hard cash-第30章

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ers　the　crew。　We　cracked　on　to　get　out　of　the　narrows；　and　now　we　have　shortened　sail　to　fight　this　blackguard；　and　teach　him　to　molest　a　British　ship。　I　promise；　in　the　Company's　name；　twenty　pounds　prize…money　to　every　man　before　the　mast　if　we　beat　him　off　or　out…manoeuvre　him；　thirty　if　we　sink　him；　and　forty　if　we　tow　him　astern　into　a　friendly　port。　Eight　guns　are　clear　below；　three　on　the　weather　side；　five　on　the　lee；　for；　if　he　knows　his　business；　he　will　come　up　on　the　lee　quarter：　if　he　doesn't　that　is　no　fault　of　yours　nor　mine。　The　muskets　are　all　loaded；　the　cutlasses　ground　like　razors〃

〃Hurrah！〃

〃We　have　got　women　to　defend〃

〃Hurrah！〃

〃A　good　ship　under　our　feet；　the　God　of　justice　overhead；　British　hearts　in　our　bosoms；　and　British　colours　flyingrun　'em　up！over　our　heads。〃　（The　ship's　colours　flew　up　to　the　fore；　and　the　Union　Jack　to　the　mizen　peak。）　〃Now；　lads；　I　mean　to　fight　this　ship　while　a　plank　of　her　（stamping　on　the　deck）　swims　beneath　my　foot；　andwhat　do　you　say？〃

The　reply　was　a　fierce　〃hurrah！〃　from　a　hundred　throats；　so　loud；　so　deep；　so　full　of　volume；　it　made　the　ship　vibrate；　and　rang　in　the　creeping…on　pirate's　ears。　Fierce；　but　cunning；　he　saw　mischief　in　those　shortened　sails；　and　that　Union　Jack；　the　terror　of　his　tribe；　rising　to　a　British　cheer；　he　lowered　his　mainsail；　and　crawled　up　on　the　weather　quarter。　Arrived　within　a　cable's　length；　he　double…reef'ed　his　foresail　to　reduce　his　rate　of　sailing　nearly　to　that　of　the　ship；　and　the　next　moment　a　tongue　of　flame；　and　then　a　gush　of　smoke；　issued　from　his　lee　bow；　and　the　ball　flew　screaming　like　a　seagull　over　the　_Agra's_　mizen　top。　He　then　put　his　helm　up；　and　fired　his　other　bow…chaser；　and　sent　the　shot　hissing　and　skipping　on　the　water　past　the　ship。　This　prologue　made　the　novices　wince。　Bayliss　wanted　to　reply　with　a　carronade；　but　Dodd　forbade　him　sternly；　saying；　〃If　we　keep　him　aloof　we　are　done　for。〃

The　pirate　drew　nearer；　and　fired　both　guns　in　succession；　hulled　the　_Agra_　amidships；　and　sent　an　eighteen…pound　ball　through　her　foresail。　Most　of　the　faces　were　pale　on　the　quarter…deck；　it　was　very　trying　to　be　shot　at；　and　hit；　and　make　no　return。　The　next　double　discharge　sent　one　shot　smash　through　the　stern　cabin　window；　and　splintered　the　bulwark　with　another；　wounding　a　seaman　slightly。

〃LIE　DOWN　FORWARD！〃　shouted　Dodd。　〃Bayliss；　give　him　a　shot。〃

The　carronade　was　fired　with　a　tremendous　report　but　no　visible　effect。　The　pirate　crept　nearer；　steering　in　and　out　like　a　snake　to　avoid　the　carronades；　and　firing　those　two　heavy　guns　alternately　into　the　devoted　ship。　He　hulled　the　_Agra_　now　nearly　every　shot。

The　two　available　carronades　replied　noisily；　and　jumped　as　usual；　they　sent　one　thirty…two　pound　shot　clean　through　the　schooner's　deck　and　side；　but　that　was　literally　all　they　did　worth　speaking　of。

〃Curse　them！〃　cried　Dodd；　〃load　them　with　grape！　they　are　not　to　be　trusted　with　ball。　And　all　my　eighteen…pounders　dumb！　The　coward　won't　come　alongside　and　give　them　a　chance。〃

At　the　next　discharge　the　pirate　chipped　the　mizen　mast；　and　knocked　a　sailor　into　dead　pieces　on　the　forecastle。　Dodd　put　his　helm　down　ere　the　smoke　cleared；　and　got　three　carronades　to　bear；　heavily　laden　with　grape。　Several　pirates　fell；　dead　or　wounded；　on　the　crowded　deck；　and　some　holes　appeared　in　the　foresail；　this　one　interchange　was　quite　in　favour　of　the　ship。

But　the　lesson　made　the　enemy　more　cautious；　he　crept　nearer；　but　steered　so　adroitly；　now　right　astern；　now　on　the　quarter；　that　the　ship　could　seldom　bring　more　than　one　carronade　to　bear；　while　he　raked　her　fore　and　aft　with　grape　and　ball。

