United States or Cambodia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
We will summon the pilot, Jacques Tronson, and learn what he thinks about the matter. He knows that he is to be shot through the head if he misleads us. Besides which, I think he has seen the error of his ways, and wishes to be honest." Tronson was summoned, and acknowledged that he considered it the work of his late friends.
Roger, supposing Tronson had given him correct information, so thoroughly acquainted himself with the passage in the inner lagoon where the pirate vessels were said to lie at anchor, that he expected to have no difficulty in finding his way.
The weather was fine and sea smooth, though there was sufficient breeze to carry the ships through the water at the rate of five or six knots an hour. Navigation now became very intricate, but Tronson behaved with apparent fidelity, and skilfully piloted them amid the shoals and reefs; without him it was evident that they would have been unable to proceed.
Tronson was summoned to give his opinion. He declared his belief that she was one of the pirate squadron. "Then we will stand on and hail her. If she does not give a satisfactory answer we will run alongside and compel her to strike. The sound of our guns will soon lead the Ruby to the spot," said Roger.
At the same moment Bates, leading nearly half the crew, sprang on board. Roger was not out in his calculations. The greater number of the officers and men were below, drinking hard and fast, as Tronson had thought likely. Some sprang to their arms, but many were cut down before they had time to do so. Some cried out for quarter, others fired up the hatchway. The British crew fired down in return.
Finally, the matter became an affair of State, and the king appointed a commission to sit, at Issy, upon her orthodoxy Bossuet, De Noailles, and Tronson. The two latter were charmed with her mild and teachable spirit.
Probably they were not far off, engaged in stowing away the cargo of the burning ship. "Then we will try and get up alongside one of them before the Ruby appears, and they take to flight," said Roger. Tronson engaged, so far as he could, to enable them to do this. The Pearl stood on.
Sulpice, M. Tronson, who was also consulted, praised highly the talents and the qualities of the young priest. "My Lord has shown great virtue in his resignation," writes M. Dudouyt.
Tronson did not answer for a minute; at last he said, "Trust me, sir, that I would not assist you to get sight of them, unless I thought you would succeed, as, should I fall into their hands I should be treated in a way I do not like to think about.
The whole squadron, piloted by Tronson, who had gained high credit for his faithfulness, made sail for Jamaica. Each carried the British ensign, and a certain number of prisoners on board. They arrived in safety, and were greeted by salvos of artillery from the forts, flags flying from all the redoubts on shore, and ships in the harbour.
Word Of The Day