Fitz the Filibuster Part 76

"Well?" said the skipper sharply.

"No, ill--for them; she's completely fast ash.o.r.e in the midst of a regular wilderness of rocks that hardly peep above the surface; and as far as I could make out with my spygla.s.s, they are not likely to get off again. They seem to know it too, for when I began to come down they had got three boats manned on the other side, and I left them putting off as if they were coming up here."

"Again?" said the skipper thoughtfully.

"Yes; to take it out of us, I suppose, for what we've done. How would it be to turn the tables on them and make a counter attack?"

"Granting that we should win," said the skipper, "it would mean half our men wounded; perhaps three or four dead. I can't afford that, Burgess."

"No," said the mate abruptly. "Better stop here and give them what they seem to want. I think we can do that."

"Yes," said the skipper. "All aboard; and look sharp, Burgess. Let's be as ready for them as we can. The fight will be more desperate this time, I'm afraid."

"Not you," said the mate, with a chuckle, as he sprang on deck. "Well, my lads, you did wonders last night. How did you like your job?"

"Not at all," cried Fitz, laughing. "It was too wet."

The mate smiled, and the next minute he was hard at work helping the skipper to prepare to give the Spaniards a warm reception, taking it for granted that it would not be long before they arrived, burning for revenge.

The preparations were much the same as were made before, but with this addition, that the carpenter, looking as fresh as if he had pa.s.sed the night in his bunk, was hard at work with four men, lashing spare spars to the shrouds, so as to form a stout rail about eighteen inches above the bulwarks, to which the netting was firmly attached.

There was no question this time about arming the crew with rifles, for every one felt that success on the part of Villarayo's men would mean no quarter.

"Then you mean this to be a regular fight?" Fitz whispered to Poole, after watching what was going on for some time.

"Why, of course! Why not?"

"Oh, I don't like the idea of killing people," said Fitz, wrinkling up his forehead.

"Well, I don't," said Poole, laughing. "I don't like killing anything.

I should never have done for a butcher, but I would a great deal rather kill one of Villarayo's black-looking ruffians than let him kill me."

"But do you think they really would ma.s.sacre us?" said Fitz. "They can't help looking ruffianly."

"No, but they have got a most horribly bad character. Father and I have heard of some very ugly things that they have done in some of their fights. They are supposed to be civilised, and I dare say the officers are all right; but if you let loose a lot of half-savage fellows armed with knives and get their blood up, I don't think you need expect much mercy. They needn't come and interfere with us unless they like, but if they come shouting and striking at us they must take the consequences."

"Yes, I suppose so," said Fitz; "but it seems a pity."

"Awful," replied Poole; "but there always has been war, and people take a deal of civilising before they give it up. And they don't seem to then," said the lad, with a dry smile.

"No," said Fitz; and the little discussion came to an end.

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE.

WORSE THAN EVER.

"This is bad, my lads," said the skipper, joining the boys.

"What's wrong, father?" said Poole. "Why, it's close upon sundown, and it begins to look as if they are going to steal upon us in the dark, which will give them a lot of advantage. I would rather have been able to see what we are about. What an evening, though, for a fight! I have journeyed about the islands and Central America a good deal, and it is nearly all beautiful, but this river and its cliffs, seen in the warm glow, is just my idea of a perfect paradise. Look at the sky, with those gorgeous clouds! Look at the river, reflecting all their beauties! And the trees and shrubs, looking darker in the shades, and in the light as if they had suddenly burst forth into bloom with dazzling golden flowers. And here we are going to spoil everything with savage bloodshed."

"We are not, Captain Reed," said Fitz sharply; "you would not fire a shot if you were not obliged."

"Not even a blank cartridge, my boy," said the skipper, laying his hand upon the middy's shoulder. "I loathe it, and I feel all of a shiver at the thought of my brave lads being drilled with bullets or hacked with knives. If it comes to it--and I am afraid it will--"

"I say, father, don't talk of trembling and being afraid!" said Poole reproachfully.

"Why not, my boy?"

"Because I don't know what Fitz Burnett will think."

"Whatever he thinks he'll know that I am speaking the truth. But I say, lad," continued the skipper, gripping the middy's shoulder tightly; "you'll help me, won't you?"

"Haven't I forgotten myself enough, sir?" said Fitz, in a tone as full of reproach as that of Poole.

"No, my boy. I think you have behaved very bravely; and I don't think, if your superior officer knew all, that he would have much to say. But I don't want you to fight. I mean, help me after the trouble's over; I mean, turn a.s.sistant-surgeon when I take off my jacket."

"Yes, that I will," cried Fitz. "I ought to be getting ready some bandages and things now."

"Oh, I think I've got preparations enough of that sort made," said the skipper; "and there is still a chance that we may not want them. Hah!

That hope's gone. Ahoy! bosun! Let them have the pipe."

Old b.u.t.ters's silver whistle rang out shrill and clear, but only called one man to his duty, and that was the Camel, who came tumbling out of the galley and gave the door a bang.

Every one else was on the alert, watching a boat coming round the bend, followed by two more, crowded with armed men whose oars sent the water splashing up like so much liquid gold. The fight began at once, for the skipper had given his instructions.

These he supplemented now with a sharp order which was followed by the crack of a rifle echoing from cliff to cliff, and Fitz, who had run towards the stern to look over, was in time to see that the skipper's comment, "Good shot, my lad!" was well deserved, for one of the officers in the stern-sheets of the first boat sprang up and would have gone overboard but for the efforts of his men, who caught and lowered him back amidst a little scene of confusion and a cessation of the rowing.

Another shot rang out and there was more confusion, the way of the leading boat being stopped; but the orders issued in the other boats were plainly heard on board the schooner; oars splashed more rapidly, and once more all three boats were coming on fast.

"Fire!" cried the skipper, and with slow regularity shot after shot rang out, to be followed by a ragged volley from the enemy, the bullets whizzing overhead and pattering amongst the rigging of the well-moored vessel, but doing no real harm.

"Keep it up steadily, my lads," shouted the skipper. "No hurry. One hit is worth five hundred misses. We mustn't let them board if we can keep them back. Go on firing till they are close up, and then cutla.s.ses and bars."

But in spite of the steady defence the enemy came on, showing no sign of shrinking, firing rapidly and responding to their officers' orders with savage defiant yells, while shots came thick and fast, the two lads growing so excited as they watched the fray that they forgot the danger and the nearness of the enemy coming on.

"They are showing more pluck this time, Burgess," said the skipper, taking out his revolver and unconsciously turning the chambers to see that all was right.

"Yes," growled the mate. "It's a horrible nuisance, for I don't want to fight. But we've made rather a mess of it, after all."

"What do you mean?" said the skipper. "Ought to have dropped that other anchor."

"Why?" said the skipper sharply. "Because they may row right up and cut us adrift."

"Yes," said the skipper quietly; "it would have been as well. Take a rifle and go forward if they try to pa.s.s us, and pick off every man who attempts to cut the cable."

"All right," replied the mate; "I will if there is time. But in five minutes we shall be busy driving these chaps back into their boats, and they will be swarming up the sides like so many monkeys."