eed to two lads who pulled against the current, making a
detour of a mile or more, for they were serving their guns with all
diligence, hoping to check the advance of those rebels who so lacked in
reverence to the king and his commands that they made their appearance
in warlike array without first having asked permission.

The roar of the cannon both from the ships and from my Lord Cornwallis's
encampment was almost deafening, and as we tugged at the oars, straining
every muscle in order to take advantage of each moment of time, it
seemed to me as if the waters of the river were dashed here and there
into waves by the concussions.

Without losing stroke or ceasing to exert ourselves to the utmost, we
kept our eyes fixed upon the scene before us, and again and again,
without being aware that I had uttered a cry, I shouted aloud in joy and
in pride at seeing that little fleet of small craft moving steadily on
toward its destination regardless of the heavy shot which were being
poured in upon them.

So far as we could make out, not a British ball hit the mark. It is very
likely some of the missiles found their way among our people; but no
severe damage was done else we should have observed it; the fleet would
have been thrown into confusion had one of the craft been seriously
disabled, or turned back if they suffered too heavily. Instead of which,
however, they continued on as I have said, seemingly indifferent to the
efforts of the enemy.

It was a sight well calculated to stir the blood of a boy from Virginia,
and my excitement, my admiration for the coolness of our people, and the
determination shown where the Britishers were doing their best to work
destruction, fired my heart until it was with difficulty I could
continue my share of the work at pulling the skiff.

"Unless you can look at what is going on around you and row at the best
of your strength at the same time, then it is better you close your
eyes," Pierre said sharply when I missed a stroke and thereby nearly
threw him from the thwart.

I could not have taken my eyes from that which thrilled every nerve in
my body; but true it is I did succeed in holding to my work, at least to
such extent that Pierre no longer found cause for fault with me, and by
the time we had reached the bank of the river, almost at the same point
from which we had embarked the night before, the fleet had so far closed
in with the land that the king's men did not dare fire upon it