The match was applied to this second charge, and we saw the ball describe a half-circle against the sky; but the result was not the same. The breeze had been freshening, and the _Tigress_ rose on a wave at the instant the gun was discharged. This movement probably destroyed the aim, or the piece may not have been sighted as carefully; at all events, the missile fell ahead of the ship, and old Silas indulged in many an angry word because of his failure. Alec and I did not give him an opportunity to remind us of duty again. Instantly the ball struck the water we were at work with the sponges, and by the time the old man had finished shaking his fist at the enemy in impotent rage, the crew were engaged in reloading. We had good cause for rejoicing, however, even though none of our people succeeded in sending a shot aboard the Britishers. The increase in the weight of the wind brought down the wounded mizzenmast, and as it fell we saw go up on the _Queen Charlotte_ signals which we soon learned was an order for the squadron to haul off. Incredible though it may seem, the king’s fleet turned tail when there were but three small craft, carrying only as many guns, to oppose them, and in less than ten minutes from the time Silas Boyd opened the one-sided battle, every vessel flying the British flag was scudding toward the Canadian shore! We had actually beaten off the squadron, any single craft of which should have been more than a match for our three little gunboats, and that without having received a scratch! It was several moments before we could believe that this really was the case, and then what a volley of cheers went up! We could even hear the people on shore as they yelled themselves hoarse over this bloodless victory, and I was so foolish as to fancy that Captain Perry would give chase at once, for the sense of triumph was so great I believed our poor schooners a match for the redcoats. “Can it be that we are going back?” I asked, in dismay, when the _Tigress’s_ head was turned toward the shore. “We have only to give them a few more shots in order to sink the whole fleet!” “The smell of burnin’ powder is gettin’ into your head, lad,” old Silas said, in a tone of reproof. “Don’t run away with the idee that the Britishers won’t, or can’t, fight. We shall have proof of that later, and he would be a fool who should try to gain any more of an advantage than we’ve already got by sheer luck.” “They don’t show any inclination to fight, whatever it may be possible for them to do!” I replied hotly. “There’s some good reason for it, you may be certain, although it ain’t likely we’ll ever know what it is. Let well enough alone, you young fire-eaters,” he added, addressing Alec also, who by this time was giving audible vent to his displeasure. “It’s satisfaction in plenty that we’ve driven ’em away, when it seemed sure we’d all be sent to the bottom, for I wouldn’t have given a brass sixpence for our chances half an hour ago.”