Sir Cloudesley Shovel (1650?-1707) was the cabin boy of this story. He went to sea when quite young, and by his ability and courage won constant promotion, finally becoming admiral. In the sea fight between the English and French at La Hogue in 1692 (see Browning's "Hervé Riel," page 307) Shovel's was the first English ship to break through the enemy's line.
It was a gray autumn evening more than two hundred
years ago, in the reign of King Charles II. There was
the moan of a rising storm over the North Sea, and the
lowering sky, the flying streamers of cloud, and the great
leaden waves, heaving sullenly far as the eye could reach,5
warned even the bravest sailor that it was a day to keep
safe in port. For what ship could live in such a sea as
that?
Yet the English fleet, far from keeping in port, was
beating seaward against wind and wave. On the quarter deck 10
of the flagship stood Admiral Sir John Narborough—the
first seaman in England—who thirty-five years before
had been a cabin boy. His daring and dauntless courage
had earned for him the name of "Gunpowder Jack,"
and that dark autumn day was to test how well the bold
name fitted him. But he had been tried many a time, and
tempest and sea and the fire of the enemy could not make 5
his stout heart quail.
Suddenly his grave face lighted up and his stern gray
eyes sparkled with joy. Far away along the eastern sky he
saw a bristling line of tall masts with a flag which he knew
well floating over them. The shadow of a smile of scorn 10
changed for a moment the expression of the admiral's
face. For a moment only. There was no time for smiles.
There was mighty work to be done. The floating flag told
that the Dutch were coming; and that day must see the
enemy of England swept from the sea or England herself 15
forget her ancient glory.
Next to an old friend the British sailor loves an old
enemy; and as soon as the men saw the flag of Holland
they were eager for battle. On came the enemy in grim
silence until their nearest vessels were within musket 20
range of the English. Then, all at once, bang! went the
whole broadside from the admiral's vessel, and with a
crash that seemed to echo to the sky the deadly struggle
began.
The English blood was soon up and the only thought 25
was to fight to the last. Amid the blinding smoke, the reek
of gunpowder, the thunder of cannon, and the grinding
tear of the shot through the strong timbers, the sailors did
noble duty that day in the dogged faith that they would
"give as good as they got, anyhow!" 30
Aided by a sudden change of the wind, the Dutch vessels
closed around the flagship with a perfect circle of fire.
Two guns were disabled, the main and mizzen masts had
been shot away, and a long line of wounded and dying men
were lying among the shattered rigging. The thunder from
the guns on the right showed that there the English were
getting the best of it; but even if help should come to the 5
admiral from that quarter, it might come too late.
But how should help be summoned? No signal could
be seen in that smoke, and as for lowering a boat, the great
waves that rushed roaring up the battered sides of the flagship
were a sufficient warning against that. 10
"Lads," cried Sir John, going forward with a scrap of
paper in his hand, "this order must go at once to Captain
Hardy, and the only way is for one of you to swim with it.
Fifty guineas to anyone that will volunteer!"
Such a request, in the face of that boiling sea and that 15
hailstorm of shot, was little better than a sentence of
death; yet before the words were well out of his mouth,
half the crew stepped forward. Before any of them could
speak, however, a shrill, childish voice made itself heard:
"Let me go, your honor!" 20
And there stood a ragged little cabin boy, bareheaded
and barefooted, touching his forelock to Sir John, just as
Sir John had touched his to the admiral, five and thirty
years ago. The boy had evidently been in the thick of the
fight. His hands were grimed with powder and there 25
were splashes of blood upon his tattered clothing. But
through his bright, fearless blue eyes there shone a spirit
worth that of ten ordinary men.
"You, my boy? Why, you can never swim so far in
this sea, and with all that shot flying about." 30
"Can't I?" echoed the boy indignantly. "I've done
more than that before now; and, as for the shot, I don't
care that for it. I'm not going to sit still while everybody
else is fighting the Dutch. Flog me at the gangway
to-morrow, if you like, your honor, but let me do this job
to-day."
The old warrior's stern eyes glistened as if tears were 5
forcing their way. He grasped the thin little hand in his
own.
"You're a chip of the old block," he growled, "and no
mistake! Off with you, then; and may God keep you
safe!" 10
The words were hardly spoken when the boy, thrusting
the dispatch into his mouth, plunged headlong into the
roaring sea. And then for fifteen fierce minutes all was
one scene of fire and tumult and slaughter.
