gave the order to advance, and led the way upon the bridge. The
governor, however, had never once thought of retreating. He was still in
a position to defend the cove, and, moreover, he had been re-enforced by
Tom Newcombe and the rest of the band. While the fire from the
artillery-men was the hottest, the Crusoe men and their allies had been
quietly collecting ammunition and patiently awaiting an opportunity to
use it. The burglars worked as hard as the rest, and Sanders, little
dreaming how closely his movements were watched by all the members of
the band, hid his valise in the bushes, and stood with his arms full of
stones, ready to fire upon the young tars when they came in sight. This
did not escape the notice of Sam Barton, who mentally resolved that, the
instant the bridge was thrown into the chasm, he would catch up the
valise and run for the vessel. He and his men were well enough
acquainted with the path to travel it rapidly in the dark, and they
might, perhaps, succeed in getting the Sweepstakes under-way before the
burglars could reach her. This plan he communicated in a whisper to Tom,
who declared himself strongly in favor of it, and watched his
opportunity to reveal it to the other members of the band. The Crusoe
men were all intensely excited, and heartily enjoyed their anticipated
triumph over the robbers.

The governor and his companions, who dared not show so much as the tops
of their hats above the bushes, could not see what was going on among
the students, but they had a plain view of about half the bridge, and
when the attacking party appeared they opened so hot a fire upon it that
the advance was speedily checked, the column thrown into confusion, and
the young tars, after expending all the ammunition they had brought with
them, in the vain attempt to dislodge the enemy, retreated precipitately
to the shelter of the trees on the opposite side of the chasm.

"Now's your time, governor," exclaimed Sanders, who entered as heartily
into the work, and was as much interested in what was going on, as
though he had been a boy himself; "rush out and throw down the bridge."

"Well, now, if you are in such a hurry to see that bridge come down, you
had better rush out there yourself," replied Sam. "I can't see any sense
in a feller's puttin' himself in the way of gettin' his head broke."

"We whipped 'em, didn't we?" said Xury.

"O yes, we did, but what good will it do?" drawled the captain. "They'll
keep