"Let us see them," said Rooke, and straightway bade his flag lieutenant go bring them in.
But I think that, although I had told all assembled at this board what kind of persons these were whom I had discovered in the ship, all the admirals, generals and captains were astonished at their appearance when they stood before them; while so handsome a show of it did my young Señor Belmonte make, that, perhaps almost unknowing what he did, Admiral Hopson pushed a chair toward him and bade him be seated. And because such courtesy could not be shown to one of these visitors without the same being extended to the other, the monk was also accommodated with a chair in which he sat himself calmly, his eyes roving round all those officers assembled there.
"You were passengers in this galleon-the-the-Sacra Familia?" Sir George said, glancing at a paper in his hand, on which I supposed the names of all the captured ships were written down, "and as this officer tells me, are anxious to proceed to your destination. Will you inform me of what that destination is, so that we may assist you in your desire?"
"Mine," exclaimed Señor Juan-and as his sweet, soft voice uttered the words musically, all eyes were turned on him, "is England eventually; yet," and he smiled that gracious smile which I had seen before, "my passage was but paid to Spain-and I am in Spain. Beyond being permitted to go ashore here with my few necessaries, I know not that I need demand any of your politely proffered assistance."
Sir George shrugged his shoulders while he looked attentively at the handsome young man-who, I thought, to speak truth, received the civilities of his speech with somewhat too much the air of one accustomed to having homage and consideration paid to him-then he said quietly:
"That, of course, shall be done at once. There can be no obstacle to that. We only regret that the rigours of war have caused us to inconvenience any ordinary passenger. You have of course your papers."
"Yes, I have them here," and he produced from his breast a bundle, at which Sir George glanced lightly.
Then he turned to Father Jaime, who preserved still the look of calmness which had distinguished him all through. Yet I wondered, too, that he should have done so, for he had been subjected to even more scrutiny than Belmonte had been, perhaps because of the garb he wore; scrutiny that, in one instance at least, would have disquieted a less contained man, since Admiral Hopson, I noticed, had scarcely ever taken his eyes off him since he had entered the cabin, or, when he had taken them off, had instantly refixed them so upon his countenance that 'twas very palpable to me that the man puzzled him. But what need to describe that look which all the world has often seen on the face of one who is endeavouring to recall to himself where, or whether, he has ever seen another before.
"And you, sir?" the admiral asked.
"My destination," the monk replied, his voice firm, full and sonorous as before, "is the Abbey of Lugo; and since 'tis far nearer here than Cadiz, I can scarce regret finding myself at Vigo, instead of at the latter place."
And, even as he spoke, I saw Hopson give a slight start and look even more intently at him than before.
Then he bent forward toward Father Jaime, and said quietly: "Reverend sir, is it possible that we have ever met before? In the West Indies, to wit?"
CHAPTER XII.
WHAT DID THE ADMIRAL DISCOVER?
Not a month had elapsed ere I stood alone on the beach of Viana, which is in the province of Entre-Douro-é-Minho, in Portugal, and watched, with somewhat sad thoughts in my mind, the white foresail and mainsail of the Pembroke's jolly boat rising and falling on the waters as, gradually, it made its way out to sea to where, a league off, there lay the English fleet. The English fleet, and bound for England!
Vigo was freed of its enemies and captors; over night, at dark, the whole of the British forces had cleared out of the bay, and, this morning, Juan Belmonte and myself had been put ashore at this miserable Portuguese town, or rather village, lying some twenty miles south of the Spanish frontier.
Briefly, this was the reason why I found myself standing alone upon this beach watching that fast disappearing boat, while, walking up to the town, went Señor Juan to seek for lodgings for us for the night.
After that council was concluded on board the Royal Sovereign-and from which Father Jaime, Belmonte and myself had retired after our interview with the admirals-the conclusion had been arrived at that, the work being done here-namely, the French fleet in our power and the Spanish galleons destroyed-it would be impolitic as well as unnecessary for the English to remain any longer in the place. This decision was, however, come to totally against the desire of the Duke of Ormond, who himself was anxious to take possession of the town of Vigo, to lie there during the winter months, and, in the spring, to open again the campaign against France in that portion of Spain. Unfortunately, however, for this idea-which was in fact a mighty good one, and, if carried out, might have gone far toward crippling France even more than she was eventually crippled-it was impossible. There were no provisions whereby his army could be sustained for the winter, nor had Rooke a sufficiency in his ships to provide him with, and neither would the admiral consent to leave behind a portion of his fleet with which-should it come to that-the duke could escape in case of necessity.
