are down
Barrington way, they understand what this vessel is intended for as well
as you do yourself."

"I won't have no niggers aboard my privateer," continued Mr. Beardsley,
who talked and acted as if he had grown in importance since those
gun-decks were put into the schooner. "I wouldn't trust the best of 'em
in times like these, and so I shall man my ship with whites. These men
belong to my crew, and the rest will be just as good."

Marcy thought they might be better without hurting anything, for he did
not at all like the appearance of the two fellows he had found in charge
of the privateer. They had probably been picked up among the sailor
boardinghouses in Newbern; and if the test of the crew were going to be
like them, Marcy thought he would not care to be in their company for a
great while at a time. He afterward learned that one of the men was deep
in Mr. Beardsley's confidence.

Before the boy took leave of the owner of the privateer they came to a
plain understanding on all points, agreed upon terms, and Marcy was to
hold himself in readiness to sail for Newbern at any hour of the day or
night. He felt almost like a criminal when he rode home to meet his
mother, but, although he was among the first, he was by no means the
last, to serve the cause of the Confederacy because he could not help
himself.

CHAPTER XVI.

SECRET ENEMIES.

"It's done and it can't be undone," said Marcy, after he had told his
mother just what passed between him and the captain of the privateer. "I
assured Mr. Beardsley that I didn't think the government would hang his
men as pirates if they were taken on the high seas, but since I have
seen a couple of them I have my doubts. If the ship-keepers are fair
specimens of the crew, they are a hard lot, and I don't want to be
captured in such company. This is being true to my colors with a
vengeance."

That was what his mother thought, but she did not say a word to add to
the bitterness of his feelings. Knowing the temper of the people around
her as well as she did, she could not see that Marcy could have done
anything else. Marcy Gray ate little supper that night, and as soon as
it began to grow dark, he left the house and went out on the road to
take a stroll. He wanted to be alone, even though the thoughts that
crowded thick and fast upon him were anything but pleasant company.
Almost without knowing it he kept on unt