“That would be an excellent plan,” the doctor said.  “Let us set about it at once.”

In half an hour the sailors brought up the hammock.

“I will go first,” Captain O’Connor said, “as I am the heaviest.  You will see how you manage to get me down.  If it’s done pretty easily you can bring down the two others; if not, they had better stop in the cave for to-night, and we will get a hut for them to-morrow.  By the way, Conway, you had better get the dead carried out and taken down to the seashore.  Have them laid down out of reach of the tide.  Some of them belong about here, and their friends will wish to give them a decent burial.  Our own dead had better be put in the boat, if Mr. Adcock will allow it, and taken to the village with us.  Then they can be carried over to Ballyporrit for burial.  A corporal with four men must be left for to-night in charge of the caves.”

“I shall want my men to row the boat,” Lieutenant Adcock said.  “In the morning I will send over a warrant officer and four men to take charge of the cave till I can take its contents round to our stores.”

Captain O’Connor was now lifted into the hammock, and six sailors carried him down to the water.  They managed it excellently, easing him down with the greatest care over the rocks, and succeeded in getting him down to the sea without a single jerk.  Lieutenant Desmond and the wounded soldiers were then taken down in the same way, while the men carried down the dead bodies of their three comrades and of the peasants who had fallen.

“I will take charge of the wounded,” Lieutenant Adcock said, “and see them comfortably housed and cared for.  I suppose Dr. Doran will go with us.”

“Certainly,” the doctor said, stepping into the boat.  I shall not give up charge of them until I see them all safely in bed.”

“I shall come over and see you O’Connor,” Ralph said, “as soon as I get the company back to the village.  Shall I write a report of this business, or do you feel equal to doing so?”

“I will manage it, Conway.  I can dictate it if I don’t feel up to writing it.  But you had better not come over to-day.  There will be a good deal of excitement over this capture, and no doubt several of the killed and prisoners belong to Ballyporrit; so it wouldn’t do for you to leave the detachment without an officer.  Be sure you have a strict guard put over the prisoners, and keep an eye upon them yourself.  You can send over to inquire about us, but till you have got them off your hands you had better not leave the village.  If a party are wanted for still-hunting send Sergeant Morris with them.  I shall dispatch my report to-night, and no doubt the colonel will send an officer out to help you as soon as he gets it.”