r.

I heard Darius call Bill Jepson, and knew by the noises which followed
that the two sailors were taking to the canoe in order to tow the
pungy, and at the same time Captain Hanaford cast off the lashing of
the tiller as he ordered us to run up the canvas.

Work? I have never moved so lively before nor since, as I did then
when I felt positive that within a very few seconds our deck would be
swept by grape and cannister.

At such moments of supreme danger one's senses are unnaturally acute,
and while I gave strict attention to all that was taking place aboard
the pungy, it became possible to understand what the enemy was about.

The other vessels of the fleet were making ready to take a hand in our
destruction. From every quarter we could hear cries of command,
mingled with the noise of men running to and fro, and just when the
pungy began to feel the effect of the canvas which was clapped on her
in such a hurry, a rocket went up, illumining the scene for ten
seconds or more.

Then it was I saw that we had passed three of the ships, having come
to grief on the last in the line, and had no time to take further note
of the surroundings when the guns of all four craft belched forth with
a mighty roar that caused the pungy to tremble, but the impact of the
shot did not follow.

Thus suddenly aroused, and in the intense darkness which had been
dispelled only long enough to dazzle a fellow's eyes, the gunners had
not been able to take accurate aim, otherwise we must have gone to the
bottom like a stone.

"They won't have time to try that game more than once again before
we'll be well out of their way," I heard Darius say, and I knew we
had sufficient speed to render useless the work of towing, otherwise
the two sailors would not have come aboard.

Now three rockets were sent up in rapid succession, and while the
light lasted I knew that the British gunners were taking aim at us;
but we had slipped so far down the river by this time that there were
some few chances in our favor, however closely they might shoot.

"Down on your faces!" Darius cried, and I dropped like a stone,
understanding that such an order had been given to lessen the chances
of our being hit; but at the same time the thought came to me that it
was better to be killed by a round-shot which would cut a man's life
short instantly, than mangled by a splinter.

Then came the flash of burning powder; the mighty roar of big guns;
the hurtling shot