“First know,” said Whipple then, “That here you sail no more; And next prepare your yawls to bear Yourselves and yours ashore.”[25] The sailors went and came, They came with bags and coats. They call’d their roll, and said the whole They own’d was in their boats. Meantime our men themselves[26] The captain’s wound had dress’d; And row’d him, sore but safe, ashore With all that he possess’d.[27] “All hands embark!” rang out; And all the yawls were full; Save one whose crew had more to do While off the rest should pull. This crew the cruiser fired,[28] Till smoke, well under way, Flew up the mast as white and fast As e’er, of old, the spray. Then swiftly they embark’d, And swiftly they withdrew; As flash’d the fire, and, streaming higher, The red flag redder flew. The cruiser burn’d in state, Until she burst at last[28] With every ball she bore and all Her powder in the blast. It fill’d the heaven above, But not to heaven was given: A wounded cloud roar’d long and loud; Then back the whole was driven. When all was o’er, there seem’d Faint sparks to fill the place— “There comes,” said one, “the morning sun; A new day dawns apace!” It dawn’d for these, at least; When soon they hove in sight Of pier on pier pack’d full to cheer Those heroes of the night. But hist! the cheers were check’d. “Keep mum!” the murmur spread; The crown, to get these men, had set A price on every head. “Five hundred dollars down,[29] For him who tells of one,” Was first proclaim’d: but no one named A man who aught had done. “Five thousand,”[30] then were pledged, “To know who took the lead; And half as much to know of such As join’d him in the deed.” The King’s commission,[31] last, Sat half a year or more; But not a word it ever heard About the sixty-four. Forgotten were they then? They might have pass’d by day, Without a wink to make you think, Or hint that it was they. But, when the night had come; And door and blind were lock’d, And window fast, and blew the blast Till all the chimney rock’d; When, safe from eyes and ears, In homes where all were true, The way those men were feasted then A king, full well, might rue. And when the board was bare; And round the roaring fire, The nuts were crack’d and cider smack’d Till tooth and tongue would tire; When each his tale would tell About that ship and night, And still the way he dodg’d, each day, The British spy and spite; The boys who husk’d the corn Would forward bend, and spring, And draw the ears, like swords, with cheers, To make the rafters ring!