Swords From the Sea (88 page)

What had attracted Moone's attention was a movement in a wood at one side of the town, near the shore. He caught the glint of steel through the trees, and in a moment the cause was plain to view. A troop of Spanish cavalry, ambushed in the wood, trotted out into the open and started at a rapid pace for the town.

So intent were the party in Arica on searching the houses that they did not see the advancing line of horsemen until the latter were halfway to the town. Then it was too late to gain the boat in safety. Moone cursed under his breath as he saw this, then gave vent to a grunt of approval. The soldiers under the orders of Falconer greeted the cavalry with a hot fire from their harquebuses, so hot that the wave of horsemen split in two and rolled around the town, giving the little body of Englishmen a wide berth.

But meanwhile other bodies of Spaniards appeared on the hills above the town, while tiny puffs of white showed Moone where their harquebuses were searching the streets of Arica. Several Englishmen dropped under the fire, and more were lost in the retreat back to the boat.

Not all escaped from the town. Sir James with three companions were quitting the place after their companions by one of the side streets, when they were pursued and cut off by a troop of horsemen. For a moment Moone saw the blade of Sir James flashing in his long arm, until a blow from a pike disarmed him and he and his men were made prisoners by the Spaniards.

No ill place was the cabin of Mr. Francis Drake. The panes in the square portholes were of good English stained glass, the beams that supported the deck overhead were curiously carved, and Flemish tapestries hung from the walls. A ladder in one corner led to the poop, while a small door at one side gave into the general's sleeping quarters.

Following the ill-omened landing of his men, Drake was seated in his shirtsleeves on a bench that ran beneath the ports, stroking a violin softly. His sword was thrown carelessly on the small table by his side. Idle and light-hearted as he appeared, Thomas Moone, who had sailed with him on many voyages, noted the line of care drawn across the brown forehead, and the pain back of the searching eyes. Moone was seated by his leader, without formality, as was their custom.

Wrinkling his nose in disgust, the sailing master spat out of an open port.

"Good riddance it be, sir," he growled, "for Sir James was ever of mutinous mind. If the Spanish dogs hang him to yardarm, 'twill be but cheating us of the pleasure. Pah! Silk-coated vermin!"

"The man is brave, Tom," mused the general, "and he was outspoken. Nevertheless he did breed mutiny and treason among our people, and if he lives, he shall answer for it. Tell me again the words of the Spanish leader at Arica."

"I heard them not," explained the sailor. "Those who came off in the great boat say that one of the Dons on horseback came within earshot on the shore as they were pulling away. He cried to them in Spanish, which several of the company knew-

"'Tell your corsair chief that his men shall be tried and hung at Lima, and his Excellency bids him come and attend the trial."'

Drake threw back his head and laughed long.

"So the Vulture invites us to come to his lair, Tom. What think you, man-shall we do as he bids?"

"Ar't not serious, sir? No doubt but his Excellency would gladly welcome us, ha! He'll see little of us save good cannon shot. Yet why put in at Lima when the treasure ship sails north to escape us? We may overtake it, for we have the legs of the Spanish craft."

"How long since did the Santa Maria put to sea, Tom?"

"Three days agone, sir. It would be a simple matter to make up the time."

"Too simple, for the Spanish trust cunning where they fear sails."

Drake plucked at the violin strings thoughtfully.

"Nay, the Santa Maria will not be found where we look for it. But we will find it, by my faith, Tom. The Spaniards shall pay for their treatment of Sir James Falconer. He is an Englishman. Since when have Englishmen been taken at sight as pirates? The man offended but with his sword-a good blade."

"He is foul with mutiny."

"Then shall he be tried on the Golden Hind in the queen's name. Nay, no other than his general will try him. His Excellency, the Vulture, will find his prisoners slipped through his claws, and the black lepers of the Inquisition will lose their prey."

The honest mariner scratched his head thoughtfully and sighed.

