And now it was that, with the unknown Spanish shipmaster's backstaff and instruments, maps and charts, Adam at last put the result of his studies into practice, laying a course to keep a good offing from Coast of the Main whence pursuit might come,—galleys and ships of war. This morning as he paced the quarterdeck, the sweet, clean wind about him, the sun above and sparkling ocean below, he was a man very humbly reverent and deeply grateful for this present good, while the Santissima Trinidad, her huge, painted sails outspread, her brasswork and gilding bright and gleaming, was bearing him to his destiny,—to that future which, hold what it might of hardship and suffering, could have no terrors for one who had endured so much and was ever ready to die.
Presently, espying the Bo'sun below, clad in his new finery of raiment, he hailed him cheerily:
"Ho, Ned, come you hither!" So up the broad, richly-carved ladders came sturdy Ned, his bronzed face new shaven, his blue eyes glad and bright as the sun-flecked ocean. "Well, Ned man, how think ye of our ship? Look at her, Ned, look at her,—so vast and powerful, and Lord only knoweth what o' treasure below. How say you of her, Ned?"
"Why, sir, I answers you, and says as how this yere Saintissimus Trinidaddio be like these same Spanish breeches as covers me,—wi' their tiers o' buttons, their braid and galloons,—overly broad i' the beam and too trig and fancy for plain sailorman. She's painted like any Jezebel,—a bluff-bowed, heavy starned, lubberly glory she be! Yet I'm proud of her and have had our rogues a-swabbing and a-polishing of her right zealous, Cap'n."
"What think you of 'em as a crew, Ned?"
"Foul and wild, sir! Wolves to snarl and tear the first chance they gets, ay—and us the first shall feel their teeth and claws, b' reason of our cargo, for 'tis said as this yere Santa be full—choke full o' gold."
"How many do they number, our wolves?"
"At the last muster, sir, they was a hundred and seventy-four not counting boy Smidge."
"And of these, how many English?"
"Some 'eres nigh a hundred, sir, the rest being only Frenchies, Dutch, Portingales and a few Spanish gallers-birds—and suchlike duffle."
"In fine, Ned, six more than rowed aboard the galleasse. And, as you say, wolves all! Yet I'll tame 'em, or die i' the endeavour."
"Which, sir, die you likely will and all honest lads with ee, for should these yere raskells make chance to rise agin you and mutiny, as well they may, there be only us to withstand 'em, us as you calls your Dreadnoughts, twel' men, counting you three gentlemen!"
"Ay, Ned, but then dreadnoughts we are indeed and brothers all, that well do know and trust each other, fair or foul, and this is far better than mere numbers. Also I shall be instant to check the least show o' mutiny. And, moreover, the small arms are all secured abaft, I hope?"
"Ay verily, sir, i' the dawn, and all asleep save us Dreadnoughts, every musket, pistol, axe, pike and sword all safe under lock and key where you give order, and guarded beside, same as the cargo."
"Talking o' this, Ned, you've had no glimpse of our lading, eh?"
"No, sir, nor nobody will except you so order. I've set Nick and Silas well armed for to see as nobody shall."
"Why then, Ned, we'll below, thou and I, this moment to take stock o' things, and softly, man, softly now!"
So down they went from deck to deck of this great vessel until they came to the lazarette where Silas Guppy and Nicholas Cobb sat dicing, but with pistols and muskets in reach. Taking a spare lantern Adam led on, Bo'sun Ned following, and down until they reached the spacious hold where the reek of bilge was sweetened by rich, spicy odours, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, tobacco and the like. Here they found merchandise piled and shored to the very cross-timbers; and so, unseen by any eye, began their investigations. And, after some while they paused to stare on each other like men who scarcely dare believe what they see; thereafter, seated in odd corner with the light between them, they shook their heads at one another and still without a word....
Gold! In bars, ingots, dust and coin. Chests of moidores, sacks of pieces of eight. Bales of Orient silks and rich brocades, spices, carved ivories, sugar and much beside. A treasure so stupendous as went beyond words; so for a while they sat dumb and continued to shake their heads at one another.
"Lord!" exclaimed the Bo'sun at last, in hoarse whisper, and wiping furrowed brow, "Lord love us! A fortun' beyond count!"
"Enough," said Adam, whispering also, "and more than enough to make every wise man of us rich for life!"
"Ay, sir, except it be our death! For should noos o' this get abroad, the scuppers shall spout blood, ay—and ourn first of all!"
