But in spite of the steady defence the enemy came on, showing no sign of shrinking, firing rapidly and responding to their officers' orders with savage defiant yells, while shots came thick and fast, the two lads growing so excited as they watched the fray that they forgot the danger and the nearness of the enemy coming on. "They are showing more pluck this time, Burgess," said the skipper, taking out his revolver and unconsciously turning the chambers to see that all was right. "Yes," growled the mate. "It's a horrible nuisance, for I don't want to fight. But we've made rather a mess of it, after all." "What do you mean?" said the skipper. "Ought to have dropped that other anchor." "Why?" said the skipper sharply. "Because they may row right up and cut us adrift." "Yes," said the skipper quietly; "it would have been as well. Take a rifle and go forward if they try to pass us, and pick off every man who attempts to cut the cable." "All right," replied the mate; "I will if there is time. But in five minutes we shall be busy driving these chaps back into their boats, and they will be swarming up the sides like so many monkeys." "Yes," said the skipper. "But you must do it if there _is_ time. They don't seem to mind our firing a bit." "No," Fitz heard the chief officer growl angrily. "Their blood's up, and they are too stupid, I suppose." "Cease firing!" shouted the skipper. "Here they come!" The order came too late to check six of the men, who in their excitement finished off their regular shots with a ragged volley directed at the foremost boat, and with such terrible effect that in the midst of a scene of confusion the oars were dropped and the boat swung round broadside to the stream, which carried it on to the next boat, fouling it so that the two hung together and confusion became worse confounded as they crashed on to the third boat, putting a stop to the firing as well as the rowing. The commands of the officer in the last boat were of no effect, and the defenders of the schooner, who had sprung to their positions where their efforts would have been of most avail, burst forth with a wild cheer, and then turned to the skipper for orders to fire again. But these orders did not come, for their captain had turned to the mate with-- "Why, Burgess, that's done it! I believe we've given them enough." Then heartily, "Well done, boys! Give 'em another cheer." In their wild excitement and delight the schooner's crew gave two; and they had good cause for their exultation, for the firing from the boats had quite ceased, the efforts of their commanders being directed towards disentangling themselves from their sorry plight, many minutes elapsing before the boats were clear and the men able to row, while by this time several hundred yards had been placed between them and the object of their attack. Then the Spanish officers gave their orders to advance almost simultaneously; but they were not obeyed.