“Think the man up yonder by the flagstaff can see them?” said Roylance, after another weary wait.
Sydney shook his head.
“I say, oughtn’t we to hoist the colours, Belton?”
“Rogers will run them up when I make him a signal. We don’t want to challenge them to fight, only to defend the rock against all comers.”
“Gettin’ hungry, mate?” whispered one of the men to the lad next him.
“No: why?”
“’Cause this side o’ me’s ’most done.”
There was a laugh.
“Silence!” cried Syd, and then in the same breath, “Here they are!”
For the bows of the frigate’s boat, which had been right round the rock, suddenly appeared from the left with one of the officers standing up in the stern-sheets; and as they came on he suddenly pointed toward the natural pier, and the men, who had just been dipping their oars lightly, gave way.