Under Drakes Flag | Page 2

have
heard tell of fearsome tales, lad; but the Spaniards outwit themselves.
Were our men to have fair treatment as prisoners of war, it may be that
the Spaniards would often be able to hold their own against us; but the
knowledge that, if we are taken, this horrible fate is certain to be ours,

makes our men fight with a desperate fury; and never to give in, as long
as one is left. This it is that accounts for the wonderful victories which
we have gained there. He would be a coward, indeed, who would not
fight with thumbscrews and a bonfire behind him."
"It is said that the queen and her ministers favor, though not openly,
these adventures."
"She cannot do it openly," said the old man, "for here in Europe we are
at peace with Spain--worse luck."
"How is it, then, that if we are at peace here, we can be at war in the
Indian Seas?"
"That is more than I can tell thee, lad. I guess the queen's writ runs not
so far as that; and while her majesty's commands must be obeyed, and
the Spanish flag suffered to pass unchallenged, on these seas; on the
Spanish main there are none to keep the peace, and the Don and the
Englishman go at each other's throats, as a thing of nature."
"The storm is rising, methinks. It is not often I have heard the wind
howl more loudly. It is well that the adventurers have not yet started. It
would be bad for any craft caught in the Channel, today."
As he spoke, he looked from the casement. Several people were seen
hurrying towards the beach.
"Something is the matter, lads; maybe a ship is driving on the rocks,
even now."
Seizing their hats and cloaks, the party sallied out, and hurried down to
the shore. There they saw a large ship, driving in before the wind into
the bay. She was making every effort that seamanship could suggest, to
beat clear of the head; but the sailors saw, at once, that her case was
hopeless.
"She will go on the Black Shoal, to a certainty," the old sailor said;
"and then, may God have mercy on their souls."

"Can we do nothing to help them?" a woman standing near asked.
"No, no," the sailor said; "we could not launch a boat, in the teeth of
this tremendous sea. All we can do is to look out, and throw a line to
any who may be washed ashore, on a spar, when she goes to pieces."
Presently a group of men, whose dress belonged to the upper class,
moved down through the street to the beach.
"Aye! there is Mr. Trevelyan," said the sailor, "and the gentleman
beside him is Captain Drake, himself."
The group moved on to where the fishermen were standing.
"Is there no hope," they asked, "of helping the ship?"
The seamen shook their heads.
"You will see for yourself, Master Drake, that no boat could live in
such a sea as this."
"It could not put out from here," the Captain said; "but if they could
lower one from the ship, it might live until it got into the breakers."
"Aye, aye," said a sailor; "but there is no lowering a boat from a ship
which has begun to beat on the Black Shoal."
"Another minute and she will strike," the old sailor said.
All gazed intently at the ship. The whole population of the village were
now on the shore, and were eager to render any assistance, if it were
possible. In another minute or two, a general cry announced that the
ship had struck. Rising high on a wave, she came down with a force
which caused her mainmast at once to go over the side. Another lift on
the next sea and then, high and fast, she was jammed on the rocks of
the Black Shoal. The distance from shore was but small, not more than
three hundred yards, and the shouts of the sailors on board could be
heard in the storm.

"Why does not one of them jump over, with a rope?" Captain Drake
said, impatiently. "Are the men all cowards, or can none of them swim?
It would be easy to swim from that ship to the shore, while it is next to
impossible for anyone to make his way out, through these breakers.
"Is there no one who can reach her from here?" he said, looking round.
"No one among us, your honor," the old sailor said. "Few here can keep
themselves up in the water, in a calm sea; but if man or boy could swim
through that surf, it is the lad who is just coming down from behind us.
The Otter, as we call