fast asleep.

On rising the next morning, he saw the raft and boats again approaching.
Mr Tarwig came in command of them, with directions from the commander
to choose a site for erecting a battery on the island with their guns.
"The commander thinks it probable that the Spaniards, when they find out
that we are here, will attack us for the sake of making us prisoners,
and the sooner we are prepared for them the better," he said to
Lieutenant Foley.

While the other officers and men were engaged in landing the stores
which the boats had brought, the two lieutenants walked together across
the island, and then followed the rise which ran along the centre on the
eastern side. Although there were many reefs on that side, the island
was more approachable than on the west, where the _Champion_ had been
wrecked, and after a careful survey they fixed on a spot below which it
appeared that a ship might approach the shore. Consequently it was the
spot which an enemy would probably choose for landing with boats.

The lieutenants were not long in marking out the site of their proposed
fort. The ground was here covered more thickly than, in other places
with trees, some of considerable height, which would effectually mask it
from the sea. The island was of a width which would enable the guns in
the fort to defend it on both sides, as some might be so placed as to
command their own landing-place, should an enemy attempt to come on
shore on that side. Having formed their plan, they returned to the
camp. Here all hands were still busily employed in getting the guns on
shore. The difficulty was to drag them up to the site chosen for the
fort. Their own carriages, which had been also landed, were of no use
for this purpose; but the carpenter suggested that rollers should be
placed under them, and, ropes being secured to the breeches, they could
be dragged up by the crew.

While the first lieutenant returned to the ship, Norman Foley directed
the carpenter to form his proposed rollers, and to try what could be
done with one of the guns. Some of the rigging had already been brought
on shore on the raft, and there was an abundance of ropes for the
purpose.

The carpenter and his crew were not long in getting all things ready.
Four rollers were placed under one of the guns, and a party were told
off to take charge of four others, while the rest of the crew laid hold
of the towlines. The boatswain sounded his whistle, and off t