Syd Belton

"I thought he was up to some game, and I lay there and watched him, and I've been watching of him ever since, till to-night he crawled into the stores, after hiding all yes' afternoon and to-night, and I see him come creeping out again with a rope, and he put it over his shoulder. And then he climbed up one o' those cracks, and I went arter him, and he got right out there past the water-hole, and then crep' all along till he got to the place where you hauled Mr Roylance and t'other sailor up with a rope. And I crep' up close as I could, and lay there watching him hours till three boats come round from the other side, and then Mr Terry tied the end of the rope round a big block, and let the other end down, and I see a French sailor come up, and then another, and another, and they let down more rope, and they're all climbed up, and they're coming right up yonder over the top by the flag-post."

"How do you know?"

"'Cos I come that way first, and they was all coming close up arter me all the time, and I had to come on my hands and knees."

"Why didn't you come the other way, and give the alarm in front?"

"'Cos they've got lots o' fellows there with swords and pistols. I heard 'em c.o.c.k."

"Yah! it's all a fancy," growled Strake; "he's scared, and dreamed it."

"I didn't," cried the boy.

"Couldn't climb up there," growled Strake.

"Yes, they could, Strake," cried Syd, excitedly. "Once they were on the rock they could climb up, and--yes, they'd come over by the flagstaff."

"I tell yer the young swab dreamt it."

"Ahoy! help!"

_Bang! bang! Bang! bang_!--Pistol-shots from high up by the flagstaff; and as the men seized their cutla.s.ses and pistols, and, with Syd and Roylance at their head, advanced up the gap to meet this treacherous attack from the rear, there was the clash of steel, the sounds of struggling, then a momentary silence, followed by a few sharp orders, and the rattling noise of stones told that a strong party of men were coming down the rough path from the flagstaff.

"Forward, my lads!" cried Roy lance; "we may beat them back."

The men gave a cheer, and advanced quickly, the excitement of all taking them from the battery, which was left defenceless.

As they advanced, the old feeling of terror that he had always felt when about to engage in a school-fight was for a few moments in Sydney's breast; then the eager excitement carried all away, and, sword in hand, he ran on with his men.

Directly after there was the shock and confusion of the two parties meeting, with stray shots, the clatter of sword against sword, with sparks flying

What he did Syd never knew, for everything was centred in the one idea that he was leading his father's men, and that he must try and be brave.

And if being brave meant rus.h.i.+ng on with them right at the descending Frenchmen, he was brave enough.

So vigorous was the rush, and so desperate were the little English party at being surprised in so sudden a fas.h.i.+on, that the first group of the enemy were driven backward toward the path by which they had climbed down. But more and more were hurrying from above to their help, the officers threw themselves to the front, and the flight was stayed, while quite a series of single combats began to take place.

"Give it 'em, boys! Old England for ever!" was yelled out in the darkness, close by to where Syd was cutting and thrusting at an active little Frenchman. Then there came a groan, and the same voice said hoa.r.s.ely--

"Oh, if I had my strength!"

"Hurrah, boys! they're giving way!" shouted Roylance. "Keep together, and over with them."

For in spite of the bravery of their officers, the French were yielding ground once more, and being slowly driven up the narrowing path. But there was a fresh burst of cheering, the hurry of feet, and about twenty of the French frigate's crew, who had taken advantage of the little garrison being attacked from the rear, and crept up to the cliff wall to scale it with a spar, one man going up with a rope which he had secured to a gun, soon turned the tables again.

With enemies before and behind triple their strength, and taking them in each case so thoroughly by surprise, the _melee_ did not last long. Syd was conscious of seeing sparks after what seemed to be a loud clap of thunder above his head, and the next thing he knew was that Roylance was saying--

"Belt, lad, do, do try and speak."

"Speak? yes," he faltered. "What's the matter?"

"Matter! don't ask."

"But what does it mean? Where are we? Has Terry won?"

"My poor old fellow, you haven't been fighting Terry--yes, you have--a coward! he is with the French."

"And--" cried Syd, sitting up, "are we beaten?"

"Yes! no!" cried Roylance. "They're all down or prisoners--but eight of us here."

"Where are we?" said Syd, who felt sick and dizzy.

"Up in the little top battery, and they're coming on again. Stand by, lads!"

Syd rose to his feet as the men cheered, and stood with his sword hanging by the knot to his wrist, holding on by the rough stone wall, looking over into the starlit gloom at a body of French sailors apparently about to attack. Just then an officer stepped forward, and said, cheerily--

"_Rendez-vous, mes braves. Parlez, vous_!" he continued, turning to some one at his side.

"Here, you there!--the French officer says it's no use to fight any longer; he has taken the place, so give up."

"Terry!" cried Roylance; "you miserable traitor!" and the men around burst into a loud groan, and hooted the renegade.

"Yes, traitor!" cried Syd, excitedly; and forgetting his wound, "coward!"

"Coward yourself!" cried Terry. "Do you think I was going to stay in a service which compelled men to serve under a contemptible boy like you?

Here, my lads, it's no use to resist. Give up, and you will have good treatment as prisoners. Come out."

"Do you hear, lads?" cried Roylance. "Will you do as the new English-French deserter says?"

"No!" roared the men; and Rogers' voice rose above them--"Say, lads, it's yard-arm for a desarter, eh?"

"Yes."

Terry turned away savagely, and they saw him saying something to the French officer--saw him dimly, as it seemed, then more plainly, for day was breaking with the rapidity of the change in the tropics; and as a movement took place, they all knew that a final a.s.sault was to be given, and must go against them.

Then the spirit of Syd's family seemed to send a flush through him; he forgot his pain, the sickness pa.s.sed off, and he turned to gaze on the torn and blood-stained men about him.

"French and English," he cried, raising his sword.

"Hurray!" shouted the brave fellows; and every cutla.s.s flashed as they prepared to defend their tiny stronghold, built up for the very emergency in which they were.

"_Rendez, messieurs_!" shouted the French officer, half appealingly.

"_Non, non_!" shouted Sydney, excitedly.

"_En avant_!" rang out the order, and with a rush the men came on in the rapidly increasing morning light.

At that moment the rocks echoed and quivered as a heavy gun thundered forth.