eer.

"Thank goodness that's over," said Syd, taking off his hat to wipe his
brow, as he leaped back into the battery.

"Over?" said Roylance, "not till they have been back and blown us all
away."

"Beg pardon, sir," said the boatswain, "but I 'member now nuff of my old
work years ago to be able to send a round shot right through that there
boat, if you'll give the word."

"No, no, Strake.--There, you keep your men ready in case they do come
back, Roy," whispered Syd; "I'll go up and report matters to Mr
Dallas."

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

"Could not have happened better," said the lieutenant, as he was put in
possession of all particulars. "The accident happened well, and gave
them a lesson in our strength that may make them think twice before
attacking us."

"Then you think they will attack us?"

"Sorry to say I have no doubt about it, and since I have been lying here
I have come to the conclusion that it would be better to bring that
upper gun down, and mount it about twenty feet from the other. The
attack must come from the lower end. If, however, they could land, and
tried to scale the rocks at the top of the gap, you would have to defend
the upper battery the best way you could. Even if you had a gun there
you could not get more than one shot. Haul it down at once."

Syd went off and communicated the result of his conversation to Roylance
and Strake.

"Yes, I think he's right," said the former. "Eh, Strake?"

"Right, sir; why of course he is. I felt that when we got the guns up,
only it warn't for me to give my 'pinion. Speaking in parabolas like,
what I say is, that the t'other gun's worth twopence up there, but down
here it 'll be worth a hundred pound or more. Start at once, sir?"

"Yes, directly.--Roylance, will you see to making a platform and running
up a breastwork, while the bo'sun gets down the gun?"

All hands were soon at work, and meanwhile Syd had gone up to the
flagstaff with a glass to see that the boat was half-way back to the
French frigate.

"What will they do?" thought Syd. "Make sail and come and batter us
with their guns, or send out three or four boats?"

He waited patiently till the Frenchmen were alongside, and he watched
the officers through the glass go on the quarter-deck and make their
report to their captain.

"Now, then," said Syd, half-aloud, "which is it to be--boats, or come up
abreast of us?"

"Make sail, sir," said Rogers. "They're coming down on u