Jeers rose from the deck.
"If Monsieur the Englishman does not strike within two minutes, down
he goes to the bottom."
"The idiot, to expose his stern!"
"On the whole, it is just as well that _La Merveille_ is so far
behind. We shall have all the glory to ourselves--eh, my children?"
On board the frigate Captain Barker said four words only:
"Take the wheel, Jemmy."
Captain Runacles stepped to it and the steersman gave place.
In truth the hunchback, though this was his first acquaintance with a
galley, knew well enough that she would strike for the frigate's
stern as the weakest point. This was precisely what he wished her to
do.
Captain Runacles stood with his hand on the wheel and waited,
glancing back over his shoulder.
Captain Barker stood by the taffrail with one eye upon the galley and
his face turned in profile to his friend. His right hand was lifted.
The Commodore had made all his dispositions. The galley was to
plunge her beak straight into the _Merry Maid's_ stern, and its crew,
after one discharge of cannon to clear the frigate's poop, were to
board at once. The men stood ready with their hatchets and cutlasses
and set up a wild yell as they drove straight for her. From below
the slaves echoed it with a melancholy wail.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263