FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   105   106   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   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   >>   >|  
rattling noise like the sound of clattering timber was heard, and with it a sharp, shrill cry of agony, and all was hushed. 'Let's at them, boys: they can't be much above our own number. The island is a mere rock,' cried I to my comrades. 'Who commands this party,' said the corporal--'you or I?' 'You, if you lead us against the enemy,' said I; 'but I'll take it if my comrades will follow me. There goes another shot, lads--yes or no--now is the time to speak.' 'We're ready,' cried three, springing forward with one impulse. At the instant I jumped into the skiff, the others took their places, and then come a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh, leaving the corporal alone on the bank. 'Come along, corporal,' cried I, 'we'll win your epaulettes for you'; but he turned away without a word; and, not waiting further, I pushed out the skiff, and sent her skimming down the stream. 'Pull steady, boys, and silently,' said I; 'we must gain the middle of the current, and then drop down the river without the least noise. Once beneath the trees, we'll give them a volley, and then the bayonet. Remember, lads, no flinching; it's as well to die here as be shot by old Regnier to-morrow.' The conflict on the Eslar island was now, to all seeming, at its height. The roll of musketry was incessant, and sheets of flame, from time to time, streaked the darkness above the river. 'Stronger and together, boys--once more--there it is--we are in the current now; in with you, men, and look to your carbines; see that the priming is safe; every shot soon will be worth a fusillade. Lie still now, and wait for the word to fire.' The spreading foliage of the nut-trees was rustling over our heads as I spoke, and the sharp skiff, borne on the current, glided smoothly on till her bow struck the rock. With high-beating hearts we clambered up the little cliff, and, as we reached the top, beheld immediately beneath us, in a slight dip of the ground, several figures around a gun, which they were busy adjusting. I looked right and left to see that my little party were all assembled, and without waiting for more, gave the order--fire! We were within pistol range, and the discharge was a deadly one. The terror, however, was not less complete; for all who escaped death fled from the spot, and dashing through the brushwood, made for the shallow part of the stream, between the island and the right bank. Our prize was a brass eight-pounde
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   105   106   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   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
island
 

corporal

 

current

 

beneath

 

waiting

 
stream
 
comrades
 

Stronger

 
streaked
 

smoothly


glided

 

rustling

 
darkness
 

priming

 
fusillade
 

foliage

 
spreading
 
carbines
 

pounde

 

pistol


brushwood

 

assembled

 

shallow

 

discharge

 

deadly

 

escaped

 

dashing

 

complete

 

terror

 

looked


adjusting

 
clambered
 

hearts

 

reached

 

beating

 
struck
 

beheld

 
immediately
 

sheets

 
figures

slight
 

ground

 
steady
 
follow
 

springing

 

places

 
jumped
 

forward

 
impulse
 

instant