I made my way amidst the shower of shot and bullets and falling blocks, and the horrible din of battle, to the forecastle, where, to my great joy, I saw Mr Falconer directing the foremost guns. Dick at the same moment caught sight of me.
“Charley,” he exclaimed, “what business have you here? Go back, boy, and tell the ladies we are all right, and will make the pirate sheer off before long, if we don’t take her.”
I hurried below with the satisfactory intelligence. Miss Kitty kissed me when I told her I had seen Mr Falconer, and I was somewhat afraid that Mrs Podgers would bestow the same reward upon me when I said that the captain was unhurt.
“I wish he would make haste and sink the ship which has frightened us so much,” she observed. “It is a shame that those sort of people should be allowed to live.”
Mrs Podgers did not consider that the Spaniards would probably have said the same of us.
We heard our ship fire several broadsides in rapid succession; then all was silent.
Supposing that the fight was over, I persuaded Miss Kitty again to allow me to run on deck. Reaching it, I caught sight, a short distance off, of the tall masts and sails of the enemy’s ship.
At that moment loud cheers burst from the throats of our crew. Gradually the dark sails of our antagonist appeared to be sinking, and wild shrieks and cries came across the waters towards us. Lower and lower the sails sank, and in another minute the spot occupied by the pirate was vacant—she had disappeared beneath the waves. No boat was sent to help the drowning wretches. Mr Falconer proposed going to their assistance.
“No, no!” exclaimed the captain; “they would have robbed us or sent us to the bottom; they don’t deserve our pity.”
“But they are fellow-creatures, and we should try and save their lives,” exclaimed the mate.