Many a time in that terrible quarter of an hour did the 15
weary men strain their bloodshot eyes, and strain them in
vain, to catch a glimpse of English colors breaking through
the smoke. "If help is to come at all, it must come soon,"
said more than one worn-out sailor.
Suddenly the admiral's grim face brightened with a 20
light never seen there before, and he drew a long, deep
breath like one shaking off a heavy burden. At the same
moment there broke out a fresh thunder of guns on the
right, and through the smoke burst the flag of England,
sweeping all before it like mists scattered by the rising sun. 25
The battle was won, and the few Dutch vessels that had
escaped were disappearing in the dimness of night when the
admiral and his remaining officers gathered on the quarter-deck
to do honor to the little hero. He stood in their
presence with a boyish smile upon his face; but when Sir 30
John held out a well-filled purse, the boy turned his head
proudly away.
"Your honor, I did not do this job for money," said he
firmly. "I did it for the sake of the flag and because you
have been good to me. If you say you are satisfied, that
is all I want."
The listening crew, forgetting all restraint, broke into a5
deafening cheer; and the admiral's iron face softened
strangely as he laid his blackened hand on the bare white
shoulder: "God bless you, my brave lad! I shall live to
see you on a quarter-deck of your own yet."
Thirty years later, when Queen Anne's greatest admiral, 10
Sir Cloudesley Shovel, sailed up the Thames in triumph,
the first to greet him as he stepped ashore was an old white-haired
man who still retained traces of the fire and energy
that had once distinguished "Gunpowder Jack."
"Welcome home, my lad!" said he, heartily. "I said 15
I'd live to see you on a quarter-deck of your own; and,
thank God, I have lived to see you there!"
1. What other sea fights have you read about? Make a list of sea books and sea battles with which you are acquainted.
2. What is the high point of interest in this story? What happened? How is the story related to Browning's "Hervé Riel"?
3. In modern warfare, how do the ships communicate with each other? Contrast briefly naval warfare in Queen Anne's time (the early seventeen hundreds) with naval warfare of to-day as to: (a) propulsion of ships; (b) armor; (c) guns; (d) range of fighting.
4. What modern machines operate now in water fighting? Describe one of these.
This poem is based on an actual occurrence. A lad, nursed back to life, rejoins the hard-pressed Southern troops and is killed in the first battle. Ticknor (1822-1874) was a Georgian. By profession a physician, his love of poetry led to the production of some of the finest lyrics of the South. Among these the best known are "Little Giffen" and "The Virginians of the Valley."
1. In what war did the incidents described occur? When and between whom did this war take place? Name some of its great battles; its great commanders.
2 On which side was Little Giffen? Prove your answer from the poem. Who was Johnston, line 8, page 321? How old was Giffen? How much service had he seen?
3. Explain the meaning of: Utter Lazarus (see Luke xvi: 20); specter; gangrene; line 14, page 320; line 15, page 321.
4. Name some other writers of the South.
(Used by permission of the Neale Publishing Company.)
Marco Bozzaris (1790-1823) was born among the mountains of Suli, in Epirus, a province of Greece. He had early military training in the French service; but at the age of thirty he undertook to battle against the Turks, who were holding the Greeks in heavy subjection. At the head of his countrymen, the Suliotes, he won many battles; but finally, through treachery, he and his forces were besieged. To relieve the siege, Bozzaris led his troops against the enemy in a night attack and won a complete victory, but the hero fell, dying in the hour of triumph.
1. This is a stirring selection to read aloud. What makes it so? Read the lines that you like best.
2. What has the first stanza on page 324 to do with the poem?
3. Explain: Suliote; Moslem; Platæa; lines 25-27, page 324.
Santiago, Cuba, was the center of some of the heaviest fighting of the Spanish-American War. The Spanish fleet had taken refuge from the American fleet in Santiago Harbor. The Spanish army had been concentrated there to protect their fleet. The American army, under the general command of Major General Shafter, invested the city. The following extract describes picturesquely the fighting three days before the Spanish fleet put to sea.
On June 30th the general order came to move forward
and every man felt that the final test of skill at arms
would soon come. The cavalry division of six regiments,
camped in its tracks at midnight on El Pozo Hill, awoke
next morning to find itself in support of Grimes' Battery,5
which was to open fire here on the left.
