The Bravest of the Brave

and the lieutenant had got the petty officers and men on whom they could rely ready for action, it was improbable that

to prevent any of the soldiers who were not in the plan from going on deck and giving the alarm. The muskets were not loaded, as on embarkation all ball cartridges had, as usual, been stowed away in the magazine; but they reckoned upon obtaining possession of this at the first rush. The ringleaders proceeded

nd the head of the hatchway leading to the decks where the sailors slept, and to allow only those to come on deck who had entered into the plot. The other three companies were already on deck. The arrangements were

in and taking them aft to the edge of the quarterdeck. There was a deep sensation of relief as one after another the midshipmen joined them, each

been surprised and taken without the slightest noise; as, on finding a lantern on one side of their heads and a pistol on the other, each had submitted without the slightest resistance. All these had been sent down to the hold b

ard forward, and at the same time a loud cheer arose, while from the after hatchway a dark body of men rushed up on to the deck and formed across it. Some m

ep across the deck, while at the same moment the light of the lanterns showed them the officers on the quarterdeck, and the four guns pointed threate

less to resist. We are prepared for you, and you are without ammunition. Throw down

s, mingled with shouts of-"We surr

our men forward, shoot any scoundrel instantly whom you find wit

ficers, you can unloose the noncommissioned officers; they will be able to point out to you the ringleaders in th

ile a strong guard of armed sailors was placed between decks to see that there was no renewal of insubordinate conduct. There was, however, no fear of this; the men were thoroughly cowed a

ders, to be hung, and the sentence was at once carried out. The regiment was formed in close order on deck unarmed and witnessed the execution of their comrades, who were hung up to the extremities of the main yard. The other prisoners were sentenced to two hundred lashes apiec

would be possible to remit the death sentence, confident that the prisoners and the whole of the regiment would recognize the leniency with which they had been treated, and would return to their duty with a firm and hearty determination to do all in their power to atone for their misconduct, and to show themselves true and worthy s

ew. Had any of these been hung, the matter must have been reported; but as none of the crew had absolutely taken part in the rising, however evident it was that they intended to do so, no sentences of death were passed. But a number

int of Portugal was made out. A few hours later the fleet was united; and the next day, the wind dying entirely away, Colonel Clifford proceeded

nder among the men as to how the affair had been discovered, none suspected him of having betrayed them, and believed that the officers

e; but your company was formed up close to where I was standing, and I thought I should have seen you if you had been there. I could not think what had become of you; but when the men came pouring down again without their arms, and I heard them cursing a

l not to let it be known publicly that it was I who warned him, for my life would be unbearable among the men if they knew it.

ou may be sure your conduct won't be overlooked; but at

ned with orders that Private Stilwell, of D Company, was to go back with the

et him make his way aft here to the gangway quietly, so that he won't be noticed. If any of the men happen to see him going off in the boat, they may supp

s were pleasant, his nose somewhat prominent, his eye lively and penetrating. He had laid aside the immense wig which, in accordance with the custom, he wore when abroad or at court in England; and Jack saw his hair, which was light brown and somewhat scanty. The admiral o

t lost a ship from the list of her navy. He says that the whole thing was so quickly done that he has not been able to learn the full particulars from you, and that he has abstai

ficient opportunity and a certainty of information to divulge the plot to the officers. He then related his

have shown promptness, courage, and fidelity. Y

orted himself by teaching, and gave me such education as he could, in hope that I too should enter the ministry. But my thoughts did not incline that way; and when he died,

s I should wish. I give you a discharge now from your regiment and appoint you ensign. You will at present form one of m

une the fleet sa

returned on b

to rig you up an undress uniform. You can get a full dress made at Lisbon. Not that you will be wanting to wear that much, for we have come out for rough work; still, when we ride triumphantly in

ite a pretty

nd as for these young gentlemen, I don't think they will be of much use for that sort of thing

ss of the young officers and volunteers who accompanied the general. These were all young men of good family; and having heard how Jack had saved the ship

he earl, he was able to pay his expenses at mess and to live on equal terms with th

