The World of Ice | Page 4

perhaps I am wrong, it may be a--a clipper-built trading-vessel.
If not, Alice, we must make some show of fighting, and try to frighten
them. Meanwhile you must go below."
The captain spoke encouragingly as he led his wife to the cabin; but his
candid countenance spoke too truthfully, and she felt that his look of
anxious concern bade her fear the worst.
Pressing her fervently to his heart, Captain Ellice sprang on deck.
By this time the news had spread through the ship, and the crew,
consisting of upwards of thirty men, were conversing earnestly in knots
of four or five while they sharpened and buckled on cutlasses, or loaded
pistols and carbines.
"Send the men aft, Mr. Thompson," said the captain, as he paced the
deck to and fro, casting his eyes occasionally on the schooner, which
was rapidly nearing the vessel. "Take another pull at these
main-topsail-halyards, and send the steward down below for my sword
and pistols. Let the men look sharp; we've no time to lose, and hot work
is before us."
"I will go for your sword, father," cried Fred, who had just come on
deck.
"Boy, boy, you must go below; you can be of no use here."
"But, father, you know that I'm not afraid."
"I know that, boy--I know it well; but you're too young to fight--you're
not strong enough. Besides, you must comfort and cheer your mother;

she may want you."
"I'm old enough and strong enough to load and fire a pistol, father; and
I heard one of the men say we would need all the hands on board, and
more if we had them. Besides, it was my mother who told me what was
going on, and sent me on deck to _help you, to fight._"
A momentary gleam of pride lit up the countenance of the captain as he
said hastily, "You may stay, then," and turned towards the men, who
now stood assembled on the quarter-deck.
Addressing the crew in his own blunt, vigorous style, he said, "Lads,
yon rascally schooner is a pirate, as you all know well enough. I need
not ask you if you are ready to fight; I see by your looks you are. But
that's not enough--you must make up your minds to fight well. You
know that pirates give no quarter. I see the decks are swarming with
men. If you don't go at them like bull-dogs, you'll walk the plank before
sunset every man of you. Now, go forward, and double-shot your
muskets and pistols, and stick as many of the latter into your belts as
they will hold. Mr. Thompson, let the gunner double-shot the four big
guns, and load the little carronade with musket-balls to the muzzle. If
they do try to board us, they'll get a warm reception."
"There goes a shot, sir," said Buzzby, pointing towards the piratical
schooner, from the side of which a white cloud burst, and a round shot
ricochetted over the sea, passing close ahead of the ship.
"Ay, that's a request for us to lay-to," said the captain bitterly, "but we
won't. Keep her away a point."
"Ay, ay, sir," sung out the man at the wheel. A second and a third shot
were fired, but passed unheeded, and the captain, fully expecting that
the next would be fired into them, ordered the men below.
"We can't afford to lose a man, Mr. Thompson; send them all down."
"Please, sir, may I remain?" said Buzzby, touching his hat.

"Obey orders," answered the captain sternly. The sailor went below
with a sulky fling.
For nearly an hour the two vessels cut through the water before a steady
breeze, during which time the fast-sailing schooner gradually
overhauled the heavy West Indiaman, until she approached within
speaking distance. Still Captain Ellice paid no attention to her, but
stood with compressed lips beside the man at the wheel, gazing
alternately at the sails of his vessel and at the windward horizon, where
he fancied he saw indications that led him to hope the breeze would fail
ere long.
As the schooner drew nearer, a man leaped on the hammock-nettings,
and, putting a trumpet to his mouth, sang out lustily, "Ship ahoy! where
are you from, and what's your cargo?"
Captain Ellice made no reply, but ordered four of his men on deck to
point one of the stern-chasers.
Again the voice came harshly across the waves, as if in passion, "Heave
to, or I'll sink you." At the same moment the black flag was run up to
the peak, and a shot passed between the main and fore masts.
"Stand by to point this gun," said the captain in a subdued voice.
"Ay, ay, sir!"
"Fetch a red-hot iron; luff, luff a little--a little more steady--so."