few in that part of the
country.

The boats at length got up within about a quarter of a mile of the ferry
at which the caravan was expected to pass. Either bank of the river was
lined with a broad belt of tall rushes, in which they were directed to
conceal themselves, while Adair in his gig pulled up to try and
ascertain whether the waggons had reached the bank. The commodore had
settled to wait till some had crossed, so as to attack as many as
possible close to the edge of the water, making sure of destroying them
as well as those actually crossing.

The crews of the boats were waiting in anxious expectation for the order
to dash out of their places of concealment. Day at last dawned; the
startled wildfowl flew up from among the rushes, screaming loudly at the
intruders; while, as the light increased, the dark water assumed a
brighter hue, though a mist still lay on the surface, which greatly
assisted in the concealment of the boats. At length Adair's gig was
seen dimly through the mist, pulling at a rapid rate down the stream.
In an instant the crews of the boats, jumping into their seats, got out
their oars ready to give way as soon as the order should be received.
Adair soon reached the commodore's boat; he said that the
provision-waggons had begun to cross, and that several were already on
the opposite or western bank. The boats had been ordered to pull up in
two divisions, the larger to attack the east bank, the other the west;
Jack's and Adair's boats belonged to the latter.

The welcome order to advance was heard, and the boats, emerging from
their cover, pulled away in two lines, as fast as the men could bend to
their oars, moving along like two huge serpents darting on their prey.
Not a word was uttered; so that the boats, still shrouded by the mist,
were close up to the ferry before they were discovered. The Russians
were taken completely by surprise; the waggons on board the ferry-boat
were at once captured. The small body of troops sent to convoy them
fired a volley from the east bank, on which side the greater number of
waggons were still advancing to cross, and then, seeing the strong
forces approaching to the attack, retreated; while shouts and shrieks
and cries resounded on all sides, the drivers endeavouring to turn round
their animals and escape--while the seamen, who sprang on shore, set to
work to cut the traces, to prevent them from so doing.

Jack and Adair, with their men, had landed