"For," said he to Ormond, as I learnt, "you have seen, my Lord Duke, the disaster which has followed on our enemies trusting themselves within this narrow and landlocked bay. Would your Grace, therefore, think it wise to follow their bad example and give them an opportunity which, doubt not, they would take as soon as possible, of retaliating upon us?"
And to this Ormond could but shrug his shoulders, being able to find no answer to such remark. Therefore, at last-for all was not decided on the instant, but only after many more councils and much further argument-it was resolved that the fleet should remain no longer, nor, of course, the land forces neither.
But while all these determinations were being come to, I had had more than one interview with Rooke and Ormond (both of whom had entertained and made much of, nor ceased ever their commendations of, me), since it was very necessary that a decision should be come to as to what was to be my future course. For my work was done, my connection with this fleet over; I had no more business there. It was time I got back to my own regiment. Only how to get there-that was the question!
"You will scarce find at any port, Spanish or Portuguese," said the admiral to me, "a vessel putting to sea now; the risk is too great. For, consider, we are all about, and none know what may be our next move-this one has frightened all this part of the world. Then that old dog, Benbow, lieth in wait farther up. While to make the seas still more dangerous, the French ships of war and the privateers are everywhere. In truth, all traffic on the water is at an end for a time."
"Tis not so on land, though, sir," I ventured to say, "with a good horse I would undertake-"
"What!" exclaimed Ormond, with a laugh, "not surely to make your way to Flanders by land! You would scarce try that."
"Ay! but I would, though, my Lord Duke," I said, laughing, too, at the look of amazement on his face. "In very truth, I would. I have thought it all over."
"'Tis impossible! You would never arrive."
"Your Grace, I think I should. Permit me to explain. We are here in Spain-"
"Ay," said Rooke, interposing, "and so we are. But, Mr. Crespin, you would never get ashore, or, getting there, would never escape out of Vigo. Remember, the town itself is not in our hands, and the moment we were gone you would be set upon, or, even though you should be unmolested while we remain here, you would be followed from Vigo and-"
"Sir," I interrupted in my excitement, "this is my plan: There is a seaport hard by here, called Viana, and 'tis in Portuguese territory-therefore neutral-yet inclining more to us than to France."
"Aye," said Rooke, "and will come over to us ere long. The king leans to our side the most, because we are strongest on the seas-this taking of the galleons will decide him."
"Meanwhile," I went on, "'tis neutral. Now, from there I can make my way to Spain-"
"There's the rub! When you are in Spain. And afterward, in France. What then?"
"In both countries I can be a Frenchman," and now I saw these two great officers look at me attentively. "I have the French tongue very well-well enough to pass through Spain as a Frenchman, while-when in France-I can pass as a Spaniard who knows the French."
"'S heart!" exclaimed Ormond, slapping of the table with his be-ringed hand, "but I would you were in one of my regiments. You have a brain as well as a stalwart form. You must go far; and shall, if my word is any good with Jack Churchill."
"My Lord Duke, you are most gracious. Yet may I not ask if the plan is a fair one? At least, remembering that, by sea, the way is closed."
Fair or not fair, at least I brought them to it-more especially since, even though they had most utterly disapproved of my proposed method, they could neither of them have opposed it. For I was the Earl of Marlborough's officer; nay, more, I was his own particular and private messenger; I had come under his orders, and was still under them. Moreover, his last words to me had been: "Do your duty; fulfil the task I charge you with; then make your way back to me as best you can." That was all, yet enough.
Therefore it was arranged without more demur, though Sir George Rooke, who was now growing old, shook his head somewhat gravely, even as he ceased endeavouring to turn me from what I had resolved on.
"For," said he, kindly, "I like it not. You are still young-some years off thirty, I should suppose-and you are a good soldier-too good to be spared to any crawling Spaniard's knife or to fall into any truculent Frenchman's hands. And I would have taken you to England and put in the first queen's ship for Holland, had you chosen. Still, as you will, you will. Only, be very careful."