The morning of July 1st was ideally beautiful, the sky
was cloudless and the air soft and balmy, peace seemed to
reign supreme, great palms towered here and there above
the low jungle. It was a picture of a peaceful valley. 10
There was a feeling that we had secretly invaded the Holy
Land. The hush seemed to pervade all nature as though
she held her bated breath in anticipation of the carnage.
Captain Capron's field guns opened fire upon the southern
field at El Caney and the hill resounded with echoes. 15
Then followed the rattle of the musketry of the attacking
invaders. The firing in our front burst forth and the
battle was on.
The artillery duel began and in company with foreign
military attachés and correspondents we all sat watching
the effect of the shots as men witness any friendly athletic
contest, eagerly trying to locate the enemy's smokeless
batteries. A force of insurgents near the old Sugar Mill
applauded at the explosion of each firing charge, apparently 5
caring for little except the noise.
Now and then a slug of iron fell among the surrounding
bushes or buried itself deep in the ground near us. Finally
a projectile from an unseen Spanish gun disabled a Hotchkiss
piece, wounded two cavalrymen, and smashed into the 10
old Sugar Mill in our rear, whereupon the terrorized insurgents
fled and were not seen again near the firing line until
the battle was over.
When the Tenth Cavalry arrived at the crossing of San
Juan River our observation balloon had become lodged in 15
the treetops above and the enemy had just begun to make
a target of it. A converging fire upon all the works within
range opened upon us that was terrible in its effect. Our
mounted officers dismounted and the men stripped off at
the roadside everything possible and prepared for business. 20
We were posted for a time in the bed of the stream
directly under the balloon, and stood in the water to our
waists awaiting orders to deploy. Standing there under
that galling fire of exploding shrapnel and deadly Mauser
bullets the minutes seemed like hours. General Wheeler 25
and a part of his staff stood mounted a few minutes in the
middle of the stream. Just as I raised my hand to salute
in moving up the stream to post the leading squadron of
my regiment, a piece of bursting shell struck between his
horse's feet and covered us both with water. 30
Pursuant to orders, with myself as guide, the second
squadron of the Tenth forced its way through wire fence
and almost impenetrable thicket to its position. The regiment
was soon deployed as skirmishers in an opening
across the river to the right of the road and, our line being
partly visible from the enemy's position, their fire was
turned upon us and we had to lie down in the grass a few 5
minutes for safety. Two officers of the regiment were
wounded; here and there were frequent calls for the surgeon,
but no order came to move forward. Whatever may have
been the intention of the commanding general as to the
part to be played by the cavalry division on that day, the 10
officers present were not long in deciding the part their
command should play, and the advance began.
White regiments, black regiments, regulars and rough
riders, representing the young manhood of the North and
South, fought shoulder to shoulder unmindful of race or 15
color, unmindful of whether commanded by an ex-Confederate
or not, and mindful only of their common duty as
Americans.
Through streams, tall grass, tropical undergrowth, under
barbed-wire fences and over wire entanglements, regardless 20
of casualties, up the hill to the right this gallant advance
was made. As we appeared on the crest we found the
Spaniards retreating only to take up a new position farther
on, spitefully firing as they retired and only yielding their
ground inch by inch. 25
Our troopers halted and lay down for a moment to get
a breath and in the face of continued volleys soon formed
for attack on the blockhouses and intrenchments on the
second hill. This attack was supported by troops including
some of the Tenth who had originally moved to the left 30
toward this second hill and had worked their way in groups,
slipping through the tall grass and bushes, crawling when
casualties came too often, courageously facing a sleet of
bullets, and now hugging the steep southern declivity
ready to spring forward the few remaining yards into the
teeth of the enemy. The fire from the Spanish position
had doubled in intensity until the popping of their rifles5
made a continuous roar. There was a moment's lull and
our line moved forward to the charge across the valley
separating the two hills. Once begun it continued dauntless
in its steady, dogged, persistent advance until like a
mighty resistless torrent it dashed triumphant over the 10
crest of the hill, and firing a final volley at the vanishing
foe, planted the regimental colors on the enemy's breastworks
and the Stars and Stripes over the blockhouse on
San Juan Hill to stay.
