The _Swift_ had been almost deserted, as the larger decks of the _Irene_
offered an irresistible attraction, and when the work was abandoned at
dusk the crew took possession of the forecastle, while Miss Anstrade,
with Hume and Webster, lingered on the poop, after surrendering the
main-deck amidships to the Captain, who preferred his own company. Mr
Commins, alone for choice, remained on the catcher, and for a long time
the glow of his cigar could be seen under the small awning, while
Juarez, over whom he had offered to keep strict watch, lay near, under
the shadow of a lamp, smoking cigarettes. The Brazilian Captain had
never been permitted to appear on deck when Miss Anstrade was there, and
his close confinement below had not improved his naturally brutal
nature, but he had tamed his temper down to the point of almost abject
humility in imploring the Captain to let him on deck. Now the guttural
tones of his voice could be heard as he made occasionally a few remarks
to Mr Commins, the only man who cared to hold converse with him.
The night was beautiful, the dark vault of the sky gloriously gemmed
down to the dark belt of the horizon, while out of the intense black of
the sea there gleamed, near at hand, swordlike flashes of phosphorescent
fire from predatory fish, and between the sea and the sky there was no
living thing to break the brooding silence. The men, glad of the
opportunity to stretch their legs, were soon asleep, and, except for an
occasional murmur of voices from the three on the poop and the rough
burr of Juarez at intervals, there was no sound on board. The swell of
the sea rising and sinking between the catcher and the _Irene_ made a
soft ripple, followed by a deep sigh, having a power in its melancholy
music to draw Miss Anstrade to the port side, where she had leant with
her elbows on the rail, until at the dim sight of Juarez she started
back with a shudder of revulsion and sought the remoter side.
There the three of them leant, the efforts of the two men to talk to the
girl between them gradually lessening to complete silence. She had
changed greatly since the excitement of the wild rush to Madeira, had
grown listless, the womanhood in her revolting against the strain and
burden she had rashly imposed on herself, and at each sign of
helplessness the two young men had felt more tender towards her, trying,
each in his own way, to show their sympathy. They had talked often
together about the object of the voyage, and, sanguine though they were
with the ardour of youth, they could see nothing but disaster before
them, while the desperate nature of the enterprise had also come home to
her. Presently, with a moan, she thrust her hands forward:
"There is nothing but failure before me, and perhaps death."
"You are over-worn," said Frank gently; "and, indeed, the _Swift_ is too
rough a boat for a lady."
"Ay, that it is, Miss Laura," said Webster, "and, as for talk of failure
or death, they are for us to prove, and not for you, who are made for
better things. This steamer has been thrown across us by the mercy of
Providence, and it is your duty almost to accept the gift, and embark in
it for a safe port."
"I despise myself," she said wearily; "but I have no courage and no
hope, and shudder at the thought of remaining on the _Swift_. I cannot
understand it."
"I think I can," said Frank, in a low tone. "You have been mistaken in
yourself, and your presence on board, in contrast with the grim ship,
has seemed to me a sort of marvel. You are fitted for better things."
"You mean I have no strength of purpose," she said slowly. "And do you
expect me to relinquish this enterprise, to go back without striking one
blow, to surrender to my weakness, and for ever be a victim of my
cowardice, haunted by a memory, and lashed by my conscience? No--no--
never!"
She threw her head up proudly.
"You may go to safety in this ship; but--I--I will do what I have said."
"You mistake us," said Hume; "neither Mr Webster nor myself asks you to
give up the enterprise. We have no thought of turning from it; but we
do think strongly that you should not share in the work and worry of it.
It is not fair to you; it is unjust to us."
"Unjust, sir--how?"
"Madam, you may not know it, but every man on board the _Swift_ thinks
more of you than of his own safety, and if they all knew you were ashore
they would be happier in working out your purpose."
"You are right there, Frank," said Webster. "We'd go into action with a
laugh if you were not aboard, madam, but every shell would make our
hearts beat with fear if you were with us."
