Almost instantly the two craft
struck began to settle down, and in a minute disappeared, the water
being covered with the heads of the crew, who were swimming to the
other prahus. The guns of these had evidently been kept loaded,
for before the two eighteen pounders were again ready, a fire was
opened by the four craft, one or two balls striking the sandbags,
while the rest went crashing into the forest behind. Every shot from
the British guns struck the prahus, but none effected such damage
as the first two fired.
"They are taking to their boats, Ferguson," the doctor, who was
standing beside him, said.
"Yes, but I fancy they have no thought of giving it up at present;
they are going to make a dash at us. They can still work their guns
and spare any amount of men to attack us."
The next minute, indeed, a dozen boats, crammed with men, shot
round from behind the prahus.
"Grape now," the lieutenant ordered, while, at the same moment,
the marines and seamen, who had hitherto been silent, opened fire
from under the bushes, beneath which they were enabled to obtain
a view of what was going on.
Two of the boats were sunk by the discharge of the grape; but the
others, without checking their course, pushed on.
"Quick, lads, give them another round before it is too late.
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