You have
got the sacks ready for forming the battery; that will be absolutely
necessary for the protection of the men firing. Each of the prahus
has probably got at least half a dozen small guns, and it would be
hardly possible to work our pieces unless the men were protected
from their concentrated fire. Tell the chief engineer that steam
must be got up by six o'clock. In the meantime, let a slow fire
be kept up towards the edge of the forest, just a shot every five
minutes, which will be enough to show them we are still here, and
have not done with them yet. When the place cools down a bit, we
will send a party on shore to keep up a dropping fire against the
forest, and so induce them to believe that we mean to attack them
there."
CHAPTER VIII.
During the rest of the day preparations were actively carried on
for the night's work. The fifty marines and a hundred bluejackets
were to take part in the landing expedition; the ammunition to be
carried was ranged along the deck, and the men told off for the
various work there was to be done, some being allotted to carry
stretchers and surgical requirements for the wounded. The first
lieutenant was to command the party, having with him the third
lieutenant, the master's mate, and the two senior midshipmen;
besides, of course, the marine officers.
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