CLOSING IN.
Dick, as soon as he had spoken to Carl, ran out of the cabin and took a hasty look over the side of the wreck.
The schooner was now so close that he could see the men on her decks plainly. Some were putting another charge in the small cannon at the bow, while several more were loading a similar cannon whose muzzle swung over the taffrail.
"They're going to keep it up, matey," announced Dick, as Carl stole out to him. "Pretty soon they'll put another shot into us."
"Meppy dey vas drying to shcare us oudt," returned Carl. "Oof Sixdy vants to safe der cargo oof der prig he vouldn't send her to der pottom."
There came another roar, this time from the cannon at the stern of the schooner. A round shot sailed over the top of the charthouse and dropped into the sea, far to leeward, sending up a small geyser of water.
"Ve can shtandt all dot kindt oof shooding dot dey gif us," said Carl.
"They'll not give us that kind right along, mate. I don't think they'll put any shells into us between wind and water, but they'll bang away at the deck houses."
By then the schooner had crossed the stern of the wreck and was making ready to tack about and come up on the other side.
"They're going to put a few shots into us from starboard," hazarded Dick.