It was a bright starlight night without haze, so that when we got close we could make out the outline of the cliffs, and could see the thick wood growing on the top.

When we got within about a hundred yards of the cliffs the boat stopped rowing.
"'Don't use more powder than you can help, gunner,' Mr.Earnshaw said.
'In the first place, we don't want to do more than carry out the rope to its full length; in the next place, we don't want to make more noise than we can help.

What wind there is is fortunately blowing seaward, and being so close under the cliff the sound will be echoed back.

At the same time the less noise the better.' "'I will begin with very little, sir.

If the ball don't go to the top of the cliff I shall put a trifle more into the gun next time; it's better to make a mistake on the right side.' "A small quantity of powder was put in the mortar, which was only a four inch one.