides as they approached, +while the Dutch opened a tremendous cannonade. Besides their great +inferiority in numbers, the British were under a serious +disadvantage. They had the weather gauge, and the wind was so strong +that it heeled them over, so that they were unable to open their +lower ports, and were therefore deprived of the use of their heaviest +guns. + +Four of the ships of the Red Squadron remained by the flagship, to +protect her if attacked, and to keep off fire-ships, while her crew +laboured to get up another topmast. More than three hours were +occupied in this operation, but so busily did the rest of the Fleet +keep the Dutch at work that they were unable to detach sufficient +ships to attack her. + +As soon as the topmast was in place and the sails hoisted, the +flagship and her consorts hastened to join their hard-pressed +comrades. + +The fight was indeed a desperate one. Sir William Berkley and his +ship, the _Swiftsure,_ a second-rate, was taken, as was the +_Essex,_ a third-rate. + +The _Henry,_ commanded by Sir John Harman, was surrounded by foes. +Her sails and rigging were shot to pieces, so she was completely +disabled, and the Dutch Admiral, Cornelius Evertz, summoned Sir John +Harman to surrender. + +"It has not come to that yet," Sir John shouted back, and continued +to pour such heavy broadsides into the Dutch that several of their +ships were greatly damaged, and Evertz himself killed. + +The Dutch captains drew off their vessels, and launched three +fire-ships at the _Henry._ The first one, coming up on her starboard +quarter, grappled with her. The dense volumes of smoke rising from +her prevented the sailors from discovering where the grapnels were +fixed, and the flames were spreading to her when her boatswain +gallantly leapt on board the fire-ship, and, by the light of its +flames, discovered the grapnels and threw them overboard, and +succeeded in regaining his ship. + +A moment later, the second fire-ship came up on the port side, and so +great a body of flames swept across the _Henry_ that her chaplain +and fifty men sprang overboard. Sir John, however, drew his sword, +and threatened to cut down the first man who refused to obey orders, +and the rest of the crew, setting manfully to work, succeeded in +extinguishing the flames, and in getting free of the fire-ship. The +halliards of the main yard were, however, burnt through, and the spar +fell, striking Sir John Harman to the deck and breaking his leg. + +The third fire-ship was received with the fire of four cannon loaded +with chain shot. These brought her mast down, and she drifted by, +clear of the _Henry,_ which was brought safely into Harwich. + +The fight continued the whole day, and did not terminate until ten +o'clock in the evening. The night was spent in repairing damages, and +in the morning the English recommenced the battle. It was again +obstinately contested. Admiral Van Tromp threw himself into the midst +of the British line, and suffered so heavily that he was only saved +by the arrival of Admiral de Ruyter. He, in his turn, was in a most +perilous position, and his ship disabled, when fresh reinforcements +arrived. And so the battle raged, until, in the afternoon, as if by +mutual consent, the Fleets drew off from each other, and the battle +ceased. The fighting had been extraordinarily obstinate and +determined on both sides, many ships had been sunk, several burnt, +and some captured. The sea was dotted with wreckage, masts, and +spars, fragments of boats and _débris_ of all kinds. Both fleets +presented a pitiable appearance; the hulls, but forty-eight hours ago +so trim and smooth, were splintered and jagged, port-holes were +knocked into one, bulwarks carried away, and stern galleries gone. +The sails were riddled with shot-holes, many of the ships had lost +one or more masts, while the light spars had been, in most cases, +carried away, and many of the yards had come down owing to the +destruction of the running gear. + +In so tremendous a conflict the little _Fan Fan_ could bear but a +small part. Cyril and Lord Oliphant agreed, at the commencement of +the first day's fight, that it would be useless for them to attempt +to fire their two little guns, but that their efforts should be +entirely directed against the enemy's fire-ships. During each day's +battle, then, they hovered round the flagship, getting out of the way +whenever she was engaged, as she often was, on both broadsides, and +although once or twice struck by stray shots, the _Fan Fan_ received +no serious damage. In this encounter of giants, the little yacht was +entirely overlooked, and none of the great ships wasted a shot upon +her. Two or three times each day, when the Admiral's ship had beaten +off her foes, a fire-ship directed its course against her. Then came +the _Fan Fan's_ turn for action. Under the pressure of her twelve +oars she sped towards the fire-ship, and on reaching her a grapnel +was thrown over the end of the bowsprit, and by the efforts of the +rowers her course was changed, so that she swept harmlessly past the +flagship. + +Twice when the vessels were coming down before the wind at a rate of +speed that rendered it evident that the efforts of the men at the +oars would be insufficient to turn her course, the _Fan Fan_ was +steered alongside, grapnels were thrown, and, headed by Lord Oliphant +and Cyril, the crew sprang on board, cut down or drove overboard the +few men who were in charge of her. Then, taking the helm and trimming +the sails, they directed her against one of the Dutch men-of-war, +threw the grapnels on board, lighted the train, leapt back into the +_Fan Fan_, rowed away, and took up their place near the Admiral, the +little craft being greeted with hearty cheers by the whole ship's +company. + +The afternoon was spent in repairing damages as far as practicable, +but even the Duke saw it was impossible to continue the fight. The +Dutch had received a reinforcement while the fighting was going on +that morning, and although the English had inflicted terrible damage +upon the Dutch Fleet, their own loss in ships was greater than that +which they had caused their adversaries. A considerable portion of +their vessels were not in a condition to renew the battle, and the +carpenters had hard work to save them from sinking outright. +Albemarle himself embarked on the _Fan Fan_, and sailed from ship to +ship, ascertaining the condition of each, and the losses its crew had +suffered. As soon as night fell, the vessels most disabled were +ordered to sail for England as they best could. The crew of three +which were totally dismasted and could hardly be kept afloat, were +taken out and divided between the twenty-eight vessels which alone +remained in a condition to renew the fight. + +These three battered hulks were, early the next morning, set on fire, +and the rest of the Fleet, in good order and prepared to give battle, +followed their companions that had sailed on the previous evening. +The Dutch followed, but at a distance, thinking to repair their +damages still farther before they again engaged. In the afternoon the +sails of a squadron were seen ahead, and a loud cheer ran from ship +to ship, for all knew that this was Prince Rupert coming up with the +White Squadron. A serious loss, however, occurred a few minutes +afterwards. The _Royal Prince_, the largest and most powerful vessel +in the Fleet, which was somewhat in rear of the line, struck on the +sands. The tide being with them and the wind light, the rest of the +Fleet tried in vain to return to her assistance, and as the Dutch +Fleet were fast coming up, and some of the fire-ships making for the +_Royal Prince_, they were forced to give up the attempt to succour +her, and Sir George Ayscue, her captain, was obliged to haul down his +flag and surrender. + +As soon as the White Squadron joined the remnant of the Fleet the +whole advanced against the Dutch, drums beating and trumpets +sounding, and twice made their way through the enemy's line. But it +was now growing dark, and the third day's battle came to an end. The +next morning it was seen that the Dutch, although considerably +stronger than the English, were almost out of sight. The latter at +once hoisted sail and pursued, and, at eight o'clock, came up with +them. + +The Dutch finding the combat inevitable, the terrible fight was +renewed, and raged, without intermission, until seven in the evening. +Five times the British passed through the line of the Dutch. On both +sides many ships fell out of the fighting line wholly disabled. +Several were sunk, and some on both sides forced to surrender, being +so battered as to be unable to withdraw from the struggle. Prince +Rupert's ship was wholly disabled, and that of Albemarle almost as +severely damaged, and the battle, like those of the preceding days, +ended without any decided advantage on either side. Both nations +claimed the victory, but equally without reason. The Dutch historians +compute our loss at sixteen men-of-war, of which ten were sunk and +six taken, while we admitted only a loss of nine ships, and claimed +that the Dutch lost fifteen men-of-war. Both parties acknowledged +that it was the most terrible battle fought in this, or any other +modern war. + +De Witte, who at that time was at the head of the Dutch Republic, and +who was a bitter enemy of the English, owned, some time afterwards, +to Sir William Temple, "that the English got more glory to their +nation through the invincible courage of their seamen during those +engagements than by the two victories of this war, and that he was +sure that his own fleet could not have been brought on to fight the +fifth day, after the disadvantages of the fourth, and he believed +that no other nation was capable of it but the English." + +Cyril took no part in the last day's engagement, for Prince Rupert, +when the _Fan Fan_ came near him on his arrival on the previous +evening, returned his salute from the poop, and shouted to him that +on no account was he to adventure into the fight with the _Fan Fan_. + +On the morning after the battle ended, Lord Oliphant and Cyril rowed +on board Prince Rupert's ship, where every unwounded man was hard at +work getting up a jury-mast or patching up the holes in the hull. + +"Well, Sir Cyril, I see that you have been getting my yacht knocked +about," he said, as they came up to him. + +"There is not much damage done, sir. She has but two shot-holes in +her hull." + +"And my new mainsail spoiled. Do you know, sir, that I got a severe +rating from the Duke yesterday evening, on your account?" + +Cyril looked surprised. + +"I trust, sir, that I have not in any way disobeyed orders?" + +"No, it was not that. He asked after the _Fan Fan_, and said that he +had seen nothing of her during the day's fighting, and I said I had +strictly ordered you not to come into the battle. He replied, 'Then +you did wrong, Prince, for that little yacht of yours did yeomen's +service during the first two days' fighting. I told Sir Cyril to keep +her near me, thinking that she would be useful in carrying orders, +and during those two days she kept close to us, save when we were +surrounded by the enemy. Five times in those three days did she avert +fire-ships from us. We were so damaged that we could sail but slowly, +and, thinking us altogether unmanageable, the Dutch launched their +fire-ships. The _Fan Fan_ rowed to meet them. Three of them were +diverted from their course by a rope being thrown over the bowsprit, +and the crew rowing so as to turn her head. On the second day there +was more wind, and the fire-ships could have held on their course in +spite of the efforts of the men on board the _Fan Fan_. Twice during +the day the little boat was boldly laid alongside them, while the +crew boarded and captured them, and then, directing them towards the +Dutch ships, grappled and set them on fire. One of the Dutchmen was +burned, the other managed to throw off the grapnels. It was all done +under our eyes, and five times in the two days did my crew cheer your +little yacht as she came alongside. So you see, Prince, by ordering +her out of the fight you deprived us of the assistance of as boldly +handled a little craft as ever sailed.' + +"'I am quite proud of my little yacht, gentlemen, and I thank you for +having given her so good a christening under fire. But I must stay no +longer talking. Here is the despatch I have written of my share of +the engagement. You, Sir Cyril, will deliver this. You will now row +to the Duke's ship, and he will give you his despatches, which you, +Lord Oliphant, will deliver. I need not say that you are to make all +haste