The World of Ice | Page 5

At the
last word there was a puff and a roar, and an iron messenger flew
towards the schooner. The gun had been fired more as a reply of
defiance to the pirate than with the hope of doing him any damage; but
the shot had been well aimed--it cut the schooner's main-sail-yard in
two and brought it rattling down on deck. Instantly the pirate yawed
and delivered a broadside; but in the confusion on deck the guns were
badly aimed, and none took effect. The time lost in this manoeuvre,
added to the crippled condition of the schooner, enabled the West
Indiaman to gain considerably on her antagonist; but the pirate kept up
a well-directed fire with his bow-chasers, and many of the shots struck

the hull and cut the rigging seriously. As the sun descended towards the
horizon the wind fell gradually, and ceased at length altogether, so that
both vessels lay rolling on the swell with their sails flapping idly
against the masts.
"They're a-gittin' out the boats, sir," remarked John Buzzby, who,
unable to restrain himself any longer, had crept upon deck at the risk of
another reprimand; "and, if my eyes be'n't deceiving me, there's a sail
on the horizon to wind'ard--leastways, the direction which wos wind'ard
afore it fell calm."
"She's bringing a breeze along with her," remarked the captain, "but I
fear the boats will come up before it reaches us. There are three in the
water and manned already. There they come. Now, then, call up all
hands."
In a few seconds the crew of the West Indiaman were at their stations
ready for action, and Captain Ellice, with Fred at his elbow, stood
beside one of the stern-chasers. Meanwhile, the boats of the pirate, five
in number, pulled away in different directions, evidently with the
intention of attacking the ship at different points. They were full of men
armed to the teeth. While they rowed towards the ship the schooner
resumed its fire, and one ball cut away the spanker-boom and slightly
wounded two of the men with splinters. The guns of the ship were now
brought to bear on the boats, but without effect, although the shot
plunged into the water all round them. As they drew nearer a brisk fire
of musketry was opened on them, and the occasional falling of an oar
and confusion on board showed that the shots told. The pirates replied
vigorously, but without effect, as the men of the ship were sheltered by
the bulwarks.
"Pass the word to load and reserve fire," said the captain; "and hand me
a musket, Fred. Load again as fast as I fire." So saying, the captain took
aim and fired at the steersman of the largest boat, which pulled towards
the stern. "Another, Fred--"
At this moment a withering volley was poured upon the boat, and a
savage yell of agony followed, while the rowers who remained unhurt

paused for an instant as if paralyzed. Next instant they recovered, and
another stroke would have brought them almost alongside, when
Captain Ellice pointed the little carronade and fired. There was a
terrific crash; the gun recoiled violently to the other side of the deck;
and the pirate boat sank, leaving the sea covered with dead and
wounded men. A number, however, who seemed to bear charmed lives,
seized their cutlasses with their teeth, and swam boldly for the ship.
This incident, unfortunately, attracted too much of the attention of the
crew, and ere they could prevent it another boat reached the bow of the
ship, the crew of which sprang up the side like cats, formed on the
forecastle, and poured a volley upon the men.
"Follow me, lads!" shouted the captain, as he sprang forward like a
tiger. The first man he reached fell by a ball from his pistol; in another
moment the opposing parties met in a hand-to-hand conflict.
Meanwhile Fred, having been deeply impressed with the effect of the
shot from the little carronade, succeeded in raising and reloading it. He
had scarcely accomplished this when one of the boats reached the
larboard quarter, and two of the men sprang up the side. Fred observed
them, and felled the first with a handspike before he reached the deck;
but the pirate who instantly followed would have killed him had he not
been observed by the second mate, who had prevented several of the
men from joining in the _mêlée_ on the forecastle in order to meet such
an emergency as this. Rushing to the rescue with his party, he drove the
pirates back into the boat, which was immediately pulled towards the
bow, where the other two boats were now grappling and discharging
their crews on the forecastle. Although the men of the West Indiaman
fought