"No; a boat is coming ashore, and they must make for here. We can hear
what they have to say, but they must not land."
A thrill seemed to run through the men, who lay ready to jump up and
work the gun, and at a glance Sydney saw that their arms were all ready,
and half the men were stripped for action.
"It is a French frigate?" said Roylance. "Yes."
"Then who is to talk to them? Can you?"
"I know the French I learned at school."
"Well, I know that much," said Roylance. "I can make them understand,
but I don't know about understanding them."
"Begging your pardon, gentlemen," said Strake, with a grim smile, "you
needn't trouble 'bout that 'ere. I've got a friend here as there isn't
a Frenchy afloat as don't understand."
"Whom do you mean, Strake?" said Syd, as he looked sharply at the
boatswain.
"This here, sir," he said, patting the breech of the cannon. "On'y let
her open her mouth and bellow; they'll know it means keep off." The men
laughed. "Is the gun loaded?"
"Yes, sir, with a round shot; but I've got grape and canister ready."
This began to look like grim warfare, and Syd stood there waiting in
silence, and gazing out seaward for the coming of the boat.
From the little battery the extent visible was rather limited, for the
rock rose up high to right and left. The French frigate was right
behind them, plain to be seen from the upper gun, the steep slope
downward shutting it out from the lower.
A full half-hour glided by, but there was no sign of the enemy, and the
men lay waiting with the sun now beating full upon them with such power
that the rock grew almost too hot to touch.
"If they don't look sharp and come," said Strake, moving the lantern he
had with him more into the shade, "my candle here will melt into hyle,
and that there gun 'ill begin to speak French without being touched."
"Surely the sun has not power enough to light the charge, Strake."
"Well, sir, I never knowed it done yet," said the boatswain, dubiously.