"Barney, keep near me, and tell me what to do," whispered Syd; "I feel
such a fool."
"You dear lad," said the old man, softly. "Why, I've been that proud on
you to-day as never was, and been wishing the capen was here."
"Nonsense! Now about getting up these guns. I can't tell the men what
to do."
"Yah! you're right enough. All you've got to do is to look on and say,
`Now, my lads, with a will!' and, `Come, bo'sun, don't play with it!'
And, `Altogether, my lads!' and you'll see them guns mounted in no time.
Steady; here's Mr Roylance coming."
"But it seems to be only playing at captain, and I don't--"
"Ay, ay, sir," roared the boatswain. "You're right. Parbuckle it is.
Be smart, my lads, and get down a cask. One o' them as the stores was
in."
There was a hearty assent, as Syd said to himself, "What does he mean by
`parbuckle'?"
"Cast off these here ropes, sir," shouted Strake again. "Ay, ay, sir.
Now, my lads, off with them."
The men trotted here and there with the greatest of alacrity, and by the
time the ropes were unfastened from the first gun, a cask was rolled to
the end of the gap, lowered down, and placed by the end of the gun.
The boatswain came to Syd's side again.
"Get the gun inside, and then pack her round with tarpaulin and
doubled-up sails, wouldn't you, sir?" he said.
"Yes, if it's best," replied Syd; and the boatswain went off again to
the men.
"Talk about a lad!" he said. "My! he is the right sort. Now then, in
with that handspike, boys."
The men placed one end of the tough ash staff into the muzzle of the
gun, then laid hold and lifted it high enough for a block to be placed
under it. Then the men depressed the muzzle, the leverage given by the
handspike enabling them to raise the breech; and the cask was run over
it right up over the trunnions, a little more hoisting and heaving
getting the gun right in, when it was easily packed round with
doubled-up sails, and wedged tight in the centre.
After this the task was comparatively easy. Four ropes were made fast
to a mass of rock in the gap, brought down and passed under the cask,
taken back over the top, and from thence into the gap, where, with Syd
now comprehending, and wonderfully interested in the task, giving
orders, all the strength of the detachment was brought to bear, and the
cask was hauled up the slope without a mishap.
A burst of cheers greeted this, and it was then rolled on over the rough
ground with handspikes, till it was at the upper end of the gap by its
carriage, which was ready on a rough platform.
Then the unpacking began, Syd needing no instructions now the cask and
packing were rolled back, and the second gun was brought up with greater
ease than the first.
The rigging up of a kind of tripod, and hoisting each gun up into its
place on the carriage, was a mere matter of every-day detail, and before
dark Syd had the satisfaction of seeing his father's wishes carried out,
and each piece ready with its pile of shot and ammunition stowed under
the shelter of a niche in the rock which made an admirable magazine.
He had been alone part of the time, but admirably seconded by Strake,
who kept up his bit of acting at first with a show of reality that was
admirable, till he saw that his young master had grasped the requisite
knowledge, and in his excitement began to order and dictate till the
work was done; for Terry had gone off with a glass to sweep the horizon
in search of the frigate, getting under shelter of a great piece of
stone, the wind blowing almost a gale.
But he searched in vain. For some reason the _Sirius_ had sailed right
away; and he crept down at last with the unsatisfactory feeling that he
had been superseded, and that it would be some time before the frigate
returned.
But long before he descended, Roylance--who had set the sailor free, and
was watching in his place by the lieutenant's side--had communicated
with Sydney, and asked him to come and look at his patient.
It was a sad sight. The poor fellow lay motionless and breathing feebly
and hurriedly, for there was a suggestion of the fever that was pretty
sure to come; and a feeling of helplessness came over Syd as he bent
over his patient, and wondered what he could do more to save his life.
After the guns had been dragged up, a portion of the men were at liberty
to help in other ways, and a good deal more had been done to the shelter
up in the gap.
It was quite time, for with the coming night it was evident there would
be a storm. And it became a matter of certainty that if the wind did
rise, the rough tent set up with a sail thrown over a spar, for the
lieutenant's use, would be exposed to the higher waves, and must
inevitably be saturated by the spray.
It was no use to sigh, the task had at all risks to be done, and the
question arose how the wounded man was to be transported to the gap.
"Can't we do something to keep him here?" suggested Syd; "build a rough
wall of rock to shelter him."
The answer came at once in the shape of a large roller, which seemed to
glide in, and after deluging the little pier broke with a heavy,
thunderous noise, and sent a tremendous shower of broken water over the
canvas of the rough tent, nearly driving it flat, and proving that the
position where Mr Dallas lay would not be tenable much longer.
"I think I can manage it, sir," said the boatswain, touching his hat,
"if I may try."
"What will you do?"
"This here, sir."
There was no time to waste; and with all the handiness of a sailor the
old man set to work, took down the sail, and folded it till it was in
the form of an oblong, some eight feet by four.
