“Of course!” cried Rodd excitedly, and Morny uttered a suppressed hiss, as he pressed forward, sword in hand.
“Yes, gentlemen,” said Joe; “it’s their doing, and they must chance the crocs, for we must clear the vessel before it’s broad day.”
At that moment there was a crashing sound as if the cabin hatch was being forced open, and as Joe Cross, followed by the rest, dashed aft, there was a yell, a rush, and some eight or ten of the mongrel enemy forced their way on deck, to be met at once by the schooner’s crew, who charged at them as men-of-war’s men know how to charge.
There was a short encounter, the clash of steel against steel, and the fresh-comers who had taken refuge below began to give way, and in a couple of minutes more the deck was once more cleared, the splashing and plunging of swimming men making for the rapidly dimming light of the next schooner being followed by more blood-curdling yells and groans, mingled with cries for help, while a few minutes later a boat could be faintly seen and efforts were evidently being made to drag the swimmers on board.
“Now then for the gun!” cried Joe.
“What are you going to do?” asked Rodd, who with Morny kept close to the coxswain’s side.
“Fight, sir,” replied Cross fiercely, “before they begin to fight us. See to the other guns, my lads. The way’s open to the magazine now. It’ll be light directly, and that Spanish skipper won’t leave us long before he begins.—There, what did I say?”
For all at once the meaning of the Spaniards’ orders, enforced by a pistol shot, was explained by a bright flash, the roar of a heavy gun, and the whistle of a shot just over the speaker’s head.
A dead silence now fell for a few moments upon the deck of the Maid of Salcombe. There was a little bustle of preparation, and then a period of waiting, during which Joe Cross carefully sighted the loaded gun, depressing her muzzle all he could, the two lads the while listening excitedly to the stir and orders which came from the Spanish three-master’s deck.
“Oh, fire, Joe—fire!” whispered Rodd. “We shall have another shot from her directly.”