In the meanwhile our ship was growing very foul, and it was high time we
should make for our _port de carenage_, which was in the estuary of a
river among swamps. It was openly understood that we should then break
up and go and squander our proportions of the spoil; and this made every
man greedy of a little more, so that our decision was delayed from day
to day. What finally decided matters was a trifling accident, such as an
ignorant person might suppose incidental to our way of life. But here I
must explain: on only one of all the ships we boarded, the first on
which we found women, did we meet with any genuine resistance. On that
occasion we had two men killed and several injured, and if it had not
been for the gallantry of Ballantrae we had surely been beat back at
last. Everywhere else the defence (where there was any at all) was what
the worst troops in Europe would have laughed at; so that the most
dangerous part of our employment was to clamber up the side of the ship:
and I have even known the poor souls on board to cast us a line, so
eager were they to volunteer instead of walking the plank. This constant
immunity had made our fellows very soft, so that I understood how Teach
had made so deep a mark upon their minds; for indeed the company of that
lunatic was the chief danger in our way of life. The accident to which I
have referred was this:--We had sighted a little full-rigged ship very
close under our board in a haze; she sailed near as well as we did--I
should be nearer truth if I said, near as ill; and we cleared the
bow-chaser to see if we could bring a spar or two about their ears. The
swell was exceedingly great; the motion of the ship beyond description;
it was little wonder if our gunners should fire thrice and be still
quite broad of what they aimed at. But in the meanwhile the chase had
cleared a stern gun, the thickness of the air concealing them; and being
better marksmen, their first shot struck us in the bows, knocked our two
gunners into mincemeat, so that we were all sprinkled with the blood,
and plunged through the deck into the forecastle, where we slept.
Ballantrae would have held on; indeed, there was nothing in this
_contretemps_ to affect the mind of any soldier; but he had a quick
perception of the men's wishes, and it was plain this lucky shot had
given them a sickener of their trade. In a moment they were all of one
mind: the chase was drawing away from us, it was needless to hold