The lieutenant was not wholly
confident that the commander was right in his reasoning, but like a
loyal officer and a true sailor who knows no duty but obedience, he
heartily supported his superior. He walked the deck in the discharge of
his duty; but he was thinking of something since the order to board had
been given.
"Is there anything like a flank movement in boarding, Captain Breaker?"
he asked, as he halted at the side of the commander.
"Of course the officers do their best to flank the enemy after they
reach the deck," replied the captain, looking with some astonishment at
the lieutenant.
"I have reference to another sort of flanking," added the inquirer.
"Of course in a squadron some of the ships may be ordered to operate in
that manner; but a single ship acting against another can hardly do any
flanking."
"But I mean in boarding."
"You had better explain yourself a little more definitely, for I do not
understand you," replied the commander with a puzzled expression on his
face.
"We have one hundred and twenty men, with six absent on other duty,"
continued the lieutenant. "Judging by what I learned from Bokes,
I believe the Tallahatchie has less than a hundred, for he said she
expected to recruit twenty or thirty men at Nassau. She has lost more
men so far than we have, sir."
"Grant all that you say, and where does the flanking come in?"
"Your order is to board on the port side of the enemy, which will bring
the starboard side of the Bellevite alongside of her.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131