having done such
a thing before, after which he went over the rail hurriedly, as if not
caring to look me in the face.

It was not a particularly cheerful conversation which we had had, and
yet I was wondrously heartened because of it. The possible danger was
very far from my mind as I dwelt upon father's words and his good-bye.
It was as if I had suddenly come to know him in a different fashion
than ever before.

Commodore Barney used the Avenger as his flag-ship while we were
waiting for the Scorpion, and our deck was literally crowded with men
who had been summoned to receive orders. He even ate breakfast with
us, doing the greater portion of the eating holding converse with one
or another, and it can well be fancied that we were proud because of
having made possible such an honor for our pungy.

The day was just breaking when the Scorpion, attended by all the other
laggards, came up the stream. The schooner was anchored alongside our
pungy, and the commodore and Lieutenant Frazier had a private
interview in the cabin of the larger vessel, after which word was
given for the men to disembark.

The captain of each vessel had received orders to go ashore with so
many men, therefore we saw no confusion when the final moment arrived.

Jerry and I made ready the canoe in order to take Elias Macomber out
of the vessel, and, seeing us thus engaged, Lieutenant Frazier said as
if in surprise:

"I thought all you lads had been ordered to remain behind?"

"So we have, sir," I replied, and then I explained what we would do,
whereupon he called for a couple of men from the Blushing Susan to
attend the prisoner, we going with the party to make certain he was
delivered up in good order.

Commodore Barney had not forgotten the matter, as could be seen when
he came forward with the cur, and he handed Elias to a man from
Nottingham, with this injunction:

"You are answerable for him until we arrive at General Winder's camp.
If he attempts to escape, shoot him without compunction; but give him
fair treatment so long as he obeys orders."

Then the commander nodded to us, as if we were old acquaintances, and
the march was begun, every man stepping out briskly, as if it pleased
him to aid in the defense of the national capital.

It really gave me a sensation as of homesickness, to be thus left
behind. Although sixty or seventy men yet remained, they were so
scattered among the fleet that it seemed as if we of the Avenger wer