Part 23 (1/2)

”'We must try to frighten them, at all events,' he said. 'It won't do to let a band of ruffians come aboard and frighten Miss O'Regan, and perhaps carry off the colonel, if they have any accusation against him.'

”I told him that must depend on what the Spaniards knew about the brig.

It wasn't likely that two men-of-war could be frightened off by a merchantman, though we had four guns and might put a bold face on the matter.

”The other mids.h.i.+pmen now came forward, and stood with us watching the strangers. There was a chance, but only just a chance, that we should escape them. The skipper and the mates seemed to be in a great taking.

The corvette was coming up fast, and the brig of war not far astern of her, carrying all the sail they could set.

”The breeze still held, the corvette by this time was about a mile and a half away on our starboard bow; the skipper began to look as if we should do it, and I thought so too, when, just then, our sails began to hang down, and presently flapped loudly against the masts; the skipper gave a stamp with his foot on the deck, and swore a loud oath. There we lay becalmed, while the corvette and brig still felt the wind off the land.

”'It's all up with us, I'm afraid,' said I to Mr Rogers.

”'It's high time to show our teeth,' he answered.

”'Captain Crowhurst, you'll fight those fellows if they attempt to board us, won't you?' he said, going up to the skipper. 'If you will run all the guns over to starboard we can give them a broadside which ten to one will make them sheer off rather than get a further taste of our quality.'

”The skipper smiled grimly. 'But suppose they don't sheer off; depend on it they will cut the throats of every one of us when they come aboard. What do you say to that, my young gentleman?'

”'I'd run the risk rather than let the ruffians take the vessel from us,' answered Mr Rogers, turning away to speak to the colonel, who had that moment come on deck. He looked up at the canvas hanging idly down against the masts, and then at the strangers still creeping up towards us.

”The wind was leaving them as it had us, and he saw in a moment how matters stood.

”Mr Rogers told him that he and the other mids.h.i.+pmen were ready to fight and defend the brig to the last.

”'You're brave lads,' he answered. 'I thank you heartily. If Captain Crowhurst thinks there's a chance of beating them off we'll risk it, but otherwise, for the sake of my daughter, it would be dangerous to make the attempt.'

”'It's for her sake, sir, that we are anxious to fight,' answered Mr Rogers.

”'Captain Crowhurst, will your crew support you?' asked the colonel of the skipper, who had just gone up to him.

”'I doubt it,' he answered. 'The fellows are brave enough, but the odds are fearfully against us. I'll speak to them, and learn what humour they are in.'

”You'll understand I'd gone aft with the mids.h.i.+pmen. The skipper went forward, and we saw him speaking to the crew, who were cl.u.s.tered together, talking among each other.

”In my opinion the skipper himself hadn't much fighting in him, bold and bl.u.s.tering as he seemed. While he was forward the young lady came on deck. She judged by the mids.h.i.+pmen's countenances that something was wrong, though her father looked as stern and determined as usual.

”'I fear that you will be put to some inconvenience,' he said; 'those men-of-war I suspect are sent to overhaul the brig, and, becalmed as we are, we cannot escape them, but I am very sure that our young friends here will defend you from insult, and our enemies may be satisfied if they can get hold of the captain and me.'

”'That we will,' said all the mids.h.i.+pmen together.

”'Oh, my father, do not let me be separated from you. Where you go I will accompany you,' said Miss O'Regan.

”'But I hope that the colonel will not have to go anywhere,' exclaimed Mr Rogers. 'We must drive the fellows off if they attempt to board the brig.'

”'I thank you for your zeal and courage, young gentlemen,' said the colonel. 'You see, Stella, that you have brave defenders. I wish you to go below, and rest a.s.sured that we will do all that possibly can be done to secure your safety.'

”'But I am thinking about your safety, father,' said Miss O'Regan.

”'I have been too often in danger to be anxious about that,' he answered. 'Go below, and we'll let you know as soon as possible what is likely to happen.'

”Without saying another word the young lady did as the colonel told her.

I had been watching the men forward, and I soon saw by their looks that there was no fighting in them; presently three or four of them slipped below, the others, after saying a few more words to the skipper, followed, and I then knew that they had made up their minds not to fight; they had gone to put on their best clothes, and to stow their money away in their pockets, guessing that if the Spaniards boarded us they would to a certainty plunder the vessel.