"Yes, Cappin," answered a very black negro, though that fact was not then visible.

"Well, keep ready to fire-that fellow will show himself directly, and mind, we cannot afford to miss."

"Nebber fear, Cappin."

Scipio had been educated on board a man-of-war, and had acquired great skill in gunnery—a science but little understood among the colonists, and accordingly much valued in those who possessed it. Scipio was a great man, and having the sole piece which the neighborhood owned, (and that had been left there by a party of British on their retreat after the battle of Trenton,) under his command, was looked upon as only one grade below the Captain himself. Being attached to his person as a body servant, he filled the double capacity of valet de chambre to the commanding officer, and master of the ordnance.

For about five minutes the vessel continued to approach in perfect darkness. Suddenly, however, a light appeared moving slowly on the river, and then an anchor was heard to splash into the water. In less than a minute the light ascended as if drawn up the mast. During all this time Scipio was busy taking a most careful and deliberate aim.

"Take care, sir, be sure you let him have it, put out his light for him."

"Yes, Cappin."

The gun went off-the lantern disappeared, and a crash was heard as if the whole mast had gone by the board.

"Gosh! put he candle out-yaw, haw!" and Scipio's long, loud and characteristic laugh resounded over the water, almost as startling, considering the occasion,-the pitch darkness, and deep silence which followed, as it had preceded, the report, as the roar of the cannon itself.

"Stop your laughing, you black rascal, and give him another." "Yes, Cappin, yes sir,-yaw, haw, guess put he candle out." It was useless to remonstrate,- -so Scipio was allowed to take out his laugh, and with his usual composure, reload his piece. By this time the vessel showed another light. Scipio, after a long and most particular aim, took up his match with a quiet chuckle, and fired. The report was again followed by the noise of a falling spar, and then almost instantaneously by a shot from the vessel. Her fire enabled our friends to perceive the position of the leading sloop, and showed three other vessels now within a short distance of the first. The enemy were too near the shore to bring the top of the bank within range of their guns, and the ball dug its grave in the clay below. A volley of small arms followed, but the men being behind their breast-wall, the volley, sent at random, took no effect. Presently, one after another an anchor was let down from

each vessel, and the light, having answered its purpose, and guided her consorts to their proper stations, was lowered from the leading sloop, and extinguished. Scipio had just finished his preparations for a third fire, when this unforeseen and very provoking event put an end, for the time, to his fun. He held such conduct to be contemptible and unfair.

"Dam cowards, fraid of one poor nigger-dam cowards," and he sat down upon his gun in sullen and contemptuous silence.

"No matter, Scipio, you will have light enough directly. I hear them getting out their boats to board the ships-we'll have fire enough to light hell before long."

The splashing of oars and the striking of boats against the sides of the American ships were next heard-lights were appearing and disappearing on their decks. Whenever seen they were fired at, but with little effect, till the boats were again heard to move off, and a smoky flame crept from the hatchway of each vessel. Presently a blaze burst forth from a small sloop, loaded with some inflammable substance, and illuminated the scene with the splendor of noon. The ships and their smallest spars, the men on their deck, the river, shores, stood out to view, contrasted with the darkness in the background, with even more than the vividness and distinctness of day. On the edge of the bank, his piece depressed almost at an angle of forty-five degrees, stood Scipio, arranging his aim. He fired with his usual success, dropped his match, threw off his hat, sprang upon his gun, clapped his sides with both hands, and gave his accustomed laugh "Got him gin-haw, haw-did he feel good? yaw, haw-goo by-pleasan journey-yaw, haw, haw."

Just then, the furthest vessel, which had weighed anchor, and was drifting down the stream, was able to bring her gun to bear upon the top of the bank. She fired, and Scipio, in the midst of his last yaw, haw, was seen to fly into two parts. His lower members stood for a moment on the gun, before they fell to the ground. But his face retained its grin, and he was actually heard to give two distinct explosions of laughter, as his head and shoulders went sailing through the air. A momentary horror seized his companions. Vallette flew to the gun and began to reload her, but all the balls were expended.

"What shall we do, sir?-we have no more balls.”

"There is a pile of stones Scipio collected for the purpose, he had but three balls-load with the stones."

But before this order could be obeyed, it became evident that a retreat was necessary; particularly as nothing was to be gained by remaining. The enemy's boats were again manning, in a cove, which formed the mouth of a small creek, just below the town. In a few minutes retreat would have been impracticable, it therefore commenced forthwith. On reaching the outskirts of the town,

M'Caulley divided his force, giving Vallette the command of one detachment, with directions to watch the upper road leading into the country, and be prepared to annoy the enemy's parties, if they should send any that way, while he kept his eye on the other.

It was past midnight when Jonathan Richie awoke and found his room in a blaze of light. His first thought was that he had overslept himself, and the sun was up-his next, that his house was on fire. He sprang to the window, and finally concluded that all Bordentown was in a blaze.

"Rachel,-Rachel, I say-awake-call Emma, and be ready to start-Can't thee wake?"

"Why, Jonathan, thee's very impatient-what ail's thee?-thee need not be in a hurry."

"I tell thee the British have burned Bordentown, and are on their way hither."

