Australian Storm 1876

   Chapter 189

  Off Jayapura Port

  The three-masted galleon "Tulip" is like a vigilant beast, always patrolling the sea off Jayapura Harbor, and will run away if it finds any disturbance.

  Unfortunately, several towering islands obscured the view, enclosing all the conditions in the bay, and it is almost impossible to snoop from the outside.

  This made the old sea wolf Marco Van Nistelrooy hesitate. He firmly believed that his judgment could not be wrong, and this place made him feel very bad.

   is like ~ a dangerous trap.

  The problem is that he can't prove his judgment, nor can he use this worry to go to the Governor's Mansion.

  The Netherlands is sparsely populated, and every white colonist is precious, let alone more than 60 people.

The    fishy Aral Sea breeze was blowing head-on, and the distant coastline was shrouded in verdant mountains. Marco Van Nistelrooy looked sour through the brass monoculars, and did not notice any abnormalities.

  He put down the telescope in his hand and glanced coldly at the stupid pig hanging upside down on the mast.

Mr. Frank Sneijder was **** like a zongzi. At first his body was still writhing and struggling, sobbing and begging, but now he is motionless like a dead pig, swinging in mid-air with the turbulence of the galleon. , The flushed face that had been tanned is now red blood.

   "Jock, put this **** down, I don't want him to die here, remember, don't let him dirty my deck."

   "Okay, Captain."

  Jock, who was like a giant bear, gave a grin, his bald head was tattooed with death tattoos, his bulging muscles were greasy, and his chest was open and he was wearing only a dirty short-sleeved jacket.

  He strode over and cut the rope with a single knife. Frank Sneijder smashed to the deck with a "plop", making a dull noise, and his head was bloodied.

   He fell heavily and revived Frank Sneijder, who was in a coma. The dirty socks in his mouth were torn off. He began to vomit and bowed like a lobster.

   "Oh, God!" Seeing that his beloved deck was dirty, the captain Marco Van Nistelrooy had a murderous heart, and he glared at Jock fiercely.

   Jock shrugged his shoulders indifferently, meaning that...it's none of my business.

  It's late afternoon

  The light of the setting sun reflected the brilliant sunset, reflecting the white clouds like fish scales into gold, as if a huge and unfriended fetish soaring in the sky, it is exceptionally magnificent against the blue sea and blue sky.

  Captain Marco Van Nistelrooy withdrew his sight. He just lingered and couldn't complete the task, and couldn't communicate with the Governor's Mansion. He finally made up his mind to take a risk.

  "May God bless, drive through the rapids of the rapids and enter the country of peace, I praise you sincerely, serve you, and humblely kneel at your feet and ask for protection, Amen!"

  Captain Marco Van Nistelrooy drew a cross in the devout void, turned and ordered; "Raise!"

   give an order

Several sailing crews flexibly climbed up the high masts, unfastened the ropes that bound the huge mainsail, and unfolded the ropes on the heavy winch "hullah", driving the sail rigging to make a loud noise. Voice.

  The mainsail unfolded to fill the sea breeze, and the hull of the three-masted galleon seemed to be pulled by a giant hand, and suddenly began to accelerate.

  Below the female Poseidon carved on the bow of the ship, thick wooden sharp corners split the blue waves and galloped across the vast sea, heading towards the Jayapura Bay.

  Captain Marco Van Nistelrooy made up his mind;

  Use the high speed of the three-masted galleon to plunge into the bay and see what happened there?

  In case it is a trap, the big deal will be a fire and an opportunity to flee. It is now dusk, and when night falls on the vast sea, no one can catch a flexible three-masted galleon.

  At the level of ship handling, the Dutch are confident that they will not lose to anyone. All they need is some luck.

  The three-masted galleon "Tulip" quickly sailed into the entrance of the bay. This is a natural passage between the two islands. The islands are lined with high mountains and surround the huge bay.

   not far

  Suddenly, the view of the bay under the sunset glow seemed to be plated with gold and sparkling.

A beautiful seaside town in a valley in the distance is shown in front of you. The tall cornice-style buildings are full of rich Chinese characteristics. .

  Two huge ocean-going freighters were parked beside the long bay pier. Workers were loading and unloading cargo. Seeing a three-masted galleon sailing into the bay, they couldn't help but look over in surprise.

  Three iron-clad battleships came in the form of finished products, the tall chimneys spewed thick black smoke, and the cold muzzles pointed straight ahead.

  From here, we can clearly see that in the semi-open gun position, the sailors are manipulating the artillery and aiming at the "Tulip" galleon. Obviously, they are well prepared. This is an extremely dangerous trap.

  Watt? ? ?

  Seeing all this, Captain Marco van Nistelrooy's lips trembled and he couldn't speak. His face was covered with a deadly gray, and he knew in his heart; it's over...

