as nearly as I could judge of the
flight of time, that we saw the first of the boats loaded with men push
off, heading for Gloucester Point.

The retreat had begun! Barge after barge, skiff after skiff, and craft
of every kind, all heavily laden with soldiers or with baggage, set off
from the shore, while as far back from the river as Governor Nelson's
house, where my Lord Cornwallis had his headquarters, the men were
massed awaiting their turn.

"Now has come the time, Fitz, when we must make ready for a swift
journey," little Frenchie whispered, as if counting it a long distance
from old Mary's cabin to the outposts of the American lines, whereas it
was within less than half a cannon-shot. "Every minute is precious now,
and I am counting that we should be ready to set off on the instant the
men have been called in from the outer works."

"What preparations have we to make?" I asked in surprise.

"Have you forgotten Uncle 'Rasmus and the prisoners?"

"I count that they are yet in old Mary's cabin, and there they may
remain until our people have entered the village," I replied
indifferently.

"But none of them have broken their fast this day, and those fellows in
the loft have had nothing whatsoever of drink."

"Well, what then?" I asked irritably. "Neither have we lads had anything
to eat, and, save that it is possible for us to drink our fill, I see
not that we are any better off than they."

"But we must not have ever on our consciences the knowledge that we
doomed two human beings to starvation."

"Surely there is no danger of their dying 'twixt now and to-morrow, and
by that time our people will be here."

"As to that you cannot say, Fitz Hamilton. True it is the enemy is
retreating; but the night is half spent, and it may be that the last of
the troops will not have gone over much before daylight. Then our army
is like to set out in pursuit, and I am minded to go with it, whereas
matters be arranged properly at the cabin, we are confined here in the
village with no opportunity of showing ourselves as Minute Boys among
real soldiers."

I had almost forgotten that we decided to call ourselves Minute Boys.
There had been so much of pain, fear and hope during the past four and
twenty hours that all else had gone from my mind, save the fact that the
Britishers were much the same as whipped, and that it might be possible
for me to regain possession of Silver Heels.

When, however, Pierre thus reminded me