Final answer:
The excerpt from "A Soldier for the Crown" depicts a mood of desperation among those escaping potential slavery, as some individuals leap into the water to catch departing ships.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the excerpt from "A Soldier for the Crown," the description of the narrator's feelings as the boat departs creates a mood of desperation. This atmosphere is conveyed through the vivid depictions of individuals leaping into the water and straining for a chance to escape, driven by the fear of returning to slavery after the Continental Army's victory. The description of the narrator recognizing their own fortune heightens this sense of urgency and despair among those left behind.