"How may that be, sir? Sir James travels overland in the hands of many armed caballeros of Spain, who take him to the presence of the viceroy at the great town of Lima, where are no less than three thousand soldiers, as I have heard, and many cannon. Were the viceroy afloat we might lay him aboard with a good heart. Ashore, we be a scant ninety men against three thousand. How could we land, in the face of such odds?"

"The task is beyond us, Tom," smiled the general. "Our boats could never put ashore in the town held by such number of soldiers."

"'Twere madness to think on't sir. Besides, there is the treasure ship that flees us. We cannot squander time in trying to barter for the lives of the mutineers at Lima."

"No silver shall buy the lives of Sir James Falconer and his men," declared the general. "Yet they shall stand free-"

"But how, in God's name-"

The general ran the fiddle bow caressingly over the strings.

"When Sir James went to the port of Arica he carried in a pocket of his cloak a letter to the viceroy, written in an excellent conceit, in goodly Spanish-"

"The traitor!"

"Nay, you wrong him. The letter was from my hand. Perchance your Spanish caballero on horseback opened it when Sir James was made prisoner, and made answer as he did. For my letter was word that I was coming to pay the viceroy a call in person at his palace. Now that he bids me, by his caballero, to come to the trial, I shall pay my respects-"

"With good cannon shot and powder!"

Drake put down his violin and smiled at Moone.

"At the court of justice," he amended.

II

The testimony of one Fray Raymundo of Lima, as to the events connected with the visit of the notorious corsair El Francisco Andreque to that town, as forwarded to his Majesty, King Philip the Second of Spain, upon occasion of the inquiry into the most strange circumstances that did there befall his Excellency the Governor of Peru.

When the shadows lengthened along the plaza of El Callao de Lima, a certain Fray Raymundo emerged from the doors of his church. On the threshold he paused to gaze at the unwonted activity of the plaza.

Silk banners hung from the windows facing the square. Along the streets leading to it trotted mounted caballeros, their accouterments bright with silver and jewels. From the windows and balconies veiled women did not scorn to show their pretty heads, and their dresses, which were of the costliest material and workmanship. By the side of the women, often mestizos, or half-breeds, loitered Spaniards who had been poorer than the soldiers in the streets a year ago, and now owned silver enough to buy them a dukedom in Spain.

The soldiers themselves had pockets filled with gold and silver which they squandered in the shops for a botija of wine or a throw at the dice. Shouts, songs, and laughter echoed from wine shop to wine shop through the streets. Money was theirs to spend as they wished, for more was to be had from the mines worked by the enslaved natives, and the occasion was gala.

As he saw the holiday throng, Fray Raymundo remembered that it was the last day of the trial of the four Lutheran dogs who had been taken by the caballeros of Arica. Moreover the English corsair was somewhere off the coast, and rumor said that the corsair captain, El Francisco Andreque, had boasted that he would land and meet his Excellency the Governor face to face. Nothing had been seen of the devil ship, as it was called, but every preparation had been made to welcome it fittingly if it should have the insolence to come to the port of El Callao de Lima.

Into the crowd that had moved along the plaza to the Royal Audencia where the trial was taking place pressed Fray Raymundo, while the soldiers, adventurers, and women made way respectfully before his gray robe and pale face. It was his purpose to reach the Royal Audencia in time to see the arrival of the viceroy, and in this he was successful.

Just as the last rays of the sun were touching the silk hangings in the windows, and glittering on the silver trees and ornaments that stood in front of the houses, there was a stir in the throng that filled the plaza, and the governor was seen advancing to the Audencia where the court waited his presence, in company with several of his captains and advisors.

The Most Excellent Lord, Don Francisco de Toledo, Viceroy, Governor, and Captain-General of the Spanish realms in the New World, was no less a monarch in America than was King Phillip II, ruler of Spain, Portugal, and Flanders, in the Old World. The gold cloth and velvet of his attire, the emerald clasp that held in place his black cloak, made the appearance of his Excellency no less splendid than that of the Incas who had fallen under his rule.

With the power of the Inquisition which knew no laws at his command, a conquered race enchained to do his bidding, and the mines of the New World at hand to yield enormous riches, there was little wonder that his Excellency's pride matched that of the only man who could call him servant.