"Sir!" I said, touched at his fatherly consideration. "Be sure I will. Yet I think I can take care of myself. I have a good sword and a strong arm, and-well, one bullet is much the same as another. If one finds me in Spain or France, 'twill be no worse than one in Flanders. And, perhaps, my bullet is not moulded yet!"
As for his Grace, he took a different tack, he being younger and more débonnair than the admiral.
"Oddsbobs," he said, "bullets are bullets, and may be a soldier's lot or not. But for you, Lieutenant, I fear a worse danger. You are a good-looking fellow enough, with your height and breadth, blue eyes and brown hair. Rather, therefore, beware of the Spanish girls, and keep out of their way-or, encountering them, give them no cause for jealousy! Oh! I know them, and-well, they are the devil! 'Tis they who wield the knife-as often as not against those whom they loved five minutes back."
And, looking at the duke-who was himself of great manly beauty-I could well enough believe he knew what he was talking of. For, if all reports were true-but this matters not.
The time had not, however, yet come, for some day or so, for me to set out, since 'twas arranged that I should be put ashore by one of the Pembroke's boats when the fleet went out of the bay, and that then my last farewell would be made to those amongst whom I had now lived for some weeks. Meanwhile, Sir George asked me what had become of my young friend, the Spanish gentleman, whom he called my "captive."
Now, this young captive had had still another interview with him after that first one, Sir George having sent for him from the Pembroke, into which he had been temporarily received as a guest-since La Sacra Familia had been sunk by us after being dismantled of all in her of any worth-and he had once more renewed his offer of taking him to England. And it surprised me exceedingly-I being present at this interview-to observe the extraordinary courtesy and deference which he-who was more used to receive deference from his fellow-men than to accord it-showed to the youth; for he took him very graciously by the hand when he entered the cabin, led him to a seat, and, when there, renewed once more that offer of which I have spoken.
Indeed, his politeness was so great that I began to wonder if, by any chance, the admiral knew of this young man being any one of extreme importance, to whom it might be worth his while, as the chief representative of England here, to pay court. Yet, so silly was that wonderment that I dismissed it instantly from my mind, deciding that it was pity for his youth and loneliness which so urged the other.
"If you would go with us," he said, sitting by Belmonte's side, and speaking in the soft, well bred tones which were special to him, "you should be very welcome, I assure you, sir; and I do not say this as a sailor speaking to one who has by chance fallen into his hands, so to put it, but as an old man to a-to a young one; for, sir, I have children myself, some young as you, some older; have sons and-and daughters, and I should be most grateful to all who would be kind to them."
Now, as he spoke thus there became visible in Señor Juan another trait of character which I had scarce looked to see, it proving him to be a youth of great susceptibility. For, as the admiral made his kindly speech, I saw the beautiful dark eyes of the young man fill with tears-'twas marvellous how handsome he appeared at this moment-and, a second later, he had seized the old man's hand and had clasped it to his breast and kissed it.
But, even as he performed this action, I also saw Sir George start a little, give, indeed, what was but the faintest of starts; yet beneath the bronze upon his manly face there rose a colour which, had he not been a sailor, and that a pretty old one, might have appeared to be a blush. But because he was so manly and so English himself-being always most courteous and well bred, though abhorring, as it seemed to me, all signs of emotion-I concluded that this foreign style of salutation did not commend itself over-much to him; yet he listened very courteously, deferentially almost, it appeared, to the words of gratitude which the youth was now pouring out-words of gratitude for his offer, yet combined also with an absolute refusal of that offer.
"Very well; since you will not, sir," he said, when the young man had finished, "there is no more to be done. Yet, take a word of warning from me, I beseech you. You will find it hard to reach England in a better way than I have suggested to you. Both France and Spain must be overrun with troops of all kinds at this time and-if you fall into their hands with your papers about you, showing you are an English subject-it may go hard. Also" – and now he tapped the cabin deck with his red-heeled shoe and looked down at it for a moment-"also-you are extremely well favoured. That, too, may injure you should-should-but," he went on, and without concluding his last sentence, "you understand what I mean," and now he gazed at Señor Juan with clear, frank eyes; gazed straight into his own.
