Bang! barked the bow gun, a moment later. Over aboard the stranger there was a crash, a tearing sound, and then her foretopmast toppled, hanging loosely in place by the stays.
"That'll stop her, I reckon." chuckled Jack Benson.
And "stop her" it did. There was no choice but to stop. This gunboat of the United States Navy was in a position to shoot every standing stick out of the schooner, if provoked too far, and the legal right to go to such lengths existed.
"Stranger is heaving to, sir," reported Ensign Somers.
"Very good, Mr. Somers. Order the power launch lowered. Put off as quickly as possible."
"Very good, sir."
Ensign Fullerton hastened back to the bridge, to assume command, while
Hal hastings stood by him.
Boat-handlers and armed sailors and marines scampered over the side. Down the gangway followed Jack and Eph, looking very stately as they held their swords clear of their legs. Busily the launch chugged across the intervening water gap.
"Schooner, ahoy!" hailed Eph, as the launch ran in alongside "What craft is that?"
"Schooner 'Malta,' Cooper, master, from Sidney, N.S.," came the reply of a man at the after rail.