University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The stage darkened, and two men placed behind the scenery with speaking trumpets, one at the front, and one at the inner end of the stage. A ship to appear.
Front Man.
Make a signal immediately for all the ships
Boats, and all the fleet to mann ship!

Inner Trumpet.
Bear a hand! bear a hand my lads!
Mann the boats! and pull up!
The fire ships are coming down the stream upon us!
[Boatswain pipes forward in the ship.
All hands, hoy!
Pipes a midship, at the middle or main hatchway.
All hands, hoy! tumble up, tumble up, there be
Pipes abaft, or at the after hatchway.
All hands, hoy!
[A great noise within of long-boat-men; yaulers, away, a running fore and aft, and clattering of the oars.
Out barge, hoy! a running, whurrow, whurrow,
Whurrow, whurrow, pipes to lower, pipes to stop.

Front Trumpet.
Bargemen, jump into the barge, and wait further orders.
Get the fire engine in readiness there!
Cheerly my boys! Cheerly!
Three or four boats clap along-side of that
Headmost fire ship, and tow her ashore on the
Larboard side of the river.
[As he speaks, a light appears on the left side of the stage. After a pause.
Have you hook'd the grapples men?

Sailor
answers.
We have her as safe as a thief in a halter;
But the tide runs strong.

Front Trumpet.
Pull up briskly half a dozen boats more there,
And tow her plump ashore!

[After a small time, the sailors huzza; one bawls out, she's safely stow'd away.
Front Trumpet.
There let her grow;
She makes a fine illumination:
Clear your grapples, and get off in the stream
In readiness.

[Inner Trumpet, Lieutenant Hatchway, Front Trumpet halloo.
Inner Trumpet.
Here's a whole fleet of fire ships, and fire floats,
Coming round the point:
The French are trading with Lucifer I think,
And have borrow'd th' infernal coast of him
For this might's service.

Front Trumpet.
If they've borrow'd his imps likewise,
To conduct the machinery, we have a parcel
Of brave hardy tars, that will play their parts
Manfully in the scene, and grapple with
Any terrors which can float upon the water!

Inner Trumpet.
Order more assistance here;
They're coming down upon us six knots!
And will be close on board of us in an instant!

[As he speaks, a great light appears.
Front Trumpet.
Row up there one whole division of boats!
My brave fellows! behave like British seamen;
There's warm duty for ye!

A Sailor
answers.
Never fear, Sir!
We'll tow them ashore, if the grapples hold,
Or we'll fry like sausages in the flames!

[All whurrow, whurrow.
Front Trumpet.
One whole division of boats; take up
That fire ship near the two decker, and tow
Her to starboard; and be sure mind to grapple
The floats which miss the headmost division,
And touch them ashore.

First Officer within.
Be ready with the fire engine!
Get up oars, poles, and booms there!
And mann the starboard side well!

Second Officer.
Brace all the yards; sharp fore and aft!
And mann the shrouds and yards with pole ax
Men to clear the fire ships grapples!

First Off.
Run both tiers of guns out double shotted,
And bring them all to bear upon the fire ship!
Carpenters! stand by to cut the cables!

Second Off.
Pull up your starboard oars briskly my lads!
And keep her well to starboard of us:
Take care; don't fall athwart the ship's hawse
Astern of us.

[Sailors bawl out, Whurrow, whurrow: Never fear, never fear.
Second Off.
She goes clear of us:
They have her under command.

[Inner Trumpet, Lieutenant Hatchway, Front Trumpet, halloo.
Inner Trumpet.
I can perceive no more fire floats and fire ships
Coming; that whole division may be employ'd
In picking up such as pass'd the Point.

Front Trumpet.
They are all clapp'd on board by this time,
And greatest part of them landed on Terra Firma:
The most mischief they've done us, was just
To singe one of the ships sides as they pass'd.

[All the sailors within, Huzza! huzza! huzza! scene closes; lights descend.