in all history there have been few more lamentable sights than that of the great and glorious prince rupert toiling as a common slave on the row-bank of that spanish galley. it is true that the spaniards knew nothing of his rank and position, though their doltishness is proved by their not surmising it from his grand manner and his carriage. but the fact remains that they never so much as guessed at his quality, even when the holy office condemned him to the flames as a heretic, and it was his firm command to stephen laughan, his secretary and companion in misfortune, that the incognito should be strictly preserved.

"they take me for an english buccaneer," he said, "and i am content with it. i'd liefer be conscience-free as a slave, than governor of all the spanish colonies on the main and have to kow-tow to their crafty priests. moreover, stephen lad, when i throw back on to the oar-loom, i'm minded that they've left us the use of our limbs, and that's more than might have been. they're clever devils with their torturings, and i'd rather work through life sound as a galley-slave, than sit crippled even in a palace."

so it will be seen that even in this terrible adversity—and on all hands it will be admitted that the galleys is one of the worst of fates—the prince carried a high spirit: indeed the secretary would not be sure that he did not find some entertainment in the adventure.

the hurry of going on board had been great. wick and his buccaneers had appeared off the port in two ships with brooms at their mastheads to show that they had cleared the seas, and empty sacks at their yard-arms to hint that they were bent on plunder. wick it seems had caught a boat load of spaniards, and had sent them ashore packed with saucy messages which filled the captain of the port with rage and fright in equal portions. if wick had sailed in when he first came up, he would have found the town of la vela (which is the port of coro city) practically undefended. but the spaniards, after their idolatrous fashion thanked many saints that the buccaneers wasted much time in bombast and cautious reconnoitring, and sent for troops from coro with which they manned la vela ramparts and batteries, and which they also set on the four galleys which rolled at their moorings in the harbour.

for the motive power of these galleys, slaves of all descriptions were pressed into service and chained to the benches. not one in six of these wretches had been to sea before, and the odd five were smitten with seasickness before they had barely settled to their work. but the whips of the boatswains who walked up and down the centre gang-plank were a fine restorative to the feebled minded, and, as the event showed, the slaves were quicker to get over their malady than were the soldiers who partook of no such harsh medicine, and who were put on board to form the fighting element.

the horrors of that first night at sea are well-nigh unspeakable. wick's ships had drawn off late in the afternoon, and the galleys, so soon as they were manned, put to sea in inglorious pursuit. as a commencement, the slaves had been chained by ankle-cuffs to traverse-bars which run beneath the seat just in the order in which they chanced to come aboard, and as a consequence, though one oar here and there might be passably handled, the great majority were strained at by wretches who knew no trace of rower's craft, and had little stomach just then to learn it. the spaniards, according to their brutal fashion, thought to teach skill by the sheer lustiness of their whippings; but these gave little real education, and presently when the galley began to swing to the choppy swells of the caribbean outside la vela's protection, the confusion ended in first one, then another, and then others of the sweeps losing a blade, till she bade fair to be completely unrigged if they kept her without change of arrangement.

in the midst of this devil's confusion, with the night come down black about their ears and whistling with wind, and the few lanterns showing a very broken and threatening sea, prince rupert, with his whimsical mood, must needs set up a rollicking cavalier's song, to which the secretary (with more of loyalty than prudence) lent her more slender tones for a chorus. three verses rolled out over the charging swells with as full a lilt and gusto as though they had been sung over the wine-cups in merry england, and some half-dozen others of the galley slaves picked up the rhythm. "to hell with the rebels and god save the king!" they sang, and presently the whips of the boatswains began to crack viciously on the backs of the singers.

but the chief boatswain stopped when he came to rupert, and stood with whip uplifted. there was something in the prince's face at the thought of this last indignity that would have daunted any creature living. "my man," he said, in a terrible voice, "if you touch me with that thong, i will kill you!"

"pah!" said the fellow, "you are chained!"

"happily for many on this galley. but desperate men have desperate strength. i tell you freely that if you thong me i'll break any irons you have in the ship like pack thread, and i'll tear the life from your throat with my teeth. be not a fool, boatswain. you see me here doing all the work that is put on to this oar. moreover, as you may see from the swirl of the water, and the buckling of the wood, it is an oar that's being shrewdly driven. i mislike the labour heartily enough, but, being a slave, it's my pride to be a good slave, and it seems to me i've earned promotion already. i should be captain of this oar instead of being set on as the middle slave of the five who man it."

