Page 102 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

102 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

ii
out in sections and which lie badly needed for local trading
purposes. A site near the shore was procured without diffi­
culty for the projected work of reconstruction, and soon a
large gang of men were employed, under the carpenter’s
supervision, upon the business. As evening approached
the men withdrew to the vicinity of the house allotted for
the accommodation of the goods. There, revelling in the
unwonted freedom of shore liberty, they engaged in innocent
recreations. One had brought a treble viol and another a
cornet, and soon the white walls of Mocha resounded to the
strange sounds of English music. Middleton and the higher
officials were either of the company or in its immediate
vicinity. There was a general disposition to take relaxa­
tion after the heat of the day and to forget for a time the
difficulties of the enterprise which had before loomed so
menacingly upon the horizon.
Bitterly had the Englishmen cause to regret their too
confiding disposition. Without a moment’s warning they
were attacked by a large body of armed men, who had
quietly surrounded them as they were amusing themselves.
Effective resistance was out of the question. Most of the
: men were quite unarmed, and the small number who had
weapons were not in a position to use them to advantage.
Nevertheless, a few did make a show of opposition, paying
with their lives for their temerity. In a very short time the
whole party were either captives or dead men. The sur­
■
vivors numbered fifty-nine, and included, besides Middleton,
Laurence Femell, the chief factor, and some'other members
of the merchant staff.
Elated at the success of his plans Rejib Aga decided to
follow it up by an attack on the ships before they could
hear of the disaster which had overwhelmed their com-

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