Page:The Dark Frigate (Hawes).djvu/149

“And yours?” the Old One cried the second time.

There came voices and a hoarse laugh from the stranger, then, ‘‘Are you merchants or men of war?”

“Of the sea,” cried the Old One in a voice so like thunder that a man would not think it could have come from his lean throat. ‘‘Run out your guns, O my hearts! Let him have the chase guns first. The chase guns — the chase guns!”

Now one bawled down the main hatch, and another below echoed his cry, then there sounded the quick boom-boom from the bows. The guns had spoken and the fight was on.

“Up your helm — up your helm! Hold your fire now, my hearts, and have at them!” the Old One cried.

And now the voice came again over the restless sea.

“Our ship is the Porcupine ketch and our quills are set.”

The dark sea tossed and rolled between the vessels and little that happened on board either was visible to the other, so black was the night; but the light of the sky, which the water reflected, made of each a black shape clear-cut as of jet but finer than the most cunning hand could carve, in which a man might trace every line and rope.

And now from on board the ketch jets of flame burst out and after them came smartly the crack of muskets.

“Now, lads,” the Old One thundered, “give fire and make an end of this petty galling. Give fire!”

A gun on the maintop-deck boomed and another followed; but there was confusion and stumbling and all were slow for want of practice together, and there was time lost ere the third gun spoke. Then, while Mate Malcolm was storming up the deck and the Old One was storming down, they heard the strange master