fleet from being destroyed, and, therefore, was forcing his men to
perform a great deal of unnecessary work.

Looking around at the boats and vessels of our fleet I could see that
the work of destruction had already begun. From the hatch of the
Avenger, which craft was lying thirty or forty yards further up stream
than the Scorpion, a thin thread of blue smoke was ascending lazily on
the clear air, and on five or six other pungies the same ominous token
of approaching ruin could be seen.

Then it was that I saw little knots of our men pulling for the
northerly shore, and, on gaining the bank, stave in the hulls of their
canoes to such purpose that the little craft could not again be made
serviceable.

I understood then that each squad was under orders to land immediately
the task assigned them had been performed, and wondered if the
schooner was to be reserved until the last.

"Does the lieutenant count on saving the Scorpion to hold the
Britishers in check?" I asked of Jim, and for reply he pointed toward
the main hatch, from out of which Darius was just emerging.

"Have your canoe ready!" the old man cried, addressing Dody Wardwell,
who was holding the painter of a small craft which lay under the
stern. "I allow that we'll need to leave here in mighty quick time,
for when the fire starts it'll run from stem to stern like a flash."

[Illustration: As we pulled away I glanced back at our fleet and saw
that the vessels were well on fire.]

Even as Darius spoke I saw a curl of flame from the forward hatch, and
then a long, glowing tongue leaped up toward the cordage.

While I stood watching it, fascinated by the eager lapping of the
destroying element, the enemy opened fire from the barges, sending
solid shot amid the fleet which had already been deserted. At almost
the same moment that line of red, which had been motionless, could be
seen flashing here and there amid the foliage, telling that the
advance of the land force had begun.

Glancing back at our fleet after making certain that the Britishers
were coming toward us, I saw that the vessels were well on fire,
although unquestionably many of them might have been saved had efforts
been made immediately to that end.

"In five minutes more salt won't save 'em," Darius said in a tone of
satisfaction. "Them bloomin' red-coats started a little too late. Come
on, lads! It looks as if we were the last to leave the fleet, an'
there isn't overly much time on our h