The English lost fifteen killed and twenty wounded. They went back to the sloop severely crippled,—so much so, in fact, that signals were at once made to the Roebuck, and two boat-loads of crippled and dead sent off to the frigate.
That evening Captain Risk saw four boat-loads come back from the frigate to the sloop. He knew that he was to have a night attack from more men than before, and he had lost six men in the fight that day. His force was now reduced to thirty-four men.
Risk prepared for an emergency by placing his long tom amidships so that if the enemy gained the deck forward or aft, he could turn them a point-blank charge of grape, and, with a rally of his men, drive them overboard.
As Captain Risk expected, however, at midnight he could see six boat-loads approaching in the moonlight. He stationed his men, and they knew that before Captain Risk would strike to the enemy he would apply a match to the magazine, so every man determined to die at his station.
As soon as the enemy’s boats were distinguishable in their dim outlines, a rapid discharge of the twelve-pounders and the muskets began. The English separated and dashed forward. The plan was well executed, since almost at once the six boats came alongside at different points.
Fighting like demons, the crews of the boats were determined to avenge the day’s repulse and gain the deck. The English were driven back amidships and astern where Captain Risk led his men; but in the forward chains the English were in such numbers that they clambered up so fast that the Yankees were driven back.
Captain Risk engaged two seamen, cutlass in one hand
and pistol in the other.
When Captain Risk saw the English gathering for a rush from the forecastle, he grabbed a match and turning the long tom forward, he applied the fire. He then called his men to his side to drive the English back into their boats.
But the English had too many. When the long tom dealt its carnage, enough remained to rush upon Risk and his little band, where a hand-to-hand encounter ensued.