The rowgalleys were not close enough to have their shots do anything but fall helplessly into the water. Every once in a while the "Triton" would answer their shots with a sullen roar of disgust as her stern cannon belched fire. The British kept up their jeering. They didn't like being stuck on a mudbank; what had been deemed a daring maneuver was funny, and to allay their discomfiture they hurled verbal insults. Their officers didn't try to quiet them. The Americans shouted back; for a while they contented themselves with rude language for the British; then they turned eyes on their compatriots.
The rowgalley, the "Montgomery" in the van, danced out of range. Five hundred men were held helpless on the rest of the galleys. Suddenly a loud voice addressed the "Montgomery."
"Scared of guns, lads?"
This was taken up instantly. Taunts came across the water; the British, the Americans, outdid each other in calling names at the rowgalleys. After Joshua had been dubbed a number of cowardly bastards for ten minutes he stood it no longer. His accent was very thick as he finally spoke to Read.
"This is nonsense!" His blue eyes were cold with contempt and Read stepped back from him. Read looked from one to the other of the faces of his officers.
"What would you suggest, sirs?" he asked.
"I'd suggest either we attack, or go home," Joshua said grimly.
Read looked around at the ship Joshua suggested they attack. Once more he reminded himself with his own eyes of her size. He turned back to his officers. The ship was silent; the jeers sounded louder than ever; the volunteer marines, the men at the oars all were silent, looking toward the knot of officers on the quarterdeck.
"My dear sirs," Read was saying. Joshua's jaw set; he pushed Read aside rudely, and went to the rail. He raised his voice.
"Lads," he said.
They looked back at him, some of the oarsmen half rising to their
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feet, hands still on the heavy wood, when suddenly Joshua saw Barney and the longboat.
Almost as if the "Triton" realized Barney's presence, her stern guns fired. The sound died away, the smoke curled up slowly, and Barney's voice cut through in a crisp command:
"Back starboard!"
The longboat was coming alongside the "Montgomery." Barney was standing in the stern.
"Bow!" he said. Then, "Way enough!"
The oars dipped once more.
"Standby to toss! Toss!"
The crisp orders, the immediate obedience, the sight of the boat, its oars vertical now, as it came alongside, handled so well, were immediate reassurance. Barney grasped the ladder and swung aboard, landing on the deck like a cat. He looked around lazily.
"Well, lads," he said. "Who would like a little fighting today?" He grinned, and pulled one pistol from his belt. He cocked it and snapped back the lever holding the layment; the dagger-like blade flipped forward. "Who would like a pocketful of prize money to spend tonight?"
They said his name, they answered him in low voices and with smiles; their eyes followed him as he went slowly aft.
Joshua, like everyone else, watched Barney. He knew, and the other officers knew, that Read was Barney's target, and they stepped away from Read, leaving him alone in the circle formed to face Barney. Joshua wondered for one wild moment, as he saw Barney's face close, whether he would kill Read.
"Captain Read." Barney's voice was low but like the crack of a whip.
The murderous boarding pistol, one of the pair, was leveled at Read's midsection. Barney said, "You'll note, you sniveling coward, that I can either skewer you with this or put a bullet through your guts. Get off the decks!"
Read, nor anyone watching, did not question for a moment but that Barney would do as he had said. Without a word Read backed off, his eyes bulging with fear. He stumbled, and then dived into the door of the roundhouse. Barney shoved the pistol back into his belt, and surveyed the knot of officers. That was that.
"Maybe the British'll do for him what I didn't do. We'll give
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them a chance," he commented. "Mr. Harris, if you'll present these officers to me, we can get started."
"Certainly, Barney," Joshua said, in his excitement forgetting the names of even' one of them. He tried to be calm. "I am the marine officer, sir, and—" a name flashed before him—"this is Mr. Hendrickson—" he heard his voice go on. By the time he had finished things were already happening.
The master of arms had run fore, keys jingling from his hand; the quartermaster stood tense at the wheel, waiting. The gunnery officer was snapping out orders; Barney was addressing the crew.
"Men," he said, his voice ringing across the deck, "we can tell the British to load their guns now. We're ready to receive their lead."
They shouted and cheered; a wave of sudden cheering came from them.
"Remember," said Barney, "to obey your officers' orders quickly; the quicker it's done, the fewer of you'll get killed."
This sobering note had just been sounded when Barney said to the first officer, "We will commence rowing now, Mr. Hendrickson."
Joshua heard another voice take up these orders. Almost in a daze he heard, from amidships:
"Stand by the oars!"
They were clear.
"Give way together!" Joshua watched them dip into the blue water.
The first inkling the people ashore had of the coming action of the Pennsylvania brig "Montgomers" was the flash and dip of her oars. They stared for a moment in amazement; she was pulling toward the stranded "Triton," sure enough; from midchannel she was making for the enemy as fast as she could be rowed. Men with glasses leveled them in excitement, and a silence prevailed suddenly.
The other rowgalleys had seen the longboat pull alongside the "Montgomery." They had seen Barney board her. Their commanding officers, taut with excitement, realized instantly what Barney was going to try to do—silence her heavy guns and ready her for boarding. But they were too frail to venture closer now; they waited.
Aboard the "Triton," Captain Rodgers watched the first dip of the oars. He had made ready for this attack and now it was coming. The danger was obvious. Boarding. So the hammocks and nettings were well triced, and all precautions possible taken astern, the quarter from which attack would certainly come. Marines were stationed
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at the rail, rifles in hand. The best gun crews were on the stern cannon. Nevertheless, his place was right here, alongside of them, and here he intended to stay. At his side a lieutenant was looking through his glass. He blurted:
"That's Captain Barney, sir!" He thrust out the glass. "He's atop the binnacle head—his favorite place to watch from—he did that on the 'Revenge'!"
Captain Rodgers answered curtly, "When I want your information, Mr. Carr, I'll ask for it."
But he knew now that the coming attack would be a determined one. Every man jack aboard was armed and ready. The stern cannon could be loaded and fired every fifty seconds. The "Montgomery" would have to be sunk, and Barney with it. Even as he thought this the cannon roared.
Since there was no wind, the smoke was long in curling up and away. By the time it had risen the sponges had been rammed into smoking muzzles, the guns brought to bear again from their recoil, and loaded once again with powder and shot. Through the veiling smoke came the first cry of a wounded man from the "Montgomery." Rodgers squinted through the smoke; hanging in the mizzen weather shrouds he saw the damage the first shots had accomplished.