Prince Rupert, the Buccaneer

by Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne

"There's a bit of the Puritan about thee, young feller," said the Yorkshireman to the Prince, and Rupert laughed and said that Master Simpson was the first to guess it. "But I know what you mean," he added. "I'm suggesting sleep and not debauch, and although you can barely keep your eyes open, you're resenting the innovation. But let me call to your notice that this is a dry ship. I've had her searched for liquor and there's barely a cask, and that's only of sour, thin wine; and so we've to be sober for the strongest of all possible reasons."

At that the buccaneers laughed and gave in, and after a watch had been set, all in the galley addressed themselves to sleep. They lay about, some below, some on deck, some in the shade, some in the sunshine, and the slaves of course rested on the oars to which they were chained; and sounder sleep this side of death it would have been impossible to find. Indeed, one may say that all on the galley were thoroughly worn out with what they had gone through, and that much more wakefulness would have had the dreadful effect that want of sleep produces, and sent many of them into insanity.

But night came at last, dropping on the sea with its accustomed tropical suddenness, and with night the galley woke. The timekeeper gave a preliminary beat with his gavel, and the oar-blades splashed down into the sea; he gave two more beats in warning, and then set off, marking a steady stroke, and the oars followed him with all the accuracy of which they were able; and presently the galley was in full course, heading back for La Vela. On the poop stood Prince Rupert explaining patiently in English, and again in French, and still again in the Spanish tongue, every small detail of what was to be done in the harbour, and apportioning to each his especial work. Wick's ships were demonstrating opposite this port to lure down the greatest possible number of troops away from the defence of Coro, so that the capital might be as feeble as possible against Watkin's attack. Rupert's was to be a sally in against desperate odds, and nothing but the most perfect method and order could bring it success.

The very noisiness of the galley's approach was its most efficient disguise. The timekeeper beat stolidly with his gavel, and after the manner of the Spaniards a drum and a trumpet made music on the head of the forecastle, doubtless causing many ashore to turn in their sleep and curse at being disturbed by so barbaric a formality. If the galley had tried to sneak in between the harbour walls with oars muffled and all within her quiet, she would have been spied by the sentries, and they would have filled the place with suspicions and alarms. But from her arrogant noisiness none dreamed that she had changed owners, and the sentries patrolled their beats without giving her more than a glance.

One of the new-made slaves did indeed more with bravery than prudence try to shout a warning when they came within earshot of the forts, but the galley's sailors were watching narrowly for an outbreak such as this, and scarcely had the fellow opened his mouth to shout, than a slash with a dagger silenced him for always: which example effectually schooled the others. Those sailors of the galley were not brave men, but they were very frightened, and that made them very efficient guardians for the slaves.

The galley's berth in La Vela harbour was alongside the arsenal, but orderliness in these Spanish ports is a thing little thought of, and when this particular vessel steered towards the fort which commanded it from the opposite side, she received no special attention. A low wharf gave her landing place, the oars sweeping above the pavements; and the moment her side rasped against the stone, she vomited forth her people in a sudden rush. A great carrack lay beside the next wharf.

Then and not before was the alarm made. A sentry squibbed off his arquebuse, the ball flying wide. A drum beat, followed by a rumble of other drums. Lights kindled in the windows and embrasures. The clatter and shuffle of men arming themselves hummed up into the night. But in three bodies the invaders had gone off under Rupert, and Simpson, and the secretary, at their fastest run, and the galley, in charge of the French gunner, put off again in obedience to her orders.

The three shore parties had a simple duty. Each in its ranks had a parcel of men armed only with spike-nails and extemporised hammers, and it was the duty of the others to burst into the forts and shelter these men whilst they spiked the guns. Every moment the town and the garrison were waking round them: every moment that the work was incomplete it grew harder of execution.

There was to be no lingering once the guns were spiked; there was to be no staying to fight where it could be avoided. "Keep the lives of your men if you can," Rupert had said as a last command, "or you will lose me half my profit and half my revenge."

For a rendezvous, all were to make for the carrack.