By this time the vessels were some twenty yards apart.
“See!” exclaimed Billy Bowsprit, “they are loading the cannon on board the Falcon.”
Only dimly through the night shadows could the deck of the brig be seen; for now the last vestige of daylight had departed.
Some of the men who belonged to the Duchess were enabled to assist in loading the two cannon; for Captain Johnson had expressed his determination that, if a shot was fired from the pirate-brig, he would, as before, return them two for one.
“The two shots which I fired at the moment of their boarding us,” he said to Coe, “made a good-sized hole in their hull just above the water-mark; and they must have taken in considerable water through it, during the tossing and pitching of the brig. I will make another hole in their timbers if they fire at me again.”
Even while he spoke a shot came from the Falcon. It was fired, probably, by the skilful hand of Seacome; for it again carried away a part of the guards. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Captain Johnson quickly responded with his two guns. His object was to strike the enemy’s hull, near where his last two shots had struck; and he probably did so, for, in a few moments afterwards—by the light of the lamps on board the Falcon—men were seen hurrying to and fro in apparently great excitement. Loud tones were also heard, seemingly giving orders.
All who were on the deck of the Duchess stood still, listening and watching.
“Your shot must have done them serious damage,” said Coe, at length, to Captain Johnson; “the excitement seems to increase.”
“It seems to me,” said Billy Bowsprit, who was watching things sharply, “the Falcon is settling in the water.”