There was bustle and movement on board the ships, and even the soldiers were glad that the monotony of their imprisonment on board was about to come to an end, and their voyage to commence.

The sails were loosed from their gaskets, and the sounds of the drum and fifes struck up as the capstans were manned, the soldiers lending a hand at the bars, and the chains came clanking in at the hawse-holes.
"There is a vessel coming in round the point," O'Connor said.

"But we shall hardly get the last news; we shall be under way before she anchors." "She is signaling to the fort on the hill," Ralph said, as he watched the flags run up on the signal-staff on the summit of Spike Island; "and they are answering down below there at the station in front of the commandant's house." A moment later a gun was fired.
"That's to call our attention, I think," the skipper said, taking up his glass and directing it to the shore.

"Yes, there is our number flying.

Get the signal-book, boy.