hard cash-第43章

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l　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。

〃Iss；　Missy；〃　said　Vespasian；　showing　his　white　teeth　in　a　broad　grin；　〃dis　child　knows　where　to　find　dat　ar　niggar；　widout　him　been　and　absquatulated　since。〃

〃Then　go　and　fetch　him　directly。〃

Vespasian　went　off　with　an　obedient　start。

This　annoyed　Fullalove；　interfered　with　his　system：　〃Madam；〃　said　he　gravely；　〃would　you　oblige　me　by　bestowing　on　my　friend　a　portion　of　that　courtesy　with　which　you　favour　me；　and　which　becomes　you　so　gracefully？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　replied　Mrs。　Beresford。　〃Mr。　Fullalove；　I　am　out　of　patience　with　you：　the　idea　of　a　sensible　intelligent　gentleman　like　you　calling　that　creature　your　friend！　And　you　an　American；　where　they　do　nothing　but　whip　them　from　morning　till　night。　Who　ever　heard　of　making　friends　with　a　black？Now　what　is　the　meaning　of　this？　I　detest　practical　jokes。〃　For　the　stalwart　negro　had　returned；　bringing　a　tall　bread…bag　in　his　arms：　he　now　set　it　up　before　her；　remarking；　〃Dis　yar　bag　white　outside；　but　him　'nation　black　inside。〃　To　confirm　his　words；　he　drew　off　the　bag；　and　revealed　Ramgolam；　his　black　skin　powdered　with　meal。　The　good…natured　negro　then　blew　the　flour　off　his　face；　and　dusted　him　a　bit：　the　spectators　laughed　heartily；　but　Ramgolam　never　moved　a　muscle：　not　a　morsel　discomposed　at　what　would　have　made　an　European　miserably　ashamed；　even　in　a　pantomimethe　Caucasian　darkie　retained　all　his　dignity　while　the　African　one　dusted　him；　but；　being　dusted；　he　put　on　his　obsequiousness；　stepped　forward；　joined　his　palms　together　to　Mrs。　Beresfordlike　medieval　knights　and　modern　children　at　their　devotionsand　addressed　her　thus：

〃Daughter　of　light；　he　who　basks　in　your　beams　said　to　himself；　'The　pirates　are　upon　us；　those　children　of　blood；　whom　Sheitan　their　master　blast　for　ever！　They　will　ravish　the　Queen　of　Sunshine　and　the　ayahs；　and　throw　the　sahibs　and　sailors　into　the　sea；　but；　bread　being　the　staff　of　existence；　these　foxes　of　the　water　will　not　harm　it；　but　keep　it　for　their　lawless　appetites；　therefore　Ramgolam；　son　of　Chittroo；　son