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with everything you might want to put your hand on in any
emergency whatever。 I could not wait for that。 Out beyond
soundings the big seas were racing westward and calling me；
albatrosses hovered motionless； expectant of a comrade； and a
thousand islands held each of them a fresh adventure； stored up；
hidden away； awaiting production； expressly saved for me。 We
were humming； close…hauled； down the Channel； spray in the eyes
and the shrouds thrilling musically； in much less time than the
average man would have taken to transfer his Gladstone bag and
his rugs from the train to a sheltered place on the promenade…
deck of the tame daily steamer。
So long as we were in pilotage I stuck manfully to the wheel。
The undertaking was mine； and with it all its responsibilities；
and there was some tricky steering to be done as we sped by
headland and bay； ere we breasted the great seas outside and
the land fell away behind us。 But as soon as the Atlantic
had opened out I began to feel that it would be rather nice to
take tea by myself in my own cabin； and it therefore became
necessary to invent a comrade or two； to take their turn at the
wheel。
This was easy enough。 A friend or two of my own age； from among
the boys I knew； a friend or two from characters in the books I
knew； and a friend or two from No…man's…land； where every
fellow's a born sailor； and the crew was complete。 I addressed
them on the poop； divided them into watches； gave instructions I
should be summoned on the first sign of pirates； whales； or
Frenchmen； and retired below to a well…earned spell of
relaxation。
That was the right sort of cabin that I stepped into； shutting
the door behind me with a click。 Of course； fire…arms were the
first thing I looked for； and there they were； sure enough；
in their racks； dozens of 'emdouble…barrelled guns； and
repeating…rifles； and long pistols； and shiny plated revolvers。
I rang up the steward and ordered tea； with scones； and jam in
its native potsnone of your finicking shallow glass dishes；
and； when properly streaked with jam； and blown out with tea； I
went through the armoury； clicked the rifles and revolvers；
tested the edges of the cutlasses with my thumb； and filled the
cartridge…belts chock…full。 Everything was there； and of the
best quality； just as if I had spent a whole fortnight knocking
about Plymouth and ordering things。 Clearly； if this cruise came
to grief； it would not be for want of equipment。
Just as I was beginning on the lockers and the drawers； the watch
reported icebergs on both bowsand； what was more to the point；
coveys of Polar bears on the icebergs。 I grasped a rifle or two；
and hastened on deck。 The spectacle was indeed
magnificentit generally is； with icebergs on both bows； and
these were exceptionally enormous icebergs。 But I hadn't come
there to paint Academy pictures； so the captain's gig was in the
water and manned almost ere the boatswain's whistle had ceased
sounding； and we were pulling hard for the Polar bearsmyself
and the rifles in the stern…sheets。
I have rarely enjoyed better shooting than I got during that
afternoon's tramp over the icebergs。 Perhaps I was in specially
good form； perhaps the bears 〃rose〃 well。 Anyhow； the bag was a
portentous one。 In later days； on reading of the growing
scarcity of Polar bears； my conscience has pricked me； but that
afternoon I experienced no compunction。 Nevertheless； when the
huge pile of skins had been hoisted on board； and a stiff grog
had been served out to the crew of the captain's gig； I
ordered the schooner's head to be set due south。 For icebergs
were played out； for the moment； and it was getting to be time
for something more tropical。
Tropical was a mild expression of what was to come； as was
shortly proved。 It was about three bells in the next day's
forenoon watch when the look…out man first sighted the pirate
brigantine。 I disliked the looks of her from the first； and；
after piping all hands to quarters； had the brass carronade on
the fore…deck crammed with grape to the muzzle。
This proved a wise precaution。 For the flagitious pirate craft；
having crept up to us under the colours of the Swiss Republic； a
state with which we were just then on the best possible terms；
suddenly shook out the skull…and…cross…bones at her masthead； and
let fly with round…shot at close quarters； knocking into pieces
several of my crew； who could ill be spared。 The sight of
their disconnected limbs aroused my ire to its utmost height； and
I let them have the contents of the brass carronade； with ghastly
effect。 Next moment the hulls of the two ships were grinding
together； the cold steel flashed from its scabbard； and the
death…grapple had begun。
In spite of the deadly work of my grape…gorged carronade； our foe
still outnumbered us； I reckoned； by three to one。 Honour
forbade my fixing it at a lower figurethis was the minimum rate
at which one dared to do business with pirates。 They were stark
veterans； too； every man seamed with ancient sabre…cuts； whereas
my crew had many of them hardly attained the maturity which is
the gift of ten long summersand the whole thing was so sudden
that I had no time to invent a reinforcement of riper years。 It
was not surprising； therefore； that my dauntless boarding…
party； axe in hand and cutlass between teeth； fought their way to
the pirates' deck only to be repulsed again and yet again； and
that our planks were soon slippery with our own ungrudged and
inexhaustible blood。 At this critical point in the conflict； the
bo'sun； grasping me by the arm； drew my attention to a
magnificent British man…of…war； just hove to in the offing； while
the signalman； his glass at his eye； reported that she was
inquiring whether we wanted any assistance or preferred to go
through with the little job ourselves。
This veiled attempt to share our laurels with us； courteously as
it was worded； put me on my mettle。 Wiping the blood out of my
eyes； I ordered the signalman to reply instantly； with the half…
dozen or so of flags that he had at his disposal； that much as we
appreciated the valour of the regular service； and the delicacy
of spirit that animated its commanders； still this was an
orthodox case of the young gentleman…adventurer versus the
unshaved pirate； and Her Majesty's Marine had nothing to do but
to form the usual admiring and applauding background。 Then；
rallying round me the remnant of my faithful crew； I selected a
fresh cutlass （I had worn out three already） and plunged once
more into the pleasing carnage。
The result was not long doubtful。 Indeed； I could not allow it
to be； as I was already getting somewhat bored with the pirate
business； and was wanting to get on to something more southern
and sensuous。 All serious resistance came to an end as soon as I
had reached the quarter…deck and cut down the pirate chiefa
fine black…bearded fe