This made me mighty eager to learn what these cannon-shots might mean. I was willing, also, to find out what was doing at the fortifications. Accordingly I gave over trying to open the door, and started back to the cliff; the cannonading, meanwhile, being continued. The heavens were splendid with the hosts of the stars; the moon was not yet risen.
I reached the outward of the wood, and looked keenly forth upon the fortifications. They were full of men; and every gunner was plainly to be distinguished by a point of yellow flame that shone at the end of his linstock. But there came no longer a sound of voices, and at that I wondered; until I spied the form of Doctor Copicus.
He stood at the nearer end of the battery, looking out to the sea-board; and his tall, bowed figure, dressed in the scarlet robe, upon which his white locks fell glistening, had an eldritch look in the starlight.
I stepped boldly forth, and took my station by his side. He turned on my approach, and I saw that his face was all alight with excitement, like an eager child’s. But he said nought to me.
I looked upon the starlit sea, and was amazed. For, instead of one ship, as I had expected, there were four; and three were in chase of the other. The pursuers sailed almost abreast of one another, were close upon their quarry, and kept firing at her. The ships were about a mile and a half from the shore. None had any flag abroad. Thus they came on straight under the fortifications.
Suddenly the Doctor turned, and spoke to me.
“See you my little lamb?” said he soft and low, “See you my little lamb pursued by wolves? Do you not weep? Doth not your heart burn within you to behold this thing? But is there none to help? Must I, then, stand by to see my children devoured by ravenous beasts?”
And suddenly plucking hold on my shoulder, he turned about, and strode on before the fortifications, drawing me after him.
“Ho! Benedict,” cried he to the master-gunner, “here’s a little lad come to see our pretty things, our wondrous toys, our popguns! Show him how they shoot, Benedict! Let him see them hit a mark, Benedict!”
The small man grinned with his teeth, and shouted an order; there fell a stir and business and a clang, clang, clang of metal.