"Ah! my friends," she answered with emotion, "you make my sorrow all the
greater to think I should have brought you to this, and be myself so
fearful of the end. Forgive me, but I am proud and weak by turns. Oh,
if I had the courage of a man!"
"You are better as you are," said Frank. "Your weakness has more power
over us than if you never winced or wavered."
Suddenly she stood back and looked at them, laughing low.
"What is it?"
"It has occurred to me, gentlemen, that you are both to remain on the
_Irene_."
"Yes, madam; but why does that amuse you?" said Frank helplessly.
"And so you have been scheming to have my company. I am sure I am
greatly charmed, and would be more if you had not pretended an anxiety
for my safety."
"Pretended, madam!" gasped Webster. "I'll see the Captain hanged before
I leave the _Swift_. He can sail this old tub himself, so that he takes
you with her."
"Thank you, sir," she said, with another rippling laugh, "though you
might have turned me over to the Captain more gracefully. And you, Mr
Hume?"
"We are plain men," he began stiffly.
"Yes, you are very plain, and very stupid."
At this unexpected retort the two men fell into a gloomy silence, being
too much in earnest and too greatly surprised to laugh.
"Ah, dear," she said, "that I had one woman with me, then I could laugh,
and rage, and weep upon her neck within a minute, and have no ill looks
in return. Come, my friends, be not angry."
She gave each one a hand, and each raised it to his lips, which showed
that they could express themselves well in deeds, though not in words.
She placed both hands to her cheeks, and her fine eyes glowed as she
looked at them.
"It is the kiss of brave men," she said in low, thrilling tones; "the
pledge of your lives to me. Ah, my friends, I read that little act more
clearly than what you could tell me in words, and see, for those who
love you, for the mother who has treasured you, in return for the homage
the strong and brave pay to woman, I kiss you."
She leant forward, and pressed her lips to their cheeks in turn.
They stood back and straightened themselves with kindling eyes, feeling
as the young knight who has received his spurs.
"Out with all lights!" It was the Captain's voice, ringing out loud and
stern.
There was a breathless pause, followed by a confused murmur of voices.
"Silence, forward, there. Is that you, Mr Dixon?"--a quiet, grave man,
whose heart was with his wife and child at home.
"Yes, sir."
"Get up steam, but be careful with your fire."
"What can the matter be?" gasped Miss Anstrade, at the sound of men
moving quietly from the _Irene_ into the _Swift_.
Webster, at the first cry from the Captain, had sprung to the bulwark,
holding to a wire rope-stay.
"There's a steamer's lights away aft. I wonder she has escaped us."
The Captain's dark form appeared on the poop.
"Mr Webster, see the fires relit on this ship."
"Ay, ay, sir. What do you make her out to be?"
"When did you mark her?"
"When you called, sir."
"Ah! She appeared an hour since, and I judge from her movements and her
lights she is a man-of-war, probably the same cruiser which surprised
this ship before."
"Do you think she has seen us?"
"I'm afraid so, though our lights must be very dim, for she altered her
course and is bearing down. She may pass us, unless she brings the
spars of the _Irene_ against a star. I won't leave this prize, however,
until I am obliged."
Webster moved off, and the others, including the sailors on board,
watched the approaching vessel; while Mr Commins, who could not, of
course, see the stranger from the hidden catcher, hurried on board to
find out the cause of the commotion.
"You think she is the Brazilian steamer?" he said in a voice of alarm,
listening to the explanation. "Curse it! Misfortune dogs us. I wish
we were out of this!"
"Speak for yourself," answered the Captain in a growl.
Mr Commins lingered awhile, and then went off to give the news to
Juarez, who received it with a savage laugh.
The red light rapidly approached through the black of the night, and it
was evident she would pass very near. The excitement grew rapidly as
the news was passed from mouth to mouth in rapid whispers.
