“I am sure she must have been a good woman,” remarked Grace; “but, oh, I don’t know how she could dare to stay in the house while those dreadful balls were flying about it.”

“No doubt she felt that she was in the way of her duty,” replied the captain, “and the path of duty is the safe one.  She seems to have been a good Christian woman.”

“Yes, indeed!” said Evelyn.  “Captain, did not the British attack Fort Mifflin at the same time that the fight was in progress at Fort Mercer?”

“Yes; the firing of the first gun from the Hessian battery was the signal for the British vessels in the river to begin the assault upon the other fort on its opposite side.

“The Augusta and several smaller vessels had made their way through the passage in the chevaux de frise which Hammond had opened, and were now anchored above it, waiting for flood tide.

“The Augusta was a sixty-four gun ship; besides there were the Merlin, of eighteen guns; the Roebuck, of forty-four; two frigates, and a galley.  All these came up with the purpose to attack the fort, but were kept at bay by the American galleys and floating batteries, which also did good service by flanking the enemy in their attack upon Fort Mercer.

“The British deferred their attack upon Fort Mifflin until the next morning, when, the Hessians having been driven off from Fort Mercer, the American flotilla was able to turn its attention entirely upon the British fleet, which now opened a heavy cannonade upon Fort Mifflin, attempting also to get floating batteries into the channel back of the island.

“But Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, a gallant officer in command of the fort, very vigilant and brave, thwarted all their efforts and greatly assisted the flotilla in repulsing them.

“The fire of the Americans was so fierce and incessant that the British vessels presently tried to fall down the stream to get beyond its reach.  But a hot shot struck the Augusta and set her on fire.  She also got aground on a mud bank near the Jersey shore and at noon blew up.

“The fight between the other British and the American vessels went on until three o’clock in the afternoon, when the Merlin took fire and blew up near the mouth of Mud Creek.

“The Roebuck then dropped down the river below the chevaux de frise, and for a short time the Americans were left in undisturbed possession of their forts.

“Howe was, however, very anxious to dislodge them, because the river was the only avenue by which provisions could be brought to his army in Philadelphia.

“On the 1st of November he took possession of Province Island, lying between Fort Mifflin and the mainland, and began throwing up works to strengthen himself and annoy the defenders of the fort.

“But they showed themselves wonderfully brave and patient.  Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was as fine an officer as one could desire to see.