so sheer out of the sea that it seemed as if nothing without wings could possibly scale it.
But they might, perhaps, have been less confident had they seen what was going on just then at the opposite side of the island.
When the English ships first advanced to the attack, the hindmost of them, while still hidden from the Dutch by the huge black pyramid of Sugar-loaf Point, had lowered several large boats filled with armed men, which instantly shot away round the great rocky bluff of "the Barn" as fast as eight oars apiece could carry them.
Away they went, past headland after headland, while every eye was fixed upon the rocky shore, as if seeking something which was not easily to be found.
At length, just when they rounded the bold, craggy promontory of King and Queen point, a dull boom reached their ears, followed instantly by the thunder of a sustained cannonade. At that familiar sound the sailors clenched their teeth savagely, as they looked up at the tremendous precipices that seemed to shut them out from all hope of taking part in the battle.
"Can't we get up anywhere?" growled the
