There was
neither head nor direction. With nightfall the fire ceased, but still
Mr. Drake and Captain Minchin were undecided what steps to take. At
two o'clock in the morning, they summoned a council of war, at which
Charlie was present, and it was decided that the women and children
should at once be sent on board.
There should have been no difficulty in carrying this into effect. A
large number of merchantmen were lying in the stream, opposite the
fort, capable of conveying away in safety the whole of the occupants.
Two of the members of the council had, early in the evening, been
despatched on board ship to make arrangements for the boats being sent
on shore; but these cowardly wretches, instead of doing so, ordered
the ships to raise their anchors, and drop two miles farther down the
stream. The boats, however, were sent up the river to the fort.
The same helpless imbecility, which had characterized every movement,
again showed itself. There was no attempt, whatever, at establishing
anything like order or method. The watergate was open, and a wild rush
of men, women, and children took place down to the boats.
Charlie was on duty, on the walls. He had already said goodbye to Mrs.
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