"Now two on you," he said, "draw that under the lufftenant while we
eases him up. Not that way, you swabs: folded edge first."
The doubled sail was reversed, and as Mr Dallas was gently lifted the
canvas was drawn under him; Syd feeling a chill run through him as the
poor fellow lay perfectly inert, not so much as giving vent to a moan.
"Now, one at each corner," said the boatswain. "Mind and not shift that
there board under his leg. Steady--altogether."
The men lifted, and the wounded man was borne close up to the slope
below the gap, where the spars and tackle were erected at the edge some
fifteen feet above their heads.
It was none too soon; the men were in the act of lowering their burden
gently down, when, with a noise like thunder, another wave broke, and it
was only by making a rush through the foam that the spars, canvas, and
rope lying by the rough tent were saved by the men from being carried
away.
"Just in time, Roy," said Sydney; "but how are we to get him up there,
bo'sun?"
"Oh, that's easy enough, sir; I can work that."
Taking a small boat-mast, the boatswain rapidly lashed the ends of the
temporary hammock fast to the spar, and then ropes were carried and
secured to the tackle-block in a way that, when all was ready, there was
no difficulty in hauling the spar horizontally up, with the temporary
hammock and its burden swinging from the spar like a palanquin.
All this was cleverly managed, and willing hands seized one end of the
spar as soon as it was up to the end of the gap, drew it in till the
other end could be reached and shouldered, and then the hammock was
borne right up to where the shelter had been previously prepared.
As soon as the patient had been carefully laid down, Sydney knelt beside
him to place his light hand upon his heart, trembling the while in
anticipation of his worst dread being fulfilled, and a cold chill came
over him again, as it seemed to him that there was no movement.
He shifted his hand to the pulse, and still there seemed to be no sign,
till he lifted the fingers up a little and drew a catching breath, for
there was certainly a feeble throbbing sensible.
"Can't s'pect much, sir," whispered the boatswain. "Man's awful weak
when he's like that. Bimeby, though, he'll turn hot and fev'rish; they
generally does."
"But he is alive," said Syd, softly; and he proceeded to examine his
bandages, thankful to find that the bleeding had stopped, and the
splints, thanks to the board beneath the sufferer's leg, unshifted.
Breathing a little more freely now, and enforcing silence among the men,
Sydney left the temporary tent, and took a look round with Roylance,
previous to making dispositions for the night.
Everything was rather chaotic, but the guns were in position, the men's
arms arranged, and the tackle drawn up, so that they were all secure in
a natural fort, whose approaches could easily be defended, there being
only one place where an enemy was likely to approach. Here a watch was
set, and orders given for a meal to be prepared, in anticipation of
which a tot of rum was served round to the tired men, and a bit of
tobacco handed to each by Sydney's orders.
The effect was miraculous. Five minutes before the men looked worn-out
and dull in the gathering gloom; now there was a burst of subdued
laughter and talk from the group gathered round the fire which the cook
had prepared, the light shining on the face of Terry, who stood leaning
against a piece of the perpendicular rock, his arms folded, and a heavy
scowl upon his brow.
"I don't like that, Roy," said Syd, in a low tone; "it's miserable work
being bad friends."
"Yes; I hate it."
"I've a good mind to go and ask him to shake hands."
"If you do he'll think you are afraid of him."
"He wouldn't be so stupid, would he?"
"Yes: make him come to you."
"I suppose that would be best," said Syd, with a sigh. "Let's go up
here and look out for the lights of the frigate. What are you laughing
at?"
"You. Come; you're a capital doctor, but not much of a sailor yet."
"Oh, I'm no doctor. I couldn't have done that, only I used to go along
with a friend of my father on his rounds, and saw what he did."
"Well, you've saved poor Mr Dallas's life."
"Think so, Roy? Ah, if I could only feel sure! But why," added Syd,
after a pause, "did you say I was no sailor?"
"To talk about seeing the frigate's lights. She couldn't have beat up
near here in such a gale as this. Whew! it does blow."
They had been walking carefully along the gap towards the point where
the further gun was mounted, and gradually clambered up higher till they
were beyond the shelter of the side of the southern cleft, when Roylance
had just time to clap his hand to his head and save his hat, which was
starting on a voyage into the black night.
The next minute Syd was beside him, holding on to the rocky edge of the
cleft, high up above the guns, catching the full force of the wind.
Down below they were in complete shelter. Here the gale had such power
that it was impossible to stand securely. The wind shrieked about their
ears, and seemed to come at them in huge waves, each throwing them back
against the rock, and now and then making what felt like a snatch to
tear them from where they stood, and hurl them down the rocks, or blow
them away to sea.
"I say," cried Roylance, panting to get his breath, and holding his lips
close to his companion's ear, "they must be having it pretty rough on
board to-night."
"Think there's any danger?" shouted Syd.
"Not if they keep well out to sea. Eh? What?"
"I didn't speak," roared Syd; "it was the wind howling."
