The reports of the guns evidently aroused the attention of the forts on the north shore, for our successful adventurers beheld lights moving along the front of the battery; but as it was impossible for those on the battery to know what was the cause of the firing, and the darkness of the night rendering the lugger almost imperceptible, she ran past unsuspected. Bill Saunders, with our hero’s help, set the mizen, and under these two sails the Vengeance ran out rapidly into the outer road. They did not expect to see the Diamond at anchor after the events of the day, but fully expected, as they ran off the land and daylight came, to see her either lying to or standing off and on.
“What shall I do with the two vagabonds forward?” questioned Bill, coming aft to take the tiller; “one is dead, and the other has an ugly clip over the left eye. Your honour hits hard; I seed him catch it as he drove his boarding pike at your breast. There are two others below; I can work these lubbers on deck and make them lend a hand.”
“Let us run three or four miles out, Bill; we can then lie to for daylight. You can, however, put the dead man overboard, and we will see what we can do for the one that is wounded. Just go and see if you can find a lantern. I should be glad if you could also lay your hand upon something stronger than water. I have lost some blood and feel a little fagged; nothing to signify though.”
“We want to splice the main brace, your honour, after our scrimmage, and mayhap I may find a keg of brandy;” and Bill dived down below, and after a good search found plenty of wine and some brandy in the steward’s lockers, besides three or four days’ provisions.
A little brandy and biscuit refreshed both our hero and his follower. The night continued dark and the breeze very fresh, shifting as they cleared the outward harbour, blowing partly along the coast. The Vengeance was one of the fastest and handsomest privateer luggers out of a French port. She was above one hundred and sixty tons, and remarkably well provided with every requisite.
Bill taking the tiller, our hero proceeded with a lighted lantern to explore the cabin. He discovered the late skipper’s stock of garments, and a locker full of pistols; but no store anywhere in the cabin of powder and ball. Returning upon deck, he found Bill consoling himself with a large lump of salt beef and a bottle of wine.
“She’s a very fine craft, sir,” said Saunders, “and slips through the water under her fore-lug, though only half hoisted, like a witch. It was nearly up with us, sir, only for the knife.”
“In truth it was, Bill! Such events should teach us never to despair, and that there is a Providence always watching over us. Now if we cannot make out the Diamond we must make a run across the Channel. Rouse up those two fellows in the fore cuddy to help us to make sail, hunger will freshen them up if they should turn sulky.”
“What’s that smoke?” continued our hero, rather startled at seeing a wreath of smoke issuing from the fore cuddy; “run forward, Bill, and see what those fellows are about, they cannot have been so mad as to fire the craft!”
Saunders rushed forward, and as he did so the two Frenchmen staggered up on deck, and seeing Bill alone threw their arms round his neck, strove to drag him down, and to stick him with their open knives; smoke and flame at the same time bursting up through the hatch.