at the top of the cliffs, which
prevented them from taking so accurate an aim as they would otherwise
have done.

Jack watched them with the deepest anxiety; he saw the shot splashing
into the smooth water and bounding over them. One better aimed might
send either of the lads to the bottom. He had not, however, forgotten
that he had charge of the brig, and was obliged to turn his eyes away
from them to look after her.

Tom being a better swimmer than Gerald might quickly have been on board,
but in spite of the bullets which came flying around his head, he was
seen to stop and support his companion.

"Just like him!" exclaimed Needham, "I would give every year I have to
live to save the lads."

Just then one of the small-arm men in the boat was hit, and dropping his
musket he sank down across the thwarts. Needham seized it, and catching
sight of a Spaniard aiming at the lads, he fired; the man dropped his
piece, which went off in the air. A few more strokes and the boat was
up to the midshipmen. Eager hands were stretched out to haul them on
board.

"Take him first," cried Tom, and Terence, grasping his nephew's hands,
lifted him on board; Needham hauled in Tom, and after the boat had been
put round the crew pulled away for the brig. Several round shot were
fired at her, but fell fortunately either ahead or astern; the musketry
was most annoying, but as the summit of the cliff offered no shelter to
the Spaniards, they were exposed to a sharp fire kept up by the
small-arm men in the boat, and were obliged to retreat in order to
reload their pieces every time they fired. They could thus as they ran
forward to the edge take but an unsteady aim.

As soon as the midshipmen were in the boat, Needham gave up the helm to
Terence, and, reloading his musket, continued to fire at every Spaniard
who appeared.

Eager as Terence was to learn how the midshipmen escaped, there was no
time just then to ask them questions. The boat was quickly alongside;
Tom and Gerald managed to climb on deck without much assistance. Jack
only gave Tom a short and hearty greeting; he then ordered him and
Desmond at once to go below and stow themselves away.

"We must not have you hit now we have got you," he said. "We will hear
all about your adventures when we are out of fire, and that will be, I
hope, before long."

Though several shot had struck the brig no one was killed, and two men
only slightly wounded, while, as far as coul