no further
encouragement. A shower of rockets was first fired into the enemy's
fort, and then on they dashed, in spite of the heavy fire of musketry,
as well as of grape-shot and langrage, which was opened on them in
return. To their rage and disappointment, the boats stuck on the
mudbank just outside the stockades, which they only then discovered.
Many of the seamen leaped out of the boats and attempted to wade
onwards, but they either at once sank into the mud or fell forward into
the deep ditch, where several were shot down before they could be
rescued by their comrades, while others were drowned or smothered in the
mud. It was horrible work. An enemy whom they despised was close to
them, and yet could not be got at. Hemming, his heart burning with
anger and grief at the loss of so many poor fellows and the almost
hopelessness of success, ordered the boats to shove off, with the
intention of making an attack on some other part of the fort. The
blacks continued firing away under cover without much fear of being hit
in return. It was melancholy to have to retire, and to see the bank,
from off which the water had begun to recede, strewed with the bodies of
those who a few minutes before were as full of life and energy as
themselves. Before getting to any great distance, Murray thought he saw
a channel to the right, which must run near the fort. He pointed it out
to Hemming, who told him to lead the way. He was right; the negroes had
neglected to fortify it, and in a few seconds the boats were close up to
the stockades. Not a moment was lost in storming them and hauling them
down. In rushed the gallant bluejackets, led on by Hemming, Murray,
Adair, and other officers, and at length they got their black enemy face
to face.

"There's Rogers, there's Rogers!" shouted Murray and Adair, for they
both saw him at the same time. They were certain of it, though his
features were considerably begrimed with powder, smoke, and dirt. This
was incentive enough to make them push on with still greater haste, had
they not been eager to punish the abominable slave-dealers and their
crew of ruffians. The brave fellows little knew the terrible trap
prepared for them. Murray and Adair had sprung on ahead, and believed
that in another minute they would have rescued Jack from the grasp of
his captors, when they felt themselves suddenly pulled back by Hemming
and Will Needham.

"Back, back, lads, back!" sang out the lieutenant