"you shall be shifted when the watch is changed," said the boatswain, looking at him curiously. "but i'll give you a double set of irons as an extra present. you are too free with your threats and schemes, my man, for a healthy slave."

"i am as i am made," said rupert. "no man can change his nature too suddenly. but being on this galley, i've her welfare at heart like yourself; as i tell you, even a slave can take pride in his work. and let me say to you, se?or boatswain, you've your rowers wastefully arranged. your best men are next the rowlocks, or at a cleat in the middle of the loom, ay, or anywhere but where they should be, and that's at the oars' inner ends, next the gangway, where they could put government over the stroke. as a consequence there's no evenness. your timekeeper with his gavel might be beating stroke for the seafowl for all the regularity he's causing. and so, although each slave may be working his utmost, no two are getting their weight on it together, and as a consequence the slaves are being strained and tired out, and the galley gathers no weigh. i speak as a seaman, se?or boatswain, and i tell you plain that if you don't alter the disposition of your slaves, it's a doubt if we weather the night. you can note for yourself that the breeze is hardening down and the sea's worsening."

the boatswain observed that others of the slaves were forgetting their misery in giving ear to rupert's tirade, and he pulled himself together. "silence there," he shouted. "hold your saucy tongue, slave, or you'll be whipped yet." but what had been said went deeply home to him, for he began looking keenly amongst the benches to see which of the slaves put most skill into the dreadful toil, and when the gavel stopped beating, and the oars were pulled in and their ends tucked under the central gangway, so that the blades reared up clear of the waves, he went aft to the coach and held a close conversation with the captain of the soldiers.

presently there was a resorting of posts. a gang of the slaves was told off to the pumps, for the galley shipped more seas than was healthy for her digestion, and these were chained there lest they might cheat the spaniards of their usefulness by jumping overboard. then there was more unchaining, as those whom the boatswain had marked for watermanship were unlinked from where they chanced to be, and set each to the inner end of a sweep to govern its strokes. the secretary, to her great surprise (having indeed only a maid's strength to throw into this dreadful labour), was one of those honoured by promotion, and rupert, who sat on a row bank two behind her across the gangway, gaily cried out his congratulations.

it seemed that no circumstances could damp the prince during this adventure: indeed one might almost say that his gaiety was unnatural. for presently when food was served round—wine of the sourest, sodden bread, and stinking dried fish that they call baccalhao—he not only ate his own portion with gusto, but took up also those of the seasick wretches on the bench beside him, and added these scraps also to his meal. "there's work to be done for you and me, master laughan," he cried cheerily, "and we need victual within our ribs to keep us lusty. show me none of your daintiness here, stephen. eat soundly, keep up a good courage and a sturdy arm, and i promise you shall dine off sweeter victual when the time comes as your reward."

the boatswain, who was still busy making the exchanges, heard his speech, and understood it, although the words were english. "now you talker," said he threateningly, "have a care, or you'll earn something more besides those double irons i've given you already."

"why, se?or," said rupert, "i was but anticipating your kindness and your gratitude. there are slaves and slaves. surely if we show ourselves to be your best and most valuable slaves, you will give us some small concessions and rewards in return when it comes to the dieting?"

"your tongue is too long," said the boatswain sourly, "and besides, i don't believe that is what you meant, you englishman."

"well," said rupert, "you might call me worse names that don't belong to me than englishman."

the boatswain scowled and turned away to his work, and the slaves tried to get what rest they could where they sat. the deck beneath their feet was covered with unspeakable filth, and even if they had the inclination to lie down upon it, there was no opportunity. each slave was chained by the ankles to the traverse-bar (or "horse," as it was named) which ran beneath the bench in front, and chained also by wrist-shackles to the cleats on the oar loom. but with the oar-blade a-cock, and the loom drawn in and its end tucked under the gangway, one could snatch rest sitting, with the weary head pillowed on the arms and the oar loom.

but there was a short enough spell of sleep allowed them. the galley fell off into the trough when she had no weigh on her, and with the roll the spanish soldiers' stomachs reeled within them. so once more the timekeeper sat down to his table and began monotonously to beat with the gavel, and once more the oars were dipped and swung. the rowers might go on till they burst their souls, so that these doughty warriors were eased. but this time there was a better performance. the captain of each oar—those, that is, who sat at the inner ends—were men of experience, slaves many of them of long standing in the galleys, or men brought up to sea-faring.

"mine's the hardest driving oar in the ship," cried rupert with strange exultation.

"and mine's not the worst," the secretary cried back to him, falling in with her patron's mood.

two others voices chimed in, both english.

