One morning upon starting to work they perceived, by the stir in the
fortress, that something unusual was taking place; and presently, on
reaching the rampart, they saw in the distance a small squadron
approaching. They could make out that it consisted of a ship of
forty-four guns, one of sixteen, and two bomb vessels, together with a
fleet of native craft.
The pirate fleet were all getting up sail.
"It's a bold thing, Tim, to attack this fortress with only two ships,
when the pirates have lately beaten a Dutch squadron mounting double
the number of guns."
"Ah, yer honor, but then there is the Union Jack floating at the
masthead. Do you think the creeturs don't know the differ?"
"But the Dutchmen are good sailors, and fought well, Tim. I think the
difference is that in the last case they attacked the Dutch, while in
the present we are attacking them. It makes all the difference in the
world, with Indians. Let them attack you, and they'll fight bravely
enough. Go right at them, and they're done for.
"Look, the pirate fleet are already sailing away."
"And do you think the English will take the fort, yer honor?"
"I don't know, Tim. The place is tremendously strong, and built on a
rock.
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