Poole grunted, with agreement in his cones, and then they leaned over the bulwarks together forward, following the example of most of the men, who were just as keenly on the look-out, and growing as excited in the expectation of the coming adventure, all but two, who, in obedience to a growl from the mate, lowered down the dinghy and then pulled her hand-over-hand by the mooring-cable to where it was made fast to the big ring in the buoy; and there they held on, ready to slip the minute the order was given from the deck. Meanwhile the rejoicings were going on ashore, no one so far having become aware of the approach of the enemy, till she was well clear of the headland, with her smoke floating out like an orange-plume upon a golden sky. "There's the signal," cried Fitz suddenly, as a ball of smoke darted out from the front of the fort, followed by a dull thud. "Hah!" said Poole. "That's like the snap of a mongrel pup. By and by perhaps we shall hear the gunboat speak with a big bark like a mastiff. I wonder whether they will make us out." "So do I," said Fitz. "It will be easy enough to sneak off if they don't." "Don't say sneak," said Fitz. "Why?" "It sounds so cowardly." "Well, this isn't the _Tonans_. The _Teal_ was made to sail, not to fight." "Yes, of course," said Fitz; "but I don't like it all the same." "All right, then, I won't say it again. I wonder where the dad will make for." "Well, that will depend on whether the gunboat sights us. I say, does it make you feel excited?" "Yes, awfully. I seem to want to be doing something." "So do I," said Fitz, "instead of watching the sun go down so slowly." "Look at the gunboat, then. She's not moving slowly. My word, she is slipping through the water! Why, she's bound to see us if it don't soon get dark." The boys lapsed into silence, and as they ceased speaking they were almost startled by the change that had taken place on shore. The shouting and singing had ceased; there was no sound of music, and the bells had left off their clangour; while in place there came a low, dull, murmurous roar as of surf beating upon some rocky coast, a strange mingling of voices, hurrying foot-steps, indescribable, indistinct, and yet apparently expressive of excitement and the change from joy to fear. "It has upset them pretty well," said Poole. "Why, I did hear that they were going in for fireworks as soon as it was dark, and they fired that gun like a challenge. I shouldn't wonder if they have fireworks of a different kind to what they expect." "Yes," said Fitz excitedly. "The gunboat will begin firing shells perhaps, and set fire to the town." "Bad luck to them if they do," cried Poole earnestly, "for it's a beautiful old place with its groves and gardens. Here, I say, Burnett, I wish this wretched little schooner were your _Tonans_, and we were going to fight for poor old Don Ramon. Don't you?"