Presently, against the faintly dawning light in the east, the masts of two vessels could be seen.

One was a large ship, the other a brig.

Almost at the same time the rough sound of boats' keels grounding on the shore could be heard.
"Just as I thought," the captain whispered.

"They have guessed that some of us will be ashore, and will make a rush upon us here, when the ships open fire." The word was passed along the guns that every one was to be double shotted, and that their fire was at first to be directed at the brig.
They were to aim between wind and water, and strive to sink her as speedily as possible.
As the light gradually grew brighter, the party on the plateau anxiously watched for the moment when the hull of the Indiaman becoming plain to the enemy.

These would open fire upon it, and so give the signal for the fight.