Irish batteries opened fire, but the little squadron held on steadily, the =Dartmouth= giving all the cover she could to the merchant ships. Their progress was slow for the wind was light, and the tide was not yet running strongly. The =Mountjoy= reached the boom first, and was steered straight at it by her skipper Browning. The victualler had not enough way to break through the obstacle. She recoiled from the boom and tailed on shore, that is to say, she grounded stern first. The Irish raised a yell of gratification, and rushed down to the bank, where they opened a heavy fire on the =Mountjoy=. Browning was shot dead, but his men fired a broadside on the crowd. The shock, aided by the tide, floated the =Mountjoy=. In the meantime the long-boat towed by the =Dartmouth= had rowed up to the boom, and, undeterred by the musket fire from the banks, had cut through the ropes which held the spars together, and had made an opening. Then she towed the =Phœnix= in. The =Mountjoy= and the =Dartmouth= easily forced their way through the loosened spars. The disheartened besiegers broke up their camp and marched away. It was a gallant piece of work, well done by Leake and the merchant skippers, but the ease, and the trifling cost with which it was done, are lasting reproaches to Kirke and Rooke. After the relief of Londonderry, Rooke had other important work to do in the Irish Sea. In August he covered the transport of Schomberg’s army to Ireland, and co-operated in the capture of Carrickfergus. Then he cruised down the coast, threatening the towns held for King James, and landing where the enemy was not too strong to be attacked. As the autumn drew on, and his ships became foul, Rooke came round to the Downs, and his squadron was laid up for the winter. In the meantime, the Grand Fleet of combined English and Dutch had cruised in the Channel under the command of Herbert, who was joined by Edward Russell. They looked into Brest, and cruised at the mouth of the Channel, going every now and then into Torbay for provisions. There were many complaints of the want of beer. At last, when the autumn had begun, the Grand Fleet also came back, and was laid up. It was still not thought prudent to keep the great ships out late in the autumn.