a
deserter from the British marine corps, from whom, under
promise of protection, I have drawn such information as he
possesses. He accompanied the late expedition, and tells me
that it went to the Island of Barrataria, to seek the
assistance of Jean Lafitte, the pirate, and his gang of
outlaws, against the United States. Whether the negotiations
to that end were successful or not, he does not know, but he
supposes, from the temper in which the officers returned,
that they were.

From this deserter I learn, also, that preparations are
making for a hostile movement, which the British marines and
soldiers believe, from the remarks made by officers in their
presence, is to be directed against Mobile by way of Mobile
Point, which I take to be the point of land which guards the
entrance to Mobile bay, where Fort Bowyer stands.

I send the deserter with the messenger who takes this to
you, partly because I have promised to secure him against
recapture, and partly because you may desire to question him
further.

There are no present appearances of the immediate sailing of
this expedition, but from what the deserter tells me, I
presume that it will sail within a few days. I shall remain
here still, to get what information I can, and will report
to you promptly whatever I learn. I cannot say how long I
shall be able to stay, as a British officer visited my camp
yesterday, and questioned my boys, as I thought, rather
suspiciously. I shall be on the alert, and take no
unnecessary risk of capture.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

SAMUEL HARDWICKE,

Commanding Scouting Party.

CHAPTER XX.

A SUSPICIOUS OCCURRENCE.

When Sam had finished his despatch he quietly aroused Bob Sharp and
Sidney Russell, and entered into conversation with them.

"Sid," he said, "I have a prisoner and a despatch of very great
importance to send to General Jackson. You must take the despatch and
leave as soon as possible, with the prisoner, who is a deserter and
who must be got away from here before daylight. Bob, I want you to
give Sid as good directions as you can, as you've been over the route
twice."

"Yes an' I've sort o' blazed it too, and picked out all sorts o'
land-marks to steer by, but I don't knows I can make any body else
understand 'em. Are you in a big hurry with the