He ran aft with the bar, scintillating faintly in the sunlight, and handed it to the captain, who bent down once more to take aim, when—crash!—a shot struck the stern between wind and water, after ricocheting along the surface. The next instant they saw a brilliant flash, heard a roar as of thunder; and as a dense cloud of smoke arose there was a great gap in the deck on the starboard side close to the cabin-hatch, and the boys grasped the fact instantly that the lugger’s little powder magazine had been blown up, while, as they stared aghast at the mischief, and the men making for the boats, the mizen-mast with its heavy sail slowly dropped over the side and lay upon the water, with the effect that it acted like a rudder, and drew the unfortunate vessel round, head to wind.
The disorder among the crew only lasted a few minutes; their discipline was to the front again, Jacques giving his orders and the men obeying promptly.
“She is not going down, my lads,” he cried; “ze fire all come upvard. You need not take to ze boats, for ze cutter vould follow and take you. Zere: ze game is up. Ve could fight, but vat good? You see La Belle-Marie can do no more. Vat you say? Shall ve fight?”
“If you like, skipper,” said the mate quietly; “but if we do the cutter will only stand off a bit and sink us. We couldn’t get away.”
“Non” said Jacques: “luck is against us zis time. I sank you, my brave lads, and I like you too vell to go lose your life for nossing. Ve must strike.”
The men gave him a faint cheer, and crowded round to hold out their hands.
“But we will fight if you like, skipper,” cried one who made himself spokesman.
“I know, my lad,” said Jacques. “Good boys all. Ve nevaire had a coward on board ze Belle-Marie.”
Meanwhile the cutter was coming up fast, and a few minutes after two boats boarded them full of sailors and marines, when the first thing done was to send a boat-load of prisoners, which included the captain, Vince and Mike, on board the cutter.