that we were
not to move from here till all the vessels were well afire, an' here I
reckon we'll stay quite a spell longer."

"But they are all burning," I said, turning to look at the fleet, each
craft of which appeared to be enveloped in flames.

"Yes, they've started well; but if I was the one who had been left to
decide when there was no longer a chance of savin' 'em, I'd hold here
a spell longer, as the lieutenant is doin'."

"Do you believe it possible that we could save the schooner now?" and
I pointed toward the Scorpion, along whose spars the flames were
creeping rapidly.

"Two or three hundred men might do it if they set to work this minute,
though it would be a tough job," the old man said as he gazed at the
flames which were already sending forth heat enough to render our
position too warm for comfort, and at that instant a musket ball came
humming past the end of his nose, causing him to spring backward very
suddenly.

"Growing uneasy, Darius?" I asked, and the old man laughed
good-naturedly as I thus passed him some of his own coin.

"It's gettin' warm all around; but I reckon we've come mighty nigh to
the limit set by the commander."

Then it was that the man next beside me cried aloud as he held up his
right hand from which the blood was beginning to flow from a bullet
wound.

I was too angry to be frightened just then, for it seemed as if
Lieutenant Frazier was remaining too long under fire, and a moment
later came the welcome command.

I dare venture to say that, with the exception of Lieutenant Frazier
and Darius, every man moved more readily and quickly than he ever did
before, until we were a good mile from the scene of destruction,
striking directly across the country for Upper Marlboro.

Now and then it was possible to catch glimpses of the flames, which
towered above the tops of the nearby trees; but we heard nothing of
the enemy, which seemed to me strange until I mentioned the fact to
Darius when he came up, after loitering in the rear with the
lieutenant as if to show his contempt for the Britishers.

"I allow there's plenty of sense in their stayin' where the fleet is
burnin'," the old man said quietly. "They saw only a few men leave
when it had been said that Joshua Barney had five hundred with him.
Now what more natural for them to suppose that we are tryin' to lead
'em into an ambush--for the Britishers still believe we fight in Injun
fashion? Then again, it ain't likely the