to show themselves."

Just then a kindly-faced gentleman came from the schooner's cabin and
looked about as if asking how we dared to make fast alongside. He was
one whom I would have picked out for a good friend, rather than a
desperate fighter, therefore my surprise was great when Darius
whisked off his hat, made a great flourish as he bowed in sailorman
fashion, and said:

"We're here to report for duty, an' it please you, Commodore Barney,
though you wasn't more'n a captain when I sailed under ye. We've
brought a few British prisoners, an' a couple of traitors."

"Why, bless my heart, its Darius Thorpe!" the commander cried as if
well pleased at seeing the old sailor, whereupon Darius bowed again,
grinning with delight until it seemed as if he would split his mouth
from ear to ear.

"It's the same old shell-back, sir, only he's turned oysterman, bein'
too stiff in the joints for much deep-sea work."

"When your joints grow stiff, Darius, I shall begin to look after
mine; but up to the present time they're fit for a hornpipe almost any
day. Is that your craft?"

"No, sir; she is owned by these two lads," and he pointed to Jerry and
me.

"And you have taken prisoners on your own account?" the commodore
asked, looking directly at me as he advanced nearer the rail,
therefore I felt called upon to reply.

"It was really Darius who took the prisoners, sir," I made answer. "He
planned the work, and did most of the execution; the rest of us simply
obeyed his orders, with the result that we have this officer," and I
pointed to the gentleman who was standing well forward as if to be
out of ear-shot, "with three sailors, all on parole. In addition,
there are, in the hold, two men living on the river, whom we found
giving information to the enemy, and aiding them in their spying."

"Come aboard, and let me hear the particulars," the commodore said
kindly, and yet the words were a command.

I beckoned to Jerry, and, observing it, the commander said:

"Come with the lads, Darius Thorpe, it may be that I have particular
need of you."

We three clambered on to the schooner's deck, following the commodore
into the cabin which was not fitted up very much better than our
cuddy, save that it had a fair-sized table with chairs, and here we
seated ourselves as comfortably as if about to have speech with our
equals.

"Now tell me how it happens that you are on the Patuxent river taking
prisoners here and there without du