Erin-go-bragh!" cried the major; "there, what did I say: that's the captain speaking, I'll swear." For just then a series of shots were heard from the _Petrel_, and a faint film of smoke was seen to rise.
There was the distant sound of yelling for a time, every shot being followed by a fierce shout, and as the party on the sands tried to realise the conflict going on their feelings were of the most poignant kind.
"He's all right so far," said the major confidently.
"Or beaten," said the mate.
"Beaten, sir?
No," cried the major.

"If he had been beaten there would have been yelling to a different tune;" and he whispered in the mate's ear: "We should have seen the water splash up about the vessel's stern." Another shot followed, and then another; but the brass lelahs carried very wildly at that distance, and no harm was done.
"Hadn't we better go off at once, major?
There: it is our duty.

Come, my lads, in with you." "Stop!" shouted the major fiercely.

"Mr Gregory, we can only succeed in doing good by being sensible.

What you propose is rash folly.
Counter-order that command, sir, and as soon as it is night we'll see what can be done." The mate hesitated between an eager desire to afford help and the feeling that the major's science-taught ideas were right.
"Stop, my lads," he said sadly; "the major's right, but I ask you to bear witness, Morgan, that I do this unwillingly." "The major is quite right," said Morgan, sitting up, his brow knit with pain.