“I think the admiral would be glad to send them,” the younger captain said; “for these two vessels have done a tremendous lot of damage during the last year.  I believe that upward of twenty ships have reported being boarded and stripped by them.”

“But if they came what could they do?” Captain Wilson asked.  “You see we consider it is not worth the risk of throwing away two ships two force this passage, still less would it be to risk four.”

“That is so, no doubt,” Captain Chambers agreed.  “I should suggest that however many of us there may be we should all draw off and keep a watch at a distance.  Of course it would be necessary to approach at night, and to lie behind the island somewhere in the daytime just as we did yesterday, for from the top of that hill they can see any distance round.”

“Yes, and as soon as it is dusk they will have two or three hours to get away before we can come round here.  Beside, with their night-glasses from the top of the cliffs they will be sure to be able to make us out.  There is only one other way that I can see of getting at them, that is to find a landing-place and attack them from on shore.”

“Ah! that’s much more hopeful business.  As far as I saw yesterday there are cliffs all round the island; but it is hard indeed if we cannot find some place where we can manage to effect a landing.

“This is the plan we must follow out.  This afternoon an hour before it gets dark you get up sail and make away as if you were bound for Port Royal.  I shall keep my station here.  They will think you have gone off to get some more ships.  As soon as it is thoroughly dark bear round and come back to the island; bring the schooner in close to the cliffs on the other side and get into a bay if you can find one.  You will then be out of sight altogether unless somebody happens to look down from the edge of the cliffs above you.

“Then search the whole of the back of the island with boats, keeping at oar’s length from the cliffs.  There must be some places where a man can climb up, probably gulleys worn by streams.  Then to-morrow night sail round and join us again.  I will be waiting for you about two miles off the land, and will show a light to seaward so that you will know where to find me.  Then we can talk matters over, and you can get back to the other side again before morning.”

While the captains of the two English vessels were holding consultations a similar talk was going on between the three captains of the privateers, and the conclusion they arrived at was precisely similar to that of the English officers.  It was agreed that no attack was likely to be made by the ships, as they would almost certainly be sunk by the plunging fire of the battery as they came along the channel; while an assault by the boats would be sheer madness.

“We have only to wait and tire them out,” the captain of the schooner said, rubbing his hands.  “The first gale from the north they must run for shelter, and before they can come back to their station again we shall be gone.  Of course we will load well up beforehand with all that is really worth taking away, and can let them have the pleasure of destroying the rest after we have gone.”