hard cash-第31章

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rity　being　made　clear；　the　situation　of　the　merchant　vessel；　though　not　so　utterly　desperate　as　before　Monk　fired　his　lucky　shot；　became　pitiable　enough。　If　she　ran　before　the　wind；　the　fresh　pirate　would　cut　her　off：　if　she　lay　to　windward；　she　might　postpone　the　inevitable　and　fatal　collision　with　a　foe　as　strong　as　that　she　had　only　escaped　by　a　rare　piece　of　luck；　but　this　would　give　the　crippled　pirate　time　to　refit　and　unite　to　destroy　her。　Add　to　this　the　failing　ammunition　and　the　thinned　crew！

Dodd　cast　his　eyes　all　round　the　horizon　for　help。

The　sea　was　blank。

The　bright　sun　was　hidden　now；　drops　of　rain　fell；　and　the　wind　was　beginning　to　sing；　and　the　sea　to　rise　a　little。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　he；　〃let　us　kneel　down　and　pray　for　wisdom；　in　this　sore　strait。〃

He　and　his　officers　kneeled　on　the　quarter…deck。　When　they　rose；　Dodd　stood　rapt　about　a　minute：　his　great　thoughtful　eye　saw　no　more　the　enemy；　the　sea；　nor　anything　external；　it　was　turned　inward。　His　officers　looked　at　him　in　silence。

〃Sharpe；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃there　_must_　be　a　way　out　of　them　both　with　such　a　breeze　as　this　is　now；　if　we　could　but　see　it。〃

〃Ay；　_if；_〃　groaned　Sharpe。

Dodd　mused　again。

〃About　ship！〃　said　he　softly；　like　an　absent　man。

〃Ay；　ay；　sir！〃

〃Steer　due　north！〃　said　he；　still　like　one　whose　mind　was　elsewhere。

While　the　ship　was　coming　about；　he　gave　minute　orders　to　the　mates　and　the　gunner；　to　ensure　co…operation　in　the　delicate　and　dangerous　manoeuvres　that　were　sure　to　be　at　hand。

The　wind　was　W。N。W：　lie　was　standing　north；　one　pirate　lay　on　his　lee　beam　stopping　a　leak　between　wind　and　water；　and　hacking　the　deck　clear　of　his　broken　mast　and　yards。　The　other；　fresh；　and　thirsting　for　the　easy　prey；　came　up　to　weather　on　him　and　hang　on　his　quarter；　pirate　fashion。

When　they　were　distant　about　a　cable's　length；　the　fresh　pirate；　to　meet　the　ship's　change　of　tactics；　changed　his　own；　luffed　up；　and　gave　the　ship　a　broadside；　well　aimed　but　not　destructive；　the　guns　being　loaded　with　ball。

Dodd；　instead　of　replying　immediately；　put　his　helm　hard　up　and　ran　under　the　pirate's　stern；　while　he　was　jammed　up　in　the　wind；　and　with　his　five　eighteen　pounders　raked　him　fore　and　aft；　then　paying　off；　gave　him　three　carronades　crammed　with　grape　and　canister。　The　rapid　discharge　of　eight　guns　made　the　ship　tremble；　and　enveloped　her　in　thick　smoke；　loud　shrieks　and　groans　were　heard　from　the　schooner：　the　smoke　cleared；　the　pirate's　mainsail　hung　on　deck；　his　jib…boom　was　cut　off　like　a　carrot　and　the　sail　struggling；　his　foresail　looked　lace；　lanes　of　dead　and　wounded　lay　still　or　writhing　on　his　deck；　and　his　lee　scuppers　ran　blood　into　the　sea。　Dodd　squared　his　yards　and　bore　away。

The　ship　rushed　down　the　wind；　leaving　the　schooner　staggered　and　all　abroad。　But　for　long；　the　pirate　wore　and　fired　his　bow　chasers　at　the　now　flying　_Agra_；　split　one　of　the　carronades　in　two；　and　killed　a　Lascar；　and　made　a　hole　in　the　foresail。　This　done；　he　hoisted　his　mainsail　again　in　a　trice；　sent　his　wounded　below；　flung　his　dead　overboard；　to　the　horror　of　their　foes；　and　came　after　the　flying　ship；　yawing　and　firing　his　bow　chasers。　The　ship　was　silent。　She　had　no　shot　to　throw　away。　Not　only　did　she　take　these　blows　like　a　coward；　but　all　signs　of　life　disappeared　on　her；　except　two　men　at　the　wheel　and　the　captain　on　the　main　gangway。

Dodd　had　ordered　the　crew　out　of　the　rigging；　armed　them　with　cutlasses；　and　laid　them　flat　on　the　forecastle。　He　also　compelled　Kenealy　and　Fullalove　to　come　down　out　of　harm's　way；　no　wiser　on　the　smooth　bore　question　than　they　went　up。

The　great　patient　ship　ran　environed　by　her　foes；　one　destroyer　right　in　her　course；　another　in　her　wake；　following　her　with　yells　of　vengeance；　and　pounding　away　at　herbut　no　reply。

