"We are safe, sir!" cried Young Glory breathlessly, as he and his comrades reached the haven.
"Yes, it's a natural fortress. We can hold out against five hundred men. Let them have it, lads!"
"It's hail Columbia we'll give them!"
Hurrah! Crack! Crack!
The sailors fired furiously now. The Spaniards fell at every shot. But they did not retreat. Instead of doing so the two forces joined, and together they came with a mad rush at the rocks, behind which stood the seamen, awaiting the enemy's attack.
"Don't waste a shot now!" cried Mr. Tyler, and his men waited till the enemy were quite near.
Then a terrific volley was poured forth. Not less than thirty men fell, but their comrades came on just the same. Crack! Crack!
Again the seamen fired, and then such of the Spaniards as survived bounded like deer at the rocks, trying to scale them.
It was a hand to hand fight now, in which the advantage lay almost entirely with the defenders.
The cutlass and pistol did great work at close quarters.