s time to get under cover."

"Where were the foremost ships when you saw them?"

"Less'n a mile below Hog Point; it looked like there was more'n a
hundred vessels."

"You'd better not count on stoppin' long at Benedict," Darius cried as
he motioned for us to take up the paddles again, and before the
captain of the pungy had time to ask a question, we were beyond
earshot.

"It may be the fleet that's bound for Baltimore," I suggested, not
being prepared at that time to believe the enemy would attempt to take
large vessels far enough up the river to disturb our fleet.

"I allow some of 'em are headin' Baltimore way," Darius replied
grimly; "but you'll find that a good many of the fleet will make a
try at stirrin' up Joshua Barney."

I knew the old man believed all he said, because from this out when we
were come to a bend in the river we would steer the canoe close up to
the bank, and slow down until he made certain that the next reach did
not have in it any of the enemy's craft.

In this cautious manner we ran down stream perhaps five miles below
Benedict, when, on rounding a bend, we saw no less than four armed
vessels, with a dozen or fourteen barges, not more than a mile away.

"Back water, lads!" Darius cried sharply, swinging the canoe's stern
around with the steering paddle. "Here's where we find our work. I'd
like it better if you wasn't so nearly fagged out; but I reckon we can
make five miles more before you give in."

He had turned the canoe while speaking, and we were running up stream
in less than two minutes after having sighted the Britishers.

"Five miles should bring us to Benedict," I suggested.

"Ay, lad, an' that's where we'll make the first stop."

"But do you count that the enemy will get as far up as the village?" I
asked in surprise mingled with no little consternation, for this was
bringing the war home to us with a vengeance.

"Some of the ships may find the bottom; but they'll get a few of 'em
there. Take the helm, Amos, an' I'll pull at the paddles."

Thus far, since we took service under Commodore Barney, all of Darius'
predictions had turned out to be correct, therefore I was fully
prepared to believe all he said regarding the danger which threatened
my native village.

The old man would not allow us to indulge in conversation after the
retreat was begun.

"Don't waste your breath by talkin'," he said peremptorily. "We'll
need all our wind to take us to Benedict, an' once