In　this　alarming　situation；　Dodd　kept　as　many　of　the　men　below　as　possible；　but；　for　all　he　could　do；　four　were　killed　and　seven　wounded。

Fullalove's　worth　came　too　true：　it　was　the　swordfish　and　the　whale：　it　was　a　fight　of　hammer　and　anvil；　one　hit；　the　other　made　a　noise。　Cautious　and　cruel；　the　pirate　hung　on　the　poor　hulking　creature's　quarters　and　raked　her　at　point…blank　distance。　He　made　her　pass　a　bitter　time。　And　her　captain！　To　see　the　splintering　hull；　the　parting　shrouds；　the　shivered　gear；　and　hear　the　shrieks　and　groans　of　his　wounded；　and　he　unable　to　reply　in　kind！　The　sweat　of　agony　poured　down　his　face。　Oh；　if　he　could　but　reach　the　open　sea；　and　square　his　yards；　and　make　a　long　chase　of　it；　perhaps　fall　in　with　aid。　Wincing　under　each　heavy　blow；　he　crept　doggedly；　patiently　on　towards　that　one　visible　hope。

At　last；　when　the　ship　was　choved　with　shot；　and　peppered　with　grape；　the　channel　opened；　in　five　minutes　more　he　could　put　her　dead　before　the　wind。

No！　The　pirate；　on　whose　side　luck　had　been　from　the　first；　got　half　a　broadside　to　bear　at　long　musket…shot；　killed　a　midshipman　by　Dodd's　side；　cut　away　two　of　the　_Agra_'s　mizen　shrouds；　wounded　the　gaff；　and　cut　the　jib…stay。　Down　fell　that　powerful　sail　into　the　water；　and　dragged　across　the　ship's　forefoot；　stopping　her　way　to　the　open　sea　she　panted　for。　The　mates　groaned；　the　crew　cheered　stoutly；　as　British　tars　do　in　any　great　disaster：　the　pirates　yelled　with　ferocious　triumph；　like　the　devils　they　looked。

But　most　human　events；　even　calamities；　have　two　sides。　The　_Agra_　being　brought　almost　to　a　standstill；　the　pirate　forged　ahead　against　his　will；　and　the　combat　took　a　new　and　terrible　form。　The　elephant　gun　popped　and　the　rifle　cracked　in　the　_Agra's_　mizen　top；　and　the　man　at　the　pirate's　helm　jumped　into　the　air　and　fell　dead：　both　Theorists　claimed　him。　Then　the　three　carronades　peppered　him　hotly；　and　he　hurled　an　iron　shower　back　with　fatal　effect。　Then　at　last　the　long　eighteen…pounders　on　the　gun…deck　got　a　word　in。　The　old　Niler　was　not　the　man　to　miss　a　vessel　alongside　in　a　quiet　sea：　he　sent　two　round　shot　clean　through　him；　the　third　splintered　his　bulwark　and　swept　across　his　deck。

〃His　mastsfire　at　his　masts！〃　roared　Dodd　to　Monk；　through　his　trumpet。　He　then　got　the　jib　clear；　and　made　what　sail　he　could　without　taking　all　the　hands　from　the　guns。

This　kept　the　vessels　nearly　alongside　a　few　minutes；　and　the　fight　was　hot　as　fire。　The　pirate　now　for　the　first　time　hoisted　his　flag。　It　was　black　as　ink。　His　crew　yelled　as　it　rose：　the　Britons；　instead　of　quailing；　cheered　with　fierce　derision；　the　pirate's　wild　crew　of　yellow　Malays；　black　chinless　Papuans；　and　bronzed　Portuguese；　served　their　side　guns；　twelve…pounders；　well；　and　with　ferocious　cries。　The　white　Britons；　drunk　with　battle　now；　naked　to　the　waist；　grimed　with　powder；　and　spotted　like　leopards　with　blood；　their　and　their　mates'；　replied　with　loud　undaunted　cheers　and　a　deadly　hail　of　grape　from　the　quarter…deck；　while　the　master…gunner　and　his　mates；　loading　with　a　rapidity　the　mixed　races　opposed　could　not　rival；　hulled　the　schooner　well　between　wind　and　water；　and　then　fired　chain…shot　at　her　masts；　as　ordered；　and　began　to　play　the　mischief　with　her　shrouds　and　rigging。　Meantime；　Fullalove　and　Kenealy；　aided　by　Vespasian；　who　loaded；　were　quietly　butchering　the　pirate　crew　two　a　minute；　and　hoped　to　settle　the　question　they　were　fighting　for：　smooth　bore　_v。_　rifle；　but　unluckily　neither　fired　once　without　killing；　so　〃there　was　nothing　proven。〃

The　pirate；　bold　as　he　was；　got　sick　of　fair　fighting　first。　He　hoisted　his　mainsail　and　threw　rapidly　ahead；　with　a　slight　bearing　to　windward；　and　dismounted　a　carronade　and　stove　in　the　ship's　quarter…boat；　by　way　of　a　parting　kick。

