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.
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