“If they’re making a bolt for it the moment they know we’ve got the fort it means they’re not feeling too secure over there, sir.”
“I suppose not.”
“You might have expected ‘em to try and recapture the fort one way or another. They could land a force up the peninsula and come down to attack us. I wonder why they’re not trying that, sir? Why do they just unstick and run?”
“They’re only Dagoes,” said Bush. He refused to speculate further about the enemy’s motives while action was imminent, and he grabbed the glass from Abbott’s hands.
Through the telescope details were far plainer. Two large schooners with several guns aside; a big lugger, and a vessel whose rig they still could not determine, as she was the farthest away and, with no sail set, was towing behind her boats out from the anchorage.
“It’ll be long range, Mr. Hornblower,” said Bush.
“Yes, sir. But they hit us with these same guns yesterday.”
“Make sure of your aim. They won’t be long under fire.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
The vessels were not coming down together. If they had done so they might stand a better chance, as the fort would only be able to fire on one at a time. But the panic feeling or every man for himself must have started them off as soon as each one separately could get under way—and perhaps the deep channel was too narrow for vessels in company. Now the leading schooner had taken in her sail again; the wind here, what there was of it, was foul for her when she turned to port along the channel. She had two boats out quickly enough to tow her; Bush’s telescope could reveal every detail.