“I am sorry, sir, to seem to show discourtesy,” Ensign Dave replied, “but all that I do here is under general instructions from the highest representative of my government in these waters.”
With that Dave called a signalman to him, gave him a message, and directed six other sailors to climb, with the signalman, the inside steps that led to the rampart.
No sooner had the signalman, in the lead, gained the rampart, than a five-inch gun on the “Castoga” boomed out.
“Ensign Darrin, sir,” bawled down the signalman lustily, “I think you will be glad to be up here, to see what is going on.”
Dropping Belle’s hand, which he had just taken, Ensign Dave darted up the steps, uttering, on reaching the top of the stone wall, an exclamation of dismay.
“Ensign Dalzell!” he shouted, beckoning the summons to his brother officer.
[CHAPTER VI—HECKLING HIS EXCELLENCY]
“Jupiter!” gasped Dan, as he reached Dave’s side.
Boom! bang! Two shots were fired almost together from the “Castoga’s” forward guns.
“The rebels are returning from the suburbs,” Dave exclaimed, “and even the near-by houses are emptying themselves of hundreds of other armed men.”