The magazines and stores were at length reached, presenting much the
same appearance as those which had before been destroyed. Not a sound
which could indicate that any human beings were in the neighbourhood was
heard; not a dog barked. In less than a minute they all had their
torches lighted, and effectually set fire to the buildings and stores,
which blazed up so rapidly that had any people been out of doors at the
time the flames would have quickly betrayed them. Their task being
accomplished, they set off at a rapid speed towards the boat, Dick as
before leading. The midshipmen enjoyed the scamper, and they had every
reason to believe that they should get back in safety. They had not got
far, however, when they heard the voices of people from the neighbouring
cottages, who had been, it was evident, aroused by the glare, and who
would soon, from the nature of the conflagration, suspect that it had
been the work of incendiaries. Unless, however, they could throw
themselves on horseback, there was no risk of their overtaking the
nimble seamen; still concealment was difficult, for as the fire
increased its glare fell upon them and betrayed their whereabouts.

They had passed over the widest extent of open ground, and had made
their way along under the shelter of a copse, when they were again
exposed to view. As they were passing another copse a short distance on
their right, several shots whistled by them.

"Push on, Needham!" cried Tom; "they're not very good marksmen."

A cry from Tim Nolan made Tom turn his head, when he saw a party of the
enemy, who had rushed out from the copse, close upon him, while Tim, by
actively dodging, tried to escape. "Arrah, never mind me!" he shouted;
"though I'm after being made a prisoner, you'll get off if you keep
going."

Archie, who was some little way behind him, endeavoured to escape, when
his foot struck against a stone, and the cry he uttered made Tom again
look round and spring back to help him get on his feet. In his hurry he
also fell; the cry he had uttered made Dick also look round, when,
believing that one or both of the midshipmen were wounded, though he was
so far ahead as to have been able to reach the boat without difficulty,
he immediately turned back to assist them. As he did so, he saw the
Russians hurrying up. Drawing his cutlass, he threw himself between
them and the midshipmen, hoping to drive back their foes, and allow them
to make their escape.