The three-masted galleon and the battleship are facing each other, and the other party’s order comes; "The three-masted galleon sailing into the bay, now I order you to immediately put away the mainsail, repeat it... put away the mainsail immediately, everyone Put down your weapons and prepare for inspection. Those who dare to disobey will be shot to death immediately, repeat..., those who dare to disobey will be shot to death immediately."

  "Captain, what should I do?" Operator Old Brown asked.

  The sailors on the ship were all agitated and cast their eyes on the captain. There were complex emotions such as despair, fierceness, desperation and hesitation in their eyes, but they were not afraid.

  The large sailing ships sailing on the sea in this era are mainly used for long-distance voyage trade. When necessary, they will also play the role of pirates and colonial advance teams. They are no strangers to combat.

  At this moment, everything Marco van Nistro needs to know is clear.

The three oncoming iron-clad frigates hung the flag of Queensland, Australia. He could recognize it at a glance. As for the other side of the Red Mountain Dragon Banner, which represented the family crest, it must be a British aristocratic emblem. This vast expanse The island has been taken by people.

   Jayapura, which was supposed to be a primitive jungle, suddenly appeared in a new and beautiful town. Needless to say, it should have been written by this nobleman.

As for the nobleman’s surname and his first name, why did he see this remote place? Marco van Nistelrooy is not interested in knowing it. It’s not his business. He only knows that he’s in trouble. NS.

  From the heart

  Captain Marco van Nistelrooy was never willing to catch it with his hands. He obediently handed over the ship and sailor in his hand. This was a great humiliation to an old sea wolf.

  He is not only a captain, but also a knight galloping across the sea, with pride in his heart.

  "Boom Boom Boom..."

  The oncoming iron-clad frigate saw that the three-masted galleon did not retract the mainsail as ordered, and the hand-cranked Gatling heavy machine gun on the ship fired a series of dazzling chains of fire, forming a series of snow-white water holes on the sea in front of the galleon.

"The three-masted galleon opposite, you are now seriously invading private territory. Now you must immediately put away the mainsail and accept boarding inspection. Any uncooperative or resistance will be considered hostility. This is a serious warning, repeat...this It's a serious warning."

  The formation of the three armored frigates oncoming suddenly unfolded, and the battleships on the left and right wings point outward, drawing a beautiful arc in the high-speed driving.

  Captain Marco Van Nistelrooy immediately judged that the speed of the two ships was no less than 15 knots. This discovery made his heart cold, like falling into the abyss.

  The most commendable thing about the three-masted galleon is its speed and flexibility. It can reach 17 or 18 knots when the sail is full and downwind. It can reach a speed of 13 to 15 knots in normal times.

  Now the distance between the two sides is less than two nautical miles, the "Tulip" is like a small bug caught in a spider's web, and it is almost impossible to escape.

  Firepower and speed do not have the advantage, and self-investment.

   "Raise the Dutch flag to show your identity."

   With an order, the high mainmast of the "Tulip" raised the Dutch flag, hunting and fluttering in the evening breeze.

  Captain Marco Van Nistelrooy can only buy time in this way, hoping to slow down the enemy’s hostility and find a chance to escape.

  The "Tulip" did not have a large brass horn equipped with a frigate, and could not speak to the other party to show that there was no hostility. Instead, the Dutch flag was raised, indicating that it was a cargo ship that had entered by mistake and had no hostility.

  Generally speaking

  A sailboat traveling at sea will not raise the flag. This is because in a severe salt fog environment, the flag will be damaged within a few days after being hung.

  Only when necessary, the flag will be raised to indicate identity, otherwise it may be a pirate ship.

  Of course, it depends on which country.

  British merchant ships are basically unimpeded on the sea. Few navies dare to seize and detain British merchant ships and infringe on their legal rights. This is due to the hegemony of Great Britain’s maritime hegemony.

  This level is only one of Great Britain. The second level is the powers of France, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. The third level can be the turn of Ottoman, Russia, West, the United States, the Netherlands, Norway and other countries.

  Osman, Russia, West, the United States and other countries are squeezed out by the European powers and deliberately targeted for various reasons. Countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, and Norway are simply lacking in strength and cannot be given special treatment.

  "Tulip" raised the Dutch flag, and the oncoming armored frigate was obviously unmoved; "The last serious warning, immediately put away the mainsail for boarding inspection, repeat, the last serious warning..."

  The oncoming iron-clad ship began to turn, leaving a conspicuous arc-shaped track at the stern, carefully maintaining the distance of two nautical miles from the "Tulip" galleon, and did not get too close.

The "Tulip" is not without the strength to fight back. Its deck is equipped with 8 10-inch caliber front guns, and the bow is equipped with an 8-inch caliber front gun, although it does not have the double-layer gunfire of the Spanish pirate ship. It's so violent and dense, it's not to be underestimated.

  (End of this chapter)