As he pushed through the crowd his Excellency's dark eyes held recognition for few he met-a distinguished captain of cavalry, a wealthy owner of one of the Potosi mines, a brilliantly dressed woman of his court. The native chiefs who, catching the spirit of the celebration, appeared in the streets in the splendor of their state garments, the governor ignored completely. Fray Raymundo, who had reached a point quite near the path of his Excellency, was about to bow, in company with others around him, when something arrested him.

An Indian, who had entered the plaza from one of the streets leading directly to the hills behind the town, ran to the governor and prostrated himself.

"A message, oh, chief of chiefs," he cried, in Quichua.

Those who were watching the scene saw the governor, before the Indian could speak again, place a foot on the brown, muscled back lying before him. Then his Excellency, well content, wiped his shoes on the Indian and passed on to the Audencia.

A shout of laughter greeted this display of amiability on the part of the governor, and a few curious glances were cast at the native, who picked himself up with a scowl and vanished in the crowd, but not before Fray Raymundo had recognized him as a friendly Indian from a tribe which was hostile to the Spanish rule. Anxious to learn the cause of the man's act, the priest pushed after him.

The Indian did not linger in the plaza which had been the scene of his disgrace, but entered one of the side streets. The priest was close enough to see him disappear into one of the wine shops. When he stepped into the place, which was filled with half-caste mine workers, drunken sailors, and Peruvians, he found the native he sought in company with several of his tribe, drinking heavily.

To the priest's civil question about his message, the man would make no answer beyond a sullen stare and a gesture that revealed the mark of his Excellency's feet on his back. Troubled by the occurrence-for he knew the native to be friendly to the Spaniards-Fray Raymundo was leaving the wine shop when a half-caste nudged his elbow and whispered hurriedly in his ear.

"I can tell you the man's message, Fray," muttered the other, rum thick on his breath. "He says he has seen the devil ship along the coast. There is more that he knows, but the man is angered and will not spit it out until good wine loosens his tongue."

"The corsair!" exclaimed the fray. "That is news for his Excellency."

"His Excellency is too ready with his feet, Fray," retorted the halfcaste.

"That is a pity. Still, he should know. I will go to the Audencia. Do you stay by the Indian until he speaks further, and then seek me out at the trial."

With a gesture of benediction the priest gathered up his robe and turned away. He reflected that the Indian might have been mistaken, and determined to proceed cautiously in relating what he had heard to the authorities. Once more the priest made his way across the plaza, now shrouded in dusk.

Torches in every street scattered the gloom in Lima, and especially along the waterfront every detail of the moving groups of mail-clad soldiers, the whispering Indians in their holiday purple and gold could be seen. Fray Raymundo breathed deep of the fresh night air, and noted with approval that armed forces were guarding the town on each of the roads leading to it, and at the shore, where cannon had been stationed to await the expected coming of the corsair that had visited Arica.

The priest was no believer in steel and cannon to inflict pain on men, but he briefly blessed the hardy soldiers with the gallant captains who made safe the port of Lima from the Lutheran pirate who had stripped the altar cloth from the church of Arica, to give, so the prisoners had declared at the trial, a suitable cloth to their own outlaw priest.

So great was the crowd at the doors of the Audencia that the good fray was able only by persistent effort and frequent requests to allow him to pass, to make his way to where he could command a view of the interior.

At the end of the room farthest from the door sat his Excellency, wearing his customary black cloak, and black velvet cap, with a white ruffle at the throat. On one side stood several of his captains, bronzed, swag Bering caballeros who were veterans of jungle warfare. At the other side were grouped the servants of the Inquisition, black-robed slaves of his Excellency. At a long table near these priests sat several scribes who were making note of the proceedings, for the records were to be sent to Spain with the tax of silver in the Santa Maria.

In the cleared space before the governor stood the prisoners, stripped of their arms and accouterments, under guard of halberdiers. They had been brought forth to listen to the conclusion of the trial. Even now, Fray Raymundo heard one of the clerks of the court reading the indictment against the prisoners.