the other.

"Don't mind me," said Archy, in a faint voice, looking very pale; "a
sharp blow made me topple over, but I don't think that I am much hurt."

"I trust not, my boy; but we will get a doctor to look to you as soon as
possible," answered Murray, placing him into the stern sheets by his
side, so as to cover him as much as possible. Again and again the boats
were hit, and half the oars were cut through. Some breaking off, others
were immediately got out to supply their places.

The boats all this time were slowly working their way along against the
stream. This was the most trying part of the whole voyage. Upwards of
an hour they had been under fire, and for nearly forty minutes more they
were passing the stockades exposed to it. At length the extreme point
was neared; this they had to round, and then to pull some distance up
the river, so as to be able to descend rapidly to the landing-place,
which was on the other side of the point. The crews renewed their
efforts, and the remainder of the flotilla now appeared, coming slowly
up. As the leading gig at length rounded the point, her crew uttered a
cheer; and as the river became wider, and the current ran with less
force, they were able to make better way, and soon getting beyond the
fire of the fort, they were exposed only occasionally to a shot from
some of the more persevering of the enemy who had made their way along
the banks.

Murray was thankful when he could at length examine poor Archy's wound.
The lad had fainted from loss of blood; the bullet, it appeared, had
lodged in his side. McTavish, the assistant-surgeon, was fortunately in
the pinnace, and when she came up he took the midshipman under his
charge, as well as several other poor fellows severely wounded. Tom
held him in his arms while the doctor probed his wound, and at length
succeeded in extracting the bullet.

"He'll not die, I hope," said Tom, feeling very sick and sad.

"Not this time, I trust. He has a good constitution, and that's
everything in his favour," answered McTavish.

There was no time, however, for sorrow or sentiment.

Most of the boats had now got up, and Captain Hemming not waiting for
the rearmost ones, which he calculated would arrive in time to land the
men after the first part had gained a footing on the banks, gave the
order to attack.

With true British cheers the crews gave way, and the stream now being in
their favour, the boats, still exposed to a wa