“They appear to me to be artillery,” answered that officer.
In a few minutes more this became evident; up came the officers, galloping at full speed, with four more guns.
“They are not of very heavy metal, or they would not come along so fast,” observed Adair. “We’ll be ready for them,” and he ordered one of the after-guns to be trained so as to give them a warm reception as soon as they came within range. As they approached, however, the guns separated, and took up positions a considerable distance from each other, while those which had already been engaged followed their example.
This, of course, increased the difficulties of the Flash, as each of her guns could only engage one opponent at a time. Her heavy sixty-eight pivot-gun was, however, worked with such rapidity and skill that the enemy were frequently compelled to abandon their guns, and many of their men and horses were killed. Still fresh horses were brought up to move them to new positions, not allowing the crew of the Flash a moment of rest from their labours. Every time one of their shot was seen to tell with effect they cheered lustily; and as they worked away they seemed to enjoy the fun, laughing and joking as if no round-shot and bullets were whistling through the air near their ears.
The master had just reported that the water had risen another inch, and Adair had begun to entertain fresh hopes of getting the ship, ere long, afloat, when the smoke of a steamer was seen in the offing.
“I hope she’s the Tornado or Giaour,” observed Desmond; “they’ll be for sending the boats on shore and putting the enemy to the rout.”
Adair naturally hoped pretty much the same, but, on consideration, he could not help suspecting that the ship in sight was the Anaconda, commanded by Commander Allport, his superior officer, for whom, on account of previous circumstances which need not just now be mentioned, he had no special regard.
“At all events, he is a brave fellow, and will stand by me,” he said to himself.
As the stranger drew near, Adair found that his surmises were correct. He had, in the meantime, been continuing his efforts to get the Flash afloat, the crew working away as energetically as at first.
“She’s the Anaconda, sir,” said Tom, who had been watching the signals as they appeared at the masthead of the approaching vessel.