ack in the direction of the still burning junk. On reaching it
Mr Norman landed his men, forming them in more regular order than Tom
had done, four of the marines advancing in skirmishing order to feel the
way.

No enemy, however, appeared; but being an experienced officer, he knew
that they might be lurking at no great distance ahead, or concealed
behind the brushwood either on the right hand or the left, so that they
might attack him at any moment on the flank or get behind him and out
off his retreat. Having advanced therefore a short distance, he ordered
a halt, and getting close under a hill from the top of which he hoped to
obtain a survey of the country, he climbed up it, accompanied by
Desmond.

"There's the fort, sir," exclaimed the latter, "and I see a number of
men going into it. If they have not cut off Rogers's head, they will be
taking him in with them, and he'll run a great risk of being killed when
the _Gnat_ opens fire on the fort."

Mr Norman thought Desmond was right in his conjectures.

"Could not we make a dash at the rear of the fort? we might get in
before the pirates know we were coming," said Desmond.

"With a stronger party I would try what we could do; but as the pirates
must have been watching us, they would be prepared for an attack, and I
very much doubt if we should succeed."

Desmond, though eager to try and rescue Tom, of whose death he was as
yet far from being convinced, acknowledged to himself that his
lieutenant was right. They remained a few minutes longer, taking a more
perfect survey of the fortress and the surrounding country.

"If I mistake not, could we land on the right side of it, we might make
our way, concealed by the mass of brushwood to the rear of the fort, and
get close up to it before we are discovered, while the pirates, if they
expect us to make the attempt, will be looking out for us over that open
ground more to the left; but we must get back and communicate with
Captain Rogers," observed the lieutenant.

Mr Norman, directly he came down from the hill, ordered his men to
retreat. As soon as they were on board, the boats pulled away for the
_Gnat_ as fast as the crews could lay their backs to the oars, all
knowing the importance of placing the wounded under the surgeon's care
as soon as possible. Two poor fellows required no doctoring, but their
bodies were carried, nevertheless, for the purpose of giving them, as
Jack called it, "decent burial?"--in