A gun was sighted at the Belvidera, but the gunner was stricken down as he was in the act of firing.
The boy saw it and with patriotic fervor, shouted:
"I'll have one shot at the rascals anyway."
But he could find no match with which to fire the gun.
Not to be daunted, he rushed to the galley and picking up a live coal in his fingers, he hurried with it, regardless of the intense pain, and placed it on the priming.
Instantly the report showed that he had fulfilled his threat, and had fired one shot at the enemy.
His thumb and finger were burned to the bones, but he was happy.
And the shot was an effective one.
A lieutenant and two marines were killed by it as it tore its way along the deck.