Part 26 (1/2)
”But war when it is a necessity ought to be carried on in as humane a fas.h.i.+on as is possible.”
”With people like this? Bah! Why, if they once get aboard they will spear us to a man, or batter our heads with their war clubs.”
”They would if they could,” said Murray quietly.
”They will, I tell you,” said Roberts excitedly.
”No, they will not, old chap, for the skipper won't let them.”
”Oh, you!” exclaimed Roberts, who stamped one foot down upon the deck in his excitement. ”Why, you are as foolish as our officers.”
”Speak gently, or some one will be hearing you,” said Murray quietly.
”I want some one to hear me!” exclaimed the lad. ”We are giving all our chances away.”
”That we are not! I've been trying to calculate how we shall stand for distance when the _Seafowl_ glides off on the other tack.”
”So have I,” cried Roberts furiously, ”and it will be with the crews of two of those war canoes on board spearing and stabbing us.”
”Indeed!” said Murray, in quite a drawl. ”That doesn't agree with my calculation. I make it that they will be about fifty yards astern, and beyond spear-throwing distance.”
”And I tell you that you are all wrong, Frank.”
”Well, one of us is, old chap, for certain.”
”You!” said Roberts emphatically. ”No, I think not, old fellow. You see, too, that I have the skipper's opinion on my side.”
”The skipper's opinion isn't worth a pinch of powder. He's a crack-brained lunatic. Here, what do you mean by that?”
”Only to turn my hand into a tompion to stop your fiery, foolish words, old fellow,” replied Murray. ”You'd look nice if any one carried your remarks to the captain.”
”I'm only doing my duty, sir, and am trying to save our s.h.i.+p from the attack of these savages who are bearing down upon us.”
”And setting your knowledge of navigation and the management of the _Seafowl_ above that of the captain.”
”I tell you I have lost faith in the skipper.”
”Of the lieutenant--”
”He does not see our peril.”
”And the wisdom of our old and experienced warrant officers,” continued Murray.
”There,” said the mids.h.i.+pman, ”look at that! Not a shot fired, and those two leading canoes abreast of us. There'll be a ma.s.sacre directly.”
”Bravo!” whispered Murray excitedly. ”Wonderfully done! You miserable old croaker, wasn't that splendid?”
A minute before, the lad who had remained cool and self-contained during what seemed to be a perilous time, had watched without comprehending the action of the forward guns' crews, who, in obedience to the orders given by the first lieutenant, seized upon the capstan bars and stood ready to starboard and port, waiting for something antic.i.p.ated.
Then as the _Seafowl_ answered to her helm and Roberts was turning frantic with excitement as he felt that the savages were bound to be aboard directly, the sloop careened over from the force of the breeze when her course was altered, there was a dull cras.h.i.+ng sound and her stem cut one long war canoe in two amids.h.i.+ps, leaving the halves gliding alongside in company with some fifty or sixty struggling and swimming naked savages, some of whom began to climb aboard by the stays, others by the fore chains; but as each fierce black head rose into sight, there was a tap given by a well-wielded capstan bar, and black after black dropped back into the water, to glide astern, stunned or struggling, to be picked up by his companions in the second boat, which was being overtaken by others, bristling with spears, while the vessel was a cable's length ahead and steadily increasing its speed.