"Mr Hume, will you help Miss Anstrade to the _Swift_; pass the word to
the men to get on board, and have them stationed at the guns."
In a few minutes Captain Pardee was the only man on board the _Irene_,
with the exception of the stokers, who were busily preparing the fires.
To those in the _Swift_ who could see nothing there followed a long and
anxious state of suspense, broken at last by the low voice of the
Captain speaking from above.
"Mr Hume, stand by to slip the fastenings."
They held their breath, listening, and to them came the regular beat of
engines.
Louder and louder grew the noise, but they could see nothing of the
danger, and its imminence seemed to them the nearer. There was a
movement in the air, the pulsation of the distant screw affected them so
that they believed the _Swift_ itself was throbbing, and presently the
_Irene_ leant over towards them gently, and as gently rolled away.
"'Tis the wave from her wake," muttered the Quartermaster.
The sound of the engines gradually lessened.
The Captain's figure appeared above. "She has passed," he said.
There was a rush for the tall sides of the _Irene_, and presently
everyone was staring forward at a green light fast diminishing in the
dark, now at its blackest before the dawn.
"Thank God for His mercy," murmured Miss Anstrade, who had stood near
Hume silent and white, though without a sign of fear.
"You may well say that, Miss Laura," said the Captain.
The green light sunk rapidly, and had almost disappeared, when suddenly
a brilliant glare shot up, throwing a sickly light over the group on the
poop.
The Captain gave a bound to the side, and next minute there was a hoarse
cry as his pistol rang out.
"It is that villain Juarez; send his black soul to hell! Overboard with
him!" roared the Captain.
The black-bearded Quartermaster, balancing himself on the rail a moment,
sprang to the iron deck below, and next minute there was a howl of
mingled fear and rage, followed by a splash.
"Launch the boat, and smother that light with a sail!"
The Captain gnashed his teeth as he glared at the brilliant flare from a
life-saving light floating on the quiet waters, and sending forth an
appeal to the distant battleship. Mr Commins stood in the catcher near
the spot where the slinking figure of Juarez had been shot down,
seemingly without power to move, as he looked horror-struck at the dark
waters.
Without a second's delay the boat was launched, and a strip of canvas
thrown over the light, when the darkness settled down blacker than
before. But the mischief had been done, and sullen looks were directed
at the dim speck in the distance.
"Ay, ay, there she comes round," said the sailor Dick. In the distance
a red light replaced the green, but as they watched it suddenly
disappeared.
"She has gone," said Miss Anstrade, with an hysterical sob.
The Captain shook his head.
"She has put out her lights, and will hang about till morning."
"We'd better slip away, sir," said Webster.
The Captain lifted his fist, and banged it into his open hand.
"By the Lord," he growled, "I'll not leave this ship without a fight for
it!"
The Captain, however, gave way so far to the urgent protestations of
Miss Anstrade, that he abandoned any idea of placing a crew on board the
derelict until daylight revealed whether there was any chance of getting
clear away. Fires were kept going on board the _Swift_, a look-out was
stationed on the larger vessel, and the men were sent to their berths.
Miss Anstrade retired to snatch an uneasy sleep, and the Captain,
leaving Webster and Hume in charge, went also to his cabin, falling
almost immediately into a sound sleep. The small hours of the night
passed anxiously to the two officers who patrolled the poop of the
_Irene_ in silence, listening for any sound that would indicate the
whereabouts of the stranger. There was, however, no sign of her
presence, and when the intense darkness of the night began to fade
before the dawn, a thick, white, low-lying mist wrapped the ship as in
an impenetrable cloak.
Webster, to get a view over the mist, if possible, went aloft, his
figure soon becoming blurred, and after a long stay, descended rapidly.
"She is near us," he said in an excited whisper to Hume. "Waken the
Captain. We could slip away without being seen."
Very soon Captain Pardoe climbed on board, and heard what his Lieutenant
had to say.