This was a time for rejoicing. It was glorious. 15
—From an address given in
Chicago, November 27, 1898.
1. When was the Spanish-American War fought? Why? What were its greatest battles? Tell how each of the following figured in this war: Dewey, Sampson, Schley, Shafter, Wheeler, Roosevelt.
2. Imagine yourself in Lieutenant Pershing's place on the field of battle. Describe the engagement.
3. Report briefly from notes taken on outside reading on the battle of Manila Bay, or the cruise of the Oregon, or the destruction of the Spanish fleet off Santiago.
4. General John Joseph Pershing was born in Missouri, September 13, 1860. He was graduated from the West Point Military Academy; served in a number of Indian campaigns, was a military instructor; served with the Tenth Cavalry in the Cuban campaign, 1898, and in the Philippines, 1899-1903; commanded the U. S. troops in pursuit of the bandit Villa in Mexico in 1916; was in command of the American Expeditionary Forces in the World War. If possible, read an account of Pershing's early life and report on it in class.
This is part of a letter home from Private Dwyer, Co. A, 121st Engineers, A. E. F. It is used here by permission of The Springfield (Mass) Republican.
Doctor van Dyke (1852-) is a noted clergyman, writer, and educator. He has long been connected with Princeton University. From 1913-1917, during the trying period of the World War, he was United States minister to Holland. His many visits to Europe have served only to increase his devotion to his native land. The following poem is a fine expression of the genuine homesickness of the traveled scholar for his own country. You should read it and re-read it until it has sung itself into your memory.
(From The Poems of Henry van Dyke. Copyright, 1920, by Charles Scribner's Sons.)
1. How many places are mentioned by name? Tell what and where each is.
2. What does the author admire in the Old World? What does he mean by his distinction between London and Paris? List the things the author misses in the Old World. How is America contrasted with Europe? Explain line 15, page 334.
3. Report on other writings of Dr. van Dyke. Which of his outdoor books do you know?
De Crèvecœur (1731-1813) was a French writer who emigrated to America at the age of twenty-three. He settled on a farm near the City of New York, and came to know many of the great men of his day. For instance, he had the friendship of Washington and Franklin. France appointed him as her consul at New York. In 1782 Crèvecœur published his Letters of an American Farmer. As this extract shows, it is almost prophetic in its insight into the future.
What then is the American, this new man? He is
either a European, or the descendant of a European,
hence that strange mixture of blood which you will find
in no other country. I could point out to you a family
whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was 5
Dutch, whose son married a French woman, and whose
present four sons have now four wives of different nations.
An American is he who, leaving behind him all his ancient
prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the
new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he 10
obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American
by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater.
Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race
of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause
great changes in the world. Americans are the western 15
pilgrims, who are carrying along with them that great
mass of arts, sciences, vigor, and industry which began
long since in the East; they will finish the great circle.
The Americans were once scattered all over Europe;
in America they are incorporated into one of the finest
systems of population which has ever appeared, and which
will hereafter become distinct by the power of the different
climates they inhabit. The American ought therefore to
love his country much better than that wherein either he 5
or his forefathers were born. Here the rewards of his
industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor;
his labor is founded on the basis of nature, self-interest.
Can it want a stronger allurement?
Women and children, who before in vain demanded a 10
morsel of bread, now gladly help their men folk to clear those
fields whence exuberant crops are to arise to feed and to
clothe them all, without any part being claimed either
by a despotic prince, a rich abbot, or a mighty lord.
Religion demands but little of the American: a small 15
voluntary salary to the minister, and gratitude to God.
Can he refuse these?
The American is a new man, who acts upon new
principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas and form
new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, 20
penury, and useless labor, he has passed to toils of
a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence.—This
is an American.
—Letters of an American Farmer.
1. What is Crèvecœur's definition of an American? How would you define an American to-day?
2. Explain lines 15-18, on page 336. What does the last clause of the sentence mean?
3. What reasons does the author give for a great love of country on the part of Americans? Do these reasons still hold good?
4. Explain: Alma Mater, posterity, allurement, voluntary, servile, penury, subsistence.
Read this selection entirely through before stopping to inquire the meaning of puzzling passages. Then re-read it for the references not previously clear to you. A final reading should enable you to get the fullness of the author's meaning. On your first reading you should be able to determine generally when the events took place, where, and what happened.