Another and another followed, while the remaining ships took up a similar position and also opened fire. Though many of their shots went high or passed wide, one penetrated the bulwarks, killing two men and wounding three.
The master gunner, who had returned on board, besought our Captain to open fire.
"No," he replied resolutely. "We must grin and bear it awhile."
Just then a shot was fired from the Neptune. Possibly the captain of the gun had lost his nerve; but the shot was well aimed, for it struck the fore mast of the nearest buccaneer.
"A pest take it!" muttered Captain Jeremy, "that will ruin all my plans;" and springing on the poop he hailed the Neptune, to know why the gun had been discharged.
Fortunately the premature shot was not followed by others, though we expected it would be mistaken for the signal to commence firing; and for ten minutes longer we lay under a heavy fire from all the vessels.
Evidently the buccaneers did not wish to sink us, for they directed their fire principally at our spars and cordage. Once we were captured they would remove our stores and other valuable gear, and scuttle the ships, so as to leave no trace of their fiendish handiwork. Such has been the fate of many unfortunate merchantmen in West Indian waters, with hardly a fragment left afloat to tell the tale.
"Stand to it, my lads," shouted Captain Jeremy encouragingly. "Spars can be replaced and cordage refitted. They'll get tired of that game ere long. Lie down, all of you."
It was indeed a trying ordeal. We had already lost our foreyard, which had tumbled down across the fo'c'sle, bringing with it a litter of ropes, blocks, and torn canvas. Our spritsail yard, broken in two places, dangled from the bowsprit; while our mainmast was splintered from the futtock-shrouds to within ten feet of the deck. Several shots had torn gaping holes in our sides, and as a result four more dead men lay on our decks, while nearly a dozen badly wounded were carried below.
Nor was our consort in a better plight. Her fore topmast had been shot away early in the cannonade, her poop lanterns and part of the taffrail had disappeared, and several ominous dark holes were visible in her bulging yellow sides.