langour; while in place there came a low,
dull, murmurous roar as of surf beating upon some rocky coast, a strange
mingling of voices, hurrying foot-steps, indescribable, indistinct, and
yet apparently expressive of excitement and the change from joy to fear.

"It has upset them pretty well," said Poole. "Why, I did hear that they
were going in for fireworks as soon as it was dark, and they fired that
gun like a challenge. I shouldn't wonder if they have fireworks of a
different kind to what they expect."

"Yes," said Fitz excitedly. "The gunboat will begin firing shells
perhaps, and set fire to the town."

"Bad luck to them if they do," cried Poole earnestly, "for it's a
beautiful old place with its groves and gardens. Here, I say, Burnett,
I wish this wretched little schooner were your _Tonans_, and we were
going to fight for poor old Don Ramon. Don't you?"

"There's the sun beginning to go down behind the mountain," said Fitz,
evading the question. "I say, how long will it be before it's dark?"

"Oh, you know as near as I do. Very soon, and the sooner the better.
Oh, I say, she must see us. She's heading round and coming straight
in."

"For us or the fort?"

"Both," said Poole emphatically.

And then they waited, fancying as the last gleam of the orange sun sank
out of sight that they could hear the men breathing hard with suppressed
excitement, as they stood there with their sleeves rolled up, waiting
for the first order which should mean hauling away at ropes and the
schooner beginning to glide towards the great buoy, slackening the cable
for the men in the dinghy to cast-off.

"Here, look at that!" cried Fitz excitedly, unconsciously identifying
himself more and more with the crew.

"What's the matter?" said Poole.

"Wet your hand, and hold it up."

"Right," said Poole; "and so was old Burgess. I don't believe there's a
man at sea knows more about the wind than he does. Half-an-hour ago,
dead to sea; now right ashore."

"Stand by, my lads," growled the boatswain in response to a word from
the mate; and a deep low sigh seemed to run all across the deck, as to a
man the crew drew in a deep long breath, while with the light rapidly
dying out, and the golden tips of the mountains turning purple and then
grey, the first order was given, a couple of staysails ran with jigging
motion up to their full length, and a chirruping, creaking sound was
heard as the men began to haul upon the yard of the