For the life of me I could not understand what he was driving at, even if the youth himself could; since how a man should be injured by his good looks, even though in a hostile country, I failed to conceive. Certain, however, it was that the other understood well enough Sir George's meaning-his next action showed plainly enough that he did.
For now the rich warm colouring left his soft downless cheeks, even the full lips became pale, and he lifted his long slim hand and thrust it through the clusters of curls that hung over his forehead, as though in some distress of mind; then said, a moment later, looking up now and returning the admiral's glance fearlessly, while speaking very low.
"Yes, I understand. Yet, Señor, have no fear."
But I noticed, all the same, that he lifted his other hand as though to deprecate Sir George saying another word, which gesture he too seemed quite to understand, since he gave a half bow very solemnly ere he turned away.
Later, after Señor Juan had departed, and when Admiral Hopson had come over to the Royal Sovereign, to prepare for another of those endless councils which took place daily, Sir George looked up at me from some papers he was perusing, and said: "You are in the Pembroke, Mr. Crespin. Where have they bestowed that young man?"
"He is very comfortable, sir," I replied. "They have given him a spare cabin in the after flat."
"And the officers? Do they make him welcome, treat him with courtesy?"
"Oh, yes, indeed. He is popular with them already, sings them sweet songs accompanied by that instrument of his; is a rare hand at tricks of all kinds with the pass-dice and cards, and so forth. They will miss him when he has gone."
"Humph! Does he say who or what he is-which island in the Indies he belongs to-who are his kith and kin?"
"He says not much, sir, on that score; except that he is well enough to do-is traveling more or less to kill time-cares very little where he goes to for the present, so that he sees the world. As for his home, he appears best acquainted with Jamaica."
"Ha!" said Sir George. "He says all that, does he? Yet, though 'tis not permissible to doubt those who stand more or less in the degree of guests, I somewhat suspect that young man of not being all he appears to be. There is some other reason for his voyage to Europe than that he gives; he comes not on mere pleasure only. I know that-some day if you ever meet him again you will very likely know it, too, Mr. Crespin."
"Perhaps," exclaimed Admiral Hopson-who was soon to become Sir John Hopson (with a good pension) for the gallant part he had played in the late fight-"he was a friend of that accursed monk, although he has not levanted as he did. And since you talk of meetings, why, i'fags, I would like to meet that gentleman once more."
"Levanted!" Sir George and I exclaimed together. "Is the monk set out?"
"Ay, he is," replied the other. "Went last night-the instant he could get his necessaries out of the galleon's hold. It was discourteous, too, since I had previously sent to crave a few words with him."
"'S faith," Sir George exclaimed with a laugh, "you are not turning Papist, old friend, are you? Didst want the monk to shrive or confess you, or receive you into his church?"
"Not I-no Papistical doings for me," the blunt old gentleman replied. "The church my mother had me baptised in, and under whose blessing I have been fighting all my life, is good enough for me to finish in. Still, had I a foolish woman's mind to change, 'twould not be to that man I should go."
"Why!" exclaimed Sir George, "what know you of him? Yet-yet," and he spoke slowly, "you know the Indies, Tom-and the monks are not always what they might be. Did you chance to know him, since you sent to demand an interview?"
"I thought so," said the inscrutable old sea dog quietly, "wherefore I sent asking him for a meeting. Yet, as our beloved friends the French say, the cowl does not always make the monk. Hey? And, if 'tis the man I think, 'twas not always the cowl and gown that adorned his person-rather, instead, the belt and pistols, buff jerkin, scarlet sash, long serviceable rapier handy, and-have at you, ha! one, two and through you. Hey!"
And as he spoke he made a feint of lunging at his brother admiral with a quill that lay to his hand.
CHAPTER XIII.
"DANGERS WORSE THAN SHOT OR STEEL-OR DEATH."
