FIREWORKS.

The boat was well run up out of reach and sight of the enemy, a spot

being selected where by a little manoeuvring beneath the shade of an

overhanging tree a few boughs could be pressed aside and a watch kept

upon the movements of those on board the schooners, in case of their

boats coming in pursuit, or, what was quite probable, one or other of

the vessels heaving anchor and coming up with the tide.

But the time wore on without any sign being made, and as far as could be

made out through the glass, the Spaniards seemed to be quite content

with beating off the attack, and from their movements they had

apparently come to the conclusion that they had seen the last of the

occupants of the boat.

But they did not know the temper of those on board, nor that a quiet

little council of war had been going on, till, feeling the necessity for

the men being properly prepared ready for any fresh attempt, the doctor

suggested that a substantial meal should be made; and this was partaken

of with a far better appetite than could have been expected. More than

one plan had been suggested regarding the next proceedings. One was

that they should steal down the river under cover of the darkness and go

in search of their friends; another, that an attempt should be made,

when the tide was flowing most swiftly, to cut the cables, in the hope

that the vessels might drift ashore; but Joe Cross disposed of this

directly as not likely to be of any permanent advantage, and declared

that there was only one thing to be done, and that was, to follow up

with another bold attempt to board.

"You see, gentlemen," he said, "we never had a chance to get within

touch of the Spanish mongrels. I don't want to brag, but with a fair

start there aren't one of our chaps here as wouldn't take a good grip of

his cutlass and go for any three of them; eh, messmates?"

"In an or'nary way, Joe," said Harry Briggs.

"Well, this is an or'nary way, messmate."

"Nay; I call this a 'stror'nary one."

"Well, speak out, messmate, and say what you mean."

"Well, same as you do, Joe, only I put it a little different. Win or

lose, I'd go in for tackling three of them in an or'nary way, but I says

this is a 'stror'nary one, and you may put me down for six, and if I get

the worst of it, well, that'll be a bit of bad luck. But anyhow I'd

try."

"And so say all of us," came from the rest.

"Well," said Joe, laughing, "I never knew afore that I was the most

modest chap in our crew."

"Oh, I have no doubt about your courage, my lads," said the doctor, "nor

that my nephew here, though he is a boy, will fight like a man; but if

we are to do any good we must work with method against such great odds.

So now, Cross, let us hear what you propose to do."

"Try again, sir--in the dark--and play a bit artful."

"But how?" cried Rodd eagerly.

"Well, I'll tell you, Mr Rodd. I proposes that we just show ourselves

once or twice towards evening, and then make a dash right across the

river to hide again among the trees. That'll set 'em all thinking and

asking one another what our game's going to be. Then we will lie up

till it's dark, up with the grapnel, and steal quietly down the river,

keeping pretty close to the trees, till we are about opposite the enemy,

and then we'll make a mistake."

"Make a mistake?" said Rodd. "I don't understand you."

"Well, sir, I aren't done yet. What I mean is, have an accident like;

one of us sneeze, or burst out a-coughing, and me break out into a

regular passion, calling him as coughed a stoopid lubber and a fool for

showing the enemy where we are. It will be best for me to be him as

coughs or sneezes, and do it all myself so as not to have any muddle

over it. Then I shouts out, `Pull for your lives, boys--pull!' And we

makes no end of splashing as we goes on down the river, and all the time

as supposing that it's going to be dark enough so as they can't fire at

us. Then it seems to me, Dr Robson, sir, that the enemy will say to

theirselves, `They want to get out to sea, and they are gone,' while as

soon as we have got a bit lower down we'll lie up under the trees and

wait till about an hour before daylight, and all as quiet and snug as so

many rats. They'll think they have got rid of us, and all the while we

shall be waiting our time to steal up again right by 'em and begin to

come down once more from where they don't expect; and then--board."

"Hah!" cried Rodd. "Capital!"

"You see, gentlemen, it'll all have to be done as quiet as quiet, for

they're sure to have a watch set. I know what out-and-outers they are

to sleep, but it's too much to expect that they will have both eyes shut

at a time like this. One way or t'other we shall have the tide with us,

but even if we don't I think it might be managed, and anyhow we shall

have no big guns at work upon us, and watch or no watch we'll manage to

lay this 'ere boat alongside of our schooner, and if any one says

anything again' our getting aboard, I should like to know why, and if we

do get aboard I don't think it's in the schooner's new crew to drive us

back again into the boat. There, gentlemen, that's all I know, and if

some one else--the doctor here, or Mr Rodd, or Mr Morny, who is a

French naval officer--can give us a better way, I'll follow anywhere,

and I know the lads will come after me like men."

There was silence for about a minute, and then the doctor coughed,

drawing all eyes upon him.

"There is no better way," he said. "It's a splendid plan."

A murmur of assent arose, and Joe Cross looked quite modest.

"But it will be some time yet before we can make our attempt," said the

doctor; "and how are we to pass the weary time till then?"