I owe it to you many times over for having saved me that regiment, upon who

n Jack, and by the time the ship dropped ancho

er the bulwark and looked at the town standin

uese are but poor creatures. The Earl of Galway writes in his dispatches that the

whether we are go

e made a very slow voyage of it, he ought to have been here long ago. What a talk there will be! What with the archduke, and the Portuguese, and the Dutch, and the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, and the Earls of Galway and Peterborough, and probably every one of them with his own ideas and opinions, it will be hard to come to any arrangement. Besides there will be dispatches from the British court, and the court of the Ne

y bills on Lord Godolphin, with the condition that the lender should be given the contract for the supply of provisions and other requisites for the army. The day that the earl had carried out this arrangement he returned on board radiant. H

would give a thousand guineas out of my own pocket to see Godolphin's face when he reads my dispatch, and finds that he's got to honor bills for a hundred thousand pounds; it will be better than any comedy that ever was acted. How the pomp

ve not been at

l go on shore tomorrow and get everything that is wanted, and then the sooner we

Of an evening there were fetes and galas of all kinds, and as the earl always attended these, Jack and the other young officers

n was come to. Peterborough's orders were so vague that he could use his own discretion. He had, indeed, been recommended to prevail upon the Archduke Charle

ish court of the favorable disposition of the Catalans toward the Archduke Charles. This was in accordance with the counsel which the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt had been strenuously urg

land upon the coast of Spain and test the disposition of his Valencian and Catalan subjects. The reasons for Peterborough's fallin

dvices agree that six thousand men and twelve hundred horse are ready expecting our arrival with a general goodwill of all the people. The Portuguese have entirely refused to join in any design against Cadiz, and b

uese strenuously opposed this being done. Their conduct, indeed, at this time was very similar to that which they adopted a hundred years later toward the Duke of Wellington, throwing every conceivable obstacle in the English c

he 28th of July the Archduke Charles embarked with Lord Peterborough on board the Ranelagh, and an hour later the fleet put to sea.

gallant defense of the fortress, were to be embarked, and two of the newly raised corps Lord Peterborough had brought out from England were to take their plac

favor to

is tha

advised me about warning the officers of the mutiny, shoul

his colonel, but finding that he could not read or write, and that he would be out of place among the officers, I could not do it; but I

t Lisbon, and who had rejoiced most heartily at his promotion, that Lord Peterborough

t should be at once transferred into one of the regiments coming on board. The sergeant was delighte

s acknowledged as and received the honor due to the King of Spain. There was but little delay-Lord Peterborough's energy hurried eve

on the Valencian coast. On the other side of the roadstead stood the castle and village of Denia. The expedition was r

isclaiming any idea of aggrandizement on the part of Great Britain or her allies, or any intention

the government of foreigners, and from the slavery to which yo

ral Basset y Ramos, an active officer who was a Valencian by birth. The people rapidly assem

f to the fleet, for which, however, Peterbor

wo bomb vessels crossed the bay and threatened the castle. This, although a magnificent pile of building, was but weakly fortified, and after a few shots had been fired it surrendered, and General Ramos with

ime, by securely seating Charles III upon the Spanish throne. Madrid was distant but fifty leagues from Altea Bay. Requena was the only town of strength that lay in the w

y without shedding a drop of blood, Charles might have been proclaimed king in the capital of Spain. The plan was, of course, not without danger. Marshal Tesse, with an overwhelming force, would threaten the left of the advancing army, and the garrisons of the no

w and timid, and was controlled by the advice of his even slower and more cautious German advisers, and neither argument nor entreaty on the part of Peterborough could suffice to move him. The earl was in despair at so brilliant an opport

bable that a successful attempt could be made upon so strongly fortified a city, and it was determined that if upon inspection the chances