After a short space, he paused and bent his eye upon the frigate, now at no great distance. He was well-skilled in marine affairs, and his practised eye soon perceived that it was the very ship which, several years before, had destroyed the hospital on Duck Island. His mind turning upon this event, the captivity of his father, and the desolation of the whole country, and all proceeding from one source—British power—he fixed his eyes sternly upon the flag of the ship before him, and stretching forth his clenched fist, and uttering a curse which we will not repeat, he shook it in impotent defiance.
At this instant, he saw a mass of white smoke unfold itself from the side of the ship; a few seconds afterwards he heard the report of a cannon, and, nearly at the same moment, the ball dipped in the water at the distance of a hundred yards from the boat, sending the white spray high into the air. It rose, slightly glanced forward, seeming to utter a growling sound as it passed on, struck the boat at the edge of the water, and dashed it into a thousand pieces.
CHAPTER IV.
The youth found himself suddenly sprawling in the water, but he was entirely unhurt. Preserving his presence of mind, he rose after the first dip upon the surface, and said, half audibly, “That was a good shot, old bull.” He then applied his sinewy arms to the wave, and, though he was two miles from the shore, soon reached it in safety.
For two or three days, young Joinly was noticed by his mother to be taciturn, thoughtful, and frequently absent-minded. Several times she remarked that his brow was contracted, and that there was an expression of unwonted sternness upon his countenance. “What is the matter, Worthington?” said she, one evening, as he sat in the midst of the family group; “why is it that you always are making up faces, as if you were going to turn Bluebeard?”
“Do I make up faces, mother?” said the youth, a little startled. “Indeed, I was not aware of it. I suppose I am thinking of these rascally British.”
“And what have they done?” said the mother.
“Oh,” said Worthington, smiling, “they have spoiled my boat.” He then proceeded to relate the accident we have already described.
Though the danger had been passed for several days, the youth’s graphic description of the perilous adventure drove the color from the cheeks of the sisters, and made even the firmer heart of the mother beat with unwonted excitement.
“Oh, my son,” said she, when he had finished, “why will you be constantly involving yourself in such dangers?”