Instead of heeding this warning, the Chesterfields gave three cheers, as though the victory were already won, and they had possession of the caisson. The commodore quickened the movements of his oarsmen, and the Topovers in the bows of the boat were all ready to spring upon the prize.
"Keep off, or we will stave your boats all to pieces!" shouted the first officer, louder and more vigorously than before.
A yell of derision greeted him, and the barges still advanced to the destruction that awaited them.
"These poles have an iron spike in the end, and they will go through your boats every time! Keep off, or your boats will be spoiled!" shouted Will Orwell; and certainly the Chesterfields could not complain that they had not had sufficient warning.
The first officer was very reluctant to do any damage if the enemy could be repulsed in any other way. He placed himself at the point where the Dasher was likely to come in contact with the caisson, and held up his pike-pole so that the reckless assailants could see what it was.
"Hold on!" shouted Mad Twinker, when his craft came within a short distance of the intended prize. "Drop oars!"
Without the action that followed these orders they would not have been intelligible to those on the tow. It was evident that the Chesterfields did not follow any known system, but had invented their own commands. The first order meant for the crew to cease rowing, and the second to hold water. These were followed by an order to back her. Will hoped that the assailants had discovered the wicked nature of the pikes, and were intending to save their boats; but it was soon evident that the speed of the barges had been checked so as not to stave the boats in the collision.
"All ready forward there!" shouted the coxswain of the Dasher. "Tumble them overboard if they don't get out of your way."
"Let her went!" screamed Tom Topover, as he stepped on the bow rails of the boat, where he balanced himself so that he could leap readily upon the caisson.