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vicinity。
Who knew anything about fuses？ Who could arrange it so the guns
would go off one after the other； with an interval of a minute or so
between？
Theoretically we knew that a minute fuse lasted a minute； double the
quantity； two minutes； but practically we were at a stand…still。 There was
but one person who could help us in this extremity…Sailor Ben。 To me was
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assigned the duty of obtaining what information I could from the ex…
gunner； it being left to my discretion whether or not to intrust him with our
secret。
So one evening I dropped into the cabin and artfully turned the
conversation to fuses in general； and then to particular fuses； but without
getting much out of the old boy； who was busy making a twine hammock。
Finally； I was forced to divulge the whole plot。
The Admiral had a sailor's love for a joke； and entered at once and
heartily into our scheme。 He volunteered to prepare the fuses himself； and
I left the labor in his hands； having bound him by several extraordinary
oaths…such as 〃Hope…Imay…die〃 and 〃Shiver…my…timbers〃…not to betray us；
come what would。
This was Monday evening。 On Wednesday the fuses were ready。 That
night we were to unmuzzle Bailey's Battery。 Mr。 Grimshaw saw that
something was wrong somewhere； for we were restless and absent…minded
in the classes； and the best of us came to grief before the morning session
was over。 When Mr。 Grimshaw announced 〃Guy Fawkes〃 as the subject
for our next composition； you might have knocked down the Mystic
Twelve with a feather。
The coincidence was certainly curious； but when a man has committed；
or is about to commit an offence； a hundred trifles； which would pass
unnoticed at another time； seem to point at him with convicting fingers。
No doubt Guy Fawkes himself received many a start after he had got his
wicked kegs of gunpowder neatly piled up under the House of Lords。
Wednesday； as I have mentioned； was a half…holiday； and the
Centipedes assembled in my barn to decide on the final arrangements。
These were as simple as could be。 As the fuses were connected； it needed
but one person to fire the train。 Hereupon arose a discussion as to who was
the proper person。 Some argued that I ought to apply the match； the
battery being christened after me； and the main idea； moreover； being
mine。 Others advocated the claim of Phil Adams as the oldest boy。 At last
we drew lots for the post of honor。
Twelve slips of folded paper； upon one of which was written 〃Thou art
the man；〃 were placed in a quart measure； and thoroughly shaken； then
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each member stepped up and lifted out his destiny。 At a given signal we
opened our billets。 〃Thou art the man；〃 said the slip of paper trembling in
my fingers。 The sweets and anxieties of a leader were mine the rest of the
afternoon。
Directly after twilight set in Phil Adams stole down to the wharf and
fixed the fuses to the guns； laying a train of powder from the principal fuse
to the fence； through a chink of which I was to drop the match at midnight。
At ten o'clock Rivermouth goes to bed。 At eleven o'clock Rivermouth
is as quiet as a country churchyard。 At twelve o'clock there is nothing left
with which to compare the stillness that broods over the little seaport。
In the midst of this stillness I arose and glided out of the house like a
phantom bent on an evil errand； like a phantom。 I flitted through the silent
street； hardly drawing breath until I knelt down beside the fence at the
appointed place。
Pausing a moment for my heart to stop thumping； I lighted the match
and shielded it with both hands until it was well under way； and then
dropped the blazing splinter on the slender thread of gunpowder。
A noiseless flash instantly followed； and all was dark again。 I peeped
through the crevice in the fence； and saw the main fuse spitting out sparks
like a conjurer。 Assured that the train had not failed； I took to my heels；
fearful lest the fuse might burn more rapidly than we calculated； and cause
an explosion before I could get home。 This； luckily； did not happen。
There's a special Providence that watches over idiots； drunken men； and
boys。
I dodged the ceremony of undressing by plunging into bed； jacket；
boots； and all。 I am not sure I took off my cap； but I know that I had hardly
pulled the coverlid over me； when 〃BOOM！〃 sounded the first gun of
Bailey's Battery。
I lay as still as a mouse。 In less than two minutes there was another
burst of thunder； and then another。 The third gun was a tremendous fellow
and fairly shook the house。
The town was waking up。 Windows were thrown open here and there
and people called to each other across the streets asking what that firing
was for。
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〃BOOM！〃 went gun number four。
I sprung out of bed and tore off my jacket； for I heard the Captain
feeling his way along the wall to my chamber。 I was half undressed by the
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