Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/233

OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 227 and, on examination, it was found that its shot had raked the path most effectually for a distance exceeding a hun dred yards. Small magazines were made in the rocks, near each gu?, when the most important part of the ar rangements for defence were considered to be satisfactorily made for the present. The remainder of the cargo was discharged, and got up the mountain, though it took three days to effect the last. The provisions were opened be low and overhauled, quite one-half of the pork being con signed to the soap-fat, though the beef proved to be still sound and sweet. Such as was thought fit to be consumed was carried up in baskets, and re-packed on the mountain, the labour of rolling up the barrels satisfying everybody, after one experiment. This difficulty set Mark to work with his wits, and he found a shelf that overhung the land ing, at a height of fully a hundred yards above it, where there was a natural platform of rock, that would suffice for the parade of a regiment of men. Here he determined to rig a derrick, for there was an easy ascent and descent to this platform, as the place was called, and down which a cart might go without any difficulty, if a cart was to be had. The platform might also be used for musketeers, in an action, and on examining it, Mark determined to bring over one of the two long sixes, and mount it there, with a view to command the offing. From that height a shot could be thrown in any direction, for more than a mile, outside of the harbour. Heaton had seen no signs of the canoes, nor could Mark, at any time during the next four days after his return, though lie was each day on the Peak itself, to examiue the ocean. On the fifth day, therefore, he and Bob crossed over to the Reef again, taking Bridget along this time. The latter delighted in the ship, the cabins of wmcn were so much more agreeable and comfortable than the tents, and which had so long been her husband s solitary abode. On reaching the Reef, the governor was greatly sur prised to find that Bigelow had the frame of a boat even larger than the pinnace set up, one that measured fourteen tons, though modelled to carry, rather than to sail. In overhauling the stuff in the ship, he had found not only all the materials for this craft, but those necessary for a boat a little larger than the Bridget, which, it seems, had