he whole truth."

"Do," said Syd, quietly; "only tell him all."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

"Barney, keep near me, and tell me what to do," whispered Syd; "I feel
such a fool."

"You dear lad," said the old man, softly. "Why, I've been that proud on
you to-day as never was, and been wishing the capen was here."

"Nonsense! Now about getting up these guns. I can't tell the men what
to do."

"Yah! you're right enough. All you've got to do is to look on and say,
`Now, my lads, with a will!' and, `Come, bo'sun, don't play with it!'
And, `Altogether, my lads!' and you'll see them guns mounted in no time.
Steady; here's Mr Roylance coming."

"But it seems to be only playing at captain, and I don't--"

"Ay, ay, sir," roared the boatswain. "You're right. Parbuckle it is.
Be smart, my lads, and get down a cask. One o' them as the stores was
in."

There was a hearty assent, as Syd said to himself, "What does he mean by
`parbuckle'?"

"Cast off these here ropes, sir," shouted Strake again. "Ay, ay, sir.
Now, my lads, off with them."

The men trotted here and there with the greatest of alacrity, and by the
time the ropes were unfastened from the first gun, a cask was rolled to
the end of the gap, lowered down, and placed by the end of the gun.

The boatswain came to Syd's side again.

"Get the gun inside, and then pack her round with tarpaulin and
doubled-up sails, wouldn't you, sir?" he said.

"Yes, if it's best," replied Syd; and the boatswain went off again to
the men.

"Talk about a lad!" he said. "My! he is the right sort. Now then, in
with that handspike, boys."

The men placed one end of the tough ash staff into the muzzle of the
gun, then laid hold and lifted it high enough for a block to be placed
under it. Then the men depressed the muzzle, the leverage given by the
handspike enabling them to raise the breech; and the cask was run over
it right up over the trunnions, a little more hoisting and heaving
getting the gun right in, when it was easily packed round with
doubled-up sails, and wedged tight in the centre.

After this the task was comparatively easy. Four ropes were made fast
to a mass of rock in the gap, brought down and passed under the cask,
taken back over the top, and from thence into the gap, where, with Syd
now comprehending, and wonderfully interested in the task, giving
orders, all the strength of the detachment was brought to bear, and the
cask was hauled up the slope wit