to the Thames. We have no ship to spare except the _Fan Fan_, +for we must keep the few that are still able to manoeuvre, in case +the Dutch should come out again before we have got the crippled ones +in a state to make sail. '" + +Taking leave of the Prince, they were at once rowed to the Duke's +flagship. They had a short interview with the Admiral, who praised +them highly for the service they had rendered. + +"You will have to tell the story of the fighting," he said, "for the +Prince and myself have written but few lines; we have too many +matters on our minds to do scribe's work. They will have heard, ere +now, of the first two days' fighting, for some of the ships that were +sent back will have arrived at Harwich before this. By to-morrow +morning I hope to have the Fleet so far refitted as to be able to +follow you." + +Five minutes later, the _Fan Fan_, with every stitch of sail set, +was on her way to the Thames. As a brisk wind was blowing, they +arrived in London twenty-four hours later, and at once proceeded to +the Admiralty, the despatches being addressed to the Duke of York. +They were immediately ushered in to him. Without a word he seized the +despatches, tore them open, and ran his eye down them. + +"God be praised!" he exclaimed, when he finished them. "We had feared +even worse intelligence, and have been in a terrible state of anxiety +since yesterday, when we heard from Harwich that one of the ships had +come in with the news that more than half the Fleet was crippled or +destroyed, and that twenty-eight only remained capable of continuing +the battle. The only hope was that the White Squadron might arrive in +time, and it seems that it has done so. The account of our losses is +indeed a terrible one, but at least we have suffered no defeat, and +as the Dutch have retreated, they must have suffered well-nigh as +much as we have done. Come along with me at once, gentlemen; I must +go to the King to inform him of this great news, which is vastly +beyond what we could have hoped for. The Duke, in his despatch, tells +me that the bearers of it, Lord Oliphant and Sir Cyril Shenstone, +have done very great service, having, in Prince Rupert's little +yacht, saved his flagship no less than five times from the attacks of +the Dutch fire-ships." + +The Duke had ordered his carriage to be in readiness as soon as he +learnt that the bearers of despatches from the Fleet had arrived. It +was already at the door, and, taking his seat in it, with Lord +Oliphant and Cyril opposite to him, he was driven to the Palace, +learning by the way such details as they could give him of the last +two days' fighting. He led them at once to the King's dressing-room. +Charles was already attired, for he had passed a sleepless night, and +had risen early. + +"What news, James?" he asked eagerly. + +"Good news, brother. After two more days' fighting--and terrible +fighting, on both sides--the Dutch Fleet has returned to its ports." + +"A victory!" the King exclaimed, in delight. + +"A dearly-bought one with the lives of so many brave men, but a +victory nevertheless. Here are the despatches from Albemarle and +Rupert. They have been brought by these gentlemen, with whom you are +already acquainted, in Rupert's yacht. Albemarle speaks very highly +of their conduct." + +The King took the despatches, and read them eagerly. + +"It has indeed been a dearly-bought victory," he said, "but it is +marvellous indeed how our captains and men bore themselves. Never +have they shown greater courage and endurance. Well may Monk say +that, after four days of incessant fighting and four nights spent in +the labour of repairing damages, the strength of all has well-nigh +come to an end, and that he himself can write but a few lines to tell +me of what has happened, leaving all details for further occasion. I +thank you both, gentlemen, for the speed with which you have brought +me this welcome news, and for the services of which the Duke of +Albemarle speaks so warmly. This is the second time, Sir Cyril, that +my admirals have had occasion to speak of great and honourable +service rendered by you. Lord Oliphant, the Earl, your father, will +have reason to be proud when he hears you so highly praised. Now, +gentlemen, tell me more fully than is done in these despatches as to +the incidents of the fighting. I have heard something of what took +place in the first two days from an officer who posted up from +Harwich yesterday." + +Lord Oliphant related the events of the first two days, and then went +on. + +"Of the last two I can say less, Your Majesty, for we took no part +in, having Prince Rupert's orders, given as he came up, that we +should not adventure into the fight. Therefore, we were but +spectators, though we kept on the edge of the fight and, if +opportunity had offered, and we had seen one of our ships too hard +pressed, and threatened by fire-ships, we should have ventured so far +to transgress orders as to bear in and do what we could on her +behalf; but indeed, the smoke was so great that we could see but +little. + +"It was a strange sight, when, on the Prince's arrival, his ships and +those of the Duke's, battered as they were, bore down on the Dutch +line; the drums beating, the trumpets sounding, and the crews +cheering loudly. We saw them disappear into the Dutch line; then the +smoke shut all out from view, and for hours there was but a thick +cloud of smoke and a continuous roar of the guns. Sometimes a vessel +would come out from the curtain of smoke torn and disabled. Sometimes +it was a Dutchman, sometimes one of our own ships. If the latter, we +rowed up to them and did our best with planks and nails to stop the +yawning holes close to the water-line, while the crew knotted ropes +and got up the spars and yards, and then sailed back into the fight. + +"The first day's fighting was comparatively slight, for the Dutch +seemed to be afraid to close with the Duke's ships, and hung behind +at a distance. It was not till the White Squadron came up, and the +Duke turned, with Prince Rupert, and fell upon his pursuers like a +wounded boar upon the dogs, that the battle commenced in earnest; but +the last day it went on for nigh twelve hours without intermission; +and when at last the roar of the guns ceased, and the smoke slowly +cleared off, it was truly a pitiful sight, so torn and disabled were +the ships. + +"As the two fleets separated, drifting apart as it would almost seem, +so few were the sails now set, we rowed up among them, and for hours +were occupied in picking up men clinging to broken spars and +wreckage, for but few of the ships had so much as a single boat left. +We were fortunate enough to save well-nigh a hundred, of whom more +than seventy were our own men, the remainder Dutch. From these last +we learnt that the ships of Van Tromp and Ruyter had both been so +disabled that they had been forced to fall out of battle, and had +been towed away to port. They said that their Admirals Cornelius +Evertz and Van der Hulst had both been killed, while on our side we +learnt that Admiral Sir Christopher Mings had fallen." + +"Did the Dutch Fleet appear to be as much injured as our own?" + +"No, Your Majesty. Judging by the sail set when the battle was over, +theirs must have been in better condition than ours, which is not +surprising, seeing how superior they were in force, and for the most +part bigger ships, and carrying more guns." + +"Then you will have your hands full, James, or they will be ready to +take to sea again before we are. Next time I hope that we shall meet +them with more equal numbers." + +"I will do the best I can, brother," the Duke replied. "Though we +have so many ships sorely disabled there have been but few lost, and +we can supply their places with the vessels that have been building +with all haste. If the Dutch will give us but two months' time I +warrant that we shall be able to meet them in good force." + +As soon as the audience was over, Cyril and his friend returned to +the _Fan Fan_, and after giving the crew a few hours for sleep, +sailed down to Sheerness, where, shortly afterwards, Prince Rupert +arrived with a portion of the Fleet, the rest having been ordered to +Harwich, Portsmouth, and other ports, so that they could be more +speedily refitted. + +Although the work went on almost without intermission day and night, +the repairs were not completed before the news arrived that the Dutch +Fleet had again put to sea. Two days later they arrived off our +coast, where, finding no fleet ready to meet them, they sailed away +to France, where they hoped to be joined by their French allies. + +Two days later, however, our ships began to assemble at the mouth of +the Thames, and on June 24th the whole Fleet was ready to take to +sea. It consisted of eighty men-of-war, large and small, and nineteen +fire-ships. Prince Rupert was in command of the Red Squadron, and the +Duke of Albemarle sailed with him, on board the same ship. Sir Thomas +Allen was Admiral of the White, and Sir Jeremiah Smith of the Blue +Squadron. Cyril remained on board the _Fan Fan_, Lord Oliphant +returning to his duties on board the flagship. Marvels had been +effected by the zeal and energy of the crews and dockyard men. But +three weeks back, the English ships had, for the most part, been +crippled seemingly almost beyond repair, but now, with their holes +patched, with new spars, and in the glory of fresh paint and new +canvas, they made as brave a show as when they had sailed out from +the Downs a month previously. + +They were anchored off the Nore when, late in the evening, the news +came out from Sheerness that a mounted messenger had just ridden in +from Dover, and that the Dutch Fleet had, in the afternoon, passed +the town, and had rounded the South Foreland, steering north. + +Orders were at once issued that the Fleet should sail at daybreak, +and at three o'clock the next morning they were on their way down the +river. At ten o'clock the Dutch Fleet was seen off the North +Foreland. According to their own accounts they numbered eighty-eight +men-of-war, with twenty-five fire-ships, and were also divided into +three squadrons, under De Ruyter, John Evertz, and Van Tromp. + +The engagement began at noon by an attack by the White Squadron upon +that commanded by Evertz. An hour later, Prince Rupert and the Duke, +with the Red Squadron, fell upon De Ruyter, while that of Van Tromp, +which was at some distance from the others, was engaged by Sir +Jeremiah Smith with the Blue Squadron. Sir Thomas Allen completely +defeated his opponents, killing Evertz, his vice- and rear-admirals, +capturing the vice-admiral of Zeeland, who was with him, and burning +a ship of fifty guns. + +The Red Squadron was evenly matched by that of De Ruyter, and each +vessel laid itself alongside an adversary. Although De Ruyter himself +and his vice-admiral, Van Ness, fought obstinately, their ships in +general, commanded, for the most part, by men chosen for their family +influence rather than for either seamanship or courage, behaved but +badly, and all but seven gradually withdrew from the fight, and went +off under all sail; and De Ruyter, finding himself thus deserted, was +forced also to draw off. During this time, Van Tromp, whose squadron +was the strongest of the three Dutch divisions, was so furiously +engaged by the Blue Squadron, which was the weakest of the English +divisions, that he was unable to come to the assistance of his +consorts; when, however, he saw the defeat of the rest of the Dutch +Fleet, he, too, was obliged to draw off, lest he should have the +whole of the English down upon him, and was able the more easily to +do so as darkness was closing in when the battle ended. + +The Dutch continued their retreat during the night, followed at a +distance by the Red Squadron, which was, next morning, on the point +of overtaking them, when the Dutch sought refuge by steering into the +shallows, which their light draught enabled them to cross, while the +deeper English ships were unable to follow. Great was the wrath and +disappointment of the English when they saw themselves thus baulked +of reaping the full benefit of the victory. Prince Rupert shouted to +Cyril, who, in the _Fan Fan_, had taken but small share in the +engagement, as the fire-ships had not played any conspicuous part in +it. + +"Sir Cyril, we can go no farther, but do you pursue De Ruyter and +show him in what contempt we hold him." + +Cyril lifted his hat to show that he heard and understood the order. +Then he ordered his men to get out their oars, for the wind was very +light, and, amidst loud cheering, mingled with laughter, from the +crews of the vessels that were near enough to hear Prince Rupert's +order, the _Fan Fan_ rowed out from the English line in pursuit of +the Dutch. