was to
destroy the dhows. As the boats worked their way up over the shoals
towards them, a hot fire was opened from those lowest down. This was
quite sufficient to show their character, and the marines and
small-armed men began peppering away at every Arab turban or cap of
which they could catch sight, while the shells and grape prevented the
enemy from returning to their guns in the fort. The tide, rushing in
more rapidly than before, quickly enabled the smaller boats, led by
Adair, to get up to the dhows. He was the first on board the largest, a
craft of a hundred tons or more. Her crew, having had no time to
escape, fought desperately. Some were cut down, and the rest driven
overboard, not a human being remaining alive on board. She was at once
set on fire, and the rest of the dhows were attacked in the same manner
in succession. On board, some resistance was offered, but the crews of
others, leaping overboard, attempted to save themselves by swimming to
the shore. As there was no object in carrying any of them off, they
were all burned, there being no doubt of their piratical character.

Though the guns in the fort were for the time silenced, they were still
capable of mischief, and the commodore wisely resolved entirely to
destroy the hornets' nest. "We must land, Commander Murray, and drive
the enemy into the woods, burn their stockade, spike their guns, and
tumble them into the river," he shouted. The first part of the
business, on which the rest depended, was not so easily accomplished.
The banks shelved so gradually that the boats grounded when still some
twenty yards or more from the shore. The rising of the tide would in
time carry them nearer; but in the interval they were exposed to a
galling fire from the enemy, who were under shelter both in the fort and
in several other spots along the bank; while, in all probability, before
the fighting on shore was over the tide would again ebb and leave the
boats high and dry, exposed to the attacks of the numerous bands who
were gathering on the spot in the hope of wreaking their vengeance on
their foes. Still the plucky little commodore, in spite of all risks,
was determined to carry his plan into execution. The commanders of the
boats received orders to sweep round in line, run their bows as far up
as they could, and while the enemy were driven from the banks by showers
of grape and canister, the marines and small-armed men were to land and
attack the