Held Fast For England A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar (1779-83)   By: George Alfred Henty (1832-1902)

A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar (1779 83)

by

G. A. HENTY.

Contents

Preface. Chapter 1: "Something Like An Adventure." Chapter 2: A Great Change. Chapter 3: An Unexpected Journey. Chapter 4: Preparations For A Voyage. Chapter 5: A French Privateer. Chapter 6: The Rock Fortress. Chapter 7: Troubles Ahead. Chapter 8: The Siege Begins. Chapter 9: The Antelope. Chapter 10: A Cruise In A Privateer. Chapter 11: Cutting Out A Prize. Chapter 12: A Rich Prize. Chapter 13: Oranges And Lemons. Chapter 14: A Welcome Cargo. Chapter 15: Bob's Mission. Chapter 16: A Cruise In The Brilliant. Chapter 17: The Floating Batteries.

Illustrations

Bob and his Companions surprise the Burglars. View of Gibraltar from the Mediterranean. View of Gibraltar from the Bay. The Professor gets excited. The Rock and Bay of Gibraltar. 'The old gentleman is a brick,' exclaimed Gerald. Bob swims off to the Spanish Warship. They found the two Spanish mates playing at cards. They find Boxes of Silver in the Lazaretto. Bob receives a Commission from the Governor.

Preface.

The Siege of Gibraltar stands almost alone in the annals of warfare, alike in its duration and in the immense preparations made, by the united powers of France and Spain, for the capture of the fortress. A greater number of guns were employed than in any operation up to that time; although in number, and still more in calibre, the artillery then used have in, modern times, been thrown into the shade by the sieges of Sebastopol and Paris. Gibraltar differs, however, from these sieges, inasmuch as the defence was a successful one and, indeed, at no period of the investment was the fortress in any danger of capture, save by hunger.

At that period England was not, as she afterwards became, invincible by sea; and as we were engaged at the same time in war with France, Spain, Holland, and the United States, it was only occasionally that a fleet could be spared to bring succour and provisions to the beleaguered garrison. Scurvy was the direst enemy of the defenders. The art of preserving meat in tins had not been discovered, and they were forced to subsist almost entirely upon salt meat. During the first year of the siege the supply of fresh vegetables was scanty, in the extreme, and the garrison consequently suffered so severely, from scurvy, that at one time scarcely half of the men of the garrison were strong enough to carry a firelock, and perform their duty. The providential capture of a vessel laden with oranges and lemons checked the ravages of the scourge; and the successful efforts of the garrison to raise vegetables prevented it from ever, afterwards, getting a firm hold upon them.

In such a siege there was but little scope for deeds of individual gallantry. It was a long monotony of hardship and suffering, nobly endured, and terminating in one of the greatest triumphs ever recorded in the long roll of British victories.

G. A. Henty.

Chapter 1: "Something Like An Adventure."

Had Mr. Tulloch, the headmaster and proprietor of a large school at Putney, been asked which was the most troublesome boy in his school, he would probably have replied, without hesitation, "Bob Repton."

But, being a just and fair minded man, he would have hastened to qualify this remark, by adding: