he engagement; then, having
pointed out all the odds against them, he said, "Now, my lads, it's a
desperate case; but we can take her, and win lots of glory and
prize-money. Will you stand by me?"

The jackies wasted no time in debate, but, cheering lustily for the
captain, went to their posts, and made ready for a hot fight. The
naval discipline of the present day was little known, and less
observed, at that time in the American navy. The perfect order which
makes the gun-deck of a ship going into action as quiet and solemn as
during Sunday prayers then gave place to excited talk and bustle. The
men stood in crews at the four guns; but most of the jackies were
mustered on the forecastle, ready to board. All expected a desperate
resistance. Great was their surprise, then, when they were permitted
to take a raking position under the stern of the "Hope," and to board
her without a shot being fired. But as Mugford, at the head of the
boarders, clambered over the taffrail, he heard the captain of the
"Hope" order the men to cut the topsail halliards and ties, with the
intention of so crippling the ship that the British squadron might
overhaul and recapture her.

"Avast there!" bawled Mugford, seeing through the plot in an instant,
and clapping a pistol to the head of the captain; "if a knife is
touched to those ropes, not a man of this crew shall live."

This threat so terrified the captured sailors, that they relinquished
their design; and Mugford, crowding all sail on his prize, soon was
bowling along before a stiff breeze, with the British squadron in hot
pursuit. An examination of the ship's papers showed her to be the most
valuable prize yet taken by the Americans. In her hold were fifteen
hundred barrels of powder, a thousand carbines, a great number of
travelling carriages for cannon, and a most complete assortment of
artillery instruments and pioneer tools. While running for Boston
Harbor, through the channel known as Point Shirley gut, the vessel
grounded, but was soon floated, and taken safely to her anchorage. Her
arrival was most timely, as the American army was in the most dire
straits for gunpowder. It may well be imagined that there was no
longer any talk about revoking Capt. Mugford's commission.

Mugford remained in port only long enough to take a supply of powder
from his prize; then put to sea again. He well knew that the British
fleet that had chased him into Boston Harbor was still blockading the
h