"I should judge her position to be about a mile on the starboard beam,
and she is steaming ahead at eight knots. If the mist doesn't lift we
could easily slip her by making a nor'-west course."
"Which way is the wind? Ah! blowing across to her. She would hear us
getting under way. We'll lie close awhile; but do you, meanwhile, Mr
Hume, rouse the crew; see they have a nip to warm them up, and get them
to their quarters quickly and in silence. Is all in readiness on board
the ship, Mr Webster?"
"Yes, sir--except the crew."
"I'll take a look at her myself;" and the Captain went heavily into the
rattlins.
There was a movement on the _Swift_ as the men presently went to their
stations, and a sound of murmuring voices, followed, presently, by the
rush of escaping steam from both vessels as the fires were stirred. A
few minutes more, and the stranger would put himself out of hearing.
The engineer stood in readiness to set the screw in motion, and men were
at hand ready to throw off the lashings which moored the catcher to the
_Irene_. Suddenly, however, the mist began rapidly to melt, showing in
an instant almost a wide stretch of grey water.
The Captain reached the deck with a bound, just as the notes of a
boatswain's whistle came faintly over the still waters from beyond the
melting mist.
"She has seen us," said the Captain hoarsely.
As he spoke, there appeared the blurred outline of a big ship, about a
mile and a half distant, over the starboard stern, and the next instant
she stood out, broadside on, just as she came round, with tall masts,
and lofty sides of gleaming white.
"She has caught us, Captain," said Webster quietly; "and we could easily
have got away in the night."
The Captain turned on his heels with a stormy look on his face, and
walked a few steps, when he stood with his eyes bent on the deck. Then
he threw his head up, gazed keenly at the cruiser, and when he faced
Webster again his mind was made up.
"On board," he cried, waving his hand to the catcher, and in a moment
was on the deck of the smaller ship.
"Madam and men," he said in his deep tones, "the ship we saw last night
is, I fear, a cruiser of the Brazilian navy. She is near us, and if she
is an enemy we are in danger. The blame is mine. I should have kept on
instead of remaining to save this vessel."
Miss Anstrade made as though she would speak, but the Captain waved his
hand.
"Madam--Miss Laura--no words you could say would add to the regret I
feel. But there is no time. I have brought you into this peril, and
please God I will deliver you. I want nine men to fight this ship. Who
volunteers?"
There was a moment's pause as the men looked at one another, then the
Quartermaster stood out.
"We are all yours, Captain; to the last man."
"Ay, ay," came the response.
A dull flush crept into the Captain's face. "Thank you, men," he said
quietly; "but I want nine only. Quartermaster, select eight. Mr Hume,
help Miss Anstrade on board. Mr Webster, take command of the _Irene_,
and make full steam as soon as I engage the cruiser."
The men lingered reluctantly, and Miss Anstrade, with heaving breast,
stood looking at the Captain.
"Quick, Mr Hume," said the Captain, and at the same moment he took Miss
Anstrade by the hand and led her to the ladder. "I am very sorry," he
said; then his hand was seized by a sailor, and all the men in turn
wrung his hand as they passed.
He looked round, and saw Webster standing by the engineer.
"Come, Jim, my boy," he said to the Lieutenant, "it is your duty to save
Miss Anstrade."
Webster moved forward with a strange look in his face.
"Remember Loo," he said hoarsely, "and let me stay here."
"It cannot be, my lad. Good-bye, my boy, good-bye, and tell her I did
what she would expect me to. Up." He almost forced Webster to the
ladder, then turned.
"Mr Dixon," he said, and looked at the engineer. "If I could spare you
I would, for it's death before us."
The engineer smiled softly.
"I am not sorry, Captain," he said, "for I understand."
He took one last look round at the wide sea and crimson heavens, then
his lips moved, he turned to grasp the Captain's outstretched hand, and
the two men looked into one another's eyes.
A pale figure of a man slipped out of the door and made furtively for
the steps.
