Three Short Stories From 'THE CAPTAIN' Volume XXVII

Excerpt......"WE'RE here at last, Kirke, and methinks none too soon," exclaimed Captain Leake, of His Majesty's frigate Dartmouth, as he pointed to the beleaguered city of Londonderry. "Now your part of the business is to commence." Colonel Percy ... Read more

Excerpt......"WE'RE here at last, Kirke, and methinks none too soon," exclaimed Captain Leake, of His Majesty's frigate Dartmouth, as he pointed to the beleaguered city of Londonderry. "Now your part of the business is to commence." Colonel Percy Kirke, the defender of Tangiers, the man who had exercised such diabolical cruelty towards the miserable peasants who had taken up arms on behalf of the rebel Monmouth, was now about to succour the Ulstermen, who were fighting for their lives and liberties against King James—the colonel's former sovereign and benefactor. "'Tis not my business to throw troops against yonder entrenchments, Leake," he replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Until you can force the enemy's defences my men will remain on board the transports. Those rogues have held out for six weeks, and they can well do so for another month." "Does it seem so?" demanded Leake, indicating the smoke-enshrouded buildings. "However, you have your orders even as I have, and since you neglect to comply with them I must needs act alone." So saying the gallant sea-captain turned on his heel and made his way to the poop, whence he could command a better view of the scene of hostilities. It was in April of the year 1689 that the combined French and Irish forces began what seemed to be a comparatively easy task—the reduction of Londonderry. A handful of sturdy Ulstermen—of English and Scottish descent—had bid defiance to the army of the deposed King James, and, in spite of many a hard-pushed assault, had kept the besiegers at bay. Then famine was made to do the work that the sword had failed to accomplish, and in their anxiety the harassed defenders appealed to King William for aid. Less