man. The younger man was rather tall,
and had a pleasant, honest face. When the sentry hailed them, they
asked leave to come on board to see the captain. Captain Hudson was
already up. I went to inform him of their arrival, and by his desire
conducted them to him. Their manner was frank and open, and they seemed
to have made a favourable impression on the captain. When they left the
cabin he ordered them to be carefully provided and looked after. I
afterwards had much conversation with them. The elder had been a
soldier in his youth, and served the king in many parts of the world.
They were both imbued with an almost romantic feeling of loyalty. "King
George was always a good and kind master to me, and I'm not going to
desert him when he most wants me because his ministers choose to do what
some of the people of this country don't like," said the elder man. "I
got a wound in his service in my thigh here, so I can't march and carry
a musket as I did once, or I would have gone down and joined the
royalists at New York, but there are other ways of serving his Majesty,
though they are somewhat risky, I own; but what of that? every man
should be ready to die in a good cause. It's very bad, though, all this
fighting and bloodshed among folks of the same race and kindred, and
now, if they'd followed my advice, I don't think it would ever have come
about. As I used to say to my nephew, Amos Weeks here, `Amos,' said I,
`wait a bit and don't be in a hurry. Write and petition against the
taxes as much as you like. Taxes must be laid on, and somebody must pay
them, and if we don't like them we must petition, as I say; but anything
beyond that will be rank treason and rebellion, and that's wicked and
abominable. Suppose this country was to become free and independent as
they talk of, what would the people do? Either they must make General
Washington a king, or they will soon quarrel among themselves and cut
their own throats.'" The old soldier spoke so earnestly, and there
seemed to be so much good sense in what he said, that I put it down. He
certainly proved himself a very good advocate of the king's cause. From
him we learned that the enemy were about to make a grand attack on us
with their fire-ships, and in the hurry and confusion which would
necessarily ensue they hoped to enable three of their frigates, which
had long been waiting an opportunity, to run past us and to get to sea.
That night we were doubly on