To mend the matter, Jonathan was
coming up hand over hand with the freshening breeze, under a press of
canvass; it was clear that escape was next to impossible.
"Clear away the larboard guns!" I absolutely jumped off the deck with
astonishment--who could have spoken it? It appeared such downright
madness to show fight under the very muzzles of the guns of an enemy, half
of whose broadside was sufficient to sink us. It was the captain,
however, and there was nothing for itbut to obey.
In an instant, the creaking and screaming of the carronade slides, the
rattling of the carriage of the long twelve--pounder amidships, the
thumping and punching of handspikes, and the dancing and jumping of jack
himself, were heard through the whistling of the breeze, as the guns were
being shotted and run out. In a few seconds all was still again, but the
rushing sound of the vessel going through the water, and of the rising
gale amongst the rigging.
The men stood clustered at their quarters, their cutlasses buckled round
their waists, all without jackets and waistcoats, and many with nothing
but their trowsers on.
"Now, men, mind your aim; our only chance is to wing him. I will yaw the
ship, and as your guns come to bear, slap it right into his bows.
Starboard your helm, my man, and bring her to the wind." As she came round,
blaze went our carronades and long--gun in succession, with goodwill and
good aim, and down came his foretop--sail on the cap, with all the
superincumbent spars and gear; the head of the topmast had been shot away.
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