"silly braggarts, do you think you're doing all the work in the galley?" cried one.

"foils," grumbled another. "why tew more than ye need? there's note t'addle by it."

"arnidieu," swore rupert, "i should know you who spoke then."

"'appen," said the man, who was at the oar nearest the poop, "i've met a sight o' folk i' my time."

"but you should remember one whom you chose to be your matelot, your camerade on the seas, who was to go a-buccaneering afloat whilst you bucanned meat in hispaniola. your voice, sir, tells me that you are master simpson."

"aye, i'm simpson. and so you're——"

"hush, sir, please. it is my vanity, sir, to keep my name hid whilst i am in this position. but it grieves me to see you in similar plight."

but here speech was cut off. once more the boatswain came down on to the gang-plank, boiling with anger at all this talk in defiance of discipline, and cutting right and left with his whip on the shoulders of the slaves. simpson came in for a share, and cursed him lustily for the gift, but the prince he affected not to have caught. truly it would have taken a braver man than a galley's boatswain to flog rupert palatine.

nothing but constant thonging with that whip kept most of the slaves at their work. the galley laboured heavily in the sea, rolling her outrigged thole-pins under at every lurch, and sea-sickness groaned from all her benches. the reek of her poisoned the gale. the groans from her might have alarmed heaven. and if a ship of the buccaneers had appeared then, her military manning would have surrendered through sheer misery.

but as it was she rode out the night unmolested, and when morning broke, wild and grey, there were wick's ships tossing on a far horizon.

now beating has its limits, and even the arm of a spanish boatswain may grow weary after a long night of unbroken flogging. moreover the other galleys had both dropped astern, and lay without weigh with their oars a-cock. so once more the timekeeper gave the three sharp blows with the gavel which meant a halt, and the slaves thankfully drew in the oars, and thrust the looms underneath the gangway. a ration was served out, but for the most part they were too bone-weary to eat, and dropped incontinently off into slumber. the prince, however, mastered his meal as before, and the secretary, mindful of his order, made shift to do the same, though indeed her hands were so raw with the rub of the oar, that each morsel was seasoned with her own blood.

for three hours the rest endured, and the sun got up and beat heavily on all the galley held, and then once more the timekeeper beat with his gavel. the other galleys came up and formed into line, sawing over the swells. the whole fleet set off together. they were going out to the attack.

a galley's bulwarks are high, and a slave can see nothing except for swift glances that flash past through the oar ports; but a slave's ears are correspondingly sharpened, and from orders shouted by the officers, and from chance scraps of talk, those on the row-benches gain some general idea of what is going on.

by degrees they rose the hulls of wick's ships into view, and found that they were hove-to under canvas. they still carried brooms at their mastheads, and the insulting sacks at their yard arms, and further, as if to show their vast contempt for the force which had come out against them, their crews were at the wash-tub, and the rigging was ensigned with strings of fluttering garments hung out to dry. the spanish officers gritted their teeth with rage at the impertinence, and the boatswain was bidden to whip up more speed out of the slaves.

but it seemed that these buccaneers could do other things besides wash their underwear. for presently when we got within range, down went the strings of fluttering garments, and to each man's hand came up his long-barrelled buccaneering piece, with which he fired with diligence and precision. there was no volley firing and there were no wasted bullets. each buccaneer picked his mark, loosed off, and reloaded. they did not man their own big artillery, but they gave their entire attention to the crews of swaying seasick soldiers that tried to fight the galleys' heavy guns, and they trundled them over almost as fast as they could be replaced. and meanwhile they got their own ships under weigh, trimming sail so that they preserved an unaltered distance from the galleys. they did not attack, and when the spaniards at all slackened the engagement, a part of them put down their buccaneering pieces and went back to the washtubs. it was a most exasperating battle, and the officers on the prince's galley were almost beside themselves with mortification.

the buccaneers shot with a fine accuracy, as has been said, but at sea there are always bullets that go astray, and of these the wretched slaves that were chained to the row banks came in for their share. some were ricochet shots: some found entrance by the oar ports; but when one is wounded, it is but small consolation to know that the hurt was intended for another. a bullet struck between the two hands of prince rupert himself, splintering the wood of the oar. a slave that sat next to the secretary was shot through the temple, falling forward over their loom, and the rowing was much impeded before the poor wretch could be unchained, and his body thrown over to the sharks. altogether there were twelve of the slaves killed or disabled, but it was some comfort to them to know that no less than thirty of their masters were put outside the combat.

