attack, and all along the
starboard side of the _Vittorio_ mattresses were hung in order to break
the force of the shock when the two vessels should come together. Every
man who could be spared was ordered on deck, and fully armed. The men
who were to make fast to the other steamer were posted in their proper
places, and the rest of his miscreants were given the very simple orders
to get on board the _Monterey_ the best way they could and as soon as
they could, and to cut down or shoot every man they met without asking
questions or saying a word. Whether or not it would be necessary to
dispose of all the crew which Captain Horn might have on board, Banker
had not determined. But of one thing he was certain: he would leave no
one on board of her to work her to the nearest port and give news of
what had happened. One mistake of that kind was enough to make, and his
stupid partner, who had commanded the vessel from Toulon, had made it.

CHAPTER XXX

THE BATTLE OF THE MERCHANT SHIPS

When the _Vittorio_ showed that in veering away from the _Monterey_ she
had done so only in order to make a sweep around to the west, and when
she had headed south and the mattresses lowered along her starboard side
showed plainly to Captain Horn that she was about to attack him and how
she was going to do it, his first thought was to embarrass her by
reversing his course and steering this way and that, but he instantly
dismissed this idea. The pirate vessel was smaller and faster than his
own, and probably much more easily managed, and apart from the danger of
a collision fatal to his ship, he would only protract the conflict by
trying to elude her. He was so sure that he had men enough to beat down
the scoundrels when they tried to board that he thought the quicker the
fight began, the better. If only he had Shirley and Burke with him, he
thought; but although they were not here, he had Edna to fight for, and
that made three men of himself.

With most of his men crouching behind his port bulwarks, and others
protected by deck houses, smokestack, and any other available devices
against gunshots, Captain Horn awaited the coming of the pirate steamer,
which was steaming towards him as if it intended to run him down. As she
came near, the _Vittorio_ slowed up, and the _Monterey_ veered to
starboard; but, notwithstanding this precaution and the fact that they
sailed side by side for nearly a minute without touching, the two
vessels ca