"Oh," said Joe cheerily, "we can watch these 'ere great smiling efts

till then. They seem to be sailing about and watching us as if they'd

got some sort of an idea that they were to have us to eat by and by,

which I don't mean that they shall. And then there'll be making the

false starts. I think, sir, as we'll make one or two, as if we was half

afraid to make a dash for it, and that'll draw their fire."

"But suppose they hit us, Joe," cried Rodd.

"Oh, we must chance that, sir. They can't hit us. They couldn't hit a

hay-stack in a ten-acre field; let alone a boat being pulled hard across

stream. That'll be all right."

And so it proved when Joe Cross put his tactics into force, making the

men row out into the river, and then ordering them to lie on their oars,

while Rodd watched the schooner's decks and announced that some of the

men were busy about the guns and all crowding to the bulwarks to watch

the proceedings of the boat.

Then a feint was made in one direction, then in another, and at last Joe

stood up in the stern, to begin gesticulating to the men, as if bullying

them into making a bold dash to row swiftly down as near the farther

shore as they could go.

A minute later two puffs of smoke from different vessels shot out into

the clear evening air, the balls ricochetting from the water in each

case a few yards away. Then, with the men pulling as hard as ever they

could, the boat's head was swung round, and rowing diagonally across the

stream they made for the shelter of the shore from which they had come,

the sail was hoisted, filled, and away they went till they were right

round the bend and the anchored schooners were out of sight.

"There, Mr Rodd, sir, what did I tell you?" cried Joe triumphantly. "I

knew they couldn't hit us. Chaps like them ought never to be allowed to

handle a gun."

"Well, my man," said the doctor, "if the rest of your plan will only

succeed like this we shall achieve a victory."

"Nay, nay, sir; only a little boat action. There, my lads, now we'll

have a rest. They're sure to think we have gone right up the river."

"But they may send boats to follow us," suggested Rodd.

"Certainly, sir, they may; but I don't think they will. They won't come

to close quarters so long as they have got bulwarks to fight from behind

and the guns to tackle us when we show. They think that we can't face

the pieces. Well, I don't say as we are very ready to when there's

another way round, but we haven't got long to wait before we must make

another move, for the sun's down behind the trees, and I shouldn't be

sorry if it was to come on a fog."

But no fog came, only darkness the blackest of the black, and the few

stars that peered out only looking strangely dim.

The wind had fallen soon after the sail had been lowered and the mast

laid well out of their way. One of the balls of spun yarn they had in

the locker had been brought into use, cut into lengths, and the oars

secured so that they could not slip away when they were left to swing,

and at last under cover of the night the next part of Joe's programme

was begun.

It was harder work than had been anticipated, for though the current

close in shore was slack, it was very difficult to keep at a respectable

distance from the bank as they glided down-stream, while every now and

then there was a swirl in the water suggesting that one of the great

reptiles had been disturbed.

But still the adventurers progressed, and their leader was keenly on the

alert, looking out for the lights of the anchored vessels, ready to

raise his false alarm as soon as he got abreast.

But he looked in vain; the Spaniards had taken the precaution to cover

their riding lights, and Joe Cross was about to draw his bow at a

venture, when a sharp shock which made the boat thrill suggested that

they had struck upon a floating tree trunk, washed probably out of the

bank during the past flood.

But the next moment they were aware that the boat's stem had come in

contact with one of the crocodiles, which gave a tremendous plunge and

began to send the water flying in all directions as it beat heavily upon

the surface with its tail.

"Starn all!" roared Joe Cross involuntarily, and then recollecting

himself, he roared out, "Pull, lads! Pull for your lives!" For a light

suddenly appeared some thirty or forty yards to their left, followed by

another lower down the river.

There was the buzz of voices upon the anchored vessels' decks, and Joe

kept on yelling wildly to the men to pull, the noise and excitement

being increased by the reports of muskets fired at them in a hurried

ungoverned way, the flashes of light giving them faint instantaneous

glimpses of the vessels and the faces of the men on board.

"Steady, my lads, steady! Ease off," said Joe, "gently. We have got to

come back again, you know, so we needn't go too far. Two or three

cables' lengths is plenty. How do you think we're getting on, sir?"

"Is it possible they may come in pursuit?" whispered the doctor.

"Nay, sir, I don't think it's likely. If it was us aboard those

schooners we should think that we--meaning us--there, sir--you know what

I mean--we should think t'other side was making for the sea. Well,

that's what they think, and now, sir, if they'll only show their lights

for the rest of the night, why, so much the better for we."

"I don't see why, Joe," said Rodd, after a few minutes' thought.

"Well, I'll tell you, my lad," whispered Joe.--"Steady there--steady! I

am going to lower down the grapnel, for I dursen't run in among the

trees. They'd crackle too much if we tried to moor to a branch, and we

don't want to capsize. Harry Briggs, look alive, and drop the flukes

overboard; make fast, and let us swing."

This was all done almost without a sound, and just then a faint gleam of

light as the boat swung round showed them that certainly one of the

anchored vessels was still showing her light, while as it swung round a

little farther there were a couple more gleams higher up, as of distant

stars.

