The Quest of the 'Golden Hope': A Seventeenth Century Story of Adventure

by Percy F. Westerman

In spite of their overladen condition, the boats reached the shore in safety, for the water was as calm as a mill pond. We landed on a flat, sandy beach, close to the mouth of a little stream that was to supply us with fresh water. The plain that extended 'twixt the sea and the hammock= shaped hill was far more extensive than one would have supposed, when viewing it from the offing. It was nearly three miles in width, and was covered by a dense and luxurious vegetation.

Between the little stream and the rocky headland that formed the northernmost horn or arm protecting the harbour the ground was comparatively barren, so that a clear view could be obtained for several hundred yards.

Moreover, the rocks on the seaward side descended abruptly to the water's edge, so that they formed a natural defence in that direction, since no boats could land thereabouts. Midway betwixt the stream and the headland the master gunner fixed the site for the stockade.

A trial hole to the depth of ten feet revealed the presence of a copious supply of water, sweet and wholesome to the taste when once the mud had settled. This was especially fortunate, as we were not compelled to rely upon the stream, which was a quarter of a mile or more from our proposed fortress.

Having transported all the stores they had brought ashore to the middle of a square that the master gunner had traced upon the ground, the landing party went up into the woods to fell and trim some trees for the purpose of making the stockade; and soon the silence of the grove was broken by the noise of the axes and the cheery voices of the men. They made enough clamour to give the alarm to every buccaneer that might be within a mile or so; but though our people worked with their muskets close at hand, and outposts were placed to give us ample warning of a surprise, the island appeared to be uninhabited save by its new masters.

It took a fortnight's hard work to construct the stockade, which was loopholed at regular intervals, and strengthened by a mound of earth on the inside. The soil thus utilized had been excavated so as to form a ditch without the barrier, thus increasing the value of our defences; while, in order to store our powder in safety, a deep hole or cave was dug in the centre of the fortress and covered over with the trunks of trees, on which earth was placed to a height of four feet. This made a magazine which was proof against any shot that might be fired into the stockade; while on the mound above it a lookout hut had been erected, being protected against musketry by a breastwork of sandbags.

Having completed this stronghold, the master gunner obtained permission to mount two of the Golden Hope's guns. The work of getting these pieces of ordnance ashore was a difficult one; but, thanks to Master Touchstone's energy and mechanical skill, they were placed in position and so arranged that both could be brought to fire from any side of the stockade by means of ingenious carriages somewhat resembling those used by troops in the field.

Thus, before we were ready to send an expedition into the interior, a month had elapsed; yet all hands felt that the time had not been wasted, since we were now in a position to repel an attack by either land or sea.

At length we set out to find the resting-place of the precious cargo of the Madre de Dios. For this expedition twenty men were drawn from each ship, Captain Jeremy being in command. During our absence Captain 'Enery was left in charge of the Golden Hope and her consort, with orders to fire three guns should danger arise, as it was supposed that the sound of the discharge would be heard at any point on our march into the interior. Touchstone, with eleven men, was to hold the stockade.

We were one and all heavily laden, for, in addition to our arms and ammunition, each man carried a week's supply of provisions and an axe, or mattock. At every half-mile three men were to be left in order to form a chain of communication with the shore, so that by the time we reached the place where the treasure was supposed to lie, only twelve would remain. These twelve would be sufficient to remove the bulk of the spoil, while the rest of the treasure could be obtained at some future time.