no use. She's
too far-off for that. Our only chance is the flag."

Both father and son stood silent for some moments earnestly gazing at
the ship, which was by this time nearly opposite to their flagstaff, and
seemed to be passing by without recognising the signal. This was not to
be wondered at, for, although the flag was visible enough from landward,
being well defined against the bright sky, it was scarce perceptible
from seaward, owing to the hills which formed a background to it.

"_I_ know what'll do it!" exclaimed Billy, as he leaped suddenly to one
side. "Come along, daddy."

A few yards to one side of the spot on which the flagstaff was reared
there was a part of the precipice which sloped with a steep descent into
the sea. Here there had been a landslip, and the entire face of the
cliff was laid bare. At the top of this slope there was a great
collection of stones and masses of rock of considerable size. At
various points, too, down the face of the steep, masses of rock and
_debris_ had collected in hollows.

Billy now went to work to roll big stones over the edge of this cliff,
and he did it with such good-will that in a few minutes masses of a
hundred weight were rolling, bounding, and crashing down the steep.
These, in many cases, plunged into the collections of _debris_, and
dislodged masses of rock that no efforts of which Billy was capable
could have otherwise moved.

The rattling roar of the avalanche was far more effective than a salvo
of artillery, because, besides being tremendous, it was unceasing, and
the result was that the vessel ran up a flag in reply to the strange
salute. Then a white puff of smoke from her side preceded the roar of a
heavy gun. Immediately after, the vessel's head came round, and she
lay-to.

"It's a man-o'-war," cried Billy excitedly.

"Ay, and a British one too," exclaimed Gaff; "let's give him a cheer,
lad."

Billy complied with a will! Again and again did they raise their strong
voices until the woods and cliffs became alive with full, true, ringing
British cheers!

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

DELIVERED, WRECKED, AND RESCUED.

It is unnecessary, indeed impossible, to describe the feelings with
which Gaff and Billy descended from Signal Cliff to the beach to meet
the boat which put off from the man-of-war and made for the little creek
just below the cave.

As the boat's keel grated on the sand, the midshipman in command leaped
ashore. He was a part