Part 36 (1/2)
”Two hours, sir?”
”Yes, the tide's flowing now. I estimate in two hours' time there'll be enough depth of water to float us off that bank.”
”If we're here to be floated,” answered Young Glory, gloomily.
”That is so. A shot may send us to the bottom at any time.”
”It's a case for desperate measures, sir.”
”Desperate! I see nothing.”
”Sir, let us land and storm the batteries.”
”What! with our small force?”
”Enough, sir, if we take them all.”
”And the s.h.i.+p, Young Glory?”
”The men are not wanted here, sir. It's useless working the guns, because we can't do any damage with them, and the Spaniards won't attempt to board us.”
”It must be done. There's nothing else left.”
Mr. Tyler shouted forth his orders. All was excitement now. When the men knew what decision had been come to they were delighted, for desperate though the undertaking appeared to be, it was better than staying on the s.h.i.+p to be sunk with it.
On the weather side of the s.h.i.+p the boats were manned.
Lieut. Tyler, in person, led the attack, and his forces counted, all told, about one hundred and fifty men.
”A handful,” said Young Glory.
”Maybe,” said Dan, laughing, ”but, begorra! the hand isn't made that'll squeeze us.”
The Spaniards, strangely enough, made no effort to oppose the landing.
Probably they thought the prey so easy of capture that they wished to tackle them at close quarters. Not a shot was fired as the boats rowed towards the sh.o.r.e.
”This means an ambush,” said Young Glory.
Mr. Tyler thought the same, and he was actively on the alert.
The boats were drawn up on the beach, and the men were so eager to get to close quarters with the enemy that they dashed at a furious pace towards the steep and rugged path that led to the batteries.
Young Glory was at their head. Dan was a few paces behind him.
Suddenly, from a wood to the left dashed a body of Spanish soldiers, over a hundred strong, and at the same time nearly two hundred of the enemy came rus.h.i.+ng down the hill to the right.
”Between two fires!” cried Young Glory.