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +LONDON IN FLAMES + + +The sailors laughed and joked as they rowed away from the Fleet, but +the old boatswain shook his head. + +"We shall have to be careful, Sir Cyril," he said. "It is like a +small cur barking at the heels of a bull--it is good fun enough for a +bit, but when the bull turns, perchance the dog will find himself +thrown high in the air." + +Cyril nodded. He himself considered Prince Rupert's order to be +beyond all reason, and given only in the heat of his anger at De +Ruyter having thus escaped him, and felt that it was very likely to +cost the lives of all on board the _Fan Fan_. However, there was +nothing to do but to carry it out. It seemed to him that the +boatswain's simile was a very apt one, and that, although the +spectacle of the _Fan Fan_ worrying the great Dutch battle-ship +might be an amusing one to the English spectators, it was likely to +be a very serious adventure for her. + +De Ruyter's ship, which was in the rear of all the other Dutch +vessels, was but a mile distant when the _Fan Fan_ started, and as +the wind was so light that it scarce filled her sails, the yacht +approached her rapidly. + +"We are within half a mile now, your honour," the boatswain said. "I +should say we had better go no nearer if we don't want to be blown +out of the water." + +"Yes; I think we may as well stop rowing now, and get the guns to +work. There are only those two cannon in her stern ports which can +touch us here. She will scarcely come up in the wind to give us a +broadside. She is moving so slowly through the water that it would +take her a long time to come round, and De Ruyter would feel ashamed +to bring his great flag-ship round to crush such a tiny foe." + +The boatswain went forward to the guns, round which the men, after +laying in their oars, clustered in great glee. + +"Now," he said, "you have got to make those two guns in the stern +your mark. Try and send your shots through the port-holes. It will be +a waste to fire them at the hull, for the balls would not penetrate +the thick timber that she is built of. Remember, the straighter you +aim the more chance there is that the Dutch won't hit us. Men don't +stop to aim very straight when they are expecting a shot among them +every second. We will fire alternately, and one gun is not to fire +until the other is loaded again. I will lay the first gun myself." + +It was a good shot, and the crew cheered as they saw the splinters +fly at the edge of the port-hole. Shot after shot was fired with +varying success. + +The Dutch made no reply, and seemed to ignore the presence of their +tiny foe. The crew were, for the most part, busy aloft repairing +damages, and after half an hour's firing, without eliciting a reply, +the boatswain went aft to Cyril, and suggested that they should now +aim at the spars. + +"A lucky shot might do a good deal of damage, sir," he said. "The +weather is fine enough at present, but there is no saying when a +change may come, and if we could weaken one of the main spars it +might be the means of her being blown ashore, should the wind spring +up in the right direction." + +Cyril assented, and fire was now directed at the masts. A few ropes +were cut away, but no serious damage was effected until a shot struck +one of the halliard blocks of the spanker, and the sail at once ran +down. + +"It has taken a big bit out of the mast, too," the boatswain called +exultingly to Cyril. "I think that will rouse the Dutchmen up." + +A minute later it was evident that the shot had at least had that +effect. Two puffs of smoke spirted out from the stern of the Dutch +flagship, and, simultaneously with the roar of the guns, came the hum +of two heavy shot flying overhead. Delighted at having excited the +Dutchmen's wrath at last, the crew of the _Fan Fan_ took off their +hats and gave a loud cheer, and then, more earnestly than before, +settled down to work; their guns aimed now, as at first, at the +port-holes. Four or five shots were discharged from each of the +little guns before the Dutch were ready again. Then came the +thundering reports. The _Fan Fan's_ topmast was carried away by one +of the shot, but the other went wide. Two or three men were told to +cut away the wreckage, and the rest continued their fire. One of the +next shots of the enemy was better directed. It struck the deck close +to the foot of the mast, committed great havoc in Cyril's cabin, and +passed out through the stern below the water-line. Cyril leapt down +the companion as he heard the crash, shouting to the boatswain to +follow him. The water was coming through the hole in a great jet. +Cyril seized a pillow and--stuffed it into the shot-hole, being +drenched from head to foot in the operation. One of the sailors had +followed the boatswain, and Cyril called him to his assistance. + +"Get out the oars at once," he said to the boatswain. "Another shot +like this and she will go down. Get a piece cut off a spar and make a +plug. There is no holding this pillow in its place, and the water +comes in fast still." + +The sailor took Cyril's post while he ran up on deck and assisted in +cutting the plug; this was roughly shaped to the size of the hole, +and then driven in. It stopped the rush of the water, but a good deal +still leaked through. + +By the time this was done the _Fan Fan_ had considerably increased +her distance from De Ruyter. Four or five more shots were fired from +the Dutch ship. The last of these struck the mast ten feet above the +deck, bringing it down with a crash. Fortunately, none of the crew +were hurt, and, dropping the oars, they hauled the mast alongside, +cut the sail from its fastening to the hoops and gaff, and then +severed the shrouds and allowed the mast to drift away, while they +again settled themselves to the oars. Although every man rowed his +hardest, the _Fan Fan_ was half full of water before she reached the +Fleet, which was two miles astern of them when they first began to +row. + +"Well done, _Fan Fan_!" Prince Rupert shouted, as the little craft +came alongside. "Have you suffered any damage besides your spars? I +see you are low in the water." + +"We were shot through our stern, sir; we put in a plug, but the water +comes in still. Will you send a carpenter on board? For I don't think +she will float many minutes longer unless we get the hole better +stopped." + +The Prince gave some orders to an officer standing by him. The latter +called two or three sailors and bade them bring some short lengths of +thick hawser, while a strong party were set to reeve tackle to the +mainyard. As soon as the hawsers, each thirty feet in length, were +brought, they were dropped on to the deck of the _Fan Fan_, and the +officer told the crew to pass them under her, one near each end, and +to knot the hawsers. By the time this was done, two strong tackles +were lowered and fixed to the hawsers, and the crew ordered to come +up on to the ship. The tackles were then manned and hauled on by +strong parties, and the _Fan Fan_ was gradually raised. The +boatswain went below again and knocked out the plug, and, as the +little yacht was hoisted up, the water ran out of it. As soon as the +hole was above the water-level, the tackle at the bow was gradually +slackened off until she lay with her fore-part in the water, which +came some distance up her deck. The carpenter then slung himself over +the stern, and nailed, first a piece of tarred canvas, and then a +square of plank, over the hole. Then the stern tackle was eased off, +and the _Fan Fan_ floated on a level keel. Her crew went down to her +again, and, in half an hour, pumped her free of water. + +By this time, the results of the victory were known. On the English +side, the _Resolution_ was the only ship lost, she having been burnt +by a Dutch fire-ship; three English captains, and about three hundred +men were killed. On the other hand, the Dutch lost twenty ships, four +admirals, a great many of their captains, and some four thousand men. +It was, indeed, the greatest and most complete victory gained +throughout the war. Many of the British ships had suffered a good +deal, that which carried the Duke's flag most of all, for it had been +so battered in the fight with De Ruyter that the Duke and Prince +Rupert had been obliged to leave her, and to hoist their flags upon +another man-of-war. + +The next morning the Fleet sailed to Schonevelt, which was the usual +_rendezvous_ of the Dutch Fleet, and there remained some time, +altogether undisturbed by the enemy. The _Fan Fan_ was here +thoroughly repaired. + +On July 29th they sailed for Ulic, where they arrived on August 7th, +the wind being contrary. + +Learning that there was a large fleet of merchantmen lying between +the islands of Ulic and Schelling, guarded by but two men-of-war, and +that there were rich magazines of goods on these islands, it was +determined to attack them. Four small frigates, of a slight draught +of water, and five fire-ships, were selected for the attack, together +with the boats of the Fleet, manned by nine hundred men. + +On the evening of the 8th, Cyril was ordered to go, in the _Fan +Fan_, to reconnoitre the position of the Dutch. He did not sail +until after nightfall, and, on reaching the passage between the +islands, he lowered his sails, got out his oars, and drifted with the +tide silently down through the Dutch merchant fleet, where no watch +seemed to be kept, and in the morning carried the news to Sir Robert +Holmes, the commander of the expedition, who had anchored a league +from the entrance. + +Cyril had sounded the passage as he went through, and it was found +that two of the frigates could not enter it. These were left at the +anchorage, and, on arriving at the mouth of the harbour, the +_Tiger_, Sir Robert Holmes's flagship, was also obliged to anchor, +and he came on board the _Fan Fan_, on which he hoisted his flag. +The captains of the other ships came on board, and it was arranged +that the _Pembroke_, which had but a small draught of water, should +enter at once with the five fire-ships. + +The attack was completely successful. Two of the fire-ships grappled +with the men-of-war and burnt them, while three great merchantmen +were destroyed by the others. Then the boats dashed into the fleet, +and, with the exception of four or five merchantmen and four +privateers, who took refuge in a creek, defended by a battery, the +whole of the hundred and seventy merchantmen, the smallest of which +was not less than 200 tons burden, and all heavily laden, were +burned. + +The next day, Sir Robert Holmes landed eleven companies of troops on +the Island of Schonevelt and burnt Bandaris, its principal town, with +its magazines and store-houses, causing a loss to the Dutch, +according to their own admission, of six million guilders. This, and +the loss of the great Fleet, inflicted a very heavy blow upon the +commerce of Holland. The _Fan Fan_ had been hit again by a shot from +one of the batteries, and, on her rejoining the Fleet, Prince Rupert +determined to send her to England so that she could be thoroughly +repaired and fitted out again. Cyril's orders were to take her to +Chatham, and to hand her over to the dockyard authorities. + +"I do not think the Dutch will come out and fight us again this +autumn, Sir Cyril, so you can take your ease in London as it pleases +you. We are now halfway through August, and it will probably be at +least a month after your arrival before the _Fan Fan_ is fit for sea +again. It may be a good deal longer than that, for they are busy upon +the repairs of the ships sent home after the battle, and will hardly +take any hands off these to put on to the _Fan Fan_. In October we +shall all be coming home again, so that, until next spring, it is +hardly likely that there will be aught doing." + +Cyril accordingly returned to London. The wind was contrary, and it +was not until the last day of August that he dropped anchor in the +Medway. After spending a night at Chatham, he posted up to London the +next morning, and, finding convenient chambers in the Savoy, he +installed himself there, and then proceeded to the house of the Earl +of Wisbech, to whom he was the bearer of a letter from his son. +Finding that the Earl and his family were down at his place near +Sevenoaks, he went into the City, and spent the evening at Captain +Dave's, having ordered his servant to pack a small valise, and bring +it with the two horses in the morning. He had gone to bed but an hour +when he was awoke by John Wilkes knocking at his door. + +"There is a great fire burning not far off, Sir Cyril. A man who ran +past told me it was in Pudding Lane, at the top of Fish Street. The +Captain is getting up, and is going out to see it; for, with such dry +weather as we have been having, there is no saying how far it may +go." + +Cyril sprang out of his bed and dressed. Captain Dave, accustomed to +slip on his clothes in a hurry, was waiting for him, and, with John +Wilkes, they sallied out. There was a broad glare of light in the +sky, and the bells of many of the churches were ringing out the +fire-alarm. As they passed, many people put their heads out from +windows and asked where the fire was. In five minutes they approached +the scene. A dozen houses were blazing fiercely, while, from those +near, the inhabitants were busily removing their valuables. The Fire +Companies, with their buckets, were already at work, and lines of men +were formed down to the river and were passing along buckets from +hand to hand. Well-nigh half the water was spilt, however, before it +arrived at the fire, and, in the face of such a body of flame, it +seemed to make no impression whatever. + +"They might as well attempt to pump out a leaky ship with a child's +squirt," the Captain said. "The fire will burn itself out, and we +must pray heaven that the wind drops altogether; 'tis not strong, but +it will suffice to carry the flames across these narrow streets. 