Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/19

 these; after which, their course up to the boom which guarded the anchorage, was clear, and not easily mistaken.

I solicited, and obtained permission to go on board one of the explosion vessels that were to precede the fire-ships They were filled with layers of shells and powder, heaped cone upon another: the quantity on board of each vessel was enormous. Another officer, three seamen, and myself, were all that were on board of her. We had a four-oared gig, a small narrow thing, nick-named by the sailors a "coffin,") to make our escape in.

Being quite prepared, we started: it was a fearful moment; the wind freshened, and whistled through our rigging, and the night was so dark, that we could not see our bowsprit. We had only our fore-sail set; but with a strong flood-tide, and a fair wind, with plenty of it, we passed between the advanced frigates like an arrow. It seemed to me like entering the gates of hell As we flew rapidly along, and our own