that they might be allowed to go.

"There are no fellows on board who have better wind or can run faster
than we can," observed Tom; "Archie, with his long legs, gets over the
ground at a great rate, and I can keep up with him by making my short
ones move so much the faster."

Jack, believing that there was no greater risk than usual, consented,
greatly to the midshipmen's delight. Billy Blueblazes was ordered to go
in the boat, to remain in charge of her while the rest of the party were
on shore. The spy had informed Jack that there were no enemies in the
neighbourhood. Tom and Archie were in high glee. Dick Needham had
settled to take only one man with him, besides the midshipmen, leaving
the rest under the command of Billy Blueblazes to cover their retreat.
The boat, with muffled oars, pulled in for the shore, when, no one being
seen, Dick and his companions landed.

"Remember, Billy, the commander's orders are that you are on no account
to leave the boat; and should by chance the enemy come down upon you,
you are to pull off to the ship, and obtain further orders," said Tom;
"not that there's much chance of that."

"Good-bye, my laddie," said Archie, as he and Tom leaped on shore;
"we'll be back in little more than half an hour, and you will know when
to look out for us by seeing the jolly bonfire we are going to light."

There was no moon, but the stars shone brightly forth, enabling them to
steer their way by them. The country being pretty level, they hoped,
should they have to run for it, to make rapid way; it was also tolerably
open, with here and there copses composed of trees of moderate height,
by advancing along the side of which Dick expected to be able to keep
concealed till they had gained their destination.

"We may reserve our strength for the run back after we have set the
stores on fire," he whispered to the two midshipmen; "we learned a
lesson about that in our other expedition."

Whenever they had to cross an open space, they bent down like North
American Indians on a war-trail, keeping perfect silence, so that they
might have passed close to an enemy without being discovered. Thus on
they went, Dick calculating that it would take them about half an hour
to reach the magazines, and they expected to return in half that time.
Dick led, Tom and Archie followed, and Tim Nolan brought up the rear.
Each one of them knew beforehand what they were to do, and there seemed
no risk of failure.