ng the approach of our antagonist.

"Up to a thousand yards," answered I. "And as that proa is now within
half that distance, I shall take a shot at her without further ceremony.
When you fire, Sir Edgar, aim at her bows, and as near the level of her
rail as possible; there is doubtless a crowd of the villains grouped
forward there about their gun, and in the eyes of her, watching us, and
it is to that part of her, therefore, that we must direct our attention
at first. Here goes for the first shot."

I levelled my weapon carefully, but had to wait for what seemed quite a
long time to get a good aim; two or three very vivid flashes of
lightning just then following each other in quick succession, and so
effectually dazzling my eyes that I could see absolutely nothing for
some few seconds afterwards. Then I fired, but there was no answering
sign or sound on board the proa to tell that my shot had been effective.

"What distance were you sighted for?" inquired the baronet.

"Five hundred yards," answered I; "but I believe she is nearer than
that."

"I think so, too," agreed Sir Edgar. "You fired too high, captain. I
shall sight for three hundred,"--going to the binnacle, and uncovering
the hood for a moment to do so. He waited perhaps a minute; then raised
the rifle to his shoulder, paused a second or two, and, taking advantage
of a strong and prolonged gleam of sheet lightning, fired. A shrill
scream from the proa told us that his bullet had found a mark, and
almost immediately afterwards she fired her gun again, the shot this
time striking somewhere aloft, for we distinctly heard the thud of the
bullets against the spars.

"We score first blood, at all events," composedly remarked Sir Edgar.
"As for the enemy, it is evident that they have not altered the
elevation of their piece since they first fired, and it is fervently to
be hoped that they will still forget to do so. If that last shower of
bullets had fallen on deck, captain, I am afraid it would have been bad
for both of us."

"Very possibly," I agreed. "Still, those small, short guns, such as she
appears to carry, scatter tremendously, and we might have the lead
flying thick all round us, and still not be hit. Now, I wonder whether
I shall have better luck this time."

I certainly had, for the sharp report of my weapon was instantly
answered by quite an outcry on board the proa--a kind of compound yell
made up of several distinct sounds, leading t