Suddenly　the　yells　of　the　pirates　on　both　sides　ceased；　and　there　was　a　moment　of　dead　silence　on　the　sea。

Yet　nothing　fresh　had　happened。

Yes；　this　had　happened：　the　pirates　to　windward　and　the　pirates　to　leeward　of　the　_Agra_　had　found　out；　at　one　and　the　same　moment；　that　the　merchant　captain　they　had　lashed；　and　bullied；　and　tortured　was　a　patient　but　tremendous　man。　It　was　not　only　to　rake　the　fresh　schooner　he　had　put　his　ship　before　the　wind；　but　also　by　a　double；　daring；　masterstroke　to　hurl　his　monster　ship　bodily　on　the　other。　Without　a　foresail　she　could　never　get　out　of　her　way。　The　pirate　crew　had　stopped　the　leak；　and　cut　away　and　unshipped　the　broken　foremast；　and　were　stepping　a　new　one；　when　they　saw　the　huge　ship　bearing　down　in　full　sail。　Nothing　easier　than　to　slip　out　of　her　way　could　they　get　the　foresail　to　draw；　but　the　time　was　short；　the　deadly　intention　manifest；　the　coming　destruction　swift。

After　that　solemn　silence　came　a　storm　of　cries　and　curses；　as　their　seamen　went　to　work　to　fit　the　yard　and　raise　the　sail　while　their　fighting　men　seized　their　matchlocks　and　trained　the　guns。　They　were　well　commanded　by　an　heroic　able　villain。　Astern　the　consort　thundered；　but　the　_Agra's_　response　was　a　dead　silence　more　awful　than　broadsides。

For　then　was　seen　with　what　majesty　the　enduring　Anglo…Saxon　fights。

One　of　that　indomitable　race　on　the　gangway；　one　at　the　foremast；　two　at　the　wheel；　conned　and　steered　the　great　ship　down　on　a　hundred　matchlocks　and　a　grinning　broadside；　just　as　they　would　have　conned　and　steered　her　into　a　British　harbour。

〃Starboard！〃　said　Dodd；　in　a　deep　calm　voice；　with　a　motion　of　his　hand。

〃Starboard　it　is。〃

The　pirate　wriggled　ahead　a　little。　The　man　forward　made　a　silent　signal　to　Dodd。

〃Port！〃　said　Dodd　quietly。

〃Port　it　is。〃

But　at　this　critical　moment　the　pirate　astern　sent　a　mischievous　shot　and　knocked　one　of　the　men　to　atoms　at　the　helm。

Dodd　waved　his　hand　without　a　word；　and　another　man　rose　from　the　deck；　and　took　his　place　in　silence；　and　laid　his　unshaking　hand　on　the　wheel　stained　with　that　man's　warm　blood　whose　place　he　took。

The　high　ship　was　now　scarce　sixty　yards　distant；　_she　seemed　to　know：_　she　reared　her　lofty　figure…head　with　great　awful　shoots　into　the　air。

But　now　the　panting　pirates　got　their　new　foresail　hoisted　with　a　joyful　shout：　it　drew；　the　schooner　gathered　way；　and　their　furious　consort　close　on　the　_Agra's_　heels　just　then　scourged　her　deck　with　grape。

〃Port！〃　said　Dodd　calmly。

〃Port　it　is。〃

The　giant　prow　darted　at　the　escaping　pirate。　That　acre　of　coming　canvas　took　the　wind　out　of　the　swift　schooner's　foresail；　it　flapped：　oh；　then　she　was　doomed！　That　awful　moment　parted　the　races　on　board　her：　the　Papuans　and　Sooloos；　their　black　faces　livid　and　blue　with　horror；　leaped　yelling　into　the　sea；　or　crouched　and　whimpered；　the　yellow　Malays　and　brown　Portuguese；　though　blanched　to　one　colour　now；　turned　on　death　like　dying　panthers；　fired　two　cannon　slap　into　the　ship's　bows；　and　snapped　their　muskets　and　matchlocks　at　their　solitary　executioner　on　the　ship's　gangway；　and　out　flew　their　knives　like　crushed　wasp's　stings。　CRASH！　the　Indiaman's　cutwater　in　thick　smoke　beat　in　the　schooner's　broadside：　down　went　her　masts　to　leeward　like　fishing…rods　whipping　the　water；　there　was　a　horrible　shrieking　yell；　wild　forms　heaped　off　on　the　_Agra_；　and　were　hacked　to　pieces　almost　ere　they　reached　the　decka　surge；　a　chasm　in　the；　sea；　filled　with　an　instant　rush　of　engulphing　waves；　a　long；　awful；　grating；　grinding　noise；　never　to　be　forgotten　in　this　world；　all　along　under　the　ship's　keeland　the　fearful　majestic　monster　passed　on　over　the　blank　she　had　made；　with　a　pale　crew　standing　silent　and　awestruck　on　her　deck；　a　cluster　of　wild　heads　and　staring　eyeballs　bobbing　like　corks　in　her　foaming　wake；　sole　relic　of　the　blotted…out　Destroyer：　and　a　wounded　man　staggering　on　the　gangway；　with　hands　uplifted　and　staring　eyes。