the spaniards raged at this treatment, but they could not alter it, neither could they come to close quarters with the ships of the buccaneers, and in the end the galleys were allowed once more to drift, and the slaves to rest and regain strength for whatever next might be demanded of them. twice again during that day did they try to force close action, but the only result was loss to themselves, and in the end when night once more swept down upon the sea, the spaniards on the galley, what between sea nausea, tiredness, and despondency, lay in a state that did little credit to their manhood.

now it is ill work making slaves from men of the calibre of prince rupert, because they weigh at its exact value all that's going on, and, resenting their chains very bitterly, are sure to take the first chance of being rid of them. rupert summed up the situation of the soldiers with much nicety. he summed up also the feelings of the galley's mariners.

it is the custom in the spanish sea service to keep the two businesses of sailing the ship and fighting her coldly apart. the soldier esteems himself far too great a person to touch anything more ungenteel than his weapons. the mariner is looked upon as an inferior creature, fit only to handle ropes, and the tarry things of shipboard, a proper subject to be oppressed at all times, and beaten when he does not please. on our galley there were but few mariners, for she did little work with her sails; but what there were got treatment but slenderly better than that dealt out to the slaves; and though this was the custom of their service, and they had nothing better to look forward to, the prince with his shrewd wisdom gave full value to the matter, and when night once more wrapped the galley in gloom, he put a plan that he had formed into brisk action.

one of these sailormen who had undergone more ill-usage than the rest, and had been anointed with more than his share of blows, was passing dejectedly along the gangway, and presently lay down where he was to sleep. there was nothing uncommon about this, for the spaniards deny their mariners the right to go below into the cabins, and force them to harbour under the weather on the open deck, having an idea that this treatment improves their wakefulness.

to this poor fellow, then, who already had rebellion simmering in his heart, rupert spoke in a whisper, and his clever words soon sapped the wretch's loyalty. "why should he toil like a slave that was a free man himself, and no one whit worse than his masters? why should he put up with blows that were not earned? why should he be satisfied with a dog's wage and a hog's treatment, when he might make a fortune for a move, and live soft ever after?"

the prince was persuasive enough, and the fellow was openly willing. "show me a chance," said he, "and you don't find me staying as i am much longer."

"then the thing is simple," said rupert, "and the less time it's put off the better. the key to your fortune is the key of our shackles. you get me that, and i will guarantee execution of the rest."

"i have only your word for it."

"i can offer you a better certificate. regard my position and my need."

"ay," said the sailor, "there's no questioning that. but is there to be a general killing on this galley, once you slaves get loose? my own mates are men i like, and it would grieve me to see them hurt. they have suffered from the soldiers equally with me."

"there shall be as few killed as i can help. i need all alive for my purposes. and as for your mates, amigo, if they will only bear a hand to help us, the thing will be done more simply. but help or stand aside non-interferent, i swear to you that no sailor on this galley shall be hurt unless he sides in with the soldiers."

"they'll not do that last. but i could not say they'll join with you till they see you've strong chance of getting the upper hand."

"i ask no better. let them wait till the game is well started, and then join in with the winning side. so hand me the keys."

"nay," said the sailor, "you will have to get those for yourself also; but i'll go so far as to tell you where they are, and that's in the boatswain's pocket. i'll give you this help, though," said he, and moved across to the other side of the gangway, and coiled up in sleep there.

for the moment rupert thought the man had been mocking him; but then he saw that the gangway was narrow, that the boatswain traversed it every hour on his official watch, and that the sleeping sailor at the further side would cause him to walk near the other edge, and so within hand-grips of the slaves who wanted the keys. so the prince sat on his bench well satisfied, and the men near him, who had heard what had been said, waited in silence to get their share of any benefits which might befall. there is no reason to ask the slaves on a galley if they will join an insurrection. that the chance for such a rising may come, let its risks be what they may, is the one hourly prayer of their terrible lives.

the time lingered on with a slowness that was incredible. the slaves in the secret rustled on their uneasy benches and winced as the chains galled them. but still the boatswain came not. it seemed as though the hour for his promenade was twice passed over.

rupert muttered a jest, that if he came not soon, we should be forced to report him to his superiors for dereliction of duty.

but presently through the gloom these desperate men saw one step from the coach on to the gangway and step towards them. their muscles grew hardened for the spring, their nerves strung for fierce fighting. and then, lo! here was a deputy sent to do the formal round, whilst the boatswain himself lay sleeping.

