'Now we'll pay them in their own coin for trying to stir up the Indians: then I've a score against these rebels on another account. They'd have hanged me once.'
'Hanged you? Where?'
'Just out of Boston—two days after the war began. They'd a rope round my neck.' The whole scene came back upon me vividly.
'What had you done?' the soldier asked.
'Done! I'd exposed some of their smuggling and treasonable actions. That was all.'
At that moment the movements of some on the schooners attracted my attention. 'They are getting their boats in shape,' I heard Colonel Francklin, who was looking through a glass, say to Lieutenant-Governor Hughs, who stood beside him, 'and appear to be preparing to come ashore.'
There was a brief consultation among the officers. Then the Major in command said: 'Every man ready to fire at them as they come over the sides.'
From that time onward moments seemed hours. Finally the painful strain was broken by the single word—
'Fire!'
There was a thunder of cannon and a sharp crash of musketry. When the smoke blew to one side, we could see the boats pulling back to the vessels. Looking through his glass, Colonel Francklin reported that a number of shots had taken effect.