Now I return to the beach at Viana, on which I stood after having quitted the fleet-yet still, ere I go on, I must put you in the way of knowing how it comes about that for companion I have Señor Juan Belmonte, who at this moment is making his way into what proved to be a very filthy town in search of lodgings for us for the night. And this is how it came about:
When it was decided finally that I should part from the British squadron on the day they cleared out-they intending to anchor over night outside of Vigo bay and to send forward some frigates scouting ere going on their way to England-I made mention to Belmonte that such was my intention. Also I asked him-I finding of him in his cabin, where he was reading a Spanish book of love verses-what he meant to do with himself, since, if he did not leave the ship when, or before, I did, he would be forced to accept Sir George's invitation to proceed to England with him.
"Oh, my friend!" he said, with ever the soft, gentle smile upon his handsome features, "my friend and conqueror" – for so he had taken to terming me-"I want no terrible journey to England in these great fierce ships of war. Tell me, tell me, amígo mio, what you are going to do yourself. Your plans! Your plans!"
"My plans," I said, seeing no reason why I should not divulge them to him, since it was impossible he could do me any hurt, even if so inclined, which I thought not very likely, "are simple ones. I go ashore at Viana, find a horse-one will carry me part of the journey, then I can get another-and so, by God's will, get to the end, to my destination."
"But the destination. The destination. Where is it? Tell me that."
"The destination is Flanders, the seat of the present war. I am a soldier. My place is there."
"Aye, aye," he replied. "I know. You have told me. Your service is not with these ships nor their soldiers, but with others-a great army, far north."
"That is it," I said.
"And you will travel all that way-mean to travel-alone!"
"I must," I said, "if I intend to get there. There is no other way."
"Take me with you!" he exclaimed, suddenly, springing impetuously to his feet from the chair in which he sat. "Take me with you! I will be a good companion-amuse you, sing to you, wile away the long hours, stand by your side. If necessary," yet he said this a little slower, and with more hesitation, as I thought, "fight with you."
Now, putting all other objections which rose to my mind away for the moment, this last utterance of his did not recommend him very strongly to me. "Fight for me, indeed!" I thought. "A fine fighter this would be! – a youth who had turned pale at seeing a dead man or two floating by in the water after the battle, or at hearing the shriek of a wounded one as we rowed past him on our way to the Royal Sovereign!"
However, aloud I said:
"Señor Belmonte, I fear it cannot be as you desire. The road will be hard and rough, the journey long; there will be little opportunity for singing and jiggettings. Moreover, death will always be more or less in the air. If, in Spain or France, I am discovered-nay, even suspected of being what I am, an English soldier-'twill be short shrift for me. I shall be deemed a spy, and shot, or hung to the nearest tree. Take, therefore, my counsel at once, and follow it. Go you to England in this ship, as the admiral invites you. That way you will be safe and easy."
"No, no, no," he answered. "I will not; I will not. I will go with you. I like you," he said, with a most friendly glance. "If-if you go alone-if we part here-we shall never meet again. That shall not be. I am resolved. And-and-only let me go, and I will be so good! I promise. Will not sing a note-will-see there!" and, like a petulant boy as he was, he seized his viol d'amore, which hung on a nail in the cabin, and dashed it to the floor, while, a moment later, he would have stamped his foot into it had I not stopped him. "Yes, I will break it all to pieces. Since it offends you, I will never strike another note on it, nor will I ever sing again-not in your hearing, at least-though I have known some who liked well enough to hear me play-and sing, too."
"Juan," I said, not knowing in the least why his impassioned grief moved me so much as to address him thus familiarly, which I had never done before, "it offends me not at all; instead, I have often listened gratefully to the music of your voice and viol. But now-now-on such a journey as I go it would be out of place, even if you were there, which you must not be."
"I must. I must. I must," he answered. "I will. You called me Juan just now-ah! you are my friend, or you would not speak thus. Oh!" he went on, and now he clutched my arm and gazed fervently into my face, "do not refuse. And see, think, Mervan," pronouncing my name thus, and in a tone that would have moved a marble heart, "I shall be no trouble to you. I can ride, oh! like a devil when I choose-I have ridden with the Mestizos and natives in the isles-and I can use a pistol or petronel, also a sword. See," and he whipped his rapier off the bed where it was a-lying, drew it from its sheath impetuously, as he did everything, and began making pass after pass through the open door of the cabin into the gangway. "I know what to do. Also, remember, I can speak Spanish when we are in Spain-pass for a Spaniard if 'tis necessary-and-and-and-" he broke off, "if you will not take me with you, why, then, I will follow you; track you like a shadow, sleep like a dog outside the inn in which you lie warm and snug; ay! even though you beat me and drive me away for doing so."
