er the sea.

Every few minutes he is compelled to rise to the surface to look out
from the top of the machine to guide his course, and his track grows
very zig-zag through the waters.

Ah! the soldiers at Governor's Island see the Turtle! Hundreds are
gathering upon the parapet to watch its motions, such a curious boat
as it is, with turret of brass bobbing up and down, sinking,
disappearing--coming to the surface again in a manner _wholly_
unaccountable.

Brave Lee knows his danger, and paddles away for dear life and love of
family up in Lyme, eating breakfast quietly now he remembers, not
knowing his peril.

Once more he goes up to take a lookout, to see where White-hall slip
lies.

A glance at Governor's Island, and he sees a barge shove off laden
with his enemies.

Down again, and up, and he sees it making for him. _There is no
escape!_ What _can_ he do!

"If I must die," he thinks, "they shall die with me!" and he lets go
the magazine.

Nearer and nearer--the barge is _very_ close. "If they pick me up they
will pick that up," thinks Lee, "and we shall all be blown to atoms
together!"

They are now within a hundred and fifty feet of the Turtle and they
see the magazine that he has detached.

"Some horrible Yankee trick!" cries a British soldier. "_Beware!_" And
they do beware by turning and rowing with all speed for the island
whence they came.

Poor Lee looks out with amazement to see them go. He is well-nigh
exhausted, _and the magazine, with its dreadful clock-work going on
within it, and its hundred and fifty pounds of powder, ready to go off
at a given moment_, is floating on behind him, borne by the tide.

He strains every muscle to near New York. He signals the shore.

Since daylight Putnam has been there keeping watch. David Bushnell has
paced up and down all night, in keen anxiety.

The friendly whale-boats put out to meet him.

Meanwhile, slowly borne by the coming tide, the magazine floats into
the East River.

"It will blow up in five minutes now," says Bushnell, looking at his
watch, and he goes to welcome Ezra Lee.

The five minutes go by.

Suddenly, with tremendous voice, and awful uproar of the sea, the
magazine explodes.

Columns of water toss high in air, mingled with the oaken ribs that
held the powder but a minute ago.

Consternation seizes British troops on Long Island. The brave soldiers
on the parapet at Governor's Island quake with fear. All New York
rushes to th