Дни грёз
A Saga Of The Seas
Thesightoftheirdisconnectedlimbsarousedmyiretoitsutmostheight,andIletthemhavethecontentsofthebrasscarronade,withghastlyeffect.Nextmomentthehullsofthetwoshipsweregrindingtogether,thecoldsteelflashedfromitsscabbard,andthedeath-grapplehadbegun.
Inspiteofthedeadlyworkofmygrape-gorgedcarronade,ourfoestilloutnumberedus,Ireckoned,bythreetoone.Honourforbademyfixingitatalowerfigure—thiswastheminimumrateatwhichonedaredtodobusinesswithpirates.Theywerestarkveterans,too,everymanseamedwithancientsabre-cuts,whereasmycrewhadmanyofthemhardlyattainedthematuritywhichisthegiftoftenlongsummers—andthewholethingwassosuddenthatIhadnotimetoinventareinforcementofriperyears.Itwasnotsurprising,therefore,thatmydauntlessboarding-party,axeinhandandcutlassbetweenteeth,foughttheirwaytothepirates’deckonlytoberepulsedagainandyetagain,andthatourplanksweresoonslipperywithourownungrudgedandinexhaustibleblood.Atthiscriticalpointintheconflict,thebo’sun,graspingmebythearm,drewmyattentiontoamagnificentBritishman-of-war,justhovetointheoffing,whilethesignalman,hisglassathiseye,reportedthatshewasinquiringwhetherwewantedanyassistanceorpreferredtogothroughwiththelittlejobourselves.
Thisveiledattempttoshareourlaurelswithus,courteouslyasitwasworded,putmeonmymettle.
