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THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY 15
tor, quietly. “I leave zem zére till I use zis. Ido not like to the choice—either an acceptance of his nand by Maude Pember-
trust any one else wiz so dangerous an instrument.”
“Yon are right,” said Ned.
He now took his telescope and carefully scanned the enemy!
outside. He saw, as Hopkins had told him, that each vessel had
extra boats towing astern, and also, from the crowded state of
their decks, that there were extra men on board.
By the time the men had taken supper, night was close at
hand. The English vessels had run in_so close that the long
thirty-twos in the batteries had made splinters fly from some of
their hulls, and they had thrown a few shot at the batteries,
which, however, received no damage.
The tide turning just before dark,- was running a swift ebb
when darkness finally set in, and from the flashing of lights out-
side, Pemberton was well satisfied that the enemy were manning
their boats.
Now Hopkins commenced his pyrotechnic arrangements.
He seta slow match of fifteen minutes’ duration to ene of
his rafts, and started it; five minutes later he started another,
with the same length of fuse, and five minutes later still an-
other. -
He had three more to start, but these he held on to for a little
while to see how the first worked. .
The tide bore them fairly down the channel, and when the
fuse reached the lighting point, and the first blazed up, it was
already beyond the bar. :
The light was even more brilliant than Hopkins predicted it
would be, and, to the delight of Pemberton, he saw the fleet of
British boats, in three strong columns, on their way in, com-
pletely thrown into view by it.
Instantly the shore batteries opened on thein, but dashing by
the light, the boats rowed swiftly in, expecting soon to be en-
shrouded in darkness, and out of sight of the gunners.
But the second beacon or fire-raft blazed up farther in, and
they found themselves enveloped in light, and in the center of
such a focus of fire from the two batteries, that it seemed like
madness te proceed.
But, with that bull-dog obstinacy peculiar to British seamen,
they now formed into two columns, and made a dash directly
for the batteries. :
Now Rattlesnake Ned opened with his long gun, and Clew-
line, from his battery on the prize, swept the line of their ap-
proach. The fire-rafts renewed—for Hopkins had sent out two
more—lighted up the water as plain as if the noonday sun was
shining, and oars were seen to fly in air, boats were shattered,
and soon all that could pulled away froma fire they could
neither silence nor endure.
The repulse was complete; it was glorious.
When the shattered boats got back to the men-of-war, the lat-
ter opened a furions, but almost harmless fire on the batteries;
but the fire-rafts had drifted clear, and as the batteries did not
return the fire, the ships threw theif shot almost entirely at ran-
dom.
After an hour or so, the ships ceased firing, and Hopkins, by
order of Pemberton, sent out another fire-raft, with a fuse which
would not light till it had passed beyond the bar. He wished to
see whether the boat attack was to be renewed, or that it had
been given up.
When the light rose, the raft was close’ out to the vessels—so
close, indeed, that they opened a heavy fire onvit to shatter and
destroy it.
Bat Pemberton saw that no boats were manned, though many
were still seen rowing astern of the ships.
“They will wait till the tide turns, when we can send ont
no fire-rafts, and then renew the attack,” said Pemberton, ad-
dressing Hopkins.
“Consarn ’em!—there’ll be a light shinin’ then—lit by the
Almighty’s hand, that they can’t put out. The moon will be
” j :
“So it will. Everything is in our favor, and against them.”
“Sartin! T tell you what, cap’n, them that fight for liberty
jnas the Lord on their side every time. If these chaps try us
egain to-night, there’ll be a heap of ’em that will never see day-
~ dight.”
CHAPTER XIX.
| THE TORY AND THE PATRIOT.
Mr. Blunt continued with Mr. Maynard until both arrived at
the Government Honse, and he had so won the good gracgs of
the latter that he presented him to Governor Dunmore‘as a
Joval and particular friend, therefore there was no secret kept
from him in the conference, or in the plans discussed.
In regard to his intentions at the Pemberton mansion, Dun-
more told Mr. Maynard not to hesitate ot all, but to present
i
ton, or a confiscation of her father’s estate to the crown.