"Mr Commins,"--the Captain's hand was laid upon his arm--"you will stay
with me, for your scheming nature and coward heart have brought us to
this."
Mr Commins trembled beneath the gloomy eyes turned upon him, cast one
imploring look at the faces above, then, without a word, allowed the
Captain to lead him to the cabin door.
The sound of a gun broke with relief upon the strained nerves of the
spectators.
"Cut the moorings!"
Silently the men on the _Irene_ cut through the ropes, and the _Swift_
floated free.
There was another sullen report, and a shell tore through the tall
rigging of the _Irene_.
The big, white cruiser, with a cloud of smoke hanging about her sides,
was leisurely steaming up about half a mile distant, and there was no
question of her nature, nor of the ferocity of her commander, who could
ruthlessly open fire for sheer devilment on a defenceless ship, for the
_Swift_ was up to the present completely hidden.
What must have been the astonishment of her people when, following their
last shot, there broke from the blockade-runner a murmur of cheering as
every soul on board cracked his throat in sending up a loud hurrah for
the _Swift_ and her gallant crew; and when, immediately afterwards,
there shot out from the shadow of the _Irene_ a long, low grey craft.
When the hunter, coming upon the dead quarry he had wounded earlier in
the day, suddenly discovers, crouching behind, the striped body of the
tiger, his feeling of dismay, perhaps, would be the same.
"Captain! Captain!" cried Miss Anstrade, "what are you doing? Ah,
heaven, I see it now; may the saints preserve him!" She caught hold of
a rope, and stood looking from the catcher to the towering battleship,
with its broadside pierced for heavy guns, and its decks crowded with
men.
"Oh," she said, "it is cruel!"
Captain Pardoe stood on the bridge before entering the conning-tower,
his glass to his eyes, and his feet braced apart. Then he turned and
waved his hand to the _Irene_, bringing it to his mouth in a trumpet.
"Steam away at full speed, and make for Cape Verde. Good-bye."
Another cheer, strangely hoarse, broke from the _Irene_, and was
responded to by the men on the catcher, and a moment later the four-inch
gun opened fire with a roar. The smaller guns spoke, and the whole five
of them flashed out shot after shot, making such a volume of smoke that
the low ship was at once completely hidden from those on the _Irene_.
"My God," murmured Webster, "why did I not stay with him?"
"Don't let his sacrifice be in vain," said Hume, touching Webster on the
shoulder. "He will be happier if he knows we can escape."
"It is terrible, Frank; I cannot give the order. Do so yourself."
Hume sadly went to the bridge and gave the order for full speed ahead,
but the _Irene_ had not gone a mile when, as though by common consent,
the steamer slowed down, and everyone on board, even to the stokers,
crowded on to the stern poop to watch the unequal battle, letting the
steamer drift as she liked.
The cruiser had made not the slightest attempt to stop the _Irene_, for
the storm of shot bursting in a sudden upon her, when she was in the
full security of conscious strength, had plunged her into a state of
wild confusion. At the first smash and yell of the missiles along her
sides and through her tall rigging, there had been a wild rush from her
decks as the terrified crew sought shelter from the mysterious enemy,
and their panic was increased by the fierce bombardment which the
catcher poured in from her five quick-firing guns at the rate of thirty
shots a minute. They saw approaching a revolving cloud of smoke, out of
which there flashed flames of fire, and the cruiser fairly turned and
fled, pouring in a scattering broadside which went wide of the mark.
When the _Irene_ slowed down, the cruiser, about two miles distant, was
steaming on a south-west course, and the _Swift_ was turning under cover
of her smoke, which hung low on the water. The men on the derelict
raised cheer on cheer in a state of great exultation.
"It is magnificent," said Miss Anstrade, with shining eyes. "Why don't
you cheer, Mr Webster?" and she gave out a ringing cry.
"It is too good to be true," murmured the Lieutenant, as he anxiously
watched the cruiser. "Ah, I feared so. See, he is coming round."
