Part 83 (1/2)

There was plenty of excitement as the enemy was seen, and the men thoroughly realised the fact that the day's work before them would be no light task.

”Seems to do one more good, though, Master Syd, sir,” said Strake, as they were together alone. ”Lying down, and bein' helped, and strapped and lashed 's all very well, but the sight o' one's nat'ral enemy 'pears to spurt you up like, and if it had only been a month longer, strikes me as we should have had the lufftenant helping of us again.”

”Have you seen Mr Terry about?”

”No, sir; 'pears to have struck work like. Beg pardon, sir; but seeing as some on us may be gone to Davy Jones's locker 'fore night--not meaning you, o' course, but him--wouldn't it be handsome-like to go and make friends, and offer him your hand?”

”I have done so more than once, Strake,” said Syd, sternly, as he recalled the mids.h.i.+pman's action on the previous day, ”but I can't do it again.”

”All right, sir, you knows best, o' course,” said the boatswain, and he went off to his duty.

The men worked hard, and by the time the frigate was close in there were the provisions and water in the upper battery, and a good supply in the works about the flagstaff.

”You can do no more, Belton,” said Mr Dallas. ”I don't want to discourage you, but without help from sea we can only manage to hold out as long as possible, and give the enemy a tough job, for Old England's sake. Are the colours flying well?”

”Yes, sir, splendidly.”

”That's right, then. Now, one word of advice; don't fire a shot at the frigate. With your two guns you can do her very little harm. Save your powder for the boats--round shot when they are coming to the sh.o.r.e, and grape as they are landing. Keep your men cool, and only let them fire when there is a good chance.”

_Bang_!

The first shot from seaward followed by a crash, and the sound of stones falling as the frigate tried her range, and sent a heavy ball against the side of the gap.

”Did not know she was so near,” said the lieutenant.

”But about you, sir? Shall I have you carried up to the flagstaff?”

”Certainly not, my lad, never mind me. Go and do your duty. G.o.d save the King!”

”G.o.d save the King!” echoed Syd, as he shook hands with the lieutenant, and hurried down to the little battery, to find that the frigate had drawn as close in as she could, but dared not come right in front of the gap, for her boat out sounding had discovered a reef right opposite. So after firing a few shots obliquely, all of which struck the north side of the gap, she made sail and went round to the other side of the reef, where disappointment again awaited her captain; for here again he could only fire obliquely, and send the stones rattling down on the south side of the gap.

But he went on firing for about an hour before s.h.i.+fting his position once more, and then feeling his way in exactly opposite, but quite out of range.

This was an unexpected change in favour of the defender, for though when they were freshly come it had been noticed that the sea ran high a quarter of a mile out from the lower end of the gap, the existence of a reef was not suspected, and it was some time before the defenders could thoroughly believe that the frigate could not get into position for sweeping the little gully from end to end.

Again the frigate's position was changed, and fire opened.

”We ought to shake hands on this,” cried Roylance. ”Fire away, Monsieur, knock down the rocks; it's all good for the powder and ball trade.”

”And doesn't frighten us a bit,” added Syd, who for the moment forgot his important position, and its seriousness. ”Haven't you seen Terry yet?”

”No.”

”And I arn't seen my boy Pan, gen'lemen,” said the boatswain--”My word, that was a good one,” he interpolated, as a heavy shot struck the rock about twenty feet below the flagstaff, and a good ton of stones came rattling down--”strikes me as that boy's a-showing the white feather, gen'lemen, and it goes home to my 'art.”

”The boy's wounded, Strake; don't be too hard on him.”

”Not so bad but what he might ha' done powder-monkeying with one hand.

But there's a deal o' vartue in rope's-ends arter all, and if I gets through to-day--”