His first charge was going in, therefore, for a purpose of practical inquiry into the character of the long eighteen. The foundries of that day could not manufacture large weapons with mathematical precision. Hardly any two could be said to be exactly alike, except in appearance. It followed that each gun had good or bad features of its own. From ship to ship, throughout the royal navy, the gunners published the qualities of their brazen or iron favorites, and there were cannon of celebrity which old salts would go far to see. The sound of the British firing came up somewhat dulled against the wind. It was not until they were out of the harbor that the sailors of the _Noank_ discovered how really near were both friends and foes. The latter were still outside of the range of any of the fort guns. Hardly more than a mile and a half nearer was the whaleboat from Long Island. It could be seen that it was full of men, and they were showing splendid pluck, for they were rowing steadily, while every now and then a shot from the brig dropped dangerously near them. One iron bullet, hitting fairly, might knock their frail though swift craft all to pieces. Up went sail after sail upon the _Noank_, as she speeded along, and an officer on the British cruiser's deck had good reason for the astonishment with which he called out:-- "There she comes! You don't mean to say she's coming out to fight us?" "It looks like it," responded another officer near him. "We can make match-wood of her if we can get close enough. I wish I knew what her armament is. These Yankees have more impudence!" He did not have to wait many minutes before he learned something. The _Noank_ whirled away upon the starboard tack around the point, and, just as she steadied herself upon her new course, out roared her pivot-gun. Up-na-tan stood erect as soon as he touched off his piece, and he anxiously watched for the results. "Ugh! whoop!" he shouted triumphantly. "Gun good! Shoot straight! Hit 'em!" "Right!" said Captain Avery, who had been watching through a glass. "If the old pirate didn't land that shot on her! It's pretty long range, too." "Load quick, now!" said the Indian. "Ole chief hit her again!" His assistants were already feverishly busy with their loading, while he stood and proudly patted his cannon, very much as if it deserved praise and could appreciate his approval. Loud were the exclamations of surprise and wrath on board the _Boxer_. No one had been killed or wounded, but the brig's longboat had been stove to bits, and all the pigs and chickens which had been cooped in it for the time being, and there were many of them, were running frantically about the main deck. That is, all but one large, fat pig, for he had suddenly been made pork of, and he would run and squeal no more.