Then Charlie grasped a decanter.
"Now," he said, "if either of you hounds move a finger, I'll brain
you."
The two officers stood paralysed. Charlie walked to the door, and
sprang up the cabin stairs; and, as he did so, heard shouts for
assistance from behind. He gained the deck, walked quietly to the
bulwark and, placing his hand upon it, sprang over the side into the
river. He swam to shore and, climbing up the bank, made his way along
it back to the fort, where he arrived without any misadventure.
A fury of indignation seized all in the fort, when the result of
Charlie's mission became known. With daybreak the attack recommenced;
but the garrison, all day, bravely repulsed every attempt of the enemy
to gain a footing. The fire from the houses was, however, so severe,
that by nightfall nearly half the garrison were killed or wounded.
All day the signals to the fleet were kept flying, but not a ship
moved. All night, an anxious watch was kept, in hopes that, at the
last moment, some returning feeling of shame might induce the
recreants to send up the boats of the ships. But the night passed
without a movement on the river, and in the morning the fleet were
seen, still lying at anchor.
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