r encampment, being stretched
across the narrow isthmus in open order from the water's edge on the
river-side to that on the sea-side. Each watch was commanded by an
officer, with a midshipman under him; and the general orders were to
fire a single shot at the first sign of anything of an alarming
character, and then retire upon the camp, if an attack should threaten
to cut off the outpost from the main body.

The first watch was taken by the captain, with me for his subordinate;
and I was given the command of the party of six guarding the shore
approach to the camp, while the skipper took the party mounting guard
near the boats, as it was his opinion that if danger threatened it was
most likely to come by way of the river.

My instructions were to march my men out to a distance of not more than
two cables' lengths from the camp, and there take such cover as might be
possible. At first sight it did not appear that there was the least bit
of cover of any description available, for the spit or peninsula on
which we were encamped was just bare sand for a distance of fully a mile
from the spot whereon our camp was pitched, and then there began a
growth of scrubby bush which gradually became more dense as one
proceeded in a southerly direction; but I solved the difficulty by
causing each man to scoop a little pit for himself in the loose sand, in
which it was easy for him to crouch perfectly concealed particularly as
there was no moon, and the light from the stars was not strong enough to
reveal objects at a distance much beyond a quarter of a mile.

The first, second, and third watches passed uneventfully; but the fourth
watch was little more than half through when--about a quarter after
three o'clock in the morning--the whole camp was roused from its
slumbers by the sound of musket-shots, one from the party guarding the
boats and the river approach, quickly followed by three in rapid
succession from the contingent that occupied the sand pits stretched
across the neck of the peninsula. Then three or four more shots from
the river party spurted out, and it began to dawn upon us that the
matter threatened to be serious. Of course none of us had thought of
discarding any of our clothing that night, the second shot therefore had
scarcely pealed out upon the night air before we in the camp were upon
our feet, with our weapons in our hands, and all drawn up in regular
array ready for the next move in the game, with the skip