Black Bartlemys Treasure | Page 5

that I had suffered at the
hands of this most accursed Pedro, I turned, and wrapping the broken
oar-chain about my fist, crept towards where he stood to oversee the
armourers. His back was towards me and I was within a yard of him
when he turned, and, seeing me, uttered a shout and raised his whip,
but ere the blow could fall I leapt and smote him. My iron-bound fist
took him full betwixt the eyes, and looking down upon his crushed and
spattered face as he lay I knew that Pedro the whip-master would whip
men no more these many days.

Then (not minded to die by the whip or upon a pike-head) turned I and
sprang for the ship's side, but the chain about my leg hampered me
sorely, and ere I could mount the high bulwark I was beset from behind.
So would I have faced them and died fighting but fierce strokes
battered me to my knees, fierce hands wrenched and tore at me, and
grown faint with blows I was overborne, my hands lashed behind me,
and thus helpless I was dragged along the gangway and so up the ladder
to the poop where, plain to all men's sight, a whipping-post had been
set up. Yet even so I struggled still, panting out curses on them, French
and Spanish and English, drawing upon all the vile abuse of the
rowing-bench and lazarette since fain would I have them slay me out of
hand the rather than endure the miseries and anguish of my lot. Yet this
might not be (since slaves were hard to come by and I was mighty and
strong) wherefore I struggled no more, but suffered them to strike off
my broken fetters and bind me to the whipping- post as they listed. Yet
scarce had they made an end when there comes a loud hail from the
masthead, whereupon was sudden mighty to-do of men running hither
and yon, laughing and shouting one to another, some buckling on
armour as they ran, some casting loose the great ordnance, while eyes
turned and hands pointed in the one direction; but turn and twist me
how I might I could see nought of any strange sail by reason of the high
bulkhead beside me.
Of a sudden all voices were hushed as up the poop-ladder comes the
commander Don Miguel in his black armour, who, looking long and
steadily to windward, gives a sign with his gauntleted hand, whereon
divers of the officers go off hot-foot, some to muster the long files of
arquebusiers, others to overlook the setting of more sail and the like.
And now was a prodigious cracking of whips followed by groans and
cries and screaming curses, and straightway the long oars began to
swing with a swifter beat. From where I stood in my bonds I could look
down upon the poor, naked wretches as they rose and fell, each and all
at the same moment, in time to the stroke.
For maybe half an hour the chase was kept up and then all at once the
decks quivered 'neath the discharge of one of the forward culverins;
and presently, as the great galleass altered her course, obedient to the

motion of Don Miguel's hand, I beheld, some half-league to windward,
the towering stern of the ship we were pursuing, whose length
gradually grew upon me as we overhauled her until she was fairly in
view. She was a small ship, and by her build I did not doubt but that
she was English; even as I watched, up to her mizzen-peak fluttered the
English flag. And hereupon a great yearning came upon me, insomuch
that of a sudden her high, weatherbeaten sides, her towering masts and
patched canvas grew all blurred and indistinct.
Thrice already our guns had roared, yet (though she was now so close
that I made out her very rope and spar) she made no sign. In a little our
guns fell silent also, wherefore, looking about, I beheld Don Miguel
standing beside the tiller yet with his impassive gaze ever bent upon the
foe; and, as I watched, I read his deadly purpose, and a great fear for
the English ship came upon me, and I fell a-praying beneath my breath,
for we carried a weapon more terrible than any culverin that was ever
cast, the long, sharp ram below the water.
The English ship was now so near that I could see the yawning muzzles
of her guns, while her high, curving sides seemed to tower over us. As I
gazed, with my heart full of a pitiful fear for her, I saw a head appear
above her quarter-railing, a very round head whereon was a mariner's
red cap. Came a puff of