Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 252: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 239 dence of his own senses. And well might he have been thus smitten with consternation and increda- lity: for it was natural that he should think of the ‘possibility of a shot reaching himself—equally natural that he should doubt whether the corsair- ehief could be serious in engaging the Tyrol. Durazzo, with an exclamation of disgust, waved his hand imperiously for Lanover to go down again; and the vile humpback quickly disappeared from my view. CHAPTER CXXVIL THE FIGHT. THE scene was now becoming vividly exciting, On came the pyramid of snowy canvass, with the Austrian flag floating high above all: but hitherto the Athene had shown no colours. The command to clear the deck for action on board the corsair, had been executed with a wondrous promptitude : rammers, sponges, and all the tackle requisite for the carronades had been put in their places—am- munition was brought up from below with marvel- lous despatch—and yet, as I have already said, there was not the slightest confusion in the carry- ing out of these sinister preliminaries. The young Greek commander—in his elegant uniform, with massive epaulettes on his shoulders—and his belt sustaining a sword of somewhat formidable dimen- sions for so slight a hand to wield, and likewise now furnished with a pair of double-barrelled i tips tage his mandates with the calmness d clearness which indicated perfect self-posses- sion. A single glance which I flung over the busy active crew, was sufficient to convince me that they placed the utmost reliance in the experience of their commander, and that they were content to perform their duty with an automaton-like docility as if it were impossible that he who directed their movements could for a single instant err. Quantities of boarding pikes and tomahawks figured amongst the terrible weapons so profusely amassed in the proper quarters for the strugsle that was about to take place; and Captain Durazzo, making the tour of the deck, carefully inspected the guns, the stands of arms round the masts, and all the various accessories that I have enumerated. Then he descended with four of his men, who were laden with the deadly implements of war, to his own cabin; and though I followed him not thither on the present occasion, yet I comprehended full well that the stern-chasers were not forgotten amidst the other preliminaries for the approaching conflict. The young Greek commander speedily returned to the quarter-deck : another mandate issued from his lips—and now I became the wit- ness of a singular proceeding. A strong pulley was rigged to a convenient spar belonging to the foremast; and nearly all the hands on board the schooner addressed themselves to the work about to be achieved. Ther slowly from the depths of the vessel a long and formidable piece of ordnance was raised; and this was fixed upon a pivot 2n the deck, between the two masts, suffi- ciently high to have its range above the bulwarks, and thus in a position to swing and sweep round in every direction. This was a mystery connected with the pirate-vessel which was hitherto perfectly inane ee unknown to me; and it afforded a new theme for wonderment at the extraordinary resources pos- sessed by those who were about to be engaged im so deadly a strife? : On came the Austrian frigate; and as she was running before the wind, the lofty pyramid of canvass inclined gracefully towards the schooner— which, now proceeding on the other tack, heeled slightly and still more gracefully over on the oppo- site direction. I saw that in a few minutes the hostile vessels would be within gun-shot range of each other—but still I had no inclination to descend to my state-room: I experienced an in- tense curiosity to behold the conflict ; and I like- wise thought that there was scarcely more danger on the deck of the schooner than in a small cabin where a shot crashing through the side, might send the splinters flying perilously about. All of a sudden a single flash from the side of the Tyrol heralded the roar of a gun: the thunder voice of that cannon spoke—and the white wreath- ing vapour rolled slowly away over the sea. A command went forth—clear, loud, and distinct— from Durazzo’s lips; and a black flag—the inva- riable corsair-symbol of Mediterranean pirates— floated in the twinkling ‘of an eye above the Athene. On came the Tyrol; and it was now sufficiently near for us to catch the sound of the Austrian captain’s yoice of command pealing through the speaking-trumpet. Durazzo knew that it was the order for a broadside to be fired. Quickly but firmly his mandate was issued to the steersman,— so that the Athene, obedient to her helm as the docile steed is to the rein, movedin such a manner as to receive that broadside with the least chance of injury to herself. Austrian cannon crashed with a deafening sound: there were numerous and simultaneous splashes in the sea—there was the gushing sound of a balla little above my own head—and scarcely had I recovered as it were from the startling sensation thus produced, when the artillery poured forth its thunder from the dark side of the schooner. The instant the smoke cleared away, I glanced towards the Tyrol, and perceived that its main and fore topsails were fluttering all loose to their yards. A second glance, flung upward amidst the exquisite tracery of the Athene’s rigging, showed me (so far as I could judge) that nothing was injured. This impression was instantaneously confirmed by the look of triumph which Durazzo cast around him, when his own eye had swept with all the keennegs of experience over every detail of his gallant vessel alow and aloft. Quick as lightning was the sweep which ths Athene now made in obedience to her helm: the huge piece of ordnance swinging on its pivot, vomited forth its flame, its shot and smoke; and with fatal accuracy had it been discharged—for the fore-topmast of the Tyrol fell, with all its upper gear, over the frigate’s side. The Athene swung round like a fairy vessel—its stern-chasers poured forth their deadly charge—and before the Tyrol seemed capable of executing another maneuvre, the other broadside of the pirate-ship was fired into her. Immense was the damage done to the frigate: but as yet not a spar was injured—not a rope was cut on board the Athene! It requires little skill in nautical matters to en- The terrific roar of the Giook * ee eee ees ee (CO)