might happen
in case the enemy planned a surprise, