登陆注册
5150400000201

第201章

"Here is a new sort of camisado," quoth Cary."The last Spanish one I saw was at the sortie from Smerwick: but this is somewhat more prosperous than that.""Get the main and foresail up, Will!" said Amyas, "cut the cable;and we will plume the quarry as we fly."

"Spoken like a good falconer.Heaven grant that this big woodcock may carry a good trail inside!""I'll warrant her for that," said Jack Brimblecombe."She floats so low.""Much of your build, too, Jack.By the by, where is the commander?"Alas! Don Pedro, forgotten in the bustle, had been lying on the deck in his shirt, helplessly bound, exhausting that part of his vocabulary which related to the unseen world.Which most discourteous act seemed at first likely to be somewhat heavily avenged on Amyas; for as he spoke, a couple of caliver-shots, fired from under the poop, passed "ping" "ping" by his ears, and Cary clapped his hand to his side.

"Hurt, Will?"

"A pinch, old lad--Look out, or we are 'allen verloren' after all, as the Flemings say."And as he spoke, a rush forward on the poop drove two of their best men down the ladder into the waist, where Amyas stood.

"Killed?" asked he, as he picked one up, who had fallen head over heels.

"Sound as a bell, sir: but they Gentiles has got hold of the firearms, and set the captain free."And rubbing the back of his head for a minute, he jumped up the ladder again, shouting--"Have at ye, idolatrous pagans! Have at ye, Satan's spawn!"Amyas jumped up after him, shouting to all hands to follow; for there was no time to be lost.

Out of the windows of the poop, which looked on the main-deck, a galling fire had been opened, and he could not afford to lose men;for, as far as he knew, the Spaniards left on board might still far outnumber the English; so up he sprang on the poop, followed by a dozen men, and there began a very heavy fight between two parties of valiant warriors, who easily knew each other apart by the peculiar fashion of their armor.For the Spaniards fought in their shirts, and in no other garments: but the English in all other manner of garments, tag, rag, and bobtail; and yet had never a shirt between them.

The rest of the English made a rush, of course, to get upon the poop, seeing that the Spaniards could not shoot them through the deck; but the fire from the windows was so hot, that although they dodged behind masts, spars, and every possible shelter, one or two dropped; and Jack Brimblecombe and Yeo took on themselves to call a retreat, and with about a dozen men, got back, and held a council of war.

What was to be done? Their arquebuses were of little use; for the Spaniards were behind a strong bulkhead.There were cannon: but where was powder or shot? The boats, encouraged by the clamor on deck, were paddling alongside again.Yeo rushed round and round, probing every gun with his sword.

"Here's a patararo loaded! Now for a match, lads."Luckily one of the English had kept his match alight during the scuffle.

"Thanks be! Help me to unship the gun--the mast's in the way here."The patararo, or brass swivel, was unshipped.

"Steady, lads, and keep it level, or you'll shake out the priming.

Ship it here; turn out that one, and heave it into that boat, if they come alongside.Steady now--so! Rummage about, and find me a bolt or two, a marlin-spike, anything.Quick, or the captain will be over-mastered yet."Missiles were found--odds and ends--and crammed into the swivel up to the muzzle: and, in another minute, its "cargo of notions" was crashing into the poop-windows, silencing the fire from thence effectually enough for the time.

"Now, then, a rush forward, and right in along the deck!" shouted Yeo; and the whole party charged through the cabin-doors, which their shot had burst open, and hewed their way from room to room.

In the meanwhile, the Spaniards above had fought fiercely: but, in spite of superior numbers, they had gradually given back before the "demoniacal possession of those blasphemous heretics, who fought, not like men, but like furies from the pit." And by the time that Brimblecombe and Yeo shouted from the stern-gallery below that the quarter-deck was won, few on either side but had their shrewd scratch to show.

"Yield, senor!" shouted Amyas to the commander, who had been fighting like a lion, back to back with the captain of mariners.

"Never! You have bound me, and insulted me! Your blood or mine must wipe out the stain!"And he rushed on Amyas.There was a few moments' heavy fence between them; and then Amyas cut right at his head.But as he raised his arm, the Spaniard's blade slipped along his ribs, and snapped against the point of his shoulder-blade.An inch more to the left, and it would have been through his heart.The blow fell, nevertheless, and the commandant fell with it, stunned by the flat of the sword, but not wounded; for Amyas's hand had turned, as he winced from his wound.But the sea-captain, seeing Amyas stagger, sprang at him, and, seizing him by the wrist, ere he could raise his sword again, shortened his weapon to run him through.Amyas made a grasp at his wrist in return, but, between his faintness and the darkness, missed it.--Another moment, and all would have been over!

A bright blade flashed close past Amyas's ear; the sea-captain's grasp loosened, and he dropped a corpse; while over him, like an angry lioness above her prey, stood Ayacanora, her long hair floating in the wind, her dagger raised aloft, as she looked round, challenging all and every one to approach.

"Are you hurt?" panted she.

"A scratch, child.--What do you do here? Go back, go back."Ayacanora slipped back like a scolded child, and vanished in the darkness.

The battle was over.The Spaniards, seeing their commanders fall, laid down their arms, and cried for quarter.It was given; the poor fellows were tied together, two and two, and seated in a row on the deck; the commandant, sorely bruised, yielded himself perforce; and the galleon was taken.

同类推荐
  • 南窗漫记引

    南窗漫记引

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 资政要览

    资政要览

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 济南纪政

    济南纪政

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚顶经曼殊室利菩萨五字心陀罗尼品

    金刚顶经曼殊室利菩萨五字心陀罗尼品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Eugenie Grandet

    Eugenie Grandet

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 世界文化博览4

    世界文化博览4

    带你领略世界文化的博大精深,感受文化的力量和魅力,享受精神的盛宴,浓缩世界文化知识精粹。旨在为读者提高文化修养、丰富人生内涵、添加知识储备、准备写作素材、增加聚会谈资……
  • 公民权利义务与国家制度

    公民权利义务与国家制度

    本书是《中华人民共和国重要基本法律知识宣讲》系列丛书之一。我们约请了相关领域的具有丰富实践经验和学术素养的法律专业人士撰写,问答的形式对公民权利、义务与国家制度作了提纲掣领的说明。既可以让读者了解一般的案件审判知识,又可以了解有一定深度的相关法理,内容层次循序渐进,易于理解和掌握。
  • 邪王深深爱:毒妃,榻上见

    邪王深深爱:毒妃,榻上见

    推荐新书《青梅太呆萌:竹马,你被捕了》 “你喜欢吃肉?”某人看着桌上被吃的差不多的肉菜,邪魅一笑。“无肉不欢。”她依然随意夹住一块肉往嘴里送,并没有注意到那人坏笑。“……”“你干嘛!”她被抱起,难道一言不合就要打架?!当她被放到床上的时候,才后知后觉,察觉这个恶魔要干嘛!他还美其名曰:“给你肉吃。”
  • 大唐李白·少年游

    大唐李白·少年游

    李白,改变了唐诗,却错过了时代;而整个大唐,又怎么错过了他?一个身为星宿、发为仙音,却只剩下名字的诗人;一个号称盛世,却以虚荣摧残着诗的时代!《大唐李白》系列是作家张大春现代小说技艺与古典文化素养之集大成作品,拟以百万字篇幅再造诗仙李白的一生、大唐盛世的兴衰。首部曲《少年游》透过梳理李白早年的萍踪游历,为读者解开诗人的身世、师从之谜,勾勒出盛唐时代的斑斓世相。
  • 太后有疾

    太后有疾

    天降大任必先苦心志,可是洞房没入,皇帝老夫君死了怎么破;俗话还说:母慈子孝,哀家这么和善,怎么就招来披着羊皮的小皇帝一只;俗话又说:披着羊皮的不仅是狼,还可能是狐狸,于是哀家就这么被坑了;总结,且看黑心帝王与被坑小后娘互捅刀子的欢脱故事。
  • 错上美王爷

