One was a large
ship, the other a brig. Almost at the same time the rough sound of
boats' keels grounding on the shore could be heard.
"Just as I thought," the captain whispered. "They have guessed that
some of us will be ashore, and will make a rush upon us here, when the
ships open fire."
The word was passed along the guns that every one was to be double
shotted, and that their fire was at first to be directed at the brig.
They were to aim between wind and water, and strive to sink her as
speedily as possible.
As the light gradually grew brighter, the party on the plateau
anxiously watched for the moment when the hull of the Indiaman
becoming plain to the enemy. These would open fire upon it, and so
give the signal for the fight. At the first alarm the tents had all
been levelled; and a thick barricade of bales erected, round a slight
depression of the plateau at the foot of the cliff in its rear. Here
the ladies were placed, for shelter.
As the light increased, it could be seen that in addition to the two
ships were a large number of native dhows. Presently, from the black
side of the ship, a jet of fire shot out; and at the signal a
broadside was poured into the Indiaman by the two vessels.
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