All were ordered to load at once.  They were to make prisoner any one coming up the cliff, and in case of resistance to fire without hesitation.  The two officers then returned to the spot where they had left Ralph.  It was now nearly broad daylight.  Leaving the soldiers they went a short distance to a point where the rocks fell away precipitately, and from here had a clear view of the face of the cliffs.

“We had better wait here for a time,” the captain said.  “The chances are that before long one of them will look out from their hiding-place, and perhaps make his way up to the top to look round.  If he does, that will give us an index as to the direction at any rate of their hiding-place.  Now, I will take the ground in front; do you watch to the left, Conway, and you to the right, Desmond.  We had better lie down, or on this jutting point we may catch the eye of any one down there before we can see him.  Keep a sharp lookout lads; it will save us a world of trouble if we can see one of them.”

For half an hour they lay quiet, then Desmond suddenly exclaimed: 

“There is a man among those fallen rocks halfway up the side.  There! he is gone.  Perhaps we shall see him again in a moment.”

For five minutes they lay with their eyes fixed on the rocks that Desmond pointed out, but there were no signs of life.

“Are you sure you were not mistaken, Desmond?” O’Connor asked.

“Quite certain.  He suddenly appeared by the side of that gray bowlder, stood there for a moment, and sunk down again.  I expect he must have got a view of one of the men somewhere along the top.”

“We will wait another ten minutes,” O’Connor said, “and then we will take a party to the spot and search it thoroughly.  There is the coast-guard boat, so there is no fear of their getting away by water.”

Another quarter of an hour passed.

“It is no use waiting any longer.  Go along the line, one each way, and bring ten men from points where they can be spared.  We will leave them at the top of the path and take the party there down with us.  There are only four or five of them, and ten men beside ourselves are ample for the business.”

The arrangements were soon made.  Before starting on the descent O’Connor said to the men:  “We wish to take the fellows who are hiding down there alive if possible.  They are the gang of the fellow known as the ‘Red Captain,’ and have committed a score of murders; but if it is absolutely necessary you will of course fire.  There is one man among them who is there on compulsion, and is less guilty than the rest.  He is a fair-haired man, and I should think you would notice the difference between him and the rest.  Whatever resistance they make it is not probable that he will join in it.  At any rate, do not fire at him unless it is absolutely necessary to save life.  Now see to your priming before we start, and fix bayonets.  Mind how you climb over these rocks, because if any of you fall your muskets may go off and shoot some one in front of you.  Wherever it is possible scatter out abreast of each other, so as to prevent the possibility of accident.  Now, then, march!”