so there was the tedious vigil to be endured a second time. but galley slaves can be patient over a disappointment like this, so that there is shrewd prospect of their vengeance coming if only it is waited for long enough. and in due time the boatswain himself came out of the coach, yawning and stretching, and making his way leisurely along the centre of the gangplank.

it was plain that his eyes were heavy with drowsiness, and he saw little. indeed he was within an ace of the sailor who lay on the gangway sleeping (or pretending to sleep), and only swerved just in time to prevent stumbling over him. he stepped to the edge of the gangway, cursing softly, and the chain on rupert's wrist that fettered it to the oar gave just sufficient play for the man's undoing. the prince grasped his ankle and plucked it smartly from beneath him. the boatswain fell down headlong among the slaves—the slaves whom his whip had so cruelly tortured—and under their vicious handling his natural cries were stifled before they were born. the keys were ripped from his pouch, and passed down the row of benches, and callous, blistered fingers trembled as they fitted them into the locks of the shackles. the sweat of anxiety poured from the slaves during those minutes as they fumbled.

a voice rang out through the rustling night that called for the boatswain. there was no reply. again the voice called, and this time it was answered by a laugh. prince rupert, once more a free man, stepped up on to the gangway. the secretary followed him. they made their way aft to the coach where the officers of the soldiers lived, and other shadowy figures, first by ones and twos, then in mobs, began to move on at their heels. there were no cries, there was no shouting; but the very silence of these ill-used slaves made their onset all the more dreadful. the officers and the soldiers welled out like angry bees from an upturned hive to meet them.

both rupert and the secretary were happy enough to filch swords from soldiers that were barely awake, and with hands once more gripped on their accustomed tools, were able to make pretty play. but the great mob of slaves that came on at their heels found no such genteel weapons; contented themselves with stanchions, belaying-pins, balustrading, or anything which offered itself to the first sight; or else raged horribly with bare teeth and talons, as though they had been wild beasts unaccustomed to more human warfare. there was no display of fencing skill. their one manoeuvre was to rush in to hand-grips and commence a deadly wrestle.

there was no doubt about the slaves' ferocity. numbers of them were killed, but even in their death-writhings they generally managed to pull their man down overboard with them. their numbers and their rush were unconquerable. and, besides, the spaniards were still nauseated with the defeat of the afternoon and with seasickness.

as more of the slaves got loose from their shackles the battle degenerated into mere slaughter. the wretches were men no longer; they were wild beasts mad with the lust for blood. they had forgotten the meaning of the word "quarter"; and when here and there one of the soldiers threw down his arms, crying that he surrendered, they simply ran in and finished him, with laughter at his foolishness.

but it was no part of rupert's plan to let capture and punishment degenerate into massacre. that there were men on the galleys who had been buccaneers before being taken as prisoners by the spaniards, has been mentioned already. and it appears there were others. it was the pockmarked yorkshireman, simpson, who told of them.

this man simpson came up to rupert when he and the secretary were defending against some of the maddened slaves a handful of soldiers who had surrendered. "what d'ye bother yer head about yon carrion for, young feller?" said simpson. "they're nobbut jack-spaniards, and they're far better ower t' side an' into t' watter."

"why," said rupert, "i was thinking of them as substitutes for ourselves on the row bank. someone must man the oars, one supposes, and i've no special ambition to go back to the work again myself."

"nor me. i've been making t' beggars pay pretty dear this last few minutes for the wark they've had out o' me on this galley. but tha'rt right, young feller, there must be no more killing. it's a fooil's trick cutting off yer nose to spite yer face."

"help master laughan and me to hold off these savages then."

"right," said simpson, and began in his great bull's voice to call out names. "jobson! hugh! drapeau! makepeace! lebreton!" he shouted for, and then named others, and presently these men worked their way up through the rabble of the spanish slaves. with the prince and the secretary they made a line across the poop, beginning at the rudder head, and then with word and blows with the flat drove the maddened spanish slaves forward away from their killing, and passed all living unarmed soldiers they met with behind them.

presently these slaves began sullenly to listen to reason, and though they were far from seeing the justice by which a small knot of men, who shortly before had been slaves equally with themselves should set up a command, they understood that these few who drove them had once been buccaneers, and so they resigned themselves to their superiority. so quickly order was restored; the dead were put over the side, the soldier-prisoners were clapped into the vacant chains and bidden acquire the mystery of oarsmanship; and the sailors of the galley who had stayed non-interferent and unmolested, returned to their accustomed duties without being especially bidden. they were rather poor-spirited creatures, these same spanish sailormen.

it remained to elect a captain and a course, and this was done with small argument. the yorkshireman simpson took upon himself to make nomination. "bretheren," he said, "and scum, just listen here, all o' you. this 'ere young feller, that's planned this rising is a prince, an' 'e's my matelot. i therefore propose 'im as captain. if there's any beggar as 'as any objections, let 'im just step here an' i'll cut 'is throat.—no one's onything to say to that? well, young feller, tha'rt elected captain, pleasant an' unanimous, an' we all serve under you according to the rules of the bretheren of the coast."

