ed in the same way,
and the two boats of the Ranger reached the Mellish undiscovered. The
watch on the deck of the transport, diminished by the absence of the
boat's crew, were overwhelmed by the rush of armed men, from both sides
of the ship, and after a few shots from two or three men on the
quarter-deck, some yelling and screaming, and a brief scuffle, in which
one man of the Mellish was killed, the ship was mastered. The hatches
were at once secured, before the watch below scarcely knew of the
occurrence. A company of soldiers, about seventy-five in number, of
the Seaforth Highlanders, found themselves prisoners ere they awakened,
the only resistance having come from the mate and two or three of their
officers, who had not yet turned in.

"Have you got her, Mr. Seymour?" hailed the Ranger.

"Yes, sir."

"What is she?"

"She 's the Mellish right enough, sir."

"Good. Anybody hurt?"

"One of the enemy killed, sir; all of ours are all right."

"What's her crew?"

"Fifteen men, they say, and seventy-five soldiers. We have the hatches
battened down, and I think with the men we have, we can manage her all
right."

"Very well, sir. I congratulate you. I am sending the second cutter
off to you with the men's dunnage and your boxes. You have your
orders. Present my compliments to General Washington, with that ship
as a Christmas present, if you bring her in. God grant you get in
safely. Good-by. Better put out that light; we will take your place
in the fleet, and see what happens."

"Good-by, sir," cried the young lieutenant; "a prosperous cruise to
you."

In a moment the boat from the Ranger was alongside, the bags and boxes
were speedily shifted, and the cutter, with the other two boats in tow,
dropped back to the Ranger, which by a shift of the helm had drawn much
nearer. Then the Mellish filled away, and presently wearing round on
her heel went off before the wind, and, all her lights having been
extinguished, faded speedily away in the darkness. The boats were
hoisted on the Ranger, she braced up on the port tack, and took the
place vacated by the Mellish. But these things had not happened
without attracting some attention.

The captain of the vessel next ahead of the Mellish had heard the
pistol shots and shouting. Luffing up into the wind to check his own
headway, he made out a second ship in the darkness alongside his next
astern. In doubt as to what was happening, but certain that s