* * * * *
By this time the breeze was wellnigh upon us, for the smooth water all
around us was dusked by the little cat's-paws that swept the glassy
surface.
Now that morning, just before the pirate sloop hove in sight, I had got
out warps by means of which I hoped to change our position, bringing the
_Cassandra_ nigher to the _Greenwich_, and to a station of greater
defence. In this, however, we had made but little progress, for the
current set strong against us at the present state of the tide. Seeing
now the imminence of the attack, I hoisted sail, hoping to take
advantage of the first wind, and bring the _Cassandra_ closer to the
_Greenwich_.
What followed I am even now not able to explain, for I am slow to
believe that one English captain could desert another in such an
emergency as the present. It might be that Captain Kirby thought that we
intended trying to get away upon the wind, for the _Greenwich_ also
began immediately to set all her sail. Seeing what they were about I
hailed the other craft, but got no answer. Then I hailed her again and
again, but still received no reply.
The next minute she, being open to the first puffs of the breeze by a
valley, filled and bore away, followed by the Ostender, who had also set
her sails, leaving me becalmed where I was.
"My God!" cried Mr. Langely, "do they mean to desert us? Look, sir, here
come the pirates!"
I had just then been so intent upon the other vessels that I had not
thought of observing what our enemies were about, not thinking that they
would take such immediate action. But, no doubt, seeing us set our
sails, and fearing that we might get away, slipped their own cables;
for they were now coming down upon us with the freshening wind, having
already entered the channel as boldly as though there were none to
oppose them, the sloop leading the others by a quarter of a mile or so.
Indeed the _Greenwich_ and the Ostender bearing away had left the
passage entirely open to them, with no one but ourselves to oppose them.
In this extremity I hailed the _Greenwich_ for a third time, and getting
no answer, ordered the gunner to fire across her bows, but in spite of
this she did not heave to, whereupon we gave her a round shot, but
whether to her harm or no I am not able to say.
And now nothing remained for us but to fight what appeared a hopeless
battle against heavy odds.
* * * * *
The main ship-channel leading from the offing to the bay or harbor
wherein the _Cassandra_, the _Greenwich_, and the Ostender had been
riding for these days past, lead almost easterly and westerly, but so
shaped by the sand-bars to the south and those shoals that ran out from
the northern cape as to take the form of a very crooked letter S.
Nowhere was this channel over half or three-quarters of a mile wide, and
in some places it was hardly more than a quarter of a mile wide.
From the position which the _Cassandra_ occupied this entrance to the
harbor was so well defended that any vessel entering thereat must be
twice raked by our broadside fire, once in rounding the northern, and
once the southern angle of the channel. Hence it was that I determined
to hold our present position as long as I was able.
But the pirates did not both attack us by way of the main ship-channel
as we had expected, for when they had rounded the northern angle the
sloop, fearing perhaps that we would try to get away upon the wind,
instead of keeping in consort with the barque, made directly for us
across the shoals that lay between us and them. This they were able to
do without running aground, both because of their intimate knowledge of
these intricate waters and of the small amount of water which the sloop
drew.
"We'll rake 'em anyhow," says I to Mr. Langely, for I could see no other
means for them to approach us but to come upon us bow on, there being no
room to manoeuvre among the bars and shoals that lay betwixt us and
them.
But the devilish ingenuity of these cruel, wicked wretches supplied them
with other means than a direct attack upon the _Cassandra_, for, when
they had come within about a mile or so of us, they hove to, dropped
their main-sail, and, running out great oars from the ports between
decks, began rowing towards us in a clumsy fashion, somewhat after the
manner of a galleon. By this means, and by the aid of the current which
set towards us, they were enabled to keep nearly broadside on, and so
avoid being raked by our fire.
"Mr. Langely," said I, "if they are able to board us we are lost. Order
the gunner to fire upon the oars and not upon the decks."
"Ay, ay," says he, and turned away.