hard cash-第38节
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nt 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 a moment； that orb was mistaken and would get himselfand othersinto trouble。 However； the middy proved to be wrong； and the sun right to a minute： Time flies fast fighting。
Mrs。 Beresford came on deck with brat and poodle： Fred； a destructive child； clapped his hands with glee at the holes in the canvas： Snap toddled about smelling the blood of the slain； and wagging his tail by halves； perplexed。 〃Well； gentlemen；〃 said Mrs。 Beresford； 〃I hope you have made noise enough over one's head： and what a time you did take to beat that little bit of a thing。 Freddy； be quiet； you worry me； where is your bearer？ Will anybody oblige me by finding Ramgolam？〃
〃I will；〃 said Mr。 Tickell hastily； and ran off for the purpose； but he returned after some time with a long face。 No Ramgolam to be found。
Fullalove referred herwith humour…twinkling eyeto Vespasian。 〃I have a friend here who says he can tell you something about him。〃
〃Can you； my good man？〃 inquired the lady； turning haughtily towards the negro。
〃I
