"There were twelve blows, nine stripes each. Nine times twelve are one
hundred and eight."
"And have ye got the job all before ye, Sukey?" asked Terrence.
"I've commenced. Eight have been blotted out. Only a hundred remains,"
Sukey answered solemnly.
No one asked when the eight had been blotted out, but Fernando knew he
must have done it while the _Macedonian_ was fighting the American
frigate. Sailors, driven to desperation, frequently take advantage of
such occasions to wreak vengeance on cruel officers. The boatswain's
mate who had flogged Sukey was found dead on the gun deck at the close
of the fight.
The American forces were hurried forward to Washington, where everything
was in the wildest confusion. The contemptible Peace Party had done all
by way of ridicule and argument to keep off the war, and were now doing
all in their power to prevent its prosecution. General Winder and
Commodore Barney were in command of the land and naval forces of the
United States, for the defence of Washington. In vain Winder had called
on the government for more troops and supplies.
When Fernando arrived at Washington, Barney had already blown up his
flotilla at Pig Point, and with his soldiers and marines joined
General Winder.
General Ross, the commander of the British land forces and one of the
most active of Wellington's officers, on finding the American flotilla a
smoking ruin, marched to upper Marlborough with his troops, where a road
led directly to Washington City, leaving Cockburn in charge of the
British flotilla.
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