Blue Jackets Part 40

"Then they have not set fire to the vessels," he cried decisively.

"Pirates, without a doubt. Those are stink-pots that they have been getting ready. Go on watching, and report anything else."

A noise below, familiar enough, with its rattle and splash, told me that an anchor had been dropped from the bows; and as the _Teaser_ slowly swung round from the force of the tide, I also had to turn, so as to keep the telescope fixed upon the enemy, who were as busy as ever, though what they were doing I could not make out. The flashes of light came more frequently, though, as the sun played upon their weapons; and now I had something else to report--that they had both a.s.sumed a different position, being lifted by the tide and floated upon an even keel.

My first idea was, that now they would sail on beyond our reach; in fact, one moved a good deal, but the other stopped in its place, so that at last they were so close together that they seemed to touch.

"Make out the boats?" came from the deck.

"No, sir; they're close under the bank." Yes, I caught a glimpse of the marines' bayonets just then.

"How far are they away from the junks, do you think?"

"I can't tell, sir; about a quarter of a mile, I think."

Mr Reardon was silent while I gazed intently at a patch of open water just beyond a curve of the bank, hoping to see the boats there, though I felt that as soon as they reached that spot, if the enemy had not seen them before, they would be certain to then, for beyond that the junks lay clearly to be seen from where I sat.

"Well? See the boats?" came from the deck.

"No, sir, not yet."

I glanced down to answer, and could see that every one who possessed a gla.s.s was gazing anxiously aft, the only face directed up to me being the first lieutenant's. Then my eye was at the gla.s.s again.

"More smoke from the junks, sir," I cried; but there was no sign of fire, and I felt that Mr Reardon must be right, for if they had set a light to the inflammable wood of the vessels, they would have blazed up directly.

"Can't you see the boats yet?" cried the first lieutenant impatiently, and his voice sounded as if he were blaming me.

"No, sir, but the junks are more out in the middle of the stream. I can see them quite clearly now, away from the trees. They are crowded with men, and--"

"The boats--the boats?"

"No, sir;--yes, hurrah! There they go, sir, all abreast, straight for the junks."

"Ha!" came in one long heavy breath from below, as if all left on board had suddenly given vent to their pent-up feelings.

"How far are they away from the junks?" cried Mr Reardon.

"About two hundred yards, sir; you'll see them directly."

"Yes, I see them now, sir," cried Barkins, who was a little way up the mizzen-shrouds, where I had not seen him before.

"Silence!" cried the captain sternly. "Go on, Mr Herrick; report."

"Smoke from the junks, sir--white," I cried, and the words were hardly out of my mouth when there came the report of guns--first one and then another; then two together; and I fancied that I could see the water splashing up round about the boats, but I could not be sure.

"Boats separating," I shouted.

"Go on."

"Pulling hard for the junks."

"Yes, go on; report everything."

I needed no orders, for I was only too eager to tell everything I saw.

"Two boats have gone to the right; two to the left.--More firing from the junks.--Boats separating more.--Two going round behind.--Both out of sight."

By this time, in addition to the sharp reports of the small guns on board the junks, the sharper crackle of matchlocks and muskets had begun; but so far I had not seen a puff of smoke from our boats.

"Are our men firing?"

"No, sir; the two boats I can see are pulling straight now for the junks.--Now the water splashes all about them."

"Yes? Hit?"

"Don't think so, sir.--Now.--Ah!"

"What--what is it, boy?"

"Can't see anything, sir; they've rowed right into the smoke."

My hands which held the telescope were quite wet now with the excitement of the scene I had tried to describe to my superior officer, and I thrust the gla.s.s under my left arm, and rubbed them quickly on my handkerchief, as I gazed at the distant smoke, and listened to the crackle of musketry alone, for the guns had now ceased from fire.

This I felt must be on account of the boats coming to closer quarters, and then to the men boarding. But I could see nothing but the smoke, and I raised the gla.s.s to my eye again.

Still nothing but smoke. I fancied, though, that the firing was different--quicker and sharper--as if our men must have begun too.

"Well, Mr Herrick?" now came from below. "Surely you can see how the fight is going on?"

"No, sir, nothing but smoke,--Yes," I cried excitedly, "it's lifting now, and floating away to the left. I can see close up to the junks.

Yes; now the decks. Our right boat is empty, and there is a great fight going on upon the junk."

"And the other?"

"There are two boats close up, and our men are firing. There is black smoke coming out of one boat. Now the men are climbing up, and--now, the smoke is too thick there."

"Go on, boy; go on," shouted the first lieutenant, stamping about, while the captain stood perfectly still, gazing at the rising smoke, from the bridge.

"They seem to be fighting very hard, sir," I said, trembling now like a leaf. "I can see quite a crowd, and that some of the people are in white."

"But who is getting the best of it?"

"I can't see, sir," I said sadly.

"Then for goodness' sake come down, and let some one else come up,"

roared Mr Reardon.

"Yes, sir."

"No, no; stay where you are, boy. But use your gla.s.s--use your gla.s.s."