'Tis +lucky that it is from the east, so there is little fear that it will +travel in our direction." + +They learnt that the fire had begun in the house of Faryner, the +King's baker, though none knew how it had got alight. It was not long +before the flames leapt across the lane, five or six houses catching +fire almost at the same moment. A cry of dismay broke from the crowd, +and the fright of the neighbours increased. Half-clad women hurried +from their houses, carrying their babes, and dragging their younger +children out. Men staggered along with trunks of clothing and +valuables. Many wrung their hands helplessly, while the City Watch +guarded the streets leading to Pudding Lane, so as to prevent thieves +and vagabonds from taking advantage of the confusion to plunder. + +With great rapidity the flames spread from house to house. A portion +of Fish Street was already invaded, and the Church of St. Magnus in +danger. The fears of the people increased in proportion to the +advance of the conflagration. The whole neighbourhood was now +alarmed, and, in all the streets round, people were beginning to +remove their goods. The river seemed to be regarded by all as the +safest place of refuge. The boats from the various landing-places had +already come up, and these were doing a thriving trade by taking the +frightened people, with what goods they carried, to lighters and +ships moored in the river. + +The lines of men passing buckets had long since broken up, it being +too evident that their efforts were not of the slightest avail. The +wind had, in the last two hours, rapidly increased in strength, and +was carrying the burning embers far and wide. + +Cyril and his companions had, after satisfying their first curiosity, +set to work to assist the fugitives, by aiding them to carry down +their goods to the waterside. Cyril was now between eighteen and +nineteen, and had grown into a powerful, young fellow, having, since +he recovered from the Plague, grown fast and widened out greatly. He +was able to shoulder heavy trunks, and to carry them down without +difficulty. + +By six o'clock, however, all were exhausted by their labours, and +Captain Dave's proposal, that they should go back and get breakfast +and have a wash, was at once agreed to. + +At this time the greater part of Fish Street was in flames, the +Church of St. Magnus had fallen, and the flames had spread to many of +the streets and alleys running west. The houses on the Bridge were +blazing. + +"Well, father, what is the news?" Nellie exclaimed, as they entered. +"What have you been doing? You are all blackened, like the men who +carry out the coals from the ships. I never saw such figures." + +"We have been helping people to carry their goods down to the water, +Nellie. The news is bad. The fire is a terrible one." + +"That we can see, father. Mother and I were at the window for hours +after you left, and the whole sky seemed ablaze. Do you think that +there is any danger of its coming here?" + +"The wind is taking the flames the other way, Nellie, but in spite of +that I think that there is danger. The heat is so great that the +houses catch on this side, and we saw, as we came back, that it had +travelled eastwards. Truly, I believe that if the wind keeps on as it +is at present, the whole City will be destroyed. However, we will +have a wash first and then some breakfast, of which we are sorely in +need. Then we can talk over what had best be done." + +Little was said during breakfast. The apprentices had already been +out, and so excited were they at the scenes they had witnessed that +they had difficulty in preserving their usual quiet and submissive +demeanour. Captain Dave was wearied with his unwonted exertions. Mrs. +Dowsett and Nellie both looked pale and anxious, and Cyril and John +Wilkes were oppressed by the terrible scene of destruction and the +widespread misery they had witnessed. + +When breakfast was over, Captain Dave ordered the apprentices on no +account to leave the premises. They were to put up the shutters at +once, and then to await orders. + +"What do you think we had better do, Cyril?" he said, when the boys +had left the room. + +"I should say that you had certainly better go on board a ship, +Captain Dave. There is time to move now quietly, and to get many +things taken on board, but if there were a swift change of wind the +flames would come down so suddenly that you would have no time to +save anything. Do you know of a captain who would receive you?" + +"Certainly; I know of half a dozen." + +"Then the first thing is to secure a boat before they are all taken +up." + +"I will go down to the stairs at once." + +"Then I should say, John, you had better go off with Captain Dave, +and, as soon as he has arranged with one of the captains, come back +to shore. Let the waterman lie off in the stream, for if the flames +come this way there will be a rush for boats, and people will not +stop to ask to whom they belong. It will be better still to take one +of the apprentices with you, leave him at the stairs till you return, +and then tie up to a ship till we hail him." + +"That will be the best plan," Captain Dave said. "Now, wife, you and +Nellie and the maid had best set to work at once packing up all your +best clothes and such other things as you may think most valuable. We +shall have time, I hope, to make many trips." + +"While you are away, I will go along the street and see whether the +fire is making any way in this direction," Cyril said. "Of course if +it's coming slowly you will have time to take away a great many +things. And we may even hope that it may not come here at all." + +Taking one of the apprentices, Captain Dave and John at once started +for the waterside, while Cyril made his way westward. + +Already, people were bringing down their goods from most of the +houses. Some acted as if they believed that if they took the goods +out of the houses they would be safe, and great piles of articles of +all kinds almost blocked the road. Weeping women and frightened +children sat on these piles as if to guard them. Some stood at their +doors wringing their hands helplessly; others were already starting +eastward laden with bundles and boxes, occasionally looking round as +if to bid farewell to their homes. Many of the men seemed even more +confused and frightened than the women, running hither and thither +without purpose, shouting, gesticulating, and seeming almost +distraught with fear and grief. + +Cyril had not gone far when he saw that the houses on both sides of +the street, at the further end, were already in flames. He was +obliged to advance with great caution, for many people were +recklessly throwing goods of all kinds from the windows, regardless +of whom they might fall upon, and without thought of how they were to +be carried away. He went on until close to the fire, and stood for a +time watching. The noise was bewildering. Mingled with the roar of +the flames, the crackling of woodwork, and the heavy crashes that +told of the fall of roofs or walls, was the clang of the alarm-bells, +shouts, cries, and screams. The fire spread steadily, but with none +of the rapidity with which he had seen it fly along from house to +house on the other side of the conflagration. The houses, however, +were largely composed of wood. The balconies generally caught first, +and the fire crept along under the roofs, and sometimes a shower of +tiles, and a burst of flames, showed that it had advanced there, +while the lower portion of the house was still intact. + +"Is it coming, Cyril?" Mrs. Dowsett asked, when he returned. + +"It is coming steadily," he said, "and can be stopped by nothing +short of a miracle. Can I help you in any way?" + +"No," she said; "we have packed as many things as can possibly be +carried. It is well that your things are all at your lodging, Cyril, +and beyond the risk of this danger." + +"It would have mattered little about them," he said. "I could have +replaced them easily enough. That is but a question of money. And +now, in the first place, I will get the trunks and bundles you have +packed downstairs. That will save time." + +Assisted by the apprentice and Nellie, Cyril got all the things +downstairs. + +"How long have we, do you think?" Nellie asked. + +"I should say that in three hours the fire will be here," he said. +"It may be checked a little at the cross lanes; but I fear that three +hours is all we can hope for." + +Just as they had finished taking down the trunks, Captain Dave and +John Wilkes arrived. + +"I have arranged the affair," the former said. "My old friend, Dick +Watson, will take us in his ship; she lies but a hundred yards from +the stairs. Now, get on your mantle and hood, Nellie, and bring your +mother and maid down." + +The three women were soon at the foot of the stairs, and Mrs. +Dowsett's face showed signs of tears; but, though pale, she was quiet +and calm, and the servant, a stout wench, had gained confidence from +her mistress's example. As soon as they were ready, the three men +each shouldered a trunk. The servant and the apprentice carried one +between them. Mrs. Dowsett and her daughter took as many bundles as +they could carry. It was but five minutes' walk down to the stairs. +The boat was lying twenty yards out in the stream, fastened up to a +lighter, with the apprentice and waterman on board. It came at once +alongside, and in five minutes they reached the _Good Venture_. As +soon as the women had ascended the accommodation ladder, some sailors +ran down and helped to carry up the trunks. + +"Empty them all out in the cabin," Captain Dave said to his wife; "we +will take them back with us." + +As soon as he had seen the ladies into the cabin, Captain Watson +called his son Frank, who was his chief mate, and half a dozen of his +men. These carried the boxes, as fast as they were emptied, down into +the boat. + +"We will all go ashore together," he said to Captain Dave. "I was a +fool not to think of it before. We will soon make light work of it." + +As soon as they reached the house, some of the sailors were sent off +with the remaining trunks and bundles, while the others carried +upstairs those they had brought, and quickly emptied into them the +remaining contents of the drawers and linen press. So quickly and +steadily did the work go on, that no less than six trips were made to +the _Good Venture_ in the next three hours, and at the end of that +time almost everything portable had been carried away, including +several pieces of valuable furniture, and a large number of objects +brought home by Captain Dave from his various voyages. The last +journey, indeed, was devoted to saving some of the most valuable +contents of the store. Captain Dave, delighted at having saved so +much, would not have thought of taking more, but Captain Watson would +not hear of this. + +"There is time for one more trip, old friend," he said, "and there +are many things in your store that are worth more than their weight +in silver. I will take my other two hands this time, and, with the +eight men and our five selves, we shall be able to bring a good +load." + +The trunks were therefore this time