Presently he heard the sound of drums and bugles, and knew that the troops were taking up their positions on the quays.
At last--it seemed many hours to him--he heard the splash of oars, and presently a slight shock as a boat ran alongside the lugger.
Then there were voices, and the sound of feet above as persons mounted on to the deck.

There was a scraping noise by the lugger's side, and immediately afterwards another bump as the second boat took the place of the first.
This, as far as Harry could hear, did not leave the lugger.

There was a great hum of talking on deck, principally in women's voices, and frequently persons stepped on the hatch, and Harry congratulated himself that the beams gave a solid support to it.
Half an hour passed, as well as Harry could judge, then the boom of a cannon was heard, and immediately two men leapt down into the hold, knocked the six plugs out of their place, and climbed up on deck again.

There was again the scraping noise, and Harry knew the boat had pushed off this time for good.

He watched as if fascinated the six jets of water for a minute or two.