There was no need of further remonstrance. Rachel was awake, on the floor, half dressed, in Emma's room, and back again in her own, with hands full of silver spoons, &c., in the space of ten minutes. All hands were alarmed, and collected in the stairway, and Quommino despatched for the horses.

"Surely, Jonathan," said Joseph Dido, "thou hast worked thyself into an unnecessary turmoil-there can be no reason for thee to fear for thy property-thee, a peaceable man."

"I tell thee I don't fear for my property, and I am not a peaceable man, as thee'll see, if the bloody redcoats come to interfere with me."

99

"Jonathan, thee forgets thyself-hush thee," said his wife.

"Masser, masser-here, masser," said Quommino, who now made his appearance at the door, the whites of his eyes frightfully distended, and evidently in great alarm. Jonathan went to him"Masser it is too late-they are come-I seed em, by light of the fire, though it be most out, stannin at the ledge of the wood." "Who-the English?-how many?"

"Bout thirty, I guess."

"Did you fasten the door?"

"Yes."

When the men arrived, Jonathan took them into an adjoining chamber, and unlocking a large pine chest, took out five guns, with

a supply of ammunition. The men stared with surprise. you know how-are you afraid to use these ?"

"What, on them redcoats? no, I guess not," said John.

"Boys

"Well, fix yourselves at the front windows up stairs, but don't shoot till I give the word."

"But, masser, here be one to spare: shall I take him to Friend Didore ?"

"Go about your business, you old fool, and see you don't miss your aim."

Jonathan's next business was with his women-kind and the visiters, whose surprise at seeing him enter with a gun in each hand was infinite.

Rachel, Friends, you must all go up stairs into the garret, and keep away from the windows."

"Dost thou indeed mean to resist with force ?" said Friend Dido in a horror of wonder-" remember, he that useth the sword shall perish by the sword."

"I use no such weapon. But I will have no argument-every thing I hold dear is assailed-more than my life," and he looked at his daughter" but I'll not talk, do as I bid, or stay here and be shot."

This last argument was sufficient, and all retired except Emma, who persisted in staying with her father." I shall be in no danger, father, I'll keep away from the windows."

"Well, then, come with me; thee can load one of my guns while I shoot the other."

When Jonathan had arrived at the window, up stairs, at which he had stationed his men, he found all dark again. The fire had burnt out, or at least was nearly extinguished, so that coming as it did from behind the river bank, and intercepted by the house, it gave forth no light, to enable him to distinguish objects in front. He therefore neither saw nor heard any thing of his enemy, until a voice nearly under the window, called his attention that way.

"Holloa, the house-open your door to the king's soldiers." A loud rap at the window, which in the darkness had been mistaken for the door, accompanied this gentle salute.

"Shall I shoot?" said Quommino.

"No, don't move-let him try again—we must gain all the time we can."

"Holloa there, I say you old quaker wolf, let us in, or we'll break up your silent meeting with a vengeance."

"May I not shoot the skunk ?-I can see his red back where he stands beside the white fence-I have got capital good aim." "No, John, not yet."

"Don't you mean to open? Hubert, you and Johnson bring up that log I stumbled over just now, and break in the door."

It was now time to take some notice of the strangers. Jonathan slowly raised the window." What means this?-who is thee that disturbs a peaceful family this time of night?"

"Open your door, sir, and you will see." "But suppose I don't."

"Why then we will enable you to see us directly by the light of your own house.”

"But how do I know thee is not a common robber, assuming the king's dress for thy own purposes of robbery and murder ?" "This will not do, sir. I put a plain question-will you open your door, or shall we?"

"Boys," said Jonathan, "can you see the two fellows who carry the log?"

"Yes, the white fence shows them plain."

"Shoot them, I'll try the master; and Quommino, thee hit the other."

The guns flashed. An officer, attended by two men carrying the log, and another, were distinctly seen for a moment. Then a still deeper darkness followed-there was no attempt to force the door, and one or two groans near it told the reason. Jonathan, however, had missed his aim; for the voice of the same officer was heard at a little distance, giving orders to his men.

"De Lancey, take ten men, and break in the other side of the house. The damned old Quaker has taken to fighting at last. Had I expected that, I would have come at him differently. Hubert,-I forgot the sergeant is shot-Jones, go flash your musket in yonder haymow; it will give us a little light to work by. I don't like this nightwork."

"But had we not better postpone that till we have secured our prisoner and are ready to march. It will bring a hornet's nest round our ears," said the lieutenant.

"Well, I believe you are right."

The lieutenant moved off, and took his station as directed. This manœuvre simple as it was, puzzled Jonathan considerably. He had not calculated on a double attack, front and rear at once, and he saw how deplorably it diminished his chance of successful resistance. He had given orders to divide his forces also, when a sudden report of fire-arms burst forth on the other side of the house.

"By jingo, them English must be great shots, I have heard of missing a barn door, but not to be able to hit a whole house is more an I can understand."

The firing was repeated, though apparently with less force. "That's queer," added Sam, "I'll just go to the end window and

conitre."

They all ran to the window, but could see nothing, as the firing had for the moment ceased. There was evidently something going on more than they could account for a good deal of confusion prevailed, and voices of men running to and fro, mingled with