The St.
Regis was bearing down on her victim with a reduced speed.

The men forward and in the waist were all ready with the grappling irons to fasten to her, and the boarders were all prepared to leap upon her deck, though no fighting was expected.
The bow of the St.Regis was near the stem of the Raven, and Christy rang one bell to stop her, and then two to back her.

Then he sprang upon the starboard rail of the ship where he could observe his men as they boarded the other steamer.
"What are you about, sir ?" yelled a man on the quarter-deck of the Raven, who appeared to be the captain of the vessel, in a rude voice.
"Don't you see that you are crushing my two boats and the men in them ?" "I did not order the boats or the men there," replied Christy calmly, and in a gentle tone, for the captain of the blockade-runner was not ten feet from him.
"I did," added the captain of the prize, for such she really was by this time.
"Then you are responsible for them," said the commander of the St.
Regis.
"Do you mean to murder them ?" gasped the other captain furiously.
"If they are killed you have sent them to their death!" But the commander had no time to argue the matter with the irate captain.

He had rung three bells, and the ship was backing at full speed.

The momentum had not been sufficiently checked to stop her, and the two boats were crushed to splinters.