"So I think, Ned,—at present. So, for the present, no man, fore or abaft, must learn o' this. An armed guard shall be mounted, also the hatches must be battened down. See you to this, Ned, and choose only our Dreadnoughts to its doing."
May 4
I write in great amazement and not a little troubled to find we are laden with a treasure far beyond my expectation, a great curse of gold that, second only to woman, is cause of more sin and bloodshed than aught else in this troubled world, and may yet bring death on many of us should news of it reach these lawless rogues I must needs learn to rule and govern. In this moment great comfort is it to know all the firearms are in keeping of my Dreadnoughts. So if this is to become a ship of death we few may have some small hope of living. This new anxiety, putting me in mind of the man I hurt yesterday, I buckled on sword, and with Smidge to bear such medicaments as methought needful, to the forecastle there to be greeted by fierce looks from many but no word. I found this man, Tom Ash, extreme weak from loss of blood, and therewith all wild savagery so drained out of him that, while I did my best to his comfort, he talked of his mother in England and wept. Which do give me great hope I may win him back to manliness and self-respect, since only a man indeed may weep. Having washed and cherished his wound to his instant relief (by reason of my much experience while a slave) I bade him come abaft to me daily for treatment, and so left him a humble man and grateful. This same morning by sound of tucket and drum our wild fellows were mustered for prayers and after brief supplication I began to exhort them from the Psalms, choosing passages at random, in the midst of which one cried out very lewdly and with much blasphemous ribaldry. On this, I drew the sword I had been heedful to wear against such expected trouble and nodded to Martin who, instructed beforehand, thrust another sword into this blasphemer's fist and I stepped to him with point advanced. But, seeing me so ready, this fellow let fall his weapon, refusing combat. So when I had beaten him somewhat with flat of my sword I ordered him into the bilboes forthwith. But scarce had two of my Dreadnoughts laid hands on him than from his fellows rose prodigious clamour and ferocity of uproar, with flash of drawn knives very threatening, and close about us. So I pointed them where above us on the poop stood John Fenn with a small murdering-piece aimed and ready to discharge upon them, whereat they all stood as it were astonished. But now, well knowing that if I am to tame and rule and presently win these men to me I must do it by my own force of hand, I chose me the tallest and fiercest showing of this fierce company and demanded his name. His answer was snarling obscenity. "Rogue," says I, "step forrard." "Not I," says he, and mocks me for my lack o' size and with much foul invective. "Who made you captain o' we," he demanded, "you that was slave like us and no more, who made you captain?" I asked him who dared deny it. "Why, I do," cries he, groping for his knife again. "Very well," says I, "take up yonder sword, follow me to the poop, where all may see, and let us now prove which is the better man and more able to command. Come!" cries I, making myself seem fierce as possible. "Follow me, rogue, or by my blood, Master Fenn's gun yonder shall blast some o' ye to perdition—come!" Then I turned and mounted to the poop, and praying with my every step that the God of my Father would nerve my arm. And so indeed He did, and to such effect that very soon I had this desperate fellow bleeding in six or seven places and finally, after a close parry, beat the sword from his failing grasp and him, thus defenceless, backed to the rail, there to lean, he being something faint and ready to sink. So, calling for water, etc., I bathed, anointed and bound up his cuts and glad to find none of them of any moment. This done, back went we to deck below and the company now very silent and altogether seemly the while I besought them to lift their hearts in gratitude to God for His present mercies and our late deliverance and to remember how we are all the children of His love. And all men now attentive to my discourse, bowing their heads reverently to the final Amen. Thereafter I gave order they should be exercised at our ordnance now and every day at this hour, bidding John choose his mates and gun crews, telling him also that what I desired in action was not so much accuracy of fire at long range as speed of fire at close quarters. At this John became very joyous, being great lover of his guns, so that presently this great ship was all a-quiver with their thunderous discharges, and the men for the most part very brisk. While this was yet adoing, I, with Ned, Sir G. D'Arcy, and Sir Benj. to that spacious cabin 'neath the coach we had made the armoury, and glad to see this ship so very well armed both small and great, with many pistols, muskets set very orderly together with swords, pikes, axes and moreover divers suits of body armour, one very rich and precious. This night in my sumptuous cabin, and Smidge fast asleep in his cot as ordered, bethinking me of our so great and perilous treasure, I knelt praying God His aid to win this crew to their duty unto the ship, themselves, and to me, and their souls, one and all, to His Glory. And so got me to bed with assured hope my comforter.