oser in, however, I made out the
point behind which the landing-place was situate, and in five minutes
afterwards we slid round the projection and found ourselves in smooth
water, with the beach close aboard. Giving the boat good way, we ran
her well up on the sand, and all hands jumped out except two, who were
to remain in her as boatkeepers. She was then shoved off again; the two
men in charge being instructed to keep a bright lookout, and to be
prepared to back in and receive us at a moment's notice, in the event of
anything going wrong.

I then paraded my small command, and, first repeating to them their
instructions, led the way up the steep slope of the cliff. It was very
dark, the moon--what there was of her--having set nearly an hour before;
but, by dint of great caution and taking our time about it, we safely
reached the top of the cliff in about ten minutes. Here all hands lay
down upon the grass, while I went forward on hands and knees over the
brow of the hill to reconnoitre. It was some little time before I could
distinguish anything but the black shapeless bulk of the land before me;
but at length I made out something which I thought was the battery, at a
distance of about a quarter of a mile away, and at a somewhat lower
level than the spot upon which I found myself. Returning to the
surprise-party, we all moved cautiously forward toward the object which
I had seen; and when within a hundred yards of it, I once more left the
men, and crawled forward, as before, to reconnoitre. As we had drawn
nearer to this object, I had seen that I was mistaken as to this being
the battery; and I now made out that it was a block of two small stone
buildings, evidently intended for use as a temporary barracks for the
artillerymen belonging to the battery, and their officers.

I crept right up to the walls of these buildings, and finding everything
perfectly dark and silent, pushed my investigations somewhat farther.
Pulling off my boots, I passed right round both buildings; and then
found that I had in the first instance come upon their rear. Rounding a
corner of the block (which was built in the form of the letter L with
the points facing inwards) I at once became aware of the presence of two
doors, one in each wing, both of which were open, and from which as well
as from the windows, a feeble stream of light was issuing. From the
position which I occupied, I was able to see in through the door of the
smaller b