"Martain Rattler" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ballantyne R.M)

time I had of it, too for I was for iver burnin' my fingers promiskiously, and
fallin' into the fire ivery day more or less-"
"Stand by to hoist top-gallant sails!" shouted the captain. "How's her head?"
"South and by east, sir," answered the man at the wheel.
"Keep her away two points. Look alive, lads. Hand me the glass, Martin."
The ship was close-hauled when these abrupt orders were given, battling in the
teeth of a stiff breeze, off the coast of South America. About this time several
piratical vessels had succeeded in cutting off a number of merchantmen near the
coast of Brazil. They had not only taken the valuable parts of their cargoes,
but had murdered the crews under circumstances of great cruelty. The ships
trading in these regions were, consequently, exceedingly careful to avoid all
suspicious craft as much as possible. It was, therefore, with some anxiety that
the men watched the captain's face as he examined the strange sail through the
telescope.
"A Spanish schooner," muttered the captain, as he shut of the glass with a bang.
" I won't trust her. Up with the royals and rig out stu'nsails, Mr. Wilson" (to
the mate). "Let her fall away, keep her head nor- west, d'ye hear?"
"Ay, ay, Sir,"
"Let go the lee braces and square the yards. Look sharp, now, lads. If that
blackguard gets hold of us, ye'll have to walk the plank, every man of ye."
In a few minutes the ship's course was completely altered; a cloud of canvas
spread out from the yards, and the Firefly bounded on her course like a fresh
race horse. But it soon became evident that the heavy barque was no match for
the schooner, which crowded sail and bore down at a rate that bade fair to
overhaul them in a few hours. The chase continued till evening, when suddenly
the look-out at the mast-head shouted, "Land, ho!"
"Where away?" cried the captain.
"Right ahead," sang out the man.
"I'll run her ashore sooner than be taken," muttered the captain, with an angry
scowl at the schooner, which was now almost within range on the weather quarter,
with the dreaded black flag flying at her peak. In a few minutes breakers were
descried ahead.
"D'ye see anything like a passage?" shouted the captain.
"Yes, sir; two points on the weather bow."
At this moment a white Cloud burst from the schooner's bow, and a shot,
evidently from a heavy gun, came ricocheting over the sea. It was well aimed for
it cut right through the barque's mainmast, just below the yard, and brought the
man-top-mast, with all the yards, sails, and gearing above it, down upon the
deck. The weight of the wreck, also, carried away the fore-top- mast, and in a
single instant the Firefly was completely disabled.
"Lower away the boats," cried the captain. "Look alive, now; we'll give them the
slip yet. It'll be dark in two minutes."'
The captain was right. In tropical regions there is little or no twilight. Night
succeeds day almost instantaneously. Before the boats were lowered and the men
embarked it was becoming quite dark. The schooner observed the movement,
however, and, as she did not dare to venture through the reef in the dark, her
boats were also lowered, and the chase was recommenced.
The reef was passed in safety, and now a hard struggle took place, for the shore
was still far distant. As it chanced to be cloudy weather the darkness became
intense, and progress could only be guessed at by the sound of the oars; but