Again and still again I resisted, yet 'twas hard to do; for, though I had spoken against his singings and playings, and kept ever before my eyes the stern remembrance of my duty, which was to make my way straight to my goal and crash through all impediments, I could not but reflect that this bright, joyous lad by my side would help to cheer many a lonely hour and many a gloomy mile. Yet again I spoke against the project, putting such thoughts aside.
"Child," I said, "you do not know, do not understand. Our-my-path will be beset with dangers. I know what I am doing, what lies before me. Listen, Juan. 'Tis more than like that I shall never reach Flanders, never ride with my old troops again, never more feel a comrade's hand clasped in mine; may perish by the wayside, have my throat cut in some lonely inn, be shot in the back, taken as a spy. Yet 'tis my duty. I am a soldier and a man; you are-"
"Yes?" with an inward catching of the breath, a flash from the dark eyes.
"A boy; a lad; also, you say, well enough to do, with a long and happy life before you, no call upon you to fling that life away. Juan, it must not be."
"It shall," he said, leaning forward toward me. "It shall; I swear it by my dead mother's memory. Boy! Lad, you say. So be it. Yet with the will and determination of a hundred men. To-morrow, Mervan, to-night, to-day, if I can get a boat to the great ship out there, I visit the admiral and ask him to put me ashore with you. And he will do it. Great as he is, in command over all you English here, I have a power within," and he struck his breast with his hands, "a power over him which will force him to do as I wish. Do you dare me-challenge me?"
"No," I answered quietly, though in truth somewhat amazed at his words, while still remembering the strange deference Sir George had shown all along to the youth. "I dare to say you may prevail-with him."
"Aye-with him!" and now he laughed a little, showing the small pearly white teeth, somewhat. "With him! I understand. But you mean not with you also. Yet, with you, too, I shall prevail. I will follow you till you give me leave to keep ever by your side. Remember, if I am not Spanish, I have lived in Spain's dependencies. I can be very Spanish when I choose," and again he laughed, and again the white teeth glistened beneath the scarlet lips.
"If," I said, scarce knowing or understanding what power was influencing me, making me a puppet in this youth's hands-yet still a yielding one! – "the admiral gives his consent to put you ashore, then I-"
"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, Mervan?" he interposed quickly.
"Then I will not withhold mine. Come with me if you choose-remember, 'tis at your own risk."
In a moment his whole face was transfigured with joy. Seeing that joy, I deemed myself almost a brute to have ever tried to drive him away from me, although I had endeavoured to do so as much for his own safety as my own. He laughed and muttered little pleased expressions in Spanish which I neither understood nor am capable of setting down here; almost I thought he would Have flung his arms around my neck and embraced me. Indeed, it seemed as though he were about to do so, but, suddenly recollecting himself, desisted-perhaps because he knew that to us English such demonstrations were not palatable.
And now I have to tell how Sir George placed no obstruction in the way, allowing him to go ashore with me; yet, when he heard that we were to travel together the look upon his face was one of extreme gravity, almost of sternness. Also, he maintained a deep silence for a moment or two after I had told him such was to be the case, and sat with his eyes fixed on me as though he were endeavouring to read my very inmost thoughts. But at last he said quietly, and with even more than usual of that reserve which characterised him:
"You have found out nothing about this young man yet, Mr. Crespin, then? – know nothing more about him than you have known from the first? Um?"
"I know nothing more, sir."
Again he paused awhile, then spoke once more, with the slightest perceptible shrug of his shoulders as he did so:
"Very well. 'Tis your affair, not mine. You are not under my command, but that of the Earl of Marlborough. You must do as seems best to you. Yet have a care what you are about." Then he leant forward toward me, and said: "Mr. Crespin, you have done extremely well-have gained a high place in our esteem. When his Lordship reads what the Duke of Ormond and myself have to say about you, you will find your promotion very rapid, I think. Do not, I beseech of you-do not imperil it in any way; do not be led away into jeopardising the bright future, the brilliant career, that is before you. Run on no rock, avoid every shoal that may avert your successful course."