Ralph now took up his station at the mouth of the cavern with his six
men, and lay down just in front of the opening listening attentively.
He could hear a continued murmur as of many voices.
"Get ready, lads, to follow me the instant you see me dive in," he said.
"I am sure by the sound there are more than four men in there, and
Captain O'Connor may want help badly."
Grasping a pistol in his left hand, and his sword in his right, Ralph
listened attentively. Suddenly he heard a shout, and then the discharge
of a gun or a pistol.
In an instant he threw himself forward along the low narrow passage. He
had not gone more than three or four yards when he found that it
heightened, and he was able to stand upright. He rushed on, keeping his
head low in case the roof should lower again, and after a few paces
entered a large cabin. It was dimly illuminated by two torches stuck
against the wall. In a moment a number of figures rushed towards him
with loud shouts; but before they reached him two of the soldiers stood
by his side.
"Fire!" he shouted as he discharged his pistol; and at the same moment
the soldiers beside him fired their muskets.
A moment later he was engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict.
Several firearms had flashed off almost in his face. One of the
soldiers fell with a sharp cry, but those who were following rushed
forward. Ralph narrowly escaped having his brains dashed out by a
clubbed rifle, but springing back just in time he ran his opponent
through before he could recover his guard.
Just at this moment a big man with a shock of red hair and a huge beard
levelled a blunderbuss at him. It flashed across him that his last
moment had come; when a man behind leapt suddenly upon the ruffian's
back and they fell to the ground together, the blunderbuss going off in
the fall and riddling a soldier standing next to Ralph with slugs.
For two or three minutes a desperate struggle went on between Ralph and
his six men and those who attempted to break through them. Sturdily as
the soldiers fought they had been driven back towards the entrance by
the assailants, armed with pikes and clubbed guns. There was no sound
of conflict at the other end of the cave, and Ralph felt that the attack
there had for some reason failed.
"Shoulder to shoulder, lads!" he shouted. "We shall have help in a
minute or two."
He had emptied both his double-barrelled pistols. His sword had just
broken short in his hand while guarding his head from a heavy blow. He
himself had been almost struck to the ground, when there was a rush of
men from behind, and the rest of the soldiers poured in.
"Give them a volley, lads!" he shouted; "and then charge them with the
bayonets!"
The muskets rang out, and then there was a shout of "We surrender! we
surrender!" A minute later the men were disarmed.