Part 3: Vivar, Chapter 2 Summary

When the cannon rounds slam into the Kitty, Cochrane shouts for the men to immediately get into the longboats. Round after round strikes the Kitty. The O' Higgins attempts to return fire at the forts, but the range is too great. The Kitty suffers a great deal of damage, and the carnage is great. Sharpe shouts for Harper, and then he remembers that Harper had gone to get something to eat, and that he was in the area of the ship where the first rounds struck. Sharpe fights his way through panicked seamen shouting for Harper. When Harper finally answers, Sharpe says that the two should meet on shore.

The trip to the beach in the longboats is treacherous. In addition to the danger from the cannon fire, Spanish infantry have gathered on the beach, and they fire muskets...