Haines again joined Charlie.
"What do you think?" he said. "Those cowardly villains, Drake and
Minchin, have taken the two boats, and gone off on board ship!"
"Impossible!" Charlie exclaimed.
"It is too true," Mr. Haines said. "The names of these cowards should
be held as infamous, as long as the English nation exists.
"Come, now, we are just assembling to choose a commander. Mr. Peeks is
the senior agent; but I think we shall elect Mr. Holwell, who is an
energetic and vigorous man."
It was as Mr. Haines had expected. Mr. Holwell was elected, and at
once took the lead. He immediately assigned to Charlie the command of
the troops. Little was done at the council, beyond speaker after
speaker rising to express his execration of the conduct of the
governor and Captain Minchin.
With daybreak, the enemy's fire recommenced. All day long Charlie
hurried from post to post, encouraging his men, and aiding in working
the guns. Two or three times, when the enemy showed in masses, as if
intending to assault, the fire of the artillery drove them back; and
up to nightfall they had gained but little success. The civilians as
well as the soldiers had done their duty nobly, but the loss had been
heavy, from the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters in the surrounding
buildings; and it was evident that, however gallant the defence, the
fort could not much longer resist.
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