The stately white ship, making a wide sweep to port, came round, letting
go her broadside of six guns and her two heavy bow chasers before she
steadied on a course which would bring her very soon opposite the
_Irene_. The water about the _Swift_ was torn up, and she heeled over
to the shock.
"She is struck!"
"Good God, she is sinking!"
"No; hurrah! she is righting."
Miss Anstrade covered her face with her hands, then threw them from her
with a passionate gesture, while Webster and Hume stood by with white,
set faces.
The _Swift_ had pointed her bows at the cruiser, and was firing now only
with her four-inch, at the same time steaming slowly astern, as though
waiting for some opening.
The contrast between the combatants was most striking, as the _Swift_
lay broadside on to the _Irene_, a long, low, grey line on the great
waste, while, though further off, the high bows of the cruiser, her
lofty decks and towering spars, loomed vast and terrible.
"God's truth!" cried one sailor, smashing his brawny fist against the
bulwarks, in a fury; "it's wrong; it's a shame; they're not matched!"
"Watch him; he's porting his helm."
The cruiser was now altering her course, and the water was piled up as
she turned a few points to port, bringing her bow chasers to bear on the
_Swift_.
"They'll rake the _Swift_ fore and aft; sweep her guns away," muttered
Webster, moistening his lips.
"Look! there he goes! God bless the Captain! Hurrah for our mates!"
The _Swift_ suddenly moved ahead, and gaining way from the tremendous
power of her engines, leapt towards her huge opponent. That moment the
heavy guns roared, but the shells missed their prey by a few feet. As
it was the two funnels were sheered off as though they had been cut, and
the fragments whirled aloft. Then the catcher's guns maintained a
furious fire as she swept on, but the cruiser, completing her manoeuvre,
went round to port, and from her bow to her stern her broadside guns
thundered one after the other.
A shudder, a hoarse murmur of grief, ran round the group on the _Irene_.
Out of the smoke the _Swift_ swept to leeward, rolling heavily. Her
long gun had been torn away from its fastenings and thrown across the
ship, the shields about the twelve-pounders were battered down, and the
brave men who had served them were stretched motionless.
Her guns were silenced. There remained yet her torpedoes, but were
there any left to work them?
The cruiser was still going round to bring her port broadside to bear,
and it all depended now whether Captain Pardoe could turn the _Swift_,
carry her under the stern of the enemy, and discharge his torpedoes.
But the _Swift_ rolled heavily, and at the moment when she should have
turned to starboard her bows went round.
"Her steering gear has been injured," said Webster, with a groan.
Out of the raffle, forward by the conning-tower, a man appeared, and
with a perceptible stagger reeled aft to the wheel, which had escaped
uninjured.
"'Tis the Quartermaster," whispered the men.
From the cruiser's deck men fired at him, but he reached the wheel, and
threw his strength into it.
Then on the shattered portion of the bridge there stood the figure of
the Captain. A moment he looked around him, then above his head to the
summit of a single bare pole on board there mounted a black ball, and
there streamed out the red and blue of the Union Jack!
Both ships came round, the _Swift_ stem on, and the cruiser with her
broadside.
The six guns flashed together in one thunderous roar, the _Swift_ seemed
to shrink at the shock, her decks were swept, the bridge torn to
fragments; then she leapt forward and buried her ram in the body of her
great enemy. Through iron and wood the spur of steel forced its way,
and the splinters and crash could be heard above the fierce lashings of
the screws and the wild cries of the crew.
For a breathless pause the catcher battered at the wound she had made;
then she was swept round against the side of the cruiser, and sunk stern
foremost. Into the whirlpool made the cruiser dipped her wounded side,
her decks came over at first slowly to the weight of rushing water;
then, with a mighty smash her masts struck the sea and she turned bottom
up; there was a flash of shining copper, and then the waves above her
closed, with a rush, and there was nothing but tossing foam to mark
where the two antagonists had gone down, almost locked together in their
last deadly embrace.