Still, amid the pealing notes of the bugles, the Major waved his men
forward. Captain Pond, breaking loose from him and facing swiftly
towards the Cove-head, with a flourish of his blade called upon his
mainguard.
Under the volley that thereupon swept the beach, the invaders did
indeed waver for a moment--so closely it resembled the real thing.
As the smoke lifted, however, by the murky glare of the torches they
were seen to be less demoralised than infuriated. And now, upon the
volley's echo, a drum banged thrice, and from a boat just beyond the
water's edge the Troy bandsmen crashed out with:
"The Rout it is out for the Looes,
For the Looes;
Oh, the Rout it is out for the Looes!"
"Forward! Forward, Troy!"
"Steady, the Two Looes! Steady, the Diehards!"
"Form up--form up, there, to the left! Hurray, boys! give 'em the
bagginet!"
"Death to Invader! Reload, men! Oh, for your lives, reload! Make
ready, all! Prepare! Fire!"
"Mr. Spettigew! Mr. Spettigew!"
"Eh?" Uncle Issy turned as William Oke plucked him by the sleeve.
"What's the matter now? Reload, I tell'ee!"
"I--I can't, Mr. Spettigew. I've a-fired off my ramrod!"
"Then you'm a lost man."
"Will it--will it have killed any person, d'ee think?" Oke's teeth
rattled like a box of dice as he peered out over the dark and
agitated crowd of boats.
"Shouldn' wonder at all.
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