When half a mile distant two puffs of smoke burst out from the
corsair's bows. A moment later a shot struck the ship, and another
threw up the water close to her stern. The four guns of the
_Tarifa_ had been brought over to the side on which the enemy was
approaching, and these were now discharged. One of the shots carried
away some oars on the starboard side of the galley, another struck her
in the bow. There was a slight confusion on board; two or three oars
were shifted over from the port to the starboard side, and she
continued her way.
The guns were loaded again, bags of bullets being this time inserted
instead of balls. The corsairs fired once more, but their shots were
unanswered; and with wild yells and shouts they approached the
motionless Spanish vessel.
"She is crowded with men," Gerald remarked to Geoffrey. "She has far
more on board than we reckoned on."
"We have not given them a close volley yet," Geoffrey replied. "If the
guns are well aimed they will make matters equal."
[Illustration: GEOFFREY FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF THE CORSAIRS]
The corsair was little more than her own length away when the captain
gave the order, and the four guns poured their contents upon her
crowded decks.
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