.

The men were kept under arms, and sentries were posted round the island
at the different points at which boats could land, to give notice should
any approach, in which case the sentries were directed to fire off their
muskets and retire to the fort. The officers continually went their
rounds to ascertain that the men were awake and attending to their duty.
Hour after hour passed by, still no sounds were heard to indicate the
approach of an enemy.

It was within an hour of dawn, when Mr Foley, who having just visited
the western side of the island, had returned to the fort, heard a musket
fired, and presently afterwards a sentry came running up. "I caught the
sound of the splash of the oars in the water, sir," he said; "they
cannot be far off. They hope to catch us asleep, for they seem to be
making as little noise as possible."

As the man was speaking, another sentry's musket was heard to go off.
He quickly came up and gave the same report as the first. The garrison
were at once ordered to stand to their guns, and the two sentries were
sent off to bring in their comrades.

"My lads, we shall probably be attacked in a few minutes by Spaniards:
perhaps there may be soldiers as well as seamen among them, but I know
that I can depend on you to beat them off," exclaimed the commander.
"Not a gun or musket must be fired until I give the order. They may or
may not know, of the existence of our fort; possibly they suppose that
we are without defences, and expect easily to make us prisoners. Don't
cheer now--let not a sound be heard till they get close up to us; they
perhaps expect to surround our camp, but as they know we are awake, they
cannot hope to capture us without a struggle, and will come on
cautiously."

The guns had been loaded with grape and canister. The men not required
to work them were armed with muskets, so that should even the greater
part of the frigate's crew have been sent on shore, the shipwrecked
party might well hope to drive them back.

The commander had taken up a position from whence he could command a
view of the approaches to the fort on every side; and other sharp eyes
were likewise looking out. So long a time elapsed that he began to
fancy that the sentries had given a false alarm, and he was on the point
of despatching a party down to the nearest landing-place, when he caught
sight of a body of men emerging from the gloom. They approached
cautiously, evidently doubtful of the r