As to the Sons of’ Liberty, he assured both Mr. Blunt and
Mr. Maynard he had taken measures to exterminate them. He
was determined, he said, to crush the incipient rebellion in the
bad. He had communicated with the admiral of, the British
fleet on the coast,. and several. men-of-war had been placed at
his disposal to act on the Chesapeake Bay, and up such rivers
as_were navigable. %
Mr. Blunt said but little. He seemed to be a poor talker, but
a splendid listener.
While the Governorand Mr. Maynard detailed plans of action,
against the Sons of Liberty, he drank in every word, and only
answered a suggestion when it was made directly to him.
The interview ended with promises from’ Lord Dunmore to
send help into the sections troubled most by the Sons of Lib-
erty, and to keep Mr. Blunt, as well as Mr, Maynard, posted
in all his movements by special dispatches, when such move-
ments were to ce made. :
Mr. Blunt accompanied Mr. Maynard on his return as far as
within sight of the Cedars, but excused himself from accepting__ :
an urgentinvitation to become Mr. Mayrard’s guest, on account
of his great desire to reach home. :
Had Mr. Maynard seen him ten minutes after they had parted,
he would have been surprised, for he would have fonnd Mr.
Blunt snddenly rejuvenated, and looking very much like the
mule-trader who had intruded upon him when he was in con-
suitation with Spence Sturges.
The white hair and beard were no longer to be seen, for the
disguise was no longer needed, und one of the truest Sons of
Liberty prolonged his ride till he reached the Pemberton man-
sion, Where he not only revealed to Mr, Pemberton the plans
of Lord Dunmore and Mr. Maynard, but also brought him the
first news of the second suecéss of the Kattlesnake, in the de-
struction of the British corvette at Hell Gate.
On the day after Mr. Pemberton had been fully posted on the
matter of his Jate visit to Dunmore, Mr. Maynard was seen trot-
ting along, arrayed with unusual care, and followed by two
servants, one carrying a large portmanteau, with the dress of
his master in it. .
Mr. Pemberton, for Fanny’s sake, received her father cour-
teously, though in bis heart he despised him as a time-serving
hypocrite, knowing just what he was and would be if he could,
and he invited him into the house in his usual hospitable man-
ner. .
And his manner was unchanged, when, within an hour before
dinner was served, Mr. Pemberton received word that a body of
Lord Dunmore’s soldiers was quartered at the Cedars, evidently
bent on some mischevious expedition. This information came
from the same bold, true Son of Liberty, who, as Mr. Blunt, had
penetrated the secret plans of both Dunmore and Mr. Maynard,
and sent word that with a goodly number of his fraternity he
was watching the soldiers, and would stand between them and
any Son of Liberty whom they might try to injure.
It was not until after dinner that Mr. Maynard gathered cour-
age to broach the object of his visit.
ite cleared his throat after a bumper of golden sherry, and
said:
‘Friend Pemberton, were you aware that Lord Dunmore had
received orders from the crown ministers to seize upon the prop-
erty of all disloyal and rebellious subject, and to convert it to
his majesty’s use.”
“To order is one thing, to procure obedience is another,
Mr. Pemberton, quietly. .
“But Lord Dunmore has all the fleet on the coast, and a regi-
ment of marines at his disposal to enforce his orders.” °
“So Ihave heard.” .
**And he has a list of those who are known to be disloyal.”
“Furnished by whom—Mr. Maynard?”
“That is bard to say; some one, doubtless, who is «cll
posted.” .
‘*Ay, and anxious to share in confiscation, where one-half goes
to the informer,” said Mr.. Pemberton, in 2 tone of sarcastic con-
tempt. “I can imagine nothing in the brute creation Jow enough
to compare with a thing claiming to be a man, who becomes a
spy upon his neighbors, a Judas at their tables, and a sneaking
interloper in their concerns.” {
“You speak warmly, Mr. Pemberton.”
”
said
ferred this conversation till the ladies had left the table. I dis-
like to get angry in the presence of a lady,”
“Angry, Mr. Pemberton?” :
« “Yes, angry, Mr. Maynard. Why do you beat the devil around
the bush?’ Why do you not carry ont the plans laid ontin your
late visit to Lord Dunmore? Why do you not tell me that un
‘Jess I swear fresh allegiance to your king, not mine, mind you,
Come poe yr
< nae — , =
“Ay, and J feel warmly, Mr. Maynard. TI am glad you de- .
t