    错上美王爷

    她的人生其实就是个悲剧,坐飞机执行任务结果飞机爆炸了。才重生就被人下药了,饥不择食拉傲娇王爷上床,被天南地北的追杀了。打算负起责任与傲娇王爷同结连理结果大婚之日,抢亲的来了可惜抢得不是她这个新娘。与傲娇王爷相亲相爱,夫唱妇随了,半路却杀出小三了,打算休夫跑路,结果悲剧的怀孕了。打算摒弃前尘带着儿子改嫁了,结果傲娇王爷杀到了。只是可惜,傲娇王爷手下一激动,再次抢错了人,新郎被抢走了,留下她这个新娘原地踏步。片段一:傲娇受啊傲娇受,虽然长得挺像个攻,但是其本质就是一小受,可惜啊她怎么就不是男人。叶晓火辣辣的目光投射在麟陌袇身上,满眼都在控诉着这三个字。麟陌袇被那种怪异的眼神看得浑身一阵恶寒,“秦宛月,你再拿这种眼神看我,我就剜了他。”“啧,不仅傲娇还是个阴狠毒辣受。”傲娇王爷:“?!”片段二:“儿子,男男才是王道,长大后一定要找个美男做媳妇记得没?”“为什么不是美女?”“都说了男男王道。”“哦,明白。怪不然父王大婚之日抢得是易叔叔而不是娘。”傲娇王爷,额头青筋乱跳,那是失误失误啊好不好。
  • 奔跑吧,丫鬟:拿下腹黑王爷

    奔跑吧,丫鬟:拿下腹黑王爷

    【本文完结,新书《独家甜宠:呆萌娇妻万万岁》】什么?来到古代?可是怎么人家穿成千金小姐我却变成乞丐?得罪了王爷被捉去当丫鬟了?还有没有王法啦!某人一脸腹黑地道:“本王就是王法。”苹果要切成十二瓣?本王喜欢!香蕉要剥成二十条?本王愿意!西瓜上面要雕花?本王就要!看俏皮丫鬟如何应对腹黑王爷。n(*≧▽≦*)n
  • 民国裁缝女

    民国裁缝女

    身为顶尖时尚设计师的她,居然被莫名人士雇佣的杀手扔下海,死就死吧,反正她也没有亲人。但是醒来却发现莫名其妙地跑到了民国,只会设计衣服的她只能到裁缝店当学徒,好歹这与她现代的专业还比较接近吧!什么,因为怕她的脸惹来麻烦而不要她,这下惨了,没办法只能掩盖住自己的容貌混进来,可是这些公子哥还真是烦人啊!请看一个小小的裁缝女如何周旋于这些富家公子与千金中明哲保身!
  • 侦破探谜

    侦破探谜

    《中国学生探索发现奥秘:侦破探谜》是《中国学生探索发现奥秘》系列之一,包括:体育探谜、文化探谜、文明探谜、文学探谜、文艺探谜等。
  • 娑婆江湖

    娑婆江湖

    梁山招安,并未被朝廷重用,反而在征方腊之后,不可避免的兔死狗烹。终于,梁山树倒猢狲散,后人散落各地退出江湖。之后,又因梁山遗留一绝绝密,很多后人又怀着各种目的和心态、带着各种善恶人性,重入江湖,在娑婆世界里,演义着自己不同的人生。“娑婆世界”一词,源于佛教,意为不完美有愦憾之意。可是,对于每一个活着的人,谁又不想有一个完美无憾的人生呢?然而,现实事实却绝对残酷无奈,如想有一个完美无缺的人生,的确需要俱备很大智慧,和人生艺术的。所以,本书不止只是讲诉一个,多么悬疑精彩,起伏跌宕的武侠故事,而更多的是想与你一起,来探讨剖析人生,为我们迷茫的人生,找一条出路,使我们每一个来参加探讨的人,都能有一个完美无憾的人生。同时,通过几位主人翁江湖生崖,及在江湖之中,遇到很多奇怪无解的人与事物,来揭秘一下人类这个世界里,乃至于整个宇宙间到底存不存在有没有的,很多奇异且无解事与物。比如,宇宙间的维度穿越、外星人、以及江湖骗术、传说中的僵尸怪兽、法木邪术修真等,来全方位探讨人生真谛,解惑一切奇闻悬疑。