"Keep still, mon; they haven't all left us yet," and we could still hear a few rifles firing from inside the wall.
Just for something to do, I began pulling on my boots—they were still tied round my neck with the laces—and it was awfully hard work with only one hand, and they were all sodden and stiff; but Miller helped me. We had just finished, when suddenly there was a rush of feet underneath us at the back of the house, and a furious battering noise on the shutters.
"They've broken in!" the Scotchman groaned, and Sally shrieked and buried her head in her lap. Miller seized a rifle and jumped across, pushed her out of the way, opened the shutter at the back, and leant out. I saw him load it, and he was just going to fire, when there were cries of "Sally! Sally! Open the door!" and more hammering.
"HE WAS JUST GOING TO FIRE"
We jumped to our feet. Sally shrieked that it was Captain Evans come to save her, Miller roared "Who's there?" and we heard someone sing out, "Who are you? Is Sally safe?"
I knew the voice; it was Mr. Ching's, the Lieutenant on board the Huan Min. I forgot all about my arm, and jumped over to where Miller was. "Get out of the way!" I cried, and yelled down, "Midshipman Ford of the Vigilant. There are six of us up here, and Miss Hobbs is all right."
"Come down and let me in."
"Right you are, sir!" I shouted, and drew in my head.
"Isn't it Captain Evans?" Sally asked me.