"I hope so," said I; "if we don't happen to meet with poor Luscombe's
ill-luck. There are two sides to every question, remember."

"Arrah, now. Never look at the reverse of a pleasing picture, Hurry,"
he replied. "Because Luscombe met with ill-luck, we have a better
chance of good luck, do ye see. So now let's get aboard our respective
ships. I feel wonderfully grown since I received my appointment."

Luscombe, one of our master's mates, had, while in charge of a schooner,
fitted out as a tender, been a short time before captured by the enemy,
after losing all his men, while he himself had been severely wounded.

Our orders were to make the best of our way to Long Island Sound, where
we were to deliver some despatches to HMS Syren, and then, after
cruising a week off Gay Head, to return to Rhode Island. Both our
vessels were ready for sea, so, having obtained leave to take Grampus
and Tom Rockets with me, we pulled on board, and got under weigh. A
fine breeze carried us to sea, and did not desert us till we made the
shores of Long Island. We ran into the Sound and delivered our
despatches on board the Syren. The spot wore a very different aspect to
that which it had borne when I was last there. Now the whole country
was in possession of the royal troops, who were under the full belief
that it was henceforward to remain their own. The reports were that the
whole of the American forces were completely disorganised and
disheartened, and that they would never again be able to make head
against the royalists. The truth was what was supposed, but they had a
man at their head who was a host in himself, and by his courage, his
wisdom, and energy, he made amends for all deficiencies. George
Washington was truly the man who established the American Republic. For
that great work he was especially appointed by Heaven. Unhappily, the
people of whom he made a nation have too often since forgotten his
precepts and example. The farther they have departed from it the less
dignified and respected they have been. But I am anticipating events.

O'Driscoll and I would have been right glad of an excuse to remain at
New York, but we had not even sprung a spar, and our craft were as tight
as bottles, and our crews did not want a single dose of physic among
them, so we were obliged to put to sea again that evening. We however
contrived to pick up a round of beef, two legs of mutton, and a turkey,
with a sack of potatoes, a