him.

"There is a pile of wood upon the Signal Hill. If it could be
lighted--which never has been done yet--it would be a signal of distress
to the mainland."

Charker cries, directly: "Sergeant Drooce, dispatch me on that duty. Give
me the two men who were on guard with me to-night, and I'll light the
fire, if it can be done."

"And if it can't, Corporal--" Mr. Macey strikes in.

"Look at these ladies and children, sir!" says Charker. "I'd sooner
_light myself_, than not try any chance to save them."

We gave him a Hurrah!--it burst from us, come of it what might--and he
got his two men, and was let out at the gate, and crept away. I had no
sooner come back to my place from being one of the party to handle the
gate, than Miss Maryon said in a low voice behind me:

"Davis, will you look at this powder? This is not right."

I turned my head. Christian George King again, and treachery again! Sea-
water had been conveyed into the magazine, and every grain of powder was
spoiled!

"Stay a moment," said Sergeant Drooce, when I had told him, without
causing a movement in a muscle of his face: "look to your pouch, my lad.
You Tom Packer, look to your pouch, confound you! Look to your pouches,
all you Marines."