packed with ship's instruments, +and brass fittings of all kinds, to the full weight that could be +carried. All hands then set to work, and, in a very short time, a +great proportion of the portable goods were carried from the +store-house into an arched cellar beneath it. By the time that they +were ready to start there were but six houses between them and the +fire. + +"I wish we had another three hours before us," Captain Watson said. +"It goes to one's heart to leave all this new rope and sail cloth, +good blocks, and other things, to be burnt." + +"There have been better things than that burnt to-day, Watson. Few +men have saved as much as I have, thanks to your assistance and that +of these stout sailors of yours. Why, the contents of these twelve +boxes are worth as much as the whole of the goods remaining." + +The sailors' loads were so heavy that they had to help each other to +get them upon their shoulders, and the other five were scarcely less +weighted; and, short as was the distance, all had to rest several +times on the way to the stairs, setting their burdens upon +window-sills, or upon boxes scattered in the streets. One of the +ship's boats had, after the first trip, taken the place of the light +wherry, but even this was weighted down to the gunwale when the men +and the goods were all on board. After the first two trips, the +contents of the boxes had been emptied on deck, and by the time the +last arrived the three women had packed away in the empty cabins all +the clothing, linen, and other articles, that had been taken below. +Captain Watson ordered a stiff glass of grog to be given to each of +the sailors, and then went down with the others into the main cabin, +where the steward had already laid the table for a meal, and poured +out five tumblers of wine. + +"I have not had so tough a job since I was before the mast," he said. +"What say you, Captain Dave?" + +"It has been a hard morning's work, indeed, Watson, and, in truth, I +feel fairly spent. But though weary in body I am cheerful in heart. +It seemed to me at breakfast-time that we should save little beyond +what we stood in, and now I have rescued well-nigh everything +valuable that I have. I should have grieved greatly had I lost all +those mementos that it took me nigh thirty years to gather, and those +pieces of furniture that belonged to my father I would not have lost +for any money. Truly, it has been a noble salvage." + +Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie now joined them. They had quite recovered +their spirits, and were delighted at the unexpected rescue of so many +things precious to them, and Captain Watson was overwhelmed by their +thanks for what he had done. + +After the meal was over they sat quietly talking for a time, and then +Cyril proposed that they should row up the river and see what +progress the fire was making above the Bridge. Mrs. Dowsett, however, +was too much fatigued by her sleepless night and the troubles and +emotions of the morning to care about going. Captain Dave said that +he was too stiff to do anything but sit quiet and smoke a pipe, and +that he would superintend the getting of their things on deck a +little ship-shape. Nellie embraced the offer eagerly, and young +Watson, who was a well-built and handsome fellow, with a pleasant +face and manner, said that he would go, and would take a couple of +hands to row. The tide had just turned to run up when they set out. +Cyril asked the first mate to steer, and he sat on one side of him +and Nellie on the other. + +"You will have to mind your oars, lads," Frank Watson said. "The +river is crowded with boats." + +They crossed over to the Southwark side, as it would have been +dangerous to pass under the arches above which the houses were +burning. The flames, however, had not spread right across the bridge, +for the houses were built only over the piers, and the openings at +the arches had checked the flames, and at these points numbers of men +were drawing water in buckets and throwing it over the fronts of the +houses, or passing them, by ropes, to other men on the roofs, which +were kept deluged with water. Hundreds of willing hands were engaged +in the work, for the sight of the tremendous fire on the opposite +bank filled people with terror lest the flames should cross the +bridge and spread to the south side of the river. The warehouses and +wharves on the bank were black with spectators, who looked with +astonishment and awe at the terrible scene of destruction. + +It was not until they passed under the bridge that the full extent of +the conflagration was visible. The fire had made its way some +distance along Thames Street, and had spread far up into the City. +Gracechurch Street and Lombard Street were in flames, and indeed the +fire seemed to have extended a long distance further; but the smoke +was so dense, that it was difficult to make out the precise point +that it had reached. The river was a wonderful sight. It was crowded +with boats and lighters, all piled up with goods, while along the +quays from Dowgate to the Temple, crowds of people were engaged in +placing what goods they had saved on board lighters and other craft. +Many of those in the boats seemed altogether helpless and undecided +as to what had best be done, and drifted along with the tide, but the +best part were making either for the marshes at Lambeth or the fields +at Millbank, there to land their goods, the owners of the boats +refusing to keep them long on board, as they desired to return by the +next tide to fetch away other cargoes, being able to obtain any price +they chose to demand for their services. + +Among the boats were floating goods and wreckage of all kinds, +charred timber that had fallen from the houses on the bridge, and +from the warehouses by the quays, bales of goods, articles of +furniture, bedding, and other matters. At times, a sudden change of +wind drove a dense smoke across the water, flakes of burning embers +and papers causing great confusion among the boats, and threatening +to set the piles of goods on fire. + +At Frank Watson's suggestion, they landed at the Temple, after having +been some two hours on the river. Going up into Fleet Street, they +found a stream of carts and other vehicles proceeding westward, all +piled with furniture and goods, mostly of a valuable kind. The +pavements were well-nigh blocked with people, all journeying in the +same direction, laden with their belongings. With difficulty they +made their way East as far as St. Paul's. The farther end of +Cheapside was already in flames, and they learnt that the fire had +extended as far as Moorfields. It was said that efforts had been made +to pull down houses and so check its progress, but that there was no +order or method, and that no benefit was gained by the work. + +After looking on at the scene for some time, they returned to Fleet +Street. Frank Watson went down with Nellie to the boat, while Cyril +went to his lodgings in the Savoy. Here he found his servant +anxiously awaiting him. + +"I did not bring the horses this morning, sir," he said. "I heard +that there was a great fire, and went on foot as far as I could get, +but, finding that I could not pass, I thought it best to come back +here and await your return." + +"Quite right, Reuben; you could not have got the horses to me unless +you had ridden round the walls and come in at Aldgate, and they would +have been useless had you brought them. The house at which I stayed +last night is already burnt to the ground. You had better stay here +for the present, I think. There is no fear of the fire extending +beyond the City. Should you find that it does so, pack my clothes in +the valises, take the horses down to Sevenoaks, and remain at the +Earl's until you hear from me." + +Having arranged this, Cyril went down to the Savoy stairs, where he +found the boat waiting for him, and then they rowed back to London +Bridge, where, the force of the tide being now abated, they were able +to row through and get to the _Good Venture_. + +They had but little sleep that night. Gradually the fire worked its +way eastward until it was abreast of them. The roaring and crackling +of the flames was prodigious. Here and there the glare was +diversified by columns of a deeper red glow, showing where +warehouses, filled with pitch, tar, and oil, were in flames. The +heavy crashes of falling buildings were almost incessant. +Occasionally they saw a church tower or steeple, that had stood for a +time black against the glowing sky, become suddenly wreathed in +flames, and, after burning for a time, fall with a crash that could +be plainly heard above the general roar. + +"Surely such a fire was never seen before!" Captain Dave said. + +"Not since Rome was burnt, I should think," Cyril replied. + +"How long was that ago, Cyril? I don't remember hearing about it." + +"'Tis fifteen hundred years or so since then, Captain Dave; but the +greater part of the city was destroyed, and Rome was then many times +bigger than London. It burnt for three days." + +"Well, this is bad enough," Captain Watson said. "Even here the heat +is well-nigh too great to face. Frank, you had better call the crew +up and get all the sails off the yards. Were a burning flake to fall +on them we might find it difficult to extinguish them. When they have +done that, let the men get all the buckets filled with water and +ranged on the deck; and it will be as well to get a couple of hands +in the boat and let them chuck water against this side. We shall have +all the paint blistered off before morning." + +So the night passed. Occasionally they went below for a short time, +but they found it impossible to sleep, and were soon up again, and +felt it a relief when the morning began to break. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AFTER THE FIRE + + +Daylight brought little alleviation to the horrors of the scene. The +flames were less vivid, but a dense pall of smoke overhung the sky. +As soon as they had breakfasted, Captain Watson, his son, Captain +Dowsett, Nellie, and Cyril took their places in the boat, and were +rowed up the river. An exclamation burst from them all as they saw +how fast the flames had travelled since the previous evening. + +"St. Paul's is on fire!" Cyril exclaimed. "See! there are flames +bursting through its roof. I think, Captain Watson, if you will put +me ashore at the Temple, I will make my way to Whitehall, and report +myself there. I may be of use." + +"I will do that," Captain Watson said. "Then I will row back to the +ship again. We must leave a couple of hands on board, in case some of +these burning flakes should set anything alight. We will land with +the rest, and do what we can to help these poor women and children." + +"I will stay on board and take command, if you like, Watson," Captain +Dave said. "You ought to have some one there, and I have not +recovered from yesterday's work, and should be of little use ashore." + +"Very well, Dowsett. That will certainly be best; but I think it will +be prudent, before we leave, to run out a kedge with forty or fifty +fathoms of cable towards the middle of the stream, and then veer out +the cable on her anchor so as to let her ride thirty fathoms or so +farther out. We left six men sluicing her side and deck, but it +certainly would be prudent to get her out a bit farther. Even here, +the heat is as much as we can stand." + +As soon as Cyril had landed, he hurried up into Fleet Street. He had +just reached Temple Bar when he saw a party of horsemen making their +way through the carts. A hearty cheer greeted them from the crowd, +who hoped that the presence of the King--for it was Charles who rode +in front--was a sign that vigorous steps were about to be taken to +check the progress of the flames. Beside the King rode the Duke of +Albemarle, and following were a number of other gentlemen and +officers. Cyril made his way through the crowd to the side of the +Duke's horse. + +"Can I be of any possible use, my Lord Duke?" he asked, doffing his +hat. + +"Ah, Sir Cyril, it is you, is it? I have not seen you since you +bearded De Ruyter in the _Fan Fan_. Yes, you can be of use. We have +five hundred sailors and dockyard men behind; they have just arrived +from Chatham, and a thousand more have landed below the Bridge to +fight the flames on that side. Keep by me now, and, when we decide +where to set to work, I will put you under the orders of Captain +Warncliffe, who has charge of them." + +When they reached the bottom of Fleet Street, the fire was halfway +down Ludgate Hill, and it was decided to begin operations along the +bottom of the Fleet Valley. The