Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/189

 There was another and a very serious disadvantage attending our locality. The castle was situated very near the summit of a steep hill, the upper part of which was in possession of the enemy, who were, by this means, nearly on a level with the top of the castle, and, on that eminence, three hundred Swiss sharp shooters had effected a lodgment, and thrown up works within fifty yards of us, keeping up a constant fire at the castle. If a head was seen above the walls, twenty rifle bullets whizzed at.it in a moment, and the same unremitted attention was paid to our boats as they landed.

On another hill, much to the northward, and consequently farther in-land, the French had erected a battery of six twenty-four pounders; this agreeable neighbour was only three hundred yards from us; and allowing short intervals for the guns to cool, this battery kept up a constant fire upon us from day-light till dark. I never could have supposed, in my boyish days, that the time would arrive when I should envy a cock upon