hey set.
It was pretty hard work to draw a heavy gun over the soft sand, but
British seamen are not to be defeated when they put their shoulders to
an undertaking. The gun was started amid cheers from the crew, and it
began to move forward faster and faster. The moment one roller was
released it was carried ahead, and at length the gun was dragged up to
hard ground. Now, however, the tug of war began. Though the ground was
hard, it was rough and uphill; but the inequalities were cleared away,
and the gun was got some distance up the bank. It became evident,
however, at length that the whole strength of the crew would be required
to get it up to the site of the fort, and the lieutenant ordered the men
to knock off, and to bring another gun up. This was soon done in the
same fashion. The seamen enjoyed the work as if it had been given to
them as an amusement.

Thus six guns which had been landed were got a part of the way towards
their destination. Parties of men were next harnessed to the gun
carriages, a boatswain's mate or one of the other seamen seating himself
on each--the former with pipe in mouth, and with a long stick in his
hand, with which he pretended to drive his team, cheering and shouting
in high glee. One of the carriages, however, as the men were running
along with it, capsized and shot its occupant out sprawling on the sand,
greatly to the amusement of his shipmates. It is wonderful what an
amount of work can be got through by seamen when they are allowed to do
it in their own way, and make an amusement of the severest labour.

It would still require the raft and boats to make very many trips before
all the guns and provisions and stores could be landed. The commander
wisely sent off a proportion of each, so that, should bad weather come
on and the ship go to pieces, a certain amount of all things necessary
might be saved. The weather, however, continued favourable, though the
stormy period of the year had now come on. All the guns and provisions,
and a considerable quantity of the stores, were at length landed. The
carpenter had of course taken good care to bring his tools. He proposed
building a vessel out of the wreck. The commander approved of his
suggestion, and it was arranged that they should return the next day,
and endeavour to procure timber sufficient for the purpose.

The commander had hitherto not left the ship. The last of the crew who
had remained with him were sent into