dockyard men and sailors were brought +up, and following them were some carts laden with kegs of powder. + +"Warncliffe," Lord Albemarle said, as the officer came up at the head +of them, "Sir Cyril Shenstone is anxious to help. You know him by +repute, and you can trust him in any dangerous business. You had +better tell off twenty men under him. You have only to tell him what +you want done, and you can rely upon its being done thoroughly." + +The sailors were soon at work along the line of the Fleet Ditch. All +carried axes, and with these they chopped down the principal beams of +the small houses clustered by the Ditch, and so weakened them that a +small charge of powder easily brought them down. In many places they +met with fierce opposition from the owners, who, still clinging to +the faint hope that something might occur to stop the progress of the +fire before it reached their abodes, raised vain protestations +against the destruction of their houses. All day the men worked +unceasingly, but in vain. Driven by the fierce wind, the flames swept +down the opposite slope, leapt over the space strewn with rubbish and +beams, and began to climb Fleet Street and Holborn Hill and the dense +mass of houses between them. + +The fight was renewed higher up. Beer and bread and cheese were +obtained from the taverns, and served out to the workmen, and these +kept at their task all night. Towards morning the wind had fallen +somewhat. The open spaces of the Temple favoured the defenders; the +houses to east of it were blown up, and, late in the afternoon, the +progress of the flames at this spot was checked. As soon as it was +felt that there was no longer any fear of its further advance here, +the exhausted men, who had, for twenty-four hours, laboured, half +suffocated by the blinding smoke and by the dust made by their own +work, threw themselves down on the grass of the Temple Gardens and +slept. At midnight they were roused by their officers, and proceeded +to assist their comrades, who had been battling with the flames on +the other side of Fleet Street. They found that these too had been +successful; the flames had swept up to Fetter Lane, but the houses on +the west side had been demolished, and although, at one or two +points, the fallen beams caught fire, they were speedily +extinguished. Halfway up Fetter Lane the houses stood on both sides +uninjured, for a large open space round St. Andrew's, Holborn, had +aided the defenders in their efforts to check the flames. North of +Holborn the fire had spread but little, and that only among the +poorer houses in Fleet Valley. + +Ascending the hill, they found that, while the flames had overleapt +the City wall from Ludgate to Newgate in its progress west, the wall +had proved an effective barrier from the sharp corner behind +Christchurch up to Aldersgate and thence up to Cripplegate, which was +the farthest limit reached by the fire to the north. To the east, the +City had fared better. By the river, indeed, the destruction was +complete as far as the Tower. Mark Lane, however, stood, and north of +this the line of destruction swept westward to Leaden Hall, a massive +structure at the entrance to the street that took its name from it, +and proved a bulwark against the flames. From this point, the line of +devastated ground swept round by the eastern end of Throgmorton +Street to the northern end of Basinghall Street. + +Cyril remained with the sailors for two days longer, during which +time they were kept at work beating out the embers of the fire. In +this they were aided by a heavy fall of rain, which put an end to all +fear of the flames springing up again. + +"There can be no need for you to remain longer with us, Sir Cyril," +Captain Warncliffe said, at the end of the second day. "I shall have +pleasure in reporting to the Duke of Albemarle the good services that +you have rendered. Doubtless we shall remain on duty here for some +time, for we may have, for aught I know, to aid in the clearing away +of some of the ruins; but, at any rate, there can be no occasion for +you to stay longer with us." + +Cyril afterwards learnt that the sailors and dockyard men were, on +the following day, sent back to Chatham. The fire had rendered so +great a number of men homeless and without means of subsistence, that +there was an abundant force on hand for the clearing away of ruins. +Great numbers were employed by the authorities, while many of the +merchants and traders engaged parties to clear away the ruins of +their dwellings, in order to get at the cellars below, in which they +had, as soon as the danger from fire was perceived, stowed away the +main bulk of their goods. As soon as he was released from duty, Cyril +made his way to the Tower, and, hiring a boat, was rowed to the _Good +Venture_. + +The shipping presented a singular appearance, their sides being +blistered, and in many places completely stripped of their paint, +while in some cases the spars were scorched, and the sails burnt +away. There was lively satisfaction at his appearance, as he stepped +on to the deck of the _Good Venture_, for, until he did so, he had +been unrecognised, so begrimed with smoke and dust was he. + +"We have been wondering about you," Captain Dave said, as he shook +him by the hand, "but I can scarce say we had become uneasy. We +learnt that a large body of seamen and others were at work blowing up +houses, and as you had gone to offer your services we doubted not +that you were employed with them. Truly you must have been having a +rough time of it, for not only are you dirtier than any scavenger, +but you look utterly worn out and fatigued." + +"It was up-hill work the first twenty-four hours, for we worked +unceasingly, and worked hard, too, I can assure you, and that +well-nigh smothered with smoke and dust. Since then, our work has +been more easy, but no less dirty. In the three days I have not had +twelve hours' sleep altogether." + +"I will get a tub of hot water placed in your cabin," Captain Watson +said, "and should advise you, when you get out from it, to turn into +your bunk at once. No one shall go near you in the morning until you +wake of your own accord." + +Cyril was, however, down to breakfast. + +"Now tell us all about the fire," Nellie said, when they had finished +the meal. + +"I have nothing to tell you, for I know nothing," Cyril replied. "Our +work was simply pulling down and blowing up houses. I had scarce time +so much as to look at the fire. However, as I have since been working +all round its course, I can tell you exactly how far it spread." + +When he brought his story to a conclusion, he said,-- + +"And now, Captain Dave, what are you thinking of doing?" + +"In the first place, I am going ashore to look at the old house. As +soon as I can get men, I shall clear the ground, and begin to rebuild +it. I have enough laid by to start me again. I should be like a fish +out of water with nothing to see to. I have the most valuable part of +my stock still on hand here on deck, and if the cellar has proved +staunch my loss in goods will be small indeed, for the anchors and +chains in the yard will have suffered no damage. But even if the +cellar has caved in, and its contents are destroyed, and if, when I +have rebuilt my house, I find I have not enough left to replenish my +stock, I am sure that I can get credit from the rope- and sail-makers, +and iron-masters with whom I deal." + +"Do not trouble yourself about that, Captain Dave," Cyril said. "You +came to my help last time, and it will be my turn this time. I am +sure that I shall have no difficulty in getting any monies that may +be required from Mr. Goldsworthy, and there is nothing that will give +me more pleasure than to see you established again in the place that +was the first where I ever felt I had a home." + +"I hope that it will not be needed, lad," Captain Dave said, shaking +his hand warmly, "but if it should, I will not hesitate to accept +your offer in the spirit in which it is made, and thus add one more +to the obligations that I am under to you." + +Cyril went ashore with Captain Dave and John Wilkes. The wall of the +yard was, of course, uninjured, but the gate was burnt down. The +store-house, which was of wood, had entirely disappeared, and the +back wall of the house had fallen over it and the yard. The entrance +to the cellar, therefore, could not be seen, and, as yet, the heat +from the fallen bricks was too great to attempt to clear them away to +get at it. + +That night, however, it rained heavily, and in the morning Captain +Watson took a party of sailors ashore, and these succeeded in +clearing away the rubbish sufficiently to get to the entrance of the +cellar. The door was covered by an iron plate, and although the wood +behind this was charred it had not caught fire, and on getting it +open it was found that the contents of the cellar were uninjured. + +In order to prevent marauders from getting at it before preparations +could be made for rebuilding, the rubbish was again thrown in so as +to completely conceal the entrance. On returning on board there was a +consultation on the future, held in the cabin. Captain Dave at once +said that he and John Wilkes must remain in town to make arrangements +for the rebuilding and to watch the performance of the work. Cyril +warmly pressed Mrs. Dowsett and Nellie to come down with him to +Norfolk until the house was ready to receive them, but both were in +favour of remaining in London, and it was settled that, next day, +they should go down to Stepney, hire a house and store-room there, +and remove thither their goods on board the ship, and the contents of +the cellar. + +There was some little difficulty in getting a house, as so many were +seeking for lodgings, but at last they came upon a widow who was +willing to let a house, upon the proviso that she was allowed to +retain one room for her own occupation. This being settled, Cyril +that evening returned to his lodging, and the next day rode down to +Norfolk. There he remained until the middle of May, when he received +a letter from Captain Dave, saying that his house was finished, and +that they should move into it in a fortnight, and that they all +earnestly hoped he would be present. As he had already been thinking +of going up to London for a time, he decided to accept the +invitation. + +By this time he had made the acquaintance of all the surrounding +gentry, and felt perfectly at home at Upmead. He rode frequently into +Norwich, and, whenever he did so, paid a visit to Mr. Harvey, whose +wife had died in January, never having completely recovered from the +shock that she had received in London. Mr. Harvey himself had aged +much; he still took a great interest in the welfare of the tenants of +Upmead, and in Cyril's proposals for the improvement of their homes, +and was pleased to see how earnestly he had taken up the duties of +his new life. He spoke occasionally of his son, of whose death he +felt convinced. + +"I have never been able to obtain any news of him," he often said, +"and assuredly I should have heard of him had he been alive. + +"It would ease my mind to know the truth," he said, one day. "It +troubles me to think that, if alive, he is assuredly pursuing evil +courses, and that he will probably end his days on a gallows. That he +will repent, and turn to better courses, I have now no hope whatever. +Unless he be living by roguery, he would, long ere this, have +written, professing repentance, even if he did not feel it, and +begging for assistance. It troubles me much that I can find out +nothing for certain of him." + +"Would it be a relief to you to know surely that he was dead?" Cyril +asked. + +"I would rather know that he was dead than feel, as I do, that if +alive, he is going on sinning. One can mourn for the dead as David +mourned for Absalom, and trust that their sins may be forgiven them; +but, uncertain as I am of his death, I cannot so mourn, since it may +be that he still lives." + +"Then, sir, I am in a position to set your mind at rest. I have known +for a long time that he died of the Plague, but I have kept it from +you, thinking that it was best you should still think that he might +be living. He fell dead beside me on the very day that I sickened of +the Plague, and, indeed, it was from him that I took it." + +Mr. Harvey remained silent for a minute or two. + +"'Tis better so," he said solemnly. "The sins of youth may be +forgiven, but, had he lived, his whole course might have been wicked. +How know you that it was he who gave you the Plague?" + +"I met him in the street. He was tottering in his walk, and, as he +came up, he