cigar in his teeth, mumbling out:

"Twenty-eight--twenty-seven--twenty-six--twenty-five--fire!"

The guns went off together, and the pair sprang up and ran after their
companions, to find fifty yards nearer the boat the captain and his
officers down on one knee waiting to cover them.

"Well aimed!" cried the former. "You two halt to cover us just at the
water's edge. That'll give the boys time to get aboard, and then we can
laugh at the copper-skinned vermin. Look sharp and reload: they're
coming on again."

Brace and his companion continued their retreat, overtaking the sailors
with the wounded man, whom they now saw to be Jem, and had endorsement
of the fact in the tones of his voice, for he was growling and abusing
his bearers.

"Put me down, I says, and go and help the old man. I tell you I can get
to the boat myself without any help."

"Hold your row," said one of the men; "if you don't we'll bump you."

"Don't talk, my lads; hurry on," cried Brace, who was busy reloading.
"Look sharp and get aboard."

"Ay, ay, sir," cried the party cheerily.

The next minute they were at the water's edge, where their defenders
halted ready, just as the captain's voice was heard to shout:

"Fire!"

Three shots rang out, and, covered by the smoke, the captain and his
mates ran on, to begin reloading.

"Look sharp, boys!" panted the captain; "get to the boats, each man to
his own, but put the wounded man in mine. You're ready, Mr Brace--Mr
Briscoe?"

"Yes."

"That's right: we won't row away and leave you. Forward, my lads, and
get under cover of the boat's side. Hoist the sail half-mast, and keep
behind it. They'll begin to shoot directly. We'll get on board first,
gentlemen, to cover you from the boats. Stand fast till we're all in if
you can, and then give 'em all four barrels and make a dash for it
before the smoke rises."

These next were anxious moments, but Brace did not flinch, and his
companion went on talking with his eyes fixed upon the approaching
enemy, each man holding an arrow to his bowstring, but unaccountably
refraining from winging it home. He seemed to be in every case watching
the muzzles of the guns in wonder and fear as he slowly approached.

"I want to cut and run horribly, Brace," said the American, in a husky
voice; "only I suppose we mustn't. We shall look like porcupines
directly--full of arrows, I expect; but keep up your spirits: I daresay
we shall each have a fair share.