ead.

The shouting and confusion lasted for some time, during which the
defenders crouched in safety behind their breastwork, and waited.

At last, just as the officers were deciding upon withdrawing their men,
and asking themselves what their fate would be if the English began to
play upon them during their retreat to the one boat which was left,
there was another cheer, and a reinforcement from the frigate appeared.

Strake sprang up to alter the level of the gun and take aim, but Syd
stopped him.

"This one hasn't come to attack," he said, as he saw that the boat was
only half manned; the captain having seen the misfortunes that had
befallen his other boats, and sent this one on to afford his men a means
of retreat.

For the attack was hopeless, and the officers gathered their men
together, and despatched them in two parties to the little pier, the men
moving with the greatest of regularity; and while a few kept up a
running fire against the battery, the others embarked.

"Now then, sir, give the word," whispered Strake, who was hoarse with
excitement; "I can send a shot right through that there boat."

"What for?" said Syd, coldly. "They are retreating, and we don't want
to stop them and make them prisoners."

"But they're our mortial enemies, sir," cried the boatswain, aghast.

"Let them go," said Syd; and as the boats pushed off, with the frigate
recommencing its useless fire to cover the retreat, the defenders of the
little natural fort gave a hearty cheer.

"We don't want a lot of bloodshed, Roy," said Syd, as they congratulated
one another over the refreshment they were glad to take.

"No; but I suppose we ought to have slaughtered a lot of them. We
could."

"My father used to tell my uncle, the admiral, that he was the greatest
commander who could achieve a victory with the smallest loss of life."

"Yes, sir," said a gruff voice behind him; "but I've know'd your father
send some awful broadsides and rakings into the enemy's ships. Why,
when we've gone aboard arter to take the furren captain's sword, I've
seed their deck all slippery with blood."

"And I'm glad those stones are not."

"Very well, sir, if you're satisfied, I am; but I want to know what's
gone o' my Pan. Hasn't hidden hisself in that water-cave, has he?"

"I have not seen him," said Syd, and with Roylance he climbed up to the
flagstaff to see the enemy's two crowded boats return to the frigate's
side, after which the French