"gentlemen," said rupert, "i thank you for the honour, and will endeavour to deserve it. i believe, according to the rules, my first duty is to call a council of all hands, and i do that herewith. but before there is time used up in speech-making, i should like to point out that we may be called upon for further action presently. there has been noise enough made on this galley to scare heaven, and i do not see very well how her consorts can have avoided taking the alarm. presently one supposes they'll come up to see what the uproar's about, and we should be able to give them their answer in due form."

"let them come," said simpson, "we'll give them all the fighting they've any stomachs for."

"but to what profit, master simpson? we shall simply kill a parcel of soldiers whose trade it is to be killed, and the spaniards ashore will only shrug their shoulders, and say the poor fellows have merely received what they were hired for. now my grievance is more against those said spaniards ashore, and moreover, i am remembering always that i came out to these seas to gather revenues for my master the king, who now keeps his court at the hague."

"kings is note to me," said simpson with a frown, "an' i'll bet they're no more to onybody on this galley, unless they're a fancy of master laughan's."

rupert laughed. "well," he said, "we're far from england now, and i won't pick a quarrel with you over your disloyalty, master simpson. to begin with, we've other matters on hand. and to go on with, i've an opinion that we agree shrewdly over the other point of my argument. you'll have as little distaste for plunder as anyone, eh?"

simpson smacked the prince's shoulder. "tha'st hit it theer i' once, young feller."

"your approval overwhelms me. now here's my plan. we'll give these other galleys the slip, and be off back to la vela as fast as the oars can drive us. they'll know this galley there as their own, and will let her into the harbour unquestioned——"

"by gum," shouted simpson, "i see t' plan. let's away wi' us, an' we'll talk it through as we go. we shall loss a fight wi' these 'ere other galleys, but we shall have all we want in la vela harbour before we've got our pickings there an' are off again. that carrack against the mole has the plate in her of half a season's gathering."

it took little formality to get the galley once more into motion. the whips of the late boatswain and his mates were picked up by ready hands, and any stubbornness which at first the new slaves chose to show was soon flogged out of them. there were not enough soldiers remaining alive after the vessel was taken to full man the oars, and perforce some of those who sat on the benches before had to return to them. but these freedmen pulled at oars apart, and soon there sprang up a rivalry between them and the boatswain who drove the new-made slaves—the which was bad for the slaves.

quickly the galley got into her stride again, swerving in a wide circle under the helm, and then heading back for the main. the spaniards had not lit her great poop lanterns that night for fear lest wick should play some buccaneers' surprise game under cover of the dark; and unlit they remained after she was captured; and if the other consorting galleys came to hunt for her, they never arrived, and there's an end to them.

one other talk captain prince rupert had with his crew before they came up with their new work. "i tell you plain, gentlemen," he said, "that i am out in these seas of the new world to make what monies i can add to my king's revenues, but at the same time one's own private honour must be attended to first. now i want an agreement from all hands as to where the profits of this venture belong. for myself and master laughan here, we were of the company of captain wick and captain watkin, and were put ashore (so it was said) to forward their plans for sacking the city of coro. it is a marvel, for which i thank god heartily, that we stand here alive and free to-day, and as those two buccaneer commanders must have known to what horrible fates and dangers they sent us, i take it they wrote us off their strength as dead the moment we left the ship. so i hereby dissociate master laughan and myself from their venture, and proclaim ourselves, so far as they are concerned, to be gentlemen at large. remains for myself a contract i once made in hispaniola with master simpson."

