anding them."

"Begging your pardon, gentlemen," said Strake, with a grim smile, "you
needn't trouble 'bout that 'ere. I've got a friend here as there isn't
a Frenchy afloat as don't understand."

"Whom do you mean, Strake?" said Syd, as he looked sharply at the
boatswain.

"This here, sir," he said, patting the breech of the cannon. "On'y let
her open her mouth and bellow; they'll know it means keep off." The men
laughed. "Is the gun loaded?"

"Yes, sir, with a round shot; but I've got grape and canister ready."

This began to look like grim warfare, and Syd stood there waiting in
silence, and gazing out seaward for the coming of the boat.

From the little battery the extent visible was rather limited, for the
rock rose up high to right and left. The French frigate was right
behind them, plain to be seen from the upper gun, the steep slope
downward shutting it out from the lower.

A full half-hour glided by, but there was no sign of the enemy, and the
men lay waiting with the sun now beating full upon them with such power
that the rock grew almost too hot to touch.

"If they don't look sharp and come," said Strake, moving the lantern he
had with him more into the shade, "my candle here will melt into hyle,
and that there gun 'ill begin to speak French without being touched."

"Surely the sun has not power enough to light the charge, Strake."

"Well, sir, I never knowed it done yet," said the boatswain, dubiously.

Another quarter of an hour passed away, and Roylance exclaimed--

"Can there be any other place where they could land?"

"No," said Syd, "I feel sure not."

"Then why are they so long?"

"Don't know the rock, and they are rowing to search all round for a
place, the same as we did."

Still the long-drawn-out space of time went slowly, and doubts began to
intrude which made Syd glance anxiously up to right and left, as he
thought how helpless they would be should they be taken in rear or
flank.

"Make a good fight for it all the same," said Roylance, who read his
looks. "But I don't see how they could land anywhere round the rock
without men on the cliff top to help them."

"Terry would not do that," thought Syd, and he glanced sharply round to
gaze above him at the upper gun.

He blushed at the thought, as he saw the young officer there, evidently
engaged in looking out to sea.

"Think the man up yonder by the flagstaff can see them?" said Roylance,
after another weary wait.

S