captain's sentiments, had begun really to think
that the matter would be settled without bloodshed, when two wreaths of
smoke issued from the stockades, and a couple of shots whistled near
them. At the same moment up went the flag of the Nicaraguan republic,
and the next instant volleys of musketry came rattling by them from
either side of the river.

"Colonel Salas evidently does not intend to receive us as friends,"
observed Captain Hemming. "Order up the other boats, Murray, the sooner
we give him and his followers the lesson they require the better. We
will at once make a dash at the fort; it will not do to stop here and be
shot down like dogs."

As Dick Needham saw the flag run up he exclaimed--

"We'll have that bit of bunting down before long, lads, and it won't be
my fault if I don't get hold of the halliards."

The crews cheered and pulled on with renewed vigour. Their strength,
however, was taxed to the utmost, for the banks of the river closing in
at this point, the water rushed down like a mill-stream, and at times
the boats remained almost stationary. It was no easy task to urge even
the light boats ahead. Though showers of shot came rattling about them
from numerous concealed foes on either side, it would have been useless
to return their fire, for not an enemy showed himself.

The marines and soldiers, however, got their muskets ready to pick off
any more adventurous foes who might for an instant appear among the
trees, but the enemy were too well accustomed to this sort of warfare to
expose themselves, and kept well under cover. It was trying in the
extreme, but their gallant leader had resolved not to be defeated in his
object, and all hands willingly followed him. He and Murray took the
lead in their respective gigs. Jack Rogers, with his brother Tom in the
pinnace, which carried the lieutenant of the marines and a party of his
men, were close astern. The frigate's and corvette's barges, with a
detachment of the regiment and their captain, were not far off; the
other boats were making the best of their way, but found it impossible
to keep up with the lighter-built ones. Considering the showers of
bullets which kept whizzing by them, it seemed wonderful that as yet no
one had been wounded. They were not allowed, however, to proceed much
farther with impunity. The boats had been repeatedly hit, and some of
the oars had almost been cut in two. As the headmost boats neared the
fort the