stumbled, and grasped me to save himself. I held him for +a moment, and then he slipped from my arms and fell on the pavement, +and died." + +Mr. Harvey looked keenly at Cyril, and was about to ask a question, +but checked himself. + +"He is dead," he said. "God rest his soul, and forgive him his sins! +Henceforth I shall strive to forget that he ever lived to manhood, +and seek to remember him as he was when a child." + +Then he held out his hand to Cyril, to signify that he would fain be +alone. + +On arriving in London, Cyril took up his abode at his former +lodgings, and the next day at twelve o'clock, the hour appointed in a +letter he found awaiting him on his arrival, he arrived in Tower +Street, having ridden through the City. An army of workmen, who had +come up from all parts of the country, were engaged in rebuilding the +town. In the main thoroughfares many of the houses were already +finished, and the shops re-opened. In other parts less progress had +been made, as the traders were naturally most anxious to resume their +business, and most able to pay for speed. + +Captain Dave's was one of the first houses completed in Tower Street, +but there were many others far advanced in progress. The front +differed materially from that of the old house, in which each story +had projected beyond the one below it. Inside, however, there was but +little change in its appearance, except that the rooms were somewhat +more lofty, and that there were no heavy beams across the ceilings. +Captain Dave and his family had moved in that morning. + +"It does not look quite like the old place," Mrs. Dowsett said, after +the first greetings. + +"Not quite," Cyril agreed. "The new furniture, of course, gives it a +different appearance as yet; but one will soon get accustomed to +that, and you will quickly make it home-like again. I see you have +the bits of furniture you saved in their old corners." + +"Yes; and it will make a great difference when they get all my +curiosities up in their places again," Captain Dave put in. "We +pulled them down anyhow, and some of them will want glueing up a bit. +And so your fighting is over, Cyril?" + +"Yes, it looks like it. The Dutch have evidently had enough of it. +They asked for peace, and as both parties consented to the King of +Sweden being mediator, and our representatives and those of Holland +are now settling affairs at Breda, peace may be considered as finally +settled. We have only two small squadrons now afloat; the rest are +all snugly laid up. I trust that there is no chance of another war +between the two nations for years to come." + +"I hope not, Cyril. But De Witte is a crafty knave, and is ever in +close alliance with Louis. Were it not for French influence the +Prince of Orange would soon oust him from the head of affairs." + +"I should think he would not have any power for mischief in the +future," Cyril said. "It was he who brought on the last war, and, +although it has cost us much, it has cost the Dutch very much more, +and the loss of her commerce has well-nigh brought Holland to ruin. +Besides, the last victory we won must have lowered their national +pride greatly." + +"You have not heard the reports that are about, then?" + +"No, I have heard no news whatever. It takes a long time for it to +travel down to Norwich, and I have seen no one since I came up to +town last night." + +"Well, there is a report that a Dutch Fleet of eighty sail has put to +sea. It may be that 'tis but bravado to show that, though they have +begged for peace, 'tis not because they are in no condition to fight. +I know not how this may be, but it is certain that for the last three +days the Naval people have been very busy, and that powder is being +sent down to Chatham. As for the Fleet, small as it is, it is +doubtful whether it would fight, for the men are in a veritable state +of mutiny, having received no pay for many months. Moreover, several +ships were but yesterday bought by Government, for what purpose it is +not known, but it is conjectured they are meant for fire-ships." + +"I cannot but think that it is, as you say, a mere piece of bravado +on the part of the Dutch, Captain Dave. They could never be so +treacherous as to attack us when peace is well-nigh concluded, but, +hurt as their pride must be by the defeat we gave them, it is not +unnatural they should wish to show that they can still put a brave +fleet on the seas, and are not driven to make peace because they +could not, if need be, continue the war." + +"And now I have a piece of news for you. We are going to have a +wedding here before long." + +"I am right glad to hear it," Cyril said heartily. "And who is the +happy man, Nellie?" he asked, turning towards where she had been +standing the moment before. But Nellie had fled the moment her father +had opened his lips. + +"It is Frank Watson," her father said. "A right good lad; and her +mother and I are well pleased with her choice." + +"I thought that he was very attentive the few days we were on board +his father's ship," Cyril said. "I am not surprised to hear the +news." + +"They have been two voyages since then, and while the _Good Venture_ +was in the Pool, Master Frank spent most of his time down at Stepney, +and it was settled a fortnight since. My old friend Watson is as +pleased as I am. And the best part of the business is that Frank is +going to give up the sea and become my partner. His father owns the +_Good Venture_, and, being a careful man, has laid by a round sum, +and he settled to give him fifteen hundred pounds, which he will put +into the business." + +"That is a capital plan, Captain Dave. It will be an excellent thing +for you to have so young and active a partner." + +"Watson has bought the house down at Stepney that we have been living +in, and Frank and Nellie are going to settle there, and Watson will +make it his headquarters when his ship is in port, and will, I have +no doubt, take up his moorings there, when he gives up the sea. The +wedding is to be in a fortnight's time, for Watson has set his heart +on seeing them spliced before he sails again, and I see no reason for +delay. You must come to the wedding, of course, Cyril. Indeed, I +don't think Nellie would consent to be married if you were not there. +The girl has often spoken of you lately. You see, now that she really +knows what love is, and has a quiet, happy life to look forward to, +she feels more than ever the service you did her, and the escape she +had. She told the whole story to Frank before she said yes, when he +asked her to be his wife, and, of course, he liked her no less for +it, though I think it would go hard with that fellow if he ever met +him." + +"The fellow died of the Plague, Captain Dave. His last action was to +try and revenge himself on me by giving me the infection, for, +meeting me in the streets, he threw his arms round me and exclaimed, +'I have given you the Plague!' They were the last words he ever +spoke, for he gave a hideous laugh, and then dropped down dead. +However, he spoke truly, for that night I sickened of it." + +"Then your kindness to Nellie well-nigh cost you your life," Mrs. +Dowsett said, laying her hand on his shoulder, while the tears stood +in her eyes. "And you never told us this before!" + +"There was nothing to tell," Cyril replied. "If I had not caught it +from him, I should have, doubtless, taken it from someone else, for I +was constantly in the way of it, and could hardly have hoped to +escape an attack. Now, Captain Dave, let us go downstairs, and see +the store." + +"John Wilkes and the two boys are at work there," the Captain said, +as he went downstairs, "and we open our doors tomorrow. I have +hurried on the house as fast as possible, and as no others in my +business have yet opened, I look to do a thriving trade at once. +Watson will send all his friends here, and as there is scarce a +captain who goes in or out of port but knows Frank, I consider that +our new partner will greatly extend the business." + +Captain Watson and Frank came in at supper-time, and, after spending +a pleasant evening, Cyril returned to his lodgings in the Strand. The +next day he was walking near Whitehall when a carriage dashed out at +full speed, and, as it came along, he caught sight of the Duke of +Albemarle, who looked in a state of strange confusion. His wig was +awry, his coat was off, and his face was flushed and excited. As his +eye fell on Cyril, he shouted out to the postillions to stop. As they +pulled up, he shouted,-- + +"Jump in, Sir Cyril! Jump in, for your life." + +Astonished at this address, Cyril ran to the door, opened it, and +jumped in, and the Duke shouted to the postillions to go on. + +"What do you think, sir?--what do you think?" roared the Duke. "Those +treacherous scoundrels, the Dutch, have appeared with a great Fleet +of seventy men-of-war, besides fire-ships, off Sheerness, this +morning at daybreak, and have taken the place, and Chatham lies open +to them. We have been bamboozled and tricked. While the villains were +pretending they were all for peace, they have been secretly fitting +out, and there they are at Sheerness. A mounted messenger brought in +the news, but ten minutes ago." + +"Have they taken Sheerness, sir?" + +"Yes; there were but six guns mounted on the fort, and no +preparations made. The ships that were there did nothing. The rascals +are in mutiny--and small wonder, when they can get no pay; the money +voted for them being wasted by the Court. It is enough to drive one +wild with vexation, and, had I my will, there are a dozen men, whose +names are the foremost in the country, whom I would hang up with my +own hands. The wind is from the east, and if they go straight up the +Medway they may be there this afternoon, and have the whole of our +ships at their mercy. It is enough to make Blake turn in his grave +that such an indignity should be offered us, though it be but the +outcome of treachery on the part of the Dutch, and of gross +negligence on ours. But if they give us a day or two to prepare, we +will, at least, give them something to do before they can carry out +their design, and, if one could but rely on the sailors, we might +even beat them off; but it is doubtful whether the knaves will fight. +The forts are unfinished, though the money was voted for them three +years since. And all this is not the worst of it, for, after they +have taken Chatham, there is naught to prevent their coming up to +London. We have had plague and we have had fire, and to be bombarded +by the Dutchmen would be the crowning blow, and it would be like to +bring about another revolution in England." + +They posted down to Chatham as fast as the horses could gallop. The +instant the news had arrived, the Duke had sent off a man, on +horseback, to order horses to be in readiness to change at each +posting station. Not a minute, therefore, was lost. In a little over +two hours from the time of leaving Whitehall, they drove into the +dockyard. + +"Where is Sir Edward Spragge?" the Duke shouted, as he leapt from the +carriage. + +"He has gone down to the new forts, your Grace," an officer replied. + +"Have a gig prepared at once, without the loss of a moment," the Duke +said. "What is being done?" he asked another officer, as the first +ran off. + +"Sir Edward has taken four frigates down to the narrow part of the +river, sir, and preparations have been made for placing a great chain +there. Several of the ships are being towed out into the river, and +are to be sunk in the passage." + +"Any news of the Dutch having left Sheerness?" + +"No, sir; a shallop rowed up at noon, but was chased back again by +one of our pinnaces." + +"That is better than I had hoped. Come, come, we shall make a fight +for it yet," and he strode away towards the landing. + +"Shall I accompany you, sir?" Cyril asked. + +"Yes. There is nothing for you to do until we see exactly how things +stand. I shall use you as my staff officer--that is, if you are +willing, Sir Cyril. I have carried you off without asking whether you +consented or no; but, knowing your spirit and quickness, I felt sure +you would be of use." + +"I am at your service altogether," Cyril said, "and am glad indeed +that your Grace encountered me, for I should have been truly sorry to +have been idle at such a time." + +An eight-oared gig was already at the stairs, and they were rowed +rapidly down the river. They stopped at Upnor Castle, and found that +Major Scott, who was in command there, was hard at work mounting +cannon and putting the place in a posture of defence. + +"You will have more men from London by to-morrow night, at the +latest," the Duke said, "and