“There’s a small craft close aboard of us on our larboard beam, sir!” followed by a confused rush of feet along a ship’s deck, and an order to “put the helm hard a-starboard, and call the captain!”
These sounds appeared to be so close aboard of us that I involuntarily braced myself against the expected impact of the two vessels; but the next moment, through the dense fog, I saw the faint glimmer of a light opening out clear of our foremast, saw a huge, dark, shapeless blot go drifting away on to our port bow, and heard a sharp hail from the stranger.
“Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?”
“The Dolphin, privateer, of Weymouth. What ship is that?” answered the skipper.
“The Hoogly, East Indiaman; Calcutta to London. Can you tell me whereabouts we are?”
“Thirty-six miles south-by-west of Portland Bill,” answered the skipper.
“Much obliged to you, sir,” came the faint acknowledgment from the Indiaman, already out of sight again in the fog. This was followed by some further communication—apparently a question, from the tone of voice,—but the two vessels had by this time drawn so far apart from each other that the words were unintelligible, and the captain made no endeavour to reply; coming aft again and resuming his former position near the binnacle.
He and I were still discussing in low tones our narrow escape from a disastrous collision, some ten minutes having elapsed since we had lost sight of the Hoogly, when suddenly a faint crash was heard, somewhere away on our port quarter, immediately followed by shouts and cries, and a confused popping of pistols, which lasted about a minute; when all became as suddenly silent again.
“Hillo!” ejaculated the skipper, turning hastily to the binnacle, as the first sounds were heard, and taking the bearing of them, as nearly as possible; “there’s something wrong with the Indiaman; it sounds very much as though one of the rascally, prowling, French lugger privateers had run him aboard and—”
“D’ye hear that rumpus away out on the larboard quarter, sir?” hailed one of the men on the forecastle.