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time he found the knob of the door。
〃I say； sir；〃 I cried； 〃do you hear those guns？〃
〃Not being deaf； I do；〃 said the Captain； a little tartly…any reflection on
his hearing always nettled him； 〃but what on earth they are for I can't
conceive。 You had better get up and dress yourself。〃 〃I'm nearly dressed；
sir。〃
〃BOOM！ BOOM！〃…two of the guns had gone off together。
The door of Miss Abigail's bedroom opened hastily； and that pink of
maidenly propriety stepped out into the hail in her night…gown…the only
indecorous thing I ever knew her to do。 She held a lighted candle in her
hand and looked like a very aged Lady Macbeth。
〃O Dan'el； this is dreadful！ What do you suppose it means？〃
〃I really can't suppose；〃 said the Captain； rubbing his ear； 〃but I guess
it's over now。〃
〃BOOM！〃 said Bailey's Battery。
Rivermouth was wide awake now； and half the male population were
in the streets； running different ways； for the firing seemed to proceed
from opposite points of the town。 Everybody waylaid everybody else with
questions； but as no one knew what was the occasion of the tumult； people
who were not usually nervous began to be oppressed by the mystery。
Some thought the town was being bombarded； some thought the world
was coming to an end； as the pious and ingenious Mr。 Miller had predicted
it would； but those who couldn't form any theory whatever were the most
perplexed。
In the meanwhile Bailey's Battery bellowed away at regular intervals。
The greatest confusion reigned everywhere by this time。 People with
lanterns rushed hither and thither。 The town watch had turned out to a man；
and marched off； in admirable order； in the wrong direction。 Discovering
their mistake； they retraced their steps； and got down to the wharf just as
the last cannon belched forth its lightning。
A dense cloud of sulphurous smoke floated over Anchor Lane；
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obscuring the starlight。 Two or three hundred people； in various stages of
excitement； crowded about the upper end of the wharf； not liking to
advance farther until they were satisfied that the explosions were over。 A
board was here and there blown from the fence； and through the openings
thus afforded a few of the more daring spirits at length ventured to crawl。
The cause of the racket soon transpired。 A suspicion that they had been
sold gradually dawned on the Rivermouthians。 Many were exceedingly
indignant； and declared that no penalty was severe enough for those
concerned in such a prank； others…and these were the very people who had
been terrified nearly out of their wits…had the assurance to laugh； saying
that they knew all along it was only a trick。
The town watch boldly took possession of the ground； and the crowd
began to disperse。 Knots of gossips lingered here and there near the place；
indulging in vain surmises as to who the invisible gunners could be。
There was no more noise that night； but many a timid person lay
awake expecting a renewal of the mysterious cannonading。 The Oldest
Inhabitant refused to go to bed on any terms； but persisted in sitting up in a
rocking…chair； with his hat and mittens on； until daybreak。
I thought I should never get to sleep。 The moment I drifted off in a
doze I fell to laughing and woke myself up。 But towards morning slumber
overtook me； and I had a series of disagreeable dreams； in one of which I
was waited upon by the ghost of Silas Trefethen with an exorbitant bill for
the use of his guns。 In another； I was dragged before a court…martial and
sentenced by Sailor Ben； in a frizzled wig and three…cornered cocked hat；
to be shot to death by Bailey's Battery…a sentence which Sailor Ben was
about to execute with his own hand； when I suddenly opened my eyes and
found the sunshine lying pleasantly across my face。 I tell you I was glad！
That unaccountable fascination which leads the guilty to hover about
the spot where his crime was committed drew me down to the wharf as
soon as I was dressed。 Phil Adams； Jack Harris； and others of the
conspirators were already there； examining with a mingled feeling of
curiosity and apprehension the havoc accomplished by the battery。
The fence was badly shattered and the ground ploughed up for several
yards round the place where the guns formerly lay…formerly lay； for now
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they were scattered every which way。 There was scarcely a gun that hadn't
burst。 Here was one ripped open from muzzle to breech； and there was
another with its mouth blown into the shape of a trumpet。 Three of the
guns had disappeared bodily； but on looking over the edge of the wharf we
saw them standing on end in the tide…mud。 They had popped overboard in
their excitement。
〃I tell you what； fellows；〃 whispered Phil Adams； 〃it is lucky we didn't
try to touch 'em off with punk。 They'd have blown us all to finders。〃
The destruction of Bailey's Battery was not； unfortunately； the only
catastrophe。 A fragment of one of the cannon had earned away the
chimney of Sailor Ben's cabin。 He was very mad at first； but having
prepared the fuse himself he didn't dare complain openly。
〃I'd have taken a reef in the blessed stove…pipe；〃 said the Admiral；
gazing ruefully at the smashed chimney； 〃if I had known as how the
Flagship was agoin' to be under fire。〃
The next day he rigged out an iron funnel； which； being in sections；
could be detached and taken in at a moment's notice。 On the whole； I think
he was resigned to the demolition of his brick chimney。 The stove…pipe
was a great deal more shipshape。
The town was not so easily appeased。 The selectmen determined to
make an example of the guilty parties； and offered a reward for their arrest；
holding out a promise of pardon to anyone of the offenders who would
furnish information against the rest。 But there were no faint hearts among
the Centipedes。 Suspicion rested for a while on several persons…on the
soldiers at the fort； on a crazy fellow； known about town as 〃BottleNose〃；
and at last on Sailor Ben。
〃Shiver my timbers！〃 cries that deeply