"nay, young feller," said simpson, "that's off by my own unavoidable act. we agreed that you were to be my matelot at sea, sharing equally all you addled, and i was to be your camerade ashore, with a business of hunting the wild cattle of hispaniola and bucaning the meat, selling it in tortuga, and sharing with you the gains. but i must needs be gowk enough to get caught by the spaniards, and so, as i say, the bargain's off. so we're all here on our own bottoms, and all that's needed is to settle the share list."

the debate about this was simple. rupert, as captain, was to have fourteen shares. simpson was appointed quartermaster with eight shares, drapeau, a frenchman, was made gunner with four shares. the other french and english buccaneers, including the secretary (who to her mortification was offered no official position) were apportioned two shares apiece, and the spaniards, who had been their fellow-slaves, were each given one share. these last were for making some disagreement; but it was soon pointed out to them that the french and english as a rule gave spaniards nothing, and that if there was much fuss about the matter, they would adhere to their usual habit. the which suggestion calmed these greedy gentlemen down wonderfully, and so all within the galley was peace and concord.

day came, and the galley found herself alone on a desolate sea. the coast of the main was visible from the deck, the buildings of la vela could be seen from the mastheads; and so the oars were cocked and the day was set apart for a rest which all most sorely needed.

"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.

shouts and screams and oaths told when each party stormed the fort which it was bidden put out of action. there was some fire from small arms, but not much; most of that night's work was done with cold steel and the hammer. of the progress and fortune of the other two parties, the secretary could see little; she was sufficiently occupied in leading her own. the men who were chosen to be under her had grumbled at first at having such a stripling set over them, and the poor creature had to look her fiercest at them for fear lest they should openly mutiny and appoint another leader on their own responsibility. but once they had clambered inside the fort apportioned to them, she summed up a courage brazen enough to suit the most reckless of them. the hammer men, being unarmed otherwise, were nervous and clumsy, and seemed a most tedious time over their employment. the garrison poured out against them like bees from an upturned hive. and when eight of the twelve guns were spiked, a cry rose that it was time to be going, if any were to escape back to the carrack with their skins. but master laughan with tongue and sword stopped the panic (and indeed fought very valiantly for example), and a space was cleared round the remaining guns till the hammer men had stripped the tarpaulins from their breeches, and put them out of action. and then when indeed the work was over, and word was passed to make evacuation with all speed available, the secretary was the last to leap on the parapet and drop down over the wall.

missiles and some shot flew after them, but they had no means for reply and indeed had been strictly ordered by the prince to use their heels; and so dragging along their wounded, and leaving their dead, they raced on in a body through bye-streets and lanes, but always keeping in touch with the harbour-edge. around them the town was ablaze with lights and fury, but in the hurry of their passage no man knew them exactly for what they were, and by the time any had guessed, they were out of shot and shout. it is useless to cry, "the buccaneers are on us! the buccaneers!" when all the town is thrilling with the same alarm.

but one deed the secretary did in la vela which was outside rupert's instructions, and indeed opposed to his strict command. there came down upon her band from one of the side streets a black-avised man mounted on horseback. she recognised him at once. he was the chief inquisitor for coro of that truly horrid institution of rome miscalled the holy office, and with his own vile lips he had sentenced both rupert and the secretary to what they call an auto da fé, but which in vulgar terms is nothing more nor less than a burning to death at the stake. only the pressing need of the galleys for rowing-slaves gave them salvage from this, and for that they had to thank captain wick's activity, and not the inquisitor's will. in fact they were beholden to him for so little, that master laughan forthwith broke orders, bade her men surround the fellow, and drag him from his horse. the reins of his own bridle served to bind his hands, and when in his black rage he would have halted to argue, shrewd sword progues quickly made him keep station. "here is a nobleman for ransom," the secretary said to her buccaneers, and they swore they would be cut to pieces sooner than let him escape them.

with furious pantings they drove their way on through the streets, and at last came to that broad avenue, littered with barrels, cases, bales and other merchandise which heads round the inner bight of the harbour, and there they saw the stately carrack which had been ordered as their rendezvous. already she was the centre of a pretty fight. the prince's men and simpson's had boarded her some minutes before, and her own people were resisting with fury and desperation. but at the run master laughan's came up, clambered over the great precipice of the stem, and so came upon the poop, which was the last hold of the spaniards. her people thus found themselves between two sets of swords and had no further stomach for fighting. some jumped down on to the quay on one side, some were forced over into the water on the other, and there was the great carrack in alien hands, and buccaneers with axes were cutting through her shore-fasts. but master laughan had one piece of merchandise to haul on board yet, and that was the black-avised man whom she gave orders to carry below, and set two of the freed slaves to guard.

the galley, according to orders, backed up, passed a warp on board over her stern, and began to tow towards the harbour entrance, and all those who had any ship-knowledge on the carrack laid aloft to loose her canvas. from the dumb batteries the garrisons raged as they wrestled with their spiked artillery. and in the meanwhile a smattering harmless fire from arquebuses filled the night with flashings.

gradually as her courses were let drop and her topsails hoisted, the carrack gathered way, and presently she passed out between the harbour heads. clouds slid away, and showed a moon sailing in the heavens. the noises died out in the town, and one could guess that its people were watching the two vessels which sailed out over the lighted sea. the carrack trimmed deep in the water, and already expert valuers had been in the holds and reported her cargo of fabulous value.

