em in
each case so thoroughly by surprise, the _melee_ did not last long. Syd
was conscious of seeing sparks after what seemed to be a loud clap of
thunder above his head, and the next thing he knew was that Roylance was
saying--

"Belt, lad, do, do try and speak."

"Speak? yes," he faltered. "What's the matter?"

"Matter! don't ask."

"But what does it mean? Where are we? Has Terry won?"

"My poor old fellow, you haven't been fighting Terry--yes, you have--a
coward! he is with the French."

"And--" cried Syd, sitting up, "are we beaten?"

"Yes! no!" cried Roylance. "They're all down or prisoners--but eight of
us here."

"Where are we?" said Syd, who felt sick and dizzy.

"Up in the little top battery, and they're coming on again. Stand by,
lads!"

Syd rose to his feet as the men cheered, and stood with his sword
hanging by the knot to his wrist, holding on by the rough stone wall,
looking over into the starlit gloom at a body of French sailors
apparently about to attack. Just then an officer stepped forward, and
said, cheerily--

"_Rendez-vous, mes braves. Parlez, vous_!" he continued, turning to
some one at his side.

"Here, you there!--the French officer says it's no use to fight any
longer; he has taken the place, so give up."

"Terry!" cried Roylance; "you miserable traitor!" and the men around
burst into a loud groan, and hooted the renegade.

"Yes, traitor!" cried Syd, excitedly; and forgetting his wound,
"coward!"

"Coward yourself!" cried Terry. "Do you think I was going to stay in a
service which compelled men to serve under a contemptible boy like you?
Here, my lads, it's no use to resist. Give up, and you will have good
treatment as prisoners. Come out."

"Do you hear, lads?" cried Roylance. "Will you do as the new
English-French deserter says?"

"No!" roared the men; and Rogers' voice rose above them--"Say, lads,
it's yard-arm for a desarter, eh?"

"Yes."

Terry turned away savagely, and they saw him saying something to the
French officer--saw him dimly, as it seemed, then more plainly, for day
was breaking with the rapidity of the change in the tropics; and as a
movement took place, they all knew that a final assault was to be given,
and must go against them.

Then the spirit of Syd's family seemed to send a flush through him; he
forgot his pain, the sickness passed off, and he turned to gaze on the
torn and blood-stained men about him.

"French and English," he c