Part 69 (1/2)

”Why, they had to get fifteen or sixteen wounded men away,” I cried, and then winced.

”And serve 'em right,” said the doctor. ”Here, Bob!”

_Bang, bang_!

”What's that?”

”Bigley's signal; and by the way, doctor, the poor lad is wounded too.

Come along and see.”

”No, I'll go,” said the doctor. ”You are not fit.”

”But I'm going all the same,” cried my father; and I saw them go off along the cliff path.

”Here, Mars Sep,” said our foreman, ”I'm going to climb up yonder to see what's going on; will you come?”

”I don't think I can do it,” I said, ”but I'll try;” and with the help of his hand now and then I managed to climb up the west slope of the Gap right to the very top, where, in the bright sunny morning, we saw a sight that filled us with horror, for a couple of well-filled boats were rowing towards us from the side of a large sloop of war, from whose port-holes projected a row of guns that seemed to threaten fresh destruction to our coast.

But all at once we saw a flag run fluttering up to the peak and then blow out clear, with the result that the boats began to alter their course, turning completely round and rowing back to the man-of-war.

As they were going back we could see sail after sail drop down from the yards of the sloop; and as the boats reached her and were hoisted up to the davits, she began to move swiftly towards the west, her canvas growing broader minute by minute till she pa.s.sed out of our sight.

”Why, she's gone,” said our foreman. ”Is she coming back?”

”I hope not,” I cried. ”Look!” I pointed towards the east over a depression in the Gap side through which we could catch a glimpse of the sea, and there in the bright sunlight we could make out a couple of vessels crowding on under all sail; and, little as I knew of such matters, I was able to say that one was a small frigate and the other a man-of-war cutter that looked very much like our old friend.

”After the Frenchman--eh?” said our foreman, gazing hard, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, as his cheeks flushed and he seemed to forget his wounds.

”Well, then, all I can say is, that I hope they'll be caught.”

”Let's get down,” I said. ”See, there's the doctor bringing Bigley Uggleston back on his pony. I wonder how he is.”

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

A FIGHT AT SEA.

We descended slowly and painfully, to get down in time to receive a severe scolding from the doctor, while my father confirmed the news, as Bigley was half-lifted off for Bob to mount the pony and go off for help.

The British s.h.i.+ps had had news brought them of the attack, and had started at daybreak in full chase, and an hour afterwards all who could climbed to where we could catch sight of the sea, to find out the meaning of the firing that was going on.

It was plain enough. A large three-masted lugger was in full flight with the frigate after her, and sending shot after shot without effect, till one of them went home, cutting the lugger's princ.i.p.al mast in two, and her largest sail fell down like a broken wing, leaving the lugger helpless on the surface. Then a boat was lowered, and we saw her going at full speed, pulled as she was by a das.h.i.+ng man-o'-war crew, and we watched anxiously to see if there was going to be a fresh fight. But no; the man-o'-war long-boat pulled alongside and the men leaped aboard to send up the English colours directly, while the frigate went on in full chase of the French sloop, and we soon after saw that the lugger was being steered towards the mouth of the Gap.

But meantime the doctor had been busy with poor Bigley, who had been laid upon a soft bed of heather to form his couch while his wound was examined.

”Why, you cowardly young scoundrel!” he cried cheerfully, ”the bullet is embedded in the muscles of the calf of your leg, and it came in behind.

You dog: you were running away.”

”So would you have run away, doctor,” I said warmly, ”if half a dozen Frenchmen were after you and firing.”