Longsword drove the plugs of iron into the vents of the cannon with swift and hearty blows.
“Now, Mr. Browne,” continued the captain, “station a few men to guard the approaches from the town. Mr. Carlyle, come with me.”
While Browne, middy, was stationing the men, Ethan hurried away with the captain toward the point where they had landed.
“That is Wallingford’s boat that I see advancing,” said the commander, pointing to a craft slowly emerging from a wall of mist. “And I see no indications from the harbor that he has carried out my orders.”
As a matter of fact there was no blaze among the shipping and Ethan saw that the face of the commander was set and stern. Wallingford’s boat touched and the lieutenant sprang ashore.
“My lights went out, sir, just as I was about to begin work, and so I could not carry out my orders.”
This was long before the day of “brimstone” matches. The two boats carried lanterns in which were placed lighted candles, and to these most uncertain things they had to trust for the success or failure of a most brilliantly planned expedition.
“You will find lights in my boats there, I think,” said Captain Paul Jones. “Take them and try once more; there may yet be time.”
His face was white with anger; he had worked hard and dared much for success, and that such a trivial thing as this should threaten failure almost made him lose control of himself.
Ethan bounded toward the captain’s boat to get the lights; but here, too, the candles had guttered out, and all that was left was a smear of tallow and the blackened end of a wick.
“Lights are out here, too,” he cried. Captain Jones drew in his breath sharply.
“It seems that we are to have our share of misfortune indeed,” said he with a mirthless laugh. “But lights must be had.”
“There is a house a little way below there,” volunteered Ethan. “I saw it as we came along. It’s farther from the town than any other.”
“Tell Browne to give you a few men, and go there, then,” said the commander instantly. “Knock and ask decently at first; but if they refuse, or delay, beat down the door and help yourself.”
Ethan was back at the fort in a few moments’ sharp run. Longsword and a seaman named Freeman were given him and they started toward the house which Ethan had in mind. Now as it happened this Freeman was an Englishman and the very worst man in the Ranger to be selected for the work in hand.