powder and shot in abundance was sent +off yesterday. We passed a train on our way down, and I told them to +push on with all speed. As the Dutch have not moved yet, they cannot +be here until the afternoon of to-morrow, and, like enough, will not +attack until next day, for they must come slowly, or they will lose +some of their ships on the sands. We will try to get up a battery +opposite, so as to aid you with a cross fire. I am going down to see +Sir Edward Spragge now." + +Taking their places in the boat again, they rowed round the horseshoe +curve down to Gillingham, and then along to the spot where the +frigates were moored. At the sharp bend lower down here the Duke +found the Admiral, and they held a long consultation together. It was +agreed that the chain should be placed somewhat higher up, where a +lightly-armed battery on either side would afford some assistance, +that behind the chain the three ships, the _Matthias_, the _Unity_, +and the _Charles V._, all prizes taken from the Dutch, should be +moored, and that the _Jonathan_ and _Fort of Honinggen_--also a +Dutch prize--should be also posted there. + +Having arranged this, the Duke was rowed back to Chatham, there to +see about getting some of the great ships removed from their moorings +off Gillingham, up the river. To his fury, he found that, of all the +eighteen hundred men employed in the yard, not more than half a dozen +had remained at their work, the rest being, like all the townsmen, +occupied in removing their goods in great haste. Even the frigates +that were armed had but a third, at most, of their crews on board, so +many having deserted owing to the backwardness of their pay. + +That night, Sir W. Coventry, Sir W. Penn, Lord Brounker, and other +officers and officials of the Admiralty, came down from London. Some +of these, especially Lord Brounker, had a hot time of it with the +Duke, who rated them roundly for the state of things which prevailed, +telling the latter that he was the main cause of all the misfortunes +that might occur, owing to his having dismantled and disarmed all the +great ships. In spite of the efforts of all these officers, but +little could be done, owing to the want of hands, and to the refusal +of the dockyard men, and most of the sailors, to do anything. A small +battery of sandbags was, however, erected opposite Upnor, and a few +guns placed in position there. + +Several ships were sunk in the channel above Upnor, and a few of +those lying off Gillingham were towed up. Little help was sent down +from London, for the efforts of the authorities were directed wholly +to the defence of the Thames. The train-bands were all under arms, +fire-ships were being fitted out and sent down to Gravesend, and +batteries erected there and at Tilbury, while several ships were sunk +in the channel. + +The Dutch remained at Sheerness from the 7th to the 12th, and had it +not been for the misconduct of the men, Chatham could have been put +into a good state for defence. As it was, but little could be +effected; and when, on the 12th, the Dutch Fleet were seen coming up +the river, the chances of successful resistance were small. + +The fight commenced by a Dutch frigate, commanded by Captain Brakell, +advancing against the chain. Carried up by a strong tide and east +wind the ship struck it with such force that it at once gave way. The +English frigates, but weakly manned, could offer but slight +resistance, and the _Jonathan_ was boarded and captured by Brakell. +Following his frigate were a host of fire-ships, which at once +grappled with the defenders. The _Matthias, Unity, Charles V._, and +_Fort of Honinggen_ were speedily in flames. The light batteries on +the shore were silenced by the guns of the Fleet, which then +anchored. The next day, six of their men-of-war, with five +fire-ships, advanced, exchanged broadsides, as they went along, with +the _Royal Oak_ and presently engaged Upnor. They were received with +so hot a fire from the Castle, and from the battery opposite, where +Sir Edward Spragge had stationed himself, that, after a time, they +gave up the design of ascending to the dockyard, which at that time +occupied a position higher up the river than at present. + +The tide was beginning to slacken, and they doubtless feared that a +number of fire-barges might be launched at them did they venture +higher up. On the way back, they launched a fire-ship at the _Royal +Oak_, which was commanded by Captain Douglas. The flames speedily +communicated to the ship, and the crew took to the boats and rowed +ashore. Captain Douglas refused to leave his vessel, and perished in +the flames. The report given by the six men-of-war decided the Dutch +not to attempt anything further against Chatham. On the 14th, they +set fire to the hulks, the _Loyal London_ and the _Great James_, +and carried off the hulk of the _Royal Charles_, after the English +had twice tried to destroy her by fire. As this was the ship in which +the Duke of Albemarle, then General Monk, had brought the King over +to England from Holland, her capture was considered a special triumph +for the Dutch and a special dishonour to us. + +The Duke of Albemarle had left Chatham before the Dutch came up. As +the want of crews prevented his being of any use there, and he saw +that Sir Edward Spragge would do all that was possible in defence of +the place, he posted back to London, where his presence was urgently +required, a complete panic reigning. Crowds assembled at Whitehall, +and insulted the King and his ministers as the cause of the present +misfortunes, while at Deptford and Wapping, the sailors and their +wives paraded the streets, shouting that the ill-treatment of our +sailors had brought these things about, and so hostile were their +manifestations that the officials of the Admiralty scarce dared show +themselves in the streets. + +Cyril had remained at Chatham, the Duke having recommended him to Sir +Edward Spragge, and he, with some other gentlemen and a few sailors, +had manned the battery opposite Upnor. + +The great proportion of the Dutch ships were still at the Nore, as it +would have been dangerous to have hazarded so great a fleet in the +narrow water of the Medway. As it was, two of their men-of-war, on +the way back from Chatham, ran ashore, and had to be burnt. They had +also six fire-ships burnt, and lost over a hundred and fifty men. + +Leaving Admiral Van Ness with part of the Fleet in the mouth of the +Thames, De Ruyter sailed first for Harwich, where he attempted to +land with sixteen hundred men in boats, supported by the guns of the +Fleet. The boats, however, failed to effect a landing, being beaten +off, with considerable loss, by the county Militia; and Ruyter then +sailed for Portsmouth, where he also failed. He then went west to +Torbay, where he was likewise repulsed, and then returned to the +mouth of the Thames. + +On July 23rd, Van Ness, with twenty-five men-of-war, sailed up the +Hope, where Sir Edward Spragge had now hoisted his flag on board a +squadron of eighteen ships, of whom five were frigates and the rest +fire-ships. A sharp engagement ensued, but the wind was very light, +and the English, by towing their fire-ships, managed to lay them +alongside the Dutch fire-ships, and destroyed twelve of these with a +loss of only six English ships. But, the wind then rising, Sir Edward +retired from the Hope to Gravesend, where he was protected by the +guns at Tilbury. + +The next day, being joined by Sir Joseph Jordan, with a few small +ships, he took the offensive, and destroyed the last fire-ship that +the Dutch had left, and compelled the men-of-war to retire. Sir +Edward followed them with his little squadron, and Van Ness, as he +retired down the river, was met by five frigates and fourteen +fire-ships from Harwich. These boldly attacked him. Two of the Dutch +men-of-war narrowly escaped being burnt, another was forced ashore +and greatly damaged, and the whole of the Dutch Fleet was compelled +to bear away. + +While these events had been happening in the Thames, the negotiations +at Breda had continued, and, just as the Dutch retreated, the news +came that Peace had been signed. The Dutch, on their side, were +satisfied with the success with which they had closed the war, while +England was, at the moment, unable to continue it, and the King, +seeing the intense unpopularity that had been excited against him by +the affair at Chatham, was glad to ratify the Peace, especially as we +thereby retained possession of several islands we had taken in the +West Indies from the Dutch, and it was manifest that Spain was +preparing to join the coalition of France and Holland against us. + +A Peace concluded under such circumstances was naturally but a short +one. When the war was renewed, three years later, the French were in +alliance with us, and, after several more desperate battles, in which +no great advantages were gained on either side, the Dutch were so +exhausted and impoverished by the loss of trade, that a final Peace +was arranged on terms far more advantageous to us than those secured +by the Treaty of 1667. The De Wittes, the authors of the previous +wars, had both been killed in a popular tumult. The Prince of Orange +was at the head of the State, and the fact that France and Spain were +both hostile to Holland had reawakened the feeling of England in +favour of the Protestant Republic, and the friendship between the two +nations has never since been broken. + +Cyril took no part in the last war against the Dutch. He, like the +majority of the nation, was opposed to it, and, although willing to +give his life in defence of his country when attacked, felt it by no +means his duty to do so when we were aiding the designs of France in +crushing a brave enemy. Such was in fact the result of the war; for +although peace was made on even terms, the wars of Holland with +England and the ruin caused to her trade thereby, inflicted a blow +upon the Republic from which she never recovered. From being the +great rival of England, both on the sea and in her foreign commerce, +her prosperity and power dwindled until she ceased altogether to be a +factor in European affairs. + +After the Peace of Breda was signed, Cyril went down to Upmead, +where, for the next four years, he devoted himself to the management +of his estate. His friendship with Mr. Harvey grew closer and warmer, +until the latter came to consider him in really the light of a son; +and when he died, in 1681, it was found that his will was unaltered, +and that, with the exception of legacies to many of his old employés +at his factory, the whole of his property was left to Cyril. The +latter received a good offer for the tanyard, and, upon an estate +next to his own coming shortly afterwards into the market, he +purchased it, and thus the Upmead estates became as extensive as they +had been before the time of his ancestor, who had so seriously +diminished them during the reign of Elizabeth. + +His friendship with the family of the Earl of Wisbech had remained +unaltered, and he had every year paid them a visit, either at Wisbech +or at Sevenoaks. A year after Mr. Harvey's death, he married Dorothy, +who had previously refused several flattering offers. + +Captain Dave and his wife lived to a good old age. The business had +largely increased, owing to the energy of their son-in-law, who had, +with his wife and children, taken up his abode in the next house to +theirs, which had been bought to meet the extension of their +business. John Wilkes, at the death of Captain Dave, declined Cyril's +pressing offer to make his home with him. + +"It would never do, Sir Cyril," he said. "I should be miserable out +of the sight of ships, and without a place where I could meet +seafaring men, and smoke my pipe, and listen to their yarns." + +He therefore remained with Frank Watson, nominally in charge of the +stores, but doing, in fact, as little as he chose until, long past +the allotted age of man, he passed quietly away. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, WHEN LONDON BURNED *** + +This file should be named 8wlnb10.txt or 8wlnb10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8wlnb11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8wlnb10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext04 + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + + PROJECT GUTENBERG LITERARY ARCHIVE FOUNDATION + 809 North 1500 West + Salt Lake City, UT 84116 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8wlnb10.zip b/old/8wlnb10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0bbbf8a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8wlnb10.zip |