"If we're here to be floated," answered Young Glory, gloomily. "That is so. A shot may send us to the bottom at any time." "It's a case for desperate measures, sir." "Desperate! I see nothing." "Sir, let us land and storm the batteries." "What! with our small force?" "Enough, sir, if we take them all." "And the ship, Young Glory?" "The men are not wanted here, sir. It's useless working the guns, because we can't do any damage with them, and the Spaniards won't attempt to board us." "It must be done. There's nothing else left." Mr. Tyler shouted forth his orders. All was excitement now. When the men knew what decision had been come to they were delighted, for desperate though the undertaking appeared to be, it was better than staying on the ship to be sunk with it. On the weather side of the ship the boats were manned. Lieut. Tyler, in person, led the attack, and his forces counted, all told, about one hundred and fifty men. "A handful," said Young Glory. "Maybe," said Dan, laughing, "but, begorra! the hand isn't made that'll squeeze us." The Spaniards, strangely enough, made no effort to oppose the landing. Probably they thought the prey so easy of capture that they wished to tackle them at close quarters. Not a shot was fired as the boats rowed towards the shore. "This means an ambush," said Young Glory. Mr. Tyler thought the same, and he was actively on the alert. The boats were drawn up on the beach, and the men were so eager to get to close quarters with the enemy that they dashed at a furious pace towards the steep and rugged path that led to the batteries. Young Glory was at their head. Dan was a few paces behind him. Suddenly, from a wood to the left dashed a body of Spanish soldiers, over a hundred strong, and at the same time nearly two hundred of the enemy came rushing down the hill to the right. "Between two fires!" cried Young Glory. Round he glanced quickly, and as he did so, he saw not far away a number of great rocks, forming almost a semi-circle, with the sea in the rear. "Forward, lads!" he shouted loudly. The men dashed after him, Mr. Tyler in vain trying to check them. It looked as if Young Glory was about to charge the great force that was rushing down the hill, but such was not Young Glory's intention. The Spaniards speedily discovered what his plan was. Then a mad race took place to see which party should first arrive at the group of rocks. "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.