er in some
creek, or being able to beat out of the bay, and thus get to windward of
us.

"We shall bag the fellows this time at all events," said Mr Heron,
rubbing his hands as we were fast over-hauling the chases.

They did not, however, give in, trusting to a flaw of wind or something
else turning up in their favour. The Amazon and Juno, however, by
standing more to the northward soon cut off all chance of escape. They
were running for the harbour of Truro, but before they could get there
we drove them all three on shore at some distance from each other. A
loud shout from our crews proclaimed the result of the chase. The
boatswain's shrill whistle sounding along the decks was followed by the
order for all the boats to be manned and armed and sent in to get off
the vessels. I had charge of a cutter with Grampus and Tom, and little
Harry Sumner accompanied me. Our first aim was the brig. We pulled
towards her in good order as fast as we well could. It was not till we
were close alongside that the enemy showed themselves to defend her. We
took no notice of them, though they opened a warmish fire of musketry on
us, but, boarding together, got out hawsers, and while some of the boats
went ahead to tow her out the crews of the others remained on the deck
and kept the enemy at bay. Thus in a few minutes we got her
triumphantly afloat, and while she was being towed out from the shore I
was sent in my boat to set fire to the sloop which lay nearly a mile
from the other vessels. I thought that as the attention of the enemy
was engaged with the brig the work would be easy, and pulled boldly
towards her. We had got within musket range when up started three
fellows from behind the bulwarks and let fly at us. Their aim was good,
for each of their shots struck the boat, though happily no one was hit.
This salute, however, did not stop our progress.

"Give way, my lads, give way!" I shouted. "We will soon punish them
for their audacity."

They fired several times after this, but without doing us any damage. I
was surprised at their boldness in still remaining on board, but on our
firing the swivel we had in our bows, accompanied by a round of
musketry, they quickly jumped out of sight. As, however, we were close
alongside, and just about to hook on to her chains, the mystery was
solved by the unwelcome apparition of two or three hundred men, with
levelled fire-arms, who appeared mounting a line of sand-banks clos