"Hadn't we better get down? I feel as if I was going to be blown right
off."
"Wait a bit. I say, I think I'll have a man posted here by this gun."
"What, now?"
"Yes, at once."
"Nonsense, man; there's no one on the rock but ourselves, and no enemy
could come near us in this gale."
"No," shouted Syd; "suppose not. But--"
He had to cease speaking and hold on, for the wind rushed at them now
with redoubled violence, and for a minute neither thought of anything
but the danger.
"It does blow," panted Syd at last, as the wind lulled a little. "I was
going to say--do you feel sure there is no one else on the rock?"
"Yes, of course."
"I don't," said Syd, decisively; "I know I saw something, or some bird."
"A goat left on the rock."
"No; it could not have been a goat; it must--"
Whoo! The wind rushed at them again, and once more they held on,
longing to get down below, but fascinated by the awful din. Below them
the darkness seemed profound; only now and then they saw a gleam, as if
one of the waves--which broke with a roar like thunder on the rock, and
sent a fine cloud of spray floating about their faces--contained some
kind of light living creatures, or it was only a reflection on the
smooth curve, before it broke, of the stars overhead. For there all was
clear enough, save that the stars looked blurred, though bright, and
were quivering and vibrating beyond the rushing wind.
"Oh!" ejaculated Syd. "Hear that?"
"Hear it!" was the reply; "I could feel it. Shan't have the whole rock
swept away, shall we?"
There was a lull in the wind just then, but the two lads had clung
there, completely awe-stricken, as a huge hill of water had heaved up,
and fallen on the outer buttresses of the rock, which quivered under the
shock. Then there was a roar of many waters, a wild rushing and booming
sound, and the wind blew harder.
They looked out into the awful blackness, which seemed transparent,
glanced up at the quivering stars, once more paused to listen again to
the tremendous impact of the waves that came regularly rolling in, and
then, taking advantage of a lull, they descended to where the gun had
been mounted.
The change was wonderful. They had not descended fifty feet, but it was
into complete shelter. The wind was rushing over their heads, and the
waves were thundering in far below, but the noise sounded dull and
distant, and they sat down, breathing freely, and rubbing their
spray-wet faces.
"No," said Syd, quietly; "no fear."
"What of?"
"The rock being swept away; it would have gone before now."
"Well, I'm beginning to think we're safer here than on board," said
Roylance.
"Don't say that," cried Syd, excitedly. "You don't think there's any
danger to the frigate, do you?"
"No," said Roylance, sharply. "Come on down now, and let's get
something to eat."
They walked steadily back towards where the fire was glowing and burning
briskly in the sheltered depth of the chasm, casting curious lights and
reflections on the rocks to right and left, and showing plainly the
figure of the man on the watch beside the farther gun, and the spars
rigged up at his side.
"Looks as if he were going to be hung," said Roylance, quietly.
"Yes, the spars have an ugly look with that rope hanging down. I almost
wish I had put a man up by the other gun."
"What for? I tell you we can go to sleep in peace to-night."
"With poor Mr Dallas like that?"
"Forgotten him for the moment. No; of course one of us will take the
watch, unless Terry comes down and turns civil. There, hi! look at
that! look at that."
_Bang_!--The report of the sentry's pistol as Syd and Roylance had
started trotting down towards the gun at the lower end.
In an instant the men about the fire had leaped up, and stood ready for
any action by their arms.
"Did you see it, my man?" panted Syd.
"Ay, ay, sir; came running along like a big tiger from up yonder by the
fire, and I fired at it, and then it was gone."
"Did you see which way it went?"
"No, sir, 'cause o' the smoke."
"It seemed to me to disappear among these rocks," said Roylance.
"No; I saw it come out from behind there, and then it leaped off into
the darkness just below the gun. Here, spread out, my lads; it didn't
go that way. Keep a smart look-out, and go steady down to the edge. It
couldn't have jumped off, and must be here."
A thorough search took place, and this was easy enough, for the space
within the gap or chasm was comparatively small. But there was no
result, and at last a few burning brands were thrown down from the edge
just below the gun to light up the rocks there, in the hope that some
animal might be lying killed by its fall.
There was nothing visible, and at last, after making their arrangements
for the night, Roylance and Sydney sat together, talking in low tones
about the mysterious appearance seen now twice.
"Here, I'll keep watch," said Roy, after they had taken another look at
the injured man.
"No, I'll take the first half," said Syd, quietly.
"Well, you're in command," said Roylance; "but I don't feel comfortable
about going to sleep with a wild beast dancing minuets all over one in
the night."
"I shall be watching," said Syd.
"Oh, very well: I'll lie down. Poor Terry's got the best of it; he has
been fast asleep for an hour."
Roylance lay down under the sail, covering himself with his boat-cloak,
and was asleep directly; while Sydney, after another glance at Dallas,
who seemed to be sleeping quietly, placed his pistols in his belt, and
went out to visit the watch.