bserved this. "They must not be allowed to reach the ship-yard, or
they will doubtless set fire to the cutter and everything else there. I
was in hopes they would make up their minds to attack the building, when
the advantage would be all on our side, enabling us to greatly reduce
their numbers without risk of loss to ourselves; but apparently they do
not like the look of the place. Now, you see that broad strip of
moonlit sward over there which they are approaching. The first man who
attempts to cross I will fire at; you, Manners, taking the second, I the
third, and so on, you and I firing alternately so that we may take the
better aim, and Nicholls reserving his fire in case of a rush. Should
such take place, we must all fire as rapidly as possible with the object
of checking it. But remember this, both of you, we must each make
absolutely certain of his man before pulling trigger. Not a single
bullet must be wasted, because in this case it will give us an immense
advantage if we can impress the enemy with a conviction of the deadly
character of our fire. Now, make ready, and recollect I fire first."

As the doctor spoke he carefully levelled his repeating rifle through a
loophole and brought the sights in line with the trunk of a young
sapling which stood full in the moonlight, and in front of which the
stealthily advancing figures would have to pass. His heart throbbed so
loudly that he could count its pulsations--one, two, three, four. The
first figure is on the verge of the moonlight; he pauses a moment, looks
anxiously at the fort, and then starts at a run to cross to the next
patch of friendly shadow. Poor wretch! he little knows how true an eye
is watching behind the sights of a rifle, waiting for him to come in
line with that sapling. Another stride will bring him in line with
it--_crack_! a flash of fire, a little puff of white smoke, and he
flings up his arms as he falls heavily forward into the grass. A second
figure has already emerged into the bright moonlight, following the
first; it pauses at the flash and the report, as if about to turn back.
Too late! A second flash, a second report, and he, too, falls forward
on his face. A third now springs out of the shadow and stoops forward
as if to drag the fallen man back into shelter; but before he can reach
him he, too, falls before Henderson's deadly rifle. That stops the
advance most effectually, the remaining figures huddling close together