I was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning of this move on his part, and just for an instant believed he had turned tail at the very moment when he could be of the most assistance; but there was scant opportunity for speculation. Luther Stedman had brought with him a large force, counting on making a clean job of it, and no sooner was one put out of the fight than it seemed as if half a dozen took his place. It was necessary for me to use the paddle to the best of my ability, so closely did they press me instantly Seth had disappeared; but despite all my efforts I could not come within striking distance of Luther Stedman. That cowardly Tory was taking good care of his own precious skin, and had no intention of running any unnecessary risks. In reading over what I have just set down, I find it has been made to appear as if I was the only member of the sloop’s crew who took any part in the defense, and yet such is far from being the truth. My comrades were fighting desperately, and I have not attempted to tell what they did simply because I had no means of knowing. I was dimly conscious that every one of our party except Seth, who appeared to be skulking in the cabin, was resisting the attack to the best of his strength, and without regard to personal danger; but the foe so far outnumbered us that we could not rally to a common place of defense. It was at the very moment when I had been felled to the deck by a cowardly blow delivered from behind while I was grappling with a fellow who pressed me hard, that the report of a musket rang in my ears as if the weapon had been discharged within an inch of my head, and a shriek of pain followed it. “Get forward here, lads!” I heard Seth cry. “It is not for us to fight with sticks at such a time as this!” Even while scrambling to my feet, for the enemy had fallen back very suddenly at the discharge of the musket, I understood why Seth had gone into the cuddy. He knew that plenty of ammunition for the musket could be found there, and was not minded to fight bare-handed any longer. A second report and a second yell of pain came while the enemy stood for the instant undecided, as if surprised at knowing we had deadly weapons on board, and a full half of Luther’s cowardly following went over the rail into the water. They could fight with apparent energy while believing we were the same as defenseless, but at the first show that we had the means of inflicting serious injury, their small spark of courage fled. Abel Grant, with Sam and Abraham, had been forced aft, separated from Seth and me by the foe, and now they came toward the cuddy hatch with a yell of triumph, sweeping two more of the gang overboard, while I cried out for them to take care lest Luther escape us, when came a third shot and the battle was over. The last of the Tory crew who were able to do so had taken to the water, less afraid of being drowned than shot, leaving behind two who were too badly wounded to admit of flight.