erstand that."

Then we heard a shot, but knew by the report that it was not Harry's
gun, and Drake called down the stairs, "Clump, who fired?"

"De smugglers, Massa; one den shoot tru de winder at Massa Clare, but
tank de Lor, the scoundrel miss."

Just then I saw--and how the blood coursed with one cold sweep from my
heart and back again--amid the hot flames of the burning wreck, Captain
Mugford's figure. He sprang from the deck to the rocks and was rushing
towards the house. I turned and called the good news, but found that
Juno and I were alone. The others, too much excited and interested in
the contest to remain longer prisoners in the attic, had got on the
stairway, and when I looked down on them Walter was on the bottom step
with his gun cocked.

Now many steps and the yelled-out blasphemy of the smugglers came round
the house again to the front. Though, as we knew afterwards, two
remained to keep Mr Clare occupied there, whilst the three others were
to try the windows again.

Captain Mugford must be near. Oh! that he could get here safely. Ugly
jumped by me, and, uttering a savage bark, sprang downstairs and past
Walter. He had escaped from Juno's charge. As he flew about the rooms
downstairs, a whole sash and shutter in the south-east room were driven
in by a blow of an immense beam, and in another second half the body of
a smuggler was above the window-sill. But with a tremendous leap Ugly
reached him and pinned him by the throat. They tumbled back together.
Then we heard a new voice--Captain Mugford's!

"You cowards, you hang-dogs, you scum of the sea, you dark-hearted
blackguards--take that! Aye, villains!--and that!"

Two pistol shots were heard. Harry jumped to open the door for Captain
Mugford. Walter stood ready beside him with the gun. I ran with Drake
to the open window, to see if harm had come to our dear salt tute, and
Alfred had hurried in to where Mr Clare was alone guarding the
back-door and broken windows, for he had sent Clump, not knowing of our
being downstairs and of the Captain's coming, to fight where we were.
Clump had a short iron bar in his hands. I saw the man whom Ugly had
gripped fallen on his knees and cutting our gallant little dog from his
neck with a knife. One outlaw was stretched on the ground. Another was
struggling with the Captain. He was a large, powerful fellow, and
seemed to be getting the better of our now much-exhausted tutor. As I
looked, the