The news-bringer had described the Trenton victory fairly, but he had somewhat exaggerated the results of the severe fight at Princeton. Lord Cornwallis had not reported it in precisely that manner. The boat was now running along with the _Noank_, however, and the story of Washington's splendid work for liberty was fired into the schooner at short range, wadding and all. A pretty interesting conclusion for it was the account of the manner in which the news had been obtained in New York and carried along the Long Island shore, all the way to New London. "We had to hug the land close," said the narrator, "but here we are." "Home! Home!" shouted Captain Avery. "The folks must have this to cheer 'em up. It's the first bit of good news we've had in many a long day. Hurrah for George Washington! God bless him!" It was an instantly arriving vexation, then, that the brisk breeze and the tide, so favorable for coming out, were not so much so for running in. The _Boxer's_ captain had also his vexations, for he shortly remarked:-- "There she goes! The boat's with her. We're not to have a chance at her to-day. If I can get at her, I'll sink her! She'll come out again." That was precisely the purpose in the mind of Lyme Avery, and he did not intend any long delay, either. CHAPTER V. THE BRIG AND THE SCHOONER. "Blaze away! Gun at a time!" shouted Captain Avery, as the _Noank_ tacked across the harbor mouth. "We can afford a few blank cartridges for such news as this is." "The whaleboat's goin' to beat us gettin' in," replied Sam Prentice. "The folks'll know it all before we git there." "Don't care if they do," said the captain. "We'll only be in port ag'in a few hours, anyhow. Night's our time. We know, now, jest what the cruiser is, and there doesn't seem to be another 'round." The _Noank's_ sixes were, therefore, shouting to the forts and the town that good news of some kind was coming. The men at the batteries heard and wondered, and grew impatient. They thought they knew all there was to be known of the mere exchange of shots with the _Boxer_. Their friends had not been harmed; neither had the brig; the whaleboat had escaped; and that was all that they could understand. Now, however, they saw the _Noank_ sending up every American flag she had on board. What could it mean? Lyme Avery was not a man to have suddenly lost his balance of mind. "Something's up," they said. "No matter what it is, we'll answer him." So a roaring salute was fired for something or other that was as yet unknown to the gunners, and more flags went up on the forts; while the joyous cannonading called out of their houses nearly all the population of New London, every soul as full of eager curiosity as were the soldiers of the garrisons.