"young feller," said simpson, "or rather i should say captain, it's my belief we've run off with their annual plateship. tha'st set us up for life."

"i had two motives in visiting the place," said rupert, "profit and revenge. you say we've done well with the first, and that is pleasant hearing. but i should have liked to see my way to making the second more marked. i've suffered some vile indignities in this neighbourhood."

"your highness," put in the secretary, "i've flatly disobeyed your orders during this last half-hour."

rupert looked at master laughan queerly. "then i'll lay to it you've got some good excuse."

"why, yes, your highness, my excuse is in one of the after cabins under a steady guard."

"fetch it up under the moonlight here."

the black-avised inquisitor was brought on deck. "you!" said rupert, and set his lips tight.

"the tables appear to be turned," said the fellow boldly. "i suppose you will use your power now and torture me."

"that is not my way," said rupert. "but i am apt to return kind for kind, and i have in memory that you condemned me to the flames, and that it was not your fault i did not suffer in them."

"i regretted then and regret still you were not burnt. i took you for a heretic, and it seems you are a pirate also."

"it seems to me that i am rupert palatine, and acting very naturally. my man, next time you gather victims for your bloody inquisition, see that you do not fly at too high game. if you were a gentleman, i would set you free with a ransom. but i see you are a common fellow, and need a ruder lesson. put down your helm," he ordered to the steersman, and to the sail-trimmers he said, "lay her to." and then he gave further commands which pleased all hands mightily. the galley was brought alongside and set thoroughly on fire, and the black-avised inquisitor was put down on to her decks with his wrists once more set free. the warps were cast off and the carrack once more got under weigh. rupert hailed the inquisitor from the poop.

"you will find the keys of the slaves' shackles on their proper nail inside the coach, and you may set your rowers adrift as soon as you please. then i would counsel you to make for the harbour, which you can do with ease before the fire scorches you very deeply. but remember from this night's work that fire burns, that men who have had you in their power could still set you free again unharmed, and be generous to the next poor wretches that come within the grip of your inquisition."

the black-avised man took off his hat and bowed. "i shall pray nightly to heaven, se?or, that i may meet you once again," said he, and then turned to get the keys of the rowers' shackles.

"i'd like to bet tha' that tha'st trouble with yon dark chap yet," said simpson thoughtfully. "it's allus best to scrag these jack-spaniards whilst there's t' chance."

"my dear master simpson, one must always remember that there's such a thing as chivalry left even in these seas of the new world."

"i know note about chivalry, young feller, but i'm thinking that 'appen we've some of yon beggar's brass in this vessil we're running off with, an' that's what makes 'im mad. i tell tha', captain, it's brass i' the end that makes all the wars and the fighting in this new world, just the same as it is i' t' old. there's men gives it other names; some says they fights for religion, and some for drink; but reckon it out right to t' bottom, and tha'll find it's t' brass an' note else."

"you're a philosopher, it seems, amongst your other attractions," said rupert, smiling. "but at present we must give these nicer matters holiday. here we are, with a fat ship, and the business of carrying her away in safety; and i want very much to do that without giving toll to either captain wick or captain watkin. let them go in and sack coro, as arranged; these spanish towns are the proper banks for the buccaneers to draw upon. there's plenty of pickings left for them. but for myself, i'm mightily anxious to carry away without further debate what i've so honestly and hardly earned."

they watched the galley furiously rowed towards the harbour with red flags of flames trailing from her stern; they saw the black dots which represented her people scramble over the side; and presently they laughed as they saw flames sprout from other shipping in the harbour which blazing matter from the galley had set alight. and they felt a very pleasant glow of satisfaction as they watched. from then onwards, until two days were passed, all the brain in the carrack was employed till she was clear of possible danger, and not until then did rupert formally thank the secretary for capturing the black-avised inquisitor.

"if i had not settled my score with that man," said rupert, "i could not have slept easy. but as it is, i think the adventure has very satisfactorily ended. my lad, when the time comes, i will commend you very highly to his majesty the king at the hague."