Here were numbers of boats, hauled up on the sand.

One of the lightest of these was soon got into the water, and rowed gently out into the force of the stream.

Then the oars were shipped, and they lay down perfectly quiet in the boat, and drifted past the fort without being observed.
When they once gained the open sea, the oars were placed in the rowlocks, and half an hour's rowing brought them alongside the fleet.
Charlie was soon on board the flagship, and informed the admiral, and Colonel Clive, what Hossein had heard.
It was at once resolved to attack upon the following day.

The two officers did not think it was likely that the pirates would, even in obedience to their chief's orders, surrender the place until it had been battered by the fleet.
The next morning, the fort was summoned to surrender.

No answer was received, and as soon as the sea breeze set in, in the afternoon, the fleet weighed anchor and proceeded towards the mouth of the river.