"Vat you do soch a ting for, Mr Capitain Lieutenant?" said the emissary.
'Oh! you not pershave you are rone in order de igh bank! How you sall
satisfy me no France infanterie legere dere, too, more as in de fort, eh?
How you sall satisfy me, Mister Capitain Lieutenant, eh?"
"Hold your blasted tongue, will you," said Treenail, "and the infantry
legere be damned simply. Mind your eye, my fine fellow, or I shall be
much inclined to see whether you will be Legere in the Elbe or no. Hark!"
We all pricked up our ears, and strained our eyes, while a bright,
spitting sparkling fire of musketry opened at the gap, but there was no
ping pinging of the shot overhead.
"They cannot be firing at us, sir," said the coxswain; "none of them
bullets are telling hereaway."
Presently a smart fire was returned in three distinct clusters from the
water, and whereas the firing at first had only lit up the dark figures of
the French soldiery, and the black outline of the bank on which they were
posted, the flashes that answered them shewed us three armed boats
attempting to force the passage. In a minute the firing ceased; the
measured splash of oars was heard, as boats approached us.
"Who's there?" sung out the lieutenant.
"Torches," was the answer.
"All's well, Torches," rejoined Mr Treenail; and presently the jollyboat,
and launch, and cutter of the Torch, with twenty marines, and thirtysix
seamen, all armed, were alongside.
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