The two vessels now neared each other on opposite tacks. Captain Moore manœuvred to get into a raking position before delivering his fire, but the Priscilla, by skilful yawing and by the roughness of the sea, proved to be as difficult to hit as if she had been a cork bobbing up and down. In vain they played their two starboard guns and all their swivels on her; their shot rarely struck, and when it struck, did small damage.
Not so with the Americans. Without a single cannon, they poured forth a musketry fire at close quarters that did fearful work and made hot the Margaretta's decks. The brave British sailors stood manfully to their guns, but the Americans were gradually edging up, and their fire grew more deadly every moment. The Margaretta tried to sheer off, but the Priscilla, closing up, got her jibboom entangled in her adversary's main rigging, and a dozen Americans sprang forward to make the two ships fast.
As the vessels came grinding together Jerry O'Brien, leaping on the taffrail, shouted, "I will be the first man to board—and follow me!"
But Jerry was mistaken. He was suddenly seized by the coat tails, jerked backwards, and fell sprawling upon the deck, and the next instant Jack Leverett sprang over him, and was first upon the Margaretta's deck.
"Drat the boy!" was Jerry's involuntary exclamation as he scrambled to his feet.
The Americans poured over the side, and met with a warm reception. Captain Moore, surrounded by his officers, retreated to the fo'c's'le, fighting every step of the way. At last Jerry O'Brien came face to face with him. The Captain defended himself with his sword, but it was knocked out of his hand by Jerry with a pistol butt. They clinched and fell to the deck fighting. The struggle was sharp but short, and in fifteen minutes from the time the Americans had lashed the ships together the Captain was overpowered, nearly every officer had been cut down, and the cruiser was in the hands of the Americans. There had been much cheering on the Priscilla that day, but when the British ensign was hauled down, and Jerry, in default of a national flag, hoisted his own jacket at the mast-head, there were three cheers given that could almost be heard at Machias.
The prisoners were quickly transferred to the Priscilla, and as Jerry O'Brien required all of his best men on board, he could only spare a few landsmen for a prize crew on the Margaretta.
"But I will give her a prize master who, although not very old, can sail a schooner or any other craft—John Leverett, there," said Jerry. "And he will take her in, you may be sure."
Oh, how Jack's heart beat with delight at these words!
Soon they were heading up the river, and when, under a fair wind, they made a quick run to Machias, the May moon made the heavens glorious. Jack Leverett thought the happiest moment of his life had come when they cast anchor amid the thunder of cheers from the people assembled along the shores.