Shot　in　two　places；　the　head　and　the　breast！

With　a　loud　cry　of　pity　and　dismay；　Sharpe；　Fullalove；　Kenealy；　and　others　rushed　to　catch　him；　but　ere　they　got　near；　the　captain　of　the　triumphant　ship　fell　down　on　his　hands　and　knees；　his　head　sunk　over　the　gangway；　and　his　blood　ran　fast　and　pattered　in　the　midst　of　them　on　the　deck　he　had　defended　so　bravely。


CHAPTER　X

THEY　got　to　the　wounded　captain　and　raised　him：　he　revived　a　little；　and；　the　moment　he　caught　sight　of　Mr。　Sharpe；　he　clutched　him；　and　cried；　〃Stunsels！〃

〃Oh；　captain；〃　said　Sharpe；　〃let　the　ship　go；　it　is　you　we　are　anxious　for　now。〃

At　this　Dodd　lifted　up　his　hands　and　beat　the　air　impatiently；　and　cried　again　in　the　thin；　querulous　voice　of'　a　wounded　man；　but　eagerly；　〃STUNSELS！　STUNSELS！〃

On　this；　Sharpe　gave　the　command。

〃Make　sail。　All　hands　set　stunsels　'low　and　aloft！〃

While　the　unwounded　hands　swarmed　into　the　rigging；　the　surgeon　came　aft　in　all　haste；　but　Dodd　declined　him　till　all　his　men　should　have　been　looked　to：　meantime　he　had　himself　carried　to　the　poop　and　laid　on　a　mattress；　his　bleeding　head　bound　tight　with　a　wet　cambric　handkerchief；　and　his　pale　face　turned　towards　the　hostile　schooner　astern。　She　had　to　hove　to；　and　was　picking　up　the　survivors　of　her　blotted…out　consort。　The　group　on　the　_Agra's_　quarter…deck　watched　her　to　see　what　she　would　do　next；　flushed　with　immediate　success；　the　younger　officers　crowed　their　fears　she　would　not　be　game　to　attack　them　again。　Dodd's　fears　ran　the　other　way：　he　said；　in　the　weak　voice　to　which　he　was　now　reduced；　〃They　are　taking　a　wet　blanket　aboard；　that　crew　of　blackguards　we　swamped　won't　want　any　more　of　us：　it　all　depends　on　the　pirate　captain：　if　he　is　not　drowned；　then　blow　wind；　rise　sea；　or　there's　trouble　ahead　for　us。〃

As　soon　as　the　schooner　had　picked　up　the　last　swimmer；　she　hoisted　foresail；　mainsail；　and　jib　with　admirable　rapidity；　and　bore　down　in　chase。

The　_Agra_　had；　meantime；　got　a　start　of　more　than　a　mile；　and　was　now　running　before　a　stiff　breeze　with　studding　sails　alow　and　aloft。

In　an　hour　the　vessels　ran　nearly　twelve　miles；　and　the　pirate　had　gained　half　a　mile。

At　the　end　of　the　next　hour　they　were　out　of　sight　of　land；　wind　and　sea　rising；　and　the　pirate　only　a　quarter　of　a　mile　astern。

The　schooner　was　now　rising　and　falling　on　the　waves；　the　ship　only　nodding；　and　firm　as　a　rock。

〃Blow　wind；　rise　sea！〃　faltered　Dodd。

Another　half…hour　passed　without　perceptibly　altering　the　position　of　the　vessels。　Then　suddenly　the　wounded　captain　laid　aside　his　glass；　after　a　long　examination；　and　rose　unaided　to　his　feet　in　great　excitement；　and　found　his　manly　voice　for　a　moment：　he　shook　his　fist　at　the　now　pitching　schooner　and　roared；　〃Good…bye！　ye　Portuguese　lubberoutfoughtoutmanoeuvredAND　OUTSAILED！〃

It　was　a　burst　of　exultation　rare　for　him；　he　paid　for　it　by　sinking　faint　and　helpless　into　his　friend's　arms；　and　the　surgeon；　returning　soon　after；　insisted　on　his　being　taken　to　his　cabin　and　kept　quite　quiet。

As　they　were　carrying　him　below；　the　pirate　captain　made　the　same　discovery；　that　the　ship　was　gaining　on　him：　he　hauled　to　the　wind　directly　and　abandoned　the　chase。


When　the　now　receding　pirate　was　nearly　hull　down；　the　sun　began　to　set。　Mr。　Tickell　looked　at　him　and　said；　〃Hallo！　old　fellow；　what　are　_you_　about？　Why；　it　isn't　two　o'clock。〃

The　remark　was　quite　honest：　he　really　feared；　for