“And some one cut at me from up above on the rocks,” cried the other.
The gunner held up his hand to command silence, and then listened attentively.
“Why there ar’n’t no one,” he cried in tones of disgust. “You Joe Harris, you run up again a rock; and as for you, Jemmy Leeson, you’ve been asleep.”
The two men indignantly declared that they had spoken the truth; but with an impatient “Pish!” the gunner went forward along the narrow way.
“Here, come along,” he said; and as the words left his lips those behind heard a heavy blow, and Billy Waters came hastily back.
“That ain’t fancy,” said one of the men, “unless Billy hit his head again the rocks.”
“It warn’t my head,” whispered the gunner drawing in his breath, and trying to suppress the pain. “It caught me right on the left shoulder. I shall be all right directly, my lads, and we’ll give it ’em. I’ll bet that’s how they sarved poor Master Leigh; and we’ve dropped right into the proper spot. Just wait till I get my breath a bit.”
“Think it’s the smugglers?” said Tom Tully.
“Sartain,” was the reply. “I wish we had a lantern or two. But never mind. If we can’t see to hit them, they can’t see to hit us; so it’s broad as it’s long.”
“We shall want the pistols, shan’t we?” said one of the men.