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Updated: May 13, 2025
He turned the leaves, studied a page for a moment, then said: "Run up H. V. R. That says, 'What do you want? and that's the nearest thing to it." These flags took the place of the answering pennant at the gaff-end, and again Poop-deck watched through the glasses, noting first the showing of the steamer's answering pennant, then the letters K. R. N. "What does K. R. N. say?" he asked.
"They laid the 'Angel' alongside the Spanish galleon, and grappled the two vessels together. Old Pedro led the boarding party, and when they got to the poop-deck of the galleon they found the Spanish captain, the first mate, and the cabin-boy waiting for them with cutlasses. The three Pedros, father, son, and grandson, engaged them according to rank, and finished them off at the same moment.
"If there are many fellows yet aboard, they'll swamp us; and I think there must be, as we haven't met the boats," and then raising his voice, as the exhausted crew lay on their oars, he hailed the burning ship. She was a huge, clumsily-built vessel, with great breadth of beam, and a lofty poop-deck.
The pennant came down, and the ship's number went up to the gaff. "H. V.," called Poop-deck, as he scanned two flags now flying from the steamer's truck. "What does that say?" "Damaged rudder cannot steer," they answered. "Pull down the number and show the answering pennant again," said Poop-deck; "and let me see that signal-book."
On the poop-deck is Captain Gancy himself, consulting a small chart, and filled with anxiety as at intervals looking towards the companion-ladder he there sees his wife and daughter, for he knows his vessel to be in danger and his dear ones as well. A glance at the barque reveals that she has been on a long voyage.
I was amazed to see the ship still afloat, the poop-deck whole and, most of all, to see anybody alive. Also the peace of the sky and the serenity of the sea were distinctly surprising. I suppose I expected to see them convulsed with horror.... Pass the bottle. "There was a voice hailing the ship from somewhere in the air, in the sky I couldn't tell. Presently I saw the captain and he was mad.
We had a rough set of bamboo steps to mount to the clumsy poop-deck, and there found the captain and half-a-dozen more of his men waiting. "Now, Ching, forward," I said. But he hung back and looked strange. "Don't be so jolly modest," I whispered; "we can't get on without you to interpret."
"I lay awake all night revelling in these anticipations, and at dawn was quite weak of body. It was now the Sabbath, and at nine o'clock all hands were summoned to the poop-deck for the customary worship. I lay upon a coil of rope, when the mate commenced to read the service, and a deep drowsiness came over me. The lesson was a part of the first chapter of Genesis the weird history of creation.
The captain was mounted on the poop-deck, with his pipe in his mouth, giving orders to the men, who were pulling and tugging at big ropes, and trying to be very busy knocking things about; the pilot stood a little apart from the captain, pale and moody, having in a single moment destroyed his prospects for life. I felt very sorry for the poor fellow, though there was really no excuse for him.
"Look sharp there, my lads," cried Jarette, from somewhere overhead, which must have been the poop-deck. "That one dead?" "Ay, ay, sir." "You're a liar, Barney Blane." "If he's dead, pitch him overboard." "But he arn't dead, captain," growled Bob Hampton. "There's stuff enough in him to make a full-sized sailor yet, and he's far too good to be chucked over to the sharkses."
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