The　men　hurled　a　contemptuous　cheer　after　him；　they　thought　they　had　beaten　him　off。　But　Dodd　knew　better。　He　was　but　retiring　a　little　way　to　make　a　more　deadly　attack　than　ever：　he　would　soon　wear；　and　cross　the　_Agra's_　defenceless　bows；　to　rake　her　fore　and　aft　at　pistol…shot　distance；　or　grapple；　and　board　the　enfeebled　ship；　two　hundred　strong。

Dodd　flew　to　the　helm；　and　with　his　own　hands　put　it　hard　a…weather；　to　give　the　deck…guns　one　more　chance；　the　last；　of　sinking　or　disabling　the　Destroyer。　As　the　ship　obeyed；　and　a　deck…gun　bellowed　below　him；　he　saw　a　vessel　running　out　from　Long　Island；　and　coming　swiftly　up　on　his　lee　quarter。

It　was　a　schooner。　Was　she　coming　to　his　aid？

Horror！　A　black　flag　floated　from　her　foremast　head。

While　Dodd's　eyes　were　staring　almost　out　of　his　head　at　this　deathblow　to　hope；　Monk　fired　again；　and　just　then　a　pale　face　came　close　to　Dodd's；　and　a　solemn　voice　whispered　in　his　ear：　〃Our　ammunition　is　nearly　done！〃

Dodd　seized　Sharpe's　hand　convulsively；　and　pointed　to　the　pirate's　consort　coming　up　to　finish　them；　and　said；　with　the　calm　of　a　brave　man's　despair；　〃Cutlasses！　and　die　hard！〃

At　that　moment　the　master…gunner　fired　his　last　gun。　It　sent　a　chain…shot　on　board　the　retiring　pirate；　took　off　a　Portuguese　head　and　spun　it　clean　into　the　sea　ever　so　far　to　windward；　and　cut　the　schooner's　foremast　so　nearly　through　that　it　trembled　and　nodded；　and　presently　snapped　with　a　loud　crack；　and　came　down　like　a　broken　tree；　with　the　yard　and　sail；　the　latter　overlapping　the　deck　and　burying　itself；　black　flag　and　all；　in　the　sea；　and　there；　in　one　moment；　lay　the　Destroyer　buffeting　and　wrigglinglike　a　heron　on　the　water　with　his　long　wings　brokenan　utter　cripple。

The　victorious　crew　raised　a　stunning　cheer。

〃Silence！〃　roared　Dodd；　with　his　trumpet。　〃All　hands　make　sail！〃

He　set　his　courses；　bent　a　new　jib；　and　stood　out　to　windward　close　hauled；　in　hopes　to　make　a　good　offing；　and　then　put　his　ship　dead　before　the　wind；　which　was　now　rising　to　a　stiff　breeze。　In　doing　this　he　crossed　the　crippled　pirate's　bows；　within　eighty　yards；　and　sore　was　the　temptation　to　rake　him；　but　his　ammunition　being　short；　and　his　danger　being　imminent　from　the　other　pirate；　he　had　the　self…command　to　resist　the　great　temptation。

He　hailed　the　mizen　top：　〃Can　you　two　hinder　them　from　firing　that　gun？〃

〃I　rather　think　we　can；〃　said　Fullalove；　〃eh；　Colonel？〃　and　he　tapped　his　long　rifle。

The　ship　no　sooner　crossed　the　schooner's　bows*　than　a　Malay　ran　forward　with　a　linstock。　Pop　went　the　colonel's　ready　carbine；　and　the　Malay　fell　over　dead；　and　the　linstock　flew　out　of　his　hand。　A　tall　Portuguese；　with　a　movement　of　rage；　snatched　it　up　and　darted　to　the　gun：　the　Yankee　rifle　cracked；　but　a　moment　too　late。　Bang！　went　the　pirate's　bow…chaser；　and　crashed　into　the　_Agra's_　side；　and　passed　nearly　through　her。

*Being　disabled；　the　schooner's　head　had　come　round　to　windward；　though　she　was　drifting　to　leeward。

〃Ye　missed　him！　Ye　missed　him！〃　cried　the　rival　theorist　joyfully。　He　was　mistaken：　the　smoke　cleared；　and　there　was　the　pirate　captain　leaning　wounded　against　the　mainmast　with　a　Yankee　bullet　in　his　shoulder；　and　his　crew　uttering　yells　of　dismay　and　vengeance。　They　jumped；　and　raged；　and　brandished　their　knives；　and　made　horrid　gesticulations　of　revenge；　and　the　white　eyeballs　of　the　Malays　and　Papuans　glittered　fiendishly；　and　the　wounded　captain　raised　his　sound　arm　and　had　a　signal　hoisted　to　his　consort；　and　she　bore　up　in　chase；　and　jamming　her　fore　lateen　flat　as　a　board；　lay　far　nearer　the　wind　than　the　_Agra_　could；　and　sailed　three　feet　to　her　two　besides。　On　this　superiority　being　made　clear；　the　situation　of　the　merchant　vessel；　though　not　so　utterly　desperate　as　befo