Three of the boats with muffled oars, under the Dolphin’s command, was to go on some little distance ahead, and creep through the dense fog unseen, so as to attack the stranger on the windward side. Sea-hawk, with the other three boats, would follow, and at the same time assail the “Sea Spray” on the leeward side. At a given signal the boats put off towards the doomed ship, which had been suddenly becalmed opposite the smugglers’ cave. It could just be seen through the thick fog, and Sea-hawk was delighted with the prospect of its speedy capture. “We’ll make short work of it,” said the chief to Tim, in a jolly tone. “I believe you,” Tim replied, in a soft voice, with a ghastly attempt at a smile. Onwards the boats’ crews rowed in dead silence. In a short time they came within full view of the dark sides of the vessel, as, like an ominous object, it loomed out through the dense mists. The first three boats had got round to the other side of the vessel, and were waiting for Sea-hawk’s signal. This was soon given. With a loud shout the smugglers’ boats pulled towards the vessel. “Let one man remain with each boat,” said the chief, “while all the rest board the craft.” “I’ll do that,” said Tim, eagerly. “No you won’t,” said the chief; “you are to be the first man to board the ship. Here we are; up you go,” said Sea-hawk, shoving Tim up the ship’s side with so much violence that Tim fell over the bulwarks. Tim was awfully scared, for he expected to be shot or stabbed the instant he reached the deck. Judge of his happiness, then, when he discovered there was not a single soul on deck. Perceiving this, and before any of his comrades could clamber up, he began cutting, and slashing, and swearing at imaginary foes, stamping his feet, and hacking at old empty barrels, with such a vengeance and so much noise as to make every one believe that he was at the moment performing prodigies of valour. “Die! down! surrender, villains!” he roared. And the more he shouted, the more he cut and hacked right and left, without meeting with a foe, except a cow and a few sheep on board, which he slaughtered unmercifully in a few seconds. When the smugglers leaped upon the deck, they were astonished at not meeting with or finding any opposition. Tim was puffing and blowing, as if wearied and exhausted with his terrific efforts, and pointed to the hatchway, shouting, “I have beaten the villains ten to one; they are down the hatchway; down after them, my bold boys, down after them!” Perceiving blood on his sword, the smugglers believed what he said, and therefore rushed down into the hold of the ship, sword in hand, bent on slaughter. Tim was immensely tickled that he had earned the reputation for valour so cheaply, and thanked his stars Sea-hawk believed him. While Tim was alone on the deck, however, he suddenly heard unearthly shouts, screams, oaths, and the like, proceed from the hold of the ship.