heir keels, and the
boats stopped dead.

The crews silently disembarked, and all stood still for a few moments,
listening intently to ascertain whether the noise of the boats grounding
on the beach had been heard. But no sound came to them, and, after
waiting a little longer to make certain, the boats were gently pushed
off again, each in charge of a couple of hands to take care of them, and
the marauders proceeded up the beach, soon arriving on the road that ran
the whole length of the town at the edge of the shingle.

The first thing to be done was to obtain possession of the fort; and,
feeling their way as best they could in the dense darkness, they set off
in the direction in which they knew it lay.

Up the hill they marched, and presently a black mass, somewhat darker
than their surroundings, showed itself against the sky. They were
there.

Stealing quietly round, they searched for the gateway, which they soon
found.

Everything was now ready for the attack, and the officers went silently
among the men to discover whether all were present, when it was found
that not a single man was missing, or had lost his way in the dark.

Two sacks ready filled with powder, tightly pressed down, and tied at
the mouth, were now brought forward.

They were placed in position against the ponderous iron-bound door, a
train was laid to them, and the men then retreated to a safe distance
and lay down, waiting for the explosion.

Presently there was a flicker of light as the spark was struck, and at
the same moment Roger and Harry grasped hands for a second, for bloody
work was about to begin.

There was a splutter, a stream of fire ran along the ground, and, as
they gazed, an enormous flash of brilliant white light blazed up, nearly
blinding them, followed by a deafening report and a tremendous
concussion that seemed to make the very earth tremble. And with it came
the sound of wrenching iron, cracking timber, and the crash of falling
masonry, and from the interior of the fort the clamour and outcry of the
sudden awakening of its occupants.

But the English, with no cheer or shout to announce their approach,
leaped to their feet, dashed across the intervening ground, and plunged
over the fallen masonry and wreckage of the gate into the interior of
the fort and into the dim radiance of hastily kindled lanterns.

Here and there they found a man, only half-awake, confusedly running to
ascertain what might be the origin o