Syd Belton Part 56

"I've a good mind to go and ask him to shake hands."

"If you do he'll think you are afraid of him."

"He wouldn't be so stupid, would he?"

"Yes: make him come to you."

"I suppose that would be best," said Syd, with a sigh. "Let's go up here and look out for the lights of the frigate. What are you laughing at?"

"You. Come; you're a capital doctor, but not much of a sailor yet."

"Oh, I'm no doctor. I couldn't have done that, only I used to go along with a friend of my father on his rounds, and saw what he did."

"Well, you've saved poor Mr Dallas's life."

"Think so, Roy? Ah, if I could only feel sure! But why," added Syd, after a pause, "did you say I was no sailor?"

"To talk about seeing the frigate's lights. She couldn't have beat up near here in such a gale as this. Whew! it does blow."

They had been walking carefully along the gap towards the point where the further gun was mounted, and gradually clambered up higher till they were beyond the shelter of the side of the southern cleft, when Roylance had just time to clap his hand to his head and save his hat, which was starting on a voyage into the black night.

The next minute Syd was beside him, holding on to the rocky edge of the cleft, high up above the guns, catching the full force of the wind.

Down below they were in complete shelter. Here the gale had such power that it was impossible to stand securely. The wind shrieked about their ears, and seemed to come at them in huge waves, each throwing them back against the rock, and now and then making what felt like a s.n.a.t.c.h to tear them from where they stood, and hurl them down the rocks, or blow them away to sea.

"I say," cried Roylance, panting to get his breath, and holding his lips close to his companion's ear, "they must be having it pretty rough on board to-night."

"Think there's any danger?" shouted Syd.

"Not if they keep well out to sea. Eh? What?"

"I didn't speak," roared Syd; "it was the wind howling."

"Hadn't we better get down? I feel as if I was going to be blown right off."

"Wait a bit. I say, I think I'll have a man posted here by this gun."

"What, now?"

"Yes, at once."

"Nonsense, man; there's no one on the rock but ourselves, and no enemy could come near us in this gale."

"No," shouted Syd; "suppose not. But--"

He had to cease speaking and hold on, for the wind rushed at them now with redoubled violence, and for a minute neither thought of anything but the danger.

"It does blow," panted Syd at last, as the wind lulled a little. "I was going to say--do you feel sure there is no one else on the rock?"

"Yes, of course."

"I don't," said Syd, decisively; "I know I saw something, or some bird."

"A goat left on the rock."

"No; it could not have been a goat; it must--"

Whoo! The wind rushed at them again, and once more they held on, longing to get down below, but fascinated by the awful din. Below them the darkness seemed profound; only now and then they saw a gleam, as if one of the waves--which broke with a roar like thunder on the rock, and sent a fine cloud of spray floating about their faces--contained some kind of light living creatures, or it was only a reflection on the smooth curve, before it broke, of the stars overhead. For there all was clear enough, save that the stars looked blurred, though bright, and were quivering and vibrating beyond the rus.h.i.+ng wind.

"Oh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Syd. "Hear that?"

"Hear it!" was the reply; "I could feel it. Shan't have the whole rock swept away, shall we?"

There was a lull in the wind just then, but the two lads had clung there, completely awe-stricken, as a huge hill of water had heaved up, and fallen on the outer b.u.t.tresses of the rock, which quivered under the shock. Then there was a roar of many waters, a wild rus.h.i.+ng and booming sound, and the wind blew harder.

They looked out into the awful blackness, which seemed transparent, glanced up at the quivering stars, once more paused to listen again to the tremendous impact of the waves that came regularly rolling in, and then, taking advantage of a lull, they descended to where the gun had been mounted.

The change was wonderful. They had not descended fifty feet, but it was into complete shelter. The wind was rus.h.i.+ng over their heads, and the waves were thundering in far below, but the noise sounded dull and distant, and they sat down, breathing freely, and rubbing their spray-wet faces.

"No," said Syd, quietly; "no fear."

"What of?"

"The rock being swept away; it would have gone before now."

"Well, I'm beginning to think we're safer here than on board," said Roylance.

"Don't say that," cried Syd, excitedly. "You don't think there's any danger to the frigate, do you?"

"No," said Roylance, sharply. "Come on down now, and let's get something to eat."

They walked steadily back towards where the fire was glowing and burning briskly in the sheltered depth of the chasm, casting curious lights and reflections on the rocks to right and left, and showing plainly the figure of the man on the watch beside the farther gun, and the spars rigged up at his side.

"Looks as if he were going to be hung," said Roylance, quietly.

"Yes, the spars have an ugly look with that rope hanging down. I almost wish I had put a man up by the other gun."

"What for? I tell you we can go to sleep in peace to-night."

"With poor Mr Dallas like that?"

"Forgotten him for the moment. No; of course one of us will take the watch, unless Terry comes down and turns civil. There, hi! look at that! look at that."

_Bang_!--The report of the sentry's pistol as Syd and Roylance had started trotting down towards the gun at the lower end.

In an instant the men about the fire had leaped up, and stood ready for any action by their arms.

"Did you see it, my man?" panted Syd.

"Ay, ay, sir; came running along like a big tiger from up yonder by the fire, and I fired at it, and then it was gone."