ou are to be
paid the sum of four hundred dollars."

I was dumfounded. Of course it was pleasing to know that we would be
paid a good price in case we lost the Avenger; but why such an
arrangement should be made at this time was way beyond me, until
Darius said:

"Wouldn't it be a good idee, sir, if you was to tell the lads what is
expected of 'em? I'm not allowin' they'd go contrary to what I said;
but it would be pleasanter all around if they got the business from
your lips."

"It shall be as Darius says," and the commander half-turned in his
chair to face Jerry and me. "I propose that you shall continue to act
as oystermen; but without spending much time at the labor. In other
words, I want information from the enemy, such as you can gather, and
have spent considerable time explaining where and how you may
communicate with me. That part of the business need not be repeated.
This much you should know: Darius has said that you would do, so far
as possible, whatever I might set for you. Now I want your pungy to
drop down the river at once; you are to act as if engaged in the
peaceful occupation of fishing for oysters, and try to sell your cargo
to the enemy. In other words, lads, you are to spy out the disposition
of the British ships when they advance, for I am convinced that as yet
they remain in the lower bay."

If I had been faint-hearted before, what shall be said of my condition
now? In plain words, the commodore proposed that we turn spies, and if
we were caught while thus engaged, we would make a speedy trip to the
nearest British yard-arm with a rope around our necks!

Jerry did not appear to realize the dangers of the undertaking
proposed, and when the commodore suggested that we had better get
under way at once, he started toward the companion-way as if about to
embark on some pleasure excursion.

"Are we to take on any weapons?" I asked, remembering the crippled
muskets, and how dangerous it might be to discharge them.

"Oystermen do not carry modern arms," Joshua Barney said curtly. "Go
exactly as if you were performing your regular work, as indeed you
are, except that the price received for your wares does not cut any
figure."

CHAPTER VI.

FEEDING THE ENEMY.

It was evident that Commodore Barney did not propose to spend any more
minutes with us explaining the proposition he had made, and, indeed,
it really was high time he attended to others, for no less than four
gentlemen of impor