The telescopes at the fort had also been taking observations, and loud cheers from the gathered garrison honored the crack shot of Up-na-tan. The crew of the _Noank_ cheered lustily, and so did the rowers of the whaleboat. One of the fort batteries tried its guns a moment later, but all its shots fell short. Nevertheless, it was only a little short, and it warned the captain of the _Boxer_. He knew, now, about how much nearer it would be wise for him to run. Up-na-tan's next shot was well enough aimed, but it did no mischief. It went over the brig, with an unpleasant suggestion of what damage that sort of thing might do to spars and rigging. "Luff! luff!" sang out the captain. "'Tisn't worth while to chase that boat any farther in. Let's see if we can't draw out the schooner. I'd like to get her away from those land batteries. They're too heavy metal for us." "She has the wind of us," remarked his sailing master, doubtfully. "She can do as she pleases 'bout coming any too near." "She's a clipper, anyhow," growled the captain. "Nothing can beat these New Englanders in handling canvas. The king needs every man of 'em." His own sailors were just then more than a little busied with pig and poultry gathering, and one badly scared bird rashly flew overboard. Captain Avery was to disappoint Up-na-tan and Coco. They were to have no more long-range practice with the eighteen-pounder. One more shot that they sent was an unsatisfactory miss, and then the distance began to increase instead of diminishing, as the schooner went about. "Our fellows are safe now," said Sam Prentice. "Here they come. Look at 'em! More Indians than white men." None the less were they excellent oarsmen and daring freebooters, and before the end of the war the "whaleboat fleet," as it came to be called, was to earn a not altogether pleasant reputation. Not many more minutes passed before the boat was near enough for a hail. In it, forward, stood up a tall white man, balancing himself and swinging his hat while he enthusiastically sent to the _Noank_:-- "Schooner ahoy! Hurrah! News from the Continental army! Gineral Washington smashed the redcoats! Beat 'em on Christmas day at Trenton! Then he follered 'em up and knocked Cornwallis all to flinders at Princeton! We're a-beginnin' to flail 'em! Hurrah!" Wild was the cheering which answered him from the schooner. Some of the men began to dance, and Sam Prentice yelled:-- "Shake hands, Lyme Avery! I jest knew it'd come! I said so! We're goin' to flail 'em! Our turn's got here!" Up-na-tan expressed his feelings in whoop after whoop, and Coco's yell was terrific. "Won't the shore people jump?" said Guert Ten Eyck. "Oh! How I want to get in and tell mother!"