Paul landed in his own boat at the foot of this fort.  He dispatched the other boat to the north side of the haven, with orders to fire the shipping there.  Leaving two men at the beach, he then proceeded to get possession of the fort.

“Hold on to the bucket, and give me your shoulder,” said he to Israel.

Using Israel for a ladder, in a trice he scaled the wall.  The bucket and the men followed.  He led the way softly to the guard-house, burst in, and bound the sentinels in their sleep.  Then arranging his force, ordered four men to spike the cannon there.

“Now, Israel, your bucket, and follow me to the other fort.”

The two went alone about a quarter of a mile.

“Captain Paul,” said Israel, on the way, “can we two manage the sentinels?”

“There are none in the fort we go to.”

“You know all about the place, Captain?”

“Pretty well informed on that subject, I believe.  Come along.  Yes, lad, I am tolerably well acquainted with Whitehaven.  And this morning intend that Whitehaven shall have a slight inkling of me.  Come on.  Here we are.”

Scaling the walls, the two involuntarily stood for an instant gazing upon the scene.  The gray light of the dawn showed the crowded houses and thronged ships with a haggard distinctness.

“Spike and hammer, lad;—­so,—­now follow me along, as I go, and give me a spike for every cannon.  I’ll tongue-tie the thunderers.  Speak no more!” and he spiked the first gun.  “Be a mute,” and he spiked the second.  “Dumbfounder thee,” and he spiked the third.  And so, on, and on, and on, Israel following him with the bucket, like a footman, or some charitable gentleman with a basket of alms.

“There, it is done.  D’ye see the fire yet, lad, from the south?  I don’t.”

“Not a spark, Captain.  But day-sparks come on in the east.”

“Forked flames into the hounds!  What are they about?  Quick, let us back to the first fort; perhaps something has happened, and they are there.”

Sure enough, on their return from spiking the cannon, Paul and Israel found the other boat back, the crew in confusion, their lantern having burnt out at the very instant they wanted it.  By a singular fatality the other lantern, belonging to Paul’s boat, was likewise extinguished.  No tinder-box had been brought.  They had no matches but sulphur matches.  Locofocos were not then known.

The day came on apace.

“Captain Paul,” said the lieutenant of the second boat, “it is madness to stay longer.  See!” and he pointed to the town, now plainly discernible in the gray light.

“Traitor, or coward!” howled Paul, “how came the lanterns out?  Israel, my lion, now prove your blood.  Get me a light—­but one spark!”

“Has any man here a bit of pipe and tobacco in his pocket?” said Israel.

A sailor quickly produced an old stump of a pipe, with tobacco.