Keeping their eyes fixed in the direction of the ship, they gazed earnestly, and, more than once, the false and flickering light of the strained vision was taken to be the scintillations of the kindling explosion. In this state of suspense, seconds were lengthened to minutes, and, ere the half hour had elapsed, the whole party felt that the time had gone by, and began to fear that the mechanism had failed and the scheme miscarried. Young Joinly, in particular, from the impetuosity of his temper and the excited state of his feelings, experienced an impatience he could scarcely repress.
Nothing is so hard to endure, particularly to an ardent mind, as inaction in a protracted state of doubt and fear.
“It is all over,” said Joinly; “the engine has failed; let us attack the house!”
“Hush, hush!” said Bushnell, whose nerves were more steady; “the time has not arrived; the engine will yet do its work: you will hear from it within five minutes.”
A perfect silence among the party now ensued, and nothing was heard, save the raging of the tempest. A few minutes passed, and a small flash was seen near the water’s edge and beneath the stern of the vessel. “There you have it,” said Bushnell; and, a moment after, a terrific light streamed up from the water, seeming to envelope the mighty hulk of the vessel, while a ruddy reflection tinged every rope and spar, as well as the surface of the sea and the little huts of the adjacent village. A heavy sound followed, and a rushing impulse of the air. Darkness again settled upon the scene, and the hoarse moan of the tempest seemed once more to drown every other sound.
The eyes of the adventurers were now turned upon the house where the captain resided. But a few moments passed, when there was a bustle within, and it was evident that the phenomenon had been observed. By this time, the conspirators had surrounded the house, and Joinly was on the point of entering the door, when it was opened by the captain himself, and, in the light, he saw Joinly and his little band standing with their muskets ready for action. “I command you to surrender!” said Joinly, stepping forward in the full blaze of the lamp. “Your vessel is blown to atoms, and, if you make the slightest resistance, both you and all in this house shall be instantly shot down!”
“Who are you? what are you?” said the captain, in a state of profound astonishment.
“It is enough that we are Americans!” said the youth. “There is no time for parley. Do you surrender?”
“Not so easily!” said the officer, who was now joined by two or three other persons, slamming the door in the face of the young commander.
“Now for it!” said Joinly; and, with a thundering crash, several of the men rushed against the door, which gave way, and Joinly was pushed into the room. Two or three of his men entered immediately at his heels. The captain of the Tiger fired his pistol, and the ball passed between the left arm and the breast of young Joinly.