"That's all right, gentlemen. Now, Mr Rodd, sir, I haven't answered

your question. Here's just enough breeze blowing to make me alter my

plans, so after a bit we'll step the mast again and have the sail ready

for hoisting, for we shall be able, with the lights to guide us, to sail

close up under the farther shore and come down again from just the way

they don't expect, run the boat alongside our schooner, and then one on

us will hold on by the boat-hook, while with the rest it's all aboard,

and the schooner's ours."

That night seemed to Rodd almost as long, at times longer than the one

he had passed in the tree. But here it certainly was shorter, as he

afterwards declared, for about a couple of hours before daylight Joe

whispered his belief that they had none of them heard the slightest

sound from the direction of the lights, that if any one on board the

schooner's deck would be sleeping it would be then, and that they must

start at once.

There was no question of all being ready, and at the whispered orders

Harry Briggs hauled softly upon the grapnel line, while very slowly and

silently the yard ran up the little mast, and the boat began to careen

over as the sail filled.

Then with Joe Cross at the tiller she began to glide up-stream, the

grapnel was lifted on board without a sound, and silently and steadily

they began to cross the river diagonally till they were as near as the

steersman dared lay the little craft to the farther shore.

Under his skilful management all went well, and so silently that nothing

but the faint pattering lap of the water against the bows could be

heard.

To the two lads, though, that sounded unusually loud, as they crouched

down involuntarily but quite unnecessarily lower and lower in the boat

lest they should be seen, the light hoisted in each schooner seeming

bound to show the white sail to the watch of each vessel in turn.

But no alarm was raised; not a sound reached the adventurers, and to

Rodd it seemed as if, after terrible periods of agony, three heavy loads

had been lifted from his breast. He wanted to whisper a few words to

Morny, who all through had been seated by his side, but nothing but the

pressure of hand upon arm passed between them, while they could hardly

hear the doctor breathe.

At last, though, that period of the terrible suspense was at an end, and

the third light they had passed, that of the _Maid of Salcombe_, was

beginning to grow fainter, and being left behind.

"Now, what next?" thought Rodd. "How much longer shall we have to wait

before the attack is made?"

The answer came very shortly after, for Joe Cross bore lightly upon the

tiller, sent the boat gliding round in a wide circle which ended by

bringing the three mooring lights they had left behind all in a line,

and then as they began to glide down-stream he whispered--

"It's now or never, sir.--Cutlashes, my lads; in five minutes we shall

be alongside. You, Harry Briggs, shy the grapnel on deck and make fast;

we shall soon be all aboard. Then come and help us all you can."

There was a low deep breath like a thrill passing through the boat, a

peculiar sound of movement which Rodd knew was the men drawing their

cutlasses, and then as his heart went heavily thump, thump, thump within

his breast, he felt that two hands were seeking for his, and as he

raised it towards the right it was grasped firmly a moment by Uncle

Paul's, and the next moment, as it was released, by that of Morny.

It was short work, for the boat was gliding steadily down, and directly

after the lad felt Joe Cross bending over him.

"She's just right, sir," he whispered. "Ketch hold of the tiller, and

keep her as she is. I must go for'ard now to lead."

The boat swayed a little as the man stepped between his mates to the

front. Then as soon as the distance was considered right a light

rattling sound was heard, and Rodd was conscious of the sail being

lowered, though he could see nothing of it, while almost the next minute

there was a faint shock as the boat glided against the side of the

schooner.

Then Joe Cross's cry, "All aboard!" rang out, followed by a stentorian

cheer, and amidst the rush and hurry the tiller slipped from the boy's

hand and he was climbing over the thwarts to spring into the

fore-chains. Then he tottered as if about to fall back into the boat,

but a big hand grasped him by the shoulder, steadied him for a moment,

and then he was with the little party dashing side by side into what

seemed to be a chaos of savage yells and shrieks which rose in wild

confusion from the gang of Spaniards who had sprung up from their sleep,

where they lay scattered about the deck.

English shouts to come on, Spanish yells, wild mongrel cries, a shriek

or two of despair, a heavy plunge followed by another and another,

savage blows, and utterances such as fierce men make in the wild

culmination of their rage; then plunge after plunge in the water

alongside and astern, the splash of swimmers, strange lashings about in

the river, followed by shrieks and gurgling cries, and then, heard over

all, the combined voices of so many stout Englishmen in a fierce--

"_Hurrah_!"

"Now then, all of you," shouted Joe Cross. "There's a lot of them down

below. Close that cabin hatch. Two on you to the fo'c'sle; serve that

the same. If you run against anybody in the dark, tell the beggar he'll

be safer overboard than here."

But there proved to be no one below in the men's quarters, and after

making quite sure the two men returned to their comrades. Then--

"Where's Mr Rodd?" shouted Joe.

"Here, Joe," came out of the darkness.

"Mr Morny?"

"I'm here," came in a breathless voice.

"And the doctor?"

"Helpless, Joe. My ankle's sprained."

"Bad luck to it," cried the man. "Where's Harry Briggs?"

"All right, mate," came in a gruff surly voice; "but you needn't have

been in such a hurry to get it done."

"Hurry?" cried Joe. "Why, it's only just in time. Later than we

thought. It's getting light. Now then, who else is hurt?"