Our danger came from the enemy's infantry, who were evidently in reserve to protect the guns.
Now I had spent part of the day in carefully studying the fort through a telescope, and had come to the conclusion that a few nimble fellows, by aid of ropes and the trees whose branches almost overhung the wall behind, could enter it by the rear, and possibly, by creating a diversion in that quarter, help the main body who attacked it from the front.

As soon as the order for a rush was given, I called on a few of my comrades--among them one or two of the _Kestrel_ men--to follow me and make the attempt.

We made a long detour, and, as I expected, found little or no difficulty in reaching the trees.
Once up these, it was not a very difficult feat to swing ourselves on to the top of the broad wall and so gain the yard, where we could even now see the gunners hard at work.
"Now, lads," whispered I, "each pick your man, fire when I give the signal, and then for the guns." There were but six guns, each manned by two men, and so intent were they on the attack in front that they had not so much as the tail of an eye for the rear.

There were five of us in all.

We kept well in the shadow till we covered each our man.