Probably the rattling windows and the shaking frames of the houses roused all the sleepers within a mile of the ship.
The Bellevite was enveloped in the smoke from the discharge, and though Christy mounted the carriage again to obtain a better view, he could see nothing, for there was not wind enough to sweep it away at once.

But the young commander watched, with almost as much interest and anxiety as before, the signal station he had established.

But there was no occasion for desperate haste, for the gun was ready for use a second time if the first shot had failed to do its work.

On the other hand, if the Vampire was disabled, she would stay where she was, or drift down the river with the turn of the tide, and it was just about "full sea" at this time.
The smoke was very aggravating to the midshipman, but he could not help himself.

The light air swept it away in time, and, with his strained eyes, Christy discovered that two Roman candles were burning at the signal station.
"Did you hit her, Christy ?" asked Paul Vapoor, leaping on the gun-carriage.
"I did," replied the midshipman, trying to control a certain feeling of exultation that took possession of his mind, for he did not consider that some of the party below might have been killed by the shot.
"I suppose you don't know anything about the effect of the shot yet ?" added Paul.
"I only know that the Vampire is disabled." "How do you know that, for I can't see anything ?" "Do you see those two blue lights burning at the side of the river ?" asked Christy, as he pointed to the place.
"I see them, and they light up the river like a flash of lightning." "They mean that the steamer is disabled; and for that reason she can't come any nearer than she is now." "But those villains will make their way to the shore, and there are boats enough about here to enable them to get alongside, and lay us aboard.