There was a flash of fire, and in a few seconds a dull roar, with strange, screaming noises interspersed.

The water became lashed by a storm of shot, and shrieks of human agony mingled with the noise of the battle.

It was a deadly fire which fell hot around the devoted little fleet; but Humphrey and Julian, away to the right, were a little out of range, and slightly protected by a craggy ridge.

No man of their company had been killed; but they saw that along the line of boats terrible havoc was being wrought.
They saw Wolfe's tall, thin figure standing up and making signs.

He was waving his hand to them now, and Humphrey exclaimed in his keen excitement: "We are to land behind the crag and rush the guns!" In a moment the half-dozen or more boats of this little detachment were making for the shore as hard as the rowers' arms could take them.