He could not have chosen a better theme to inflame those Marylanders.  One tall, raw-boned man, who carried a rifle and bullet pouch with him, said: 

“Boys, that reminds us mightily o’ Dick Long.”

Every Marylander assembled in the tap-room knew the sad story of poor Dick Long.  He was a fisherman with a wife and four children and was loved by all who knew him.  Dick was honest and peaceable, kind-hearted and brave.  One day his fishing smack was driven by a gale some distance out at sea, when a British cruiser captured him, and he was impressed into his majesty’s service.  Dick managed after many weary months to get a letter to his wife.  At Halifax, he tried to desert, was caught, brought back and lashed to the “long tom” and received a flogging with the cat-o’-nine-tails.  He struck the cruel boatsman, and was lashed to the mast and flogged until he died.  A deserter from the ship brought home his dying words, which were these:  “Tell my American brothers to avenge me.”

“Remember Dick Long, boys, and ef they come to Mariana, let us make ’em wish they had stayed away.”

The artful Terrence kindled the flame, and a short time after sunset, Fernando and Sukey were awakened from a doze by hearing a wild uproar on the streets.  They sprang to their feet and ran to the window.

Fifteen or twenty officers and seamen had just landed and were making their way toward the public house, when they were assailed by a hundred infuriated Marylanders with sticks, clubs, stones, dirt, old tin buckets and almost every conceivable weapon.  The officer in command was trying to explain that their intentions were pacific, that, after rowing for ten hours against the wind and tide, they were tired and hungry; but the inexorable Marylanders continued to shout: 

“Dick Long, Dick Long!  Don’t forget Dick Long!”

Now there was not one of those Britons who had ever heard of Dick Long before, and they could not conceive what that had to do with their landing; nor was this the boat crew which chased our friends; yet Terrence continued to agitate the matter.  The truth is Terrence had personally declared war against Great Britain in advance of the United States and had commenced hostilities.

“Down with the bloody backs!” he cried.  “Drive thim into the bay.”

The officers were forced to return to their boats and, tired as they were, pull down the coast to Baltimore.

Next morning, Fernando rose early and, after breakfast, went out alone to look about the village.  It was located in a picturesque and beautiful spot.  On the East was the broad bay and sea.  On the West were undulating hills covered with umbrageous forests.  To the South were some promontories and romantic headlands, against which the restless waters lashed themselves into foam.  On a hill about a fourth of a mile from the village, was a large, elegant mansion built of granite, looking like a fairy castle in the distance.  A broad carriage-drive, leading through an avenue of chestnuts, led up to the great front gate.  The mansion was almost strong enough for a fort and was surrounded by a stone wall five feet high, with an iron picket fence on top of this.