UNDER FIRE. 85 



warning in earnest, on the contrary declared they were 

 not going to trouble themselves about the prohibition. 

 Whilst this negotiation was taking place there was a 

 flash, however, from the fort-rampart, and a warning 

 shot fell into the water close in front of the ship, as 

 prescribed by the regulations. Nevertheless, the ship 

 continued its course with full sails. Xow followed 

 from the fort, as well as from the Laboe battery shot 

 on shot, to which was soon added a sharp fire from a 

 military sentry, stationed on the shore. But the doughty 

 Dutchman was not to be diverted from his object, and 

 successfully clearing the harbour-mouth disappeared in 

 the darkness of the night, that had meanwhile come on. 



Fishermen who had been sent out found the ship 

 on the following morning anchored outside the harbour 

 entrance, and the crew busily engaged in making good 

 the harm caused in particular by the musket -balls. 

 The bravery of the Dutchman was very simply explained 

 by the fact, that he had lashed the helm when he 

 actually heard the balls whistling, and had prudently 

 retired with his wife below the water-line, where both 

 were completely protected. I myself with my boat's 

 crew w r as entirely at the mercy of the balls, and could 

 afterwards at any rate boast that I had once without 

 flinching stood an artillery fire! For the rest I must 

 confess that the hissing of the balls whizzing past did 

 riot excite in me precisely pleasurable sensations. 



The Danish blockade-ship too brought us finally 

 in the latter part of summer another interesting inter- 

 ruption of the monotonous fort-life. 



