“Ah! it all comes o’ that wench that was here on deck last night,” muttered the helmsman, who had succeeded Sambo on duty the preceding night.  “I thought I see her fiddlin’ about the gun, when the chase was made after the Yankee, although I didn’t think to say nothing about it, when you axed Tom Fluke about Sal’s apron.”

Whatever conjecture might have arisen with others, there was no time to think of, much less to discuss it—­the boats were already within a few yards of the vessel.

“Steady, men—­silence,” commanded Gerald in a low tone:  “Since Sal has failed us, we must depend upon ourselves.  Down beneath the bulwarks, and move not one of you until they begin to board—­then let each man single his enemy and fire; the cutlass must do the rest.”

The order was obeyed.  Each moment brought the crisis of action nearer:  the rowers had discontinued their oars, but the bows of the several boats could be heard obeying the impetus already given them, and dividing the water close to the vessel.

“Now then, Sambo,” whispered the officer.  At that moment a torch was raised high over the head of the negro and his master.  Its rays fell upon the first of the three boats, the crews of which were seen standing up with arms outstretched to grapple with the schooner.  Another instant and they would have touched.  The negro dropped his light.

Gerald pulled the trigger of his blunderbuss, aimed into the very centre of the boat.  Shrieks, curses and plashings, as of bodies falling in the water succeeded; and in the confusion occasioned by the murderous fire, the first boat evidently fell off.

“Again, Sambo,” whispered the officer.  A second time the torch streamed suddenly in air, and the contents of the yet undischarged blunderbuss spread confusion, dismay and death, into the second boat.

“Old Sal herself couldn’t have done better:  pity he hadn’t a hundred of them,” growled Tom Fluke, who although concealed behind the bulwarks, had availed himself of a crevice near him, to watch the effect produced by the formidable weapons.

There was a momentary indecision among the enemy, after the second destructive fire; it was but momentary.  Again they advanced, and closing with the vessel, evinced a determination of purpose, that left little doubt as to the result.  A few sprang into the chains and rigging, while others sought to enter by her bows, but the main effort seemed to be made at her gangway, at which Gerald had stationed himself with ten of his best men, the rest being detached to make the best defence they could, against those who sought to enter in the manner above described.