'm going up to see how Mr Dallas is.
Don't make a mistake and fire at me as I come back."

"Don't you be scared about that, sir," growled the boatswain; "I'll take
care."

"Are the men all awake?"

"Trust 'em, sir. They've got open eyes."

"I shall not be long," said Syd.

"Right, sir."

"And be careful with that pistol, Strake. You may use it, though, if
there is danger."

"Thankye, sir," said the boatswain, and then to himself, "I'll use both
sooner than have my eyes clawed out, and my nose chawed off."

Syd crept quietly along among the high blocks of rock which dotted the
chasm, gazing up at the quivering stars once and wishing they gave more
light, and thinking of what shelter these rocks would give if the French
ever did attack them and were in such numbers that they took the lower
gun, and came swarming along into the gap.

"We could keep them off after all, I dare say," he said. By this time
he was close up to the rough shelter which the men had dubbed the
hospital. Drawing aside the canvas hung down over the doorway, he was
about to step in when there was a rush, the candle was knocked down, and
by its feeble glimmer, where it lay on the rocky floor, he caught a
glimpse of something dark which rushed at him, drove him backwards, and
disappeared in the darkness.

"You stupid idiot!" cried Syd, in a loud whisper. "Frightened him, I
suppose, going in so quickly."

He once more stepped into the rough place, to see with astonishment the
sailor who had been placed there to relieve Roylance, in the act of
picking up the candle from where it lay flickering on the floor.

"Tumbled down, sir," said the man, confusedly.

"Tumbled down!" cried Sydney, in an angry whisper; "why, you lazy
rascal, you were asleep!"

"Sleep, sir?"

"Yes. Who was that in here just now?"

"Here, sir; and banged out o' the door there! Wasn't it you?"

"No--no," whispered Syd, who grasped the position now; "it must have
been that beast we are trying to catch. Yes; he has taken the biscuit
that lay there while you slept."

"Very sorry, sir; been hard at work, and--"

Sydney heard no more. He had dashed out of the canvas-covered hut and
run swiftly down toward the lower gun.

"Look out, Roylance! Strake!" he shouted; "it's coming your way."

_Bang_!

A pause as the shot echoed among the rocks. Then there was another
report, and a wild cry. Then silence, broken directly after by the
muttering of men's voices.