know
that they have no mercy to expect at our hands, and that they fight with
ropes round their necks."

"We must give them enough of it, then; but I suppose, with the force we
have collected, we shall have no great difficulty in forcing our way
into the harbour I understand they have got there, though it seems to be
well fortified."

"We should be blown to atoms if we attempted it in the boats," said
Fleetwood. "You have no idea how strong the place is."

"How, in the name of goodness, are we to get at them, then?" exclaimed
Captain Grantham, who was more celebrated for his dash at an enemy, when
once he saw him, than for originating any plan where stratagem was
required. "But let me hear what you propose to do."

"I have, as you may suppose, thought much on the subject, so I may claim
for it more attention than I might otherwise venture to do," said
Fleetwood. "I would on no account attempt to enter the harbour; but
there is at the east end of the island a small cove, with an entrance so
narrow that one boat can alone pass at a time."

He spoke of the one into which the Greek captain had steered the
mistico, all the circumstances of which he explained.

"Now, I propose," he continued, "that the three English ships should
stand towards the place, as soon as it is dark, and there is no chance
of our being seen from the shore, while the _Ypsilante_ I will employ in
another way. We will bring up close in shore, and have all the boats
ready to drop into the water, at the same moment. I will lead in the
_Tone's_ cutter, and, with my men, will mount by the concealed passage,
and secure the approach to the summit of the cliff. When this important
point is gained, the other boats can enter; and Raby, who knows the
passage, will lead the main body through it. We will then proceed, as
silently as we can, to the causeway, across which we must make a dash,
and, I hope, may take the pirates by surprise. I would send the
_Ypsilante_, meantime, to approach the harbour; and when we reach the
causeway, we will throw up a rocket, and she must commence a feigned
attack on the mouth of the harbour, blazing away as hard as she can.
This will distract the attention of the pirates, and make them fancy
that they have most to fear from their enemies on that side. As soon as
she opens her fire, we will rush on; and as the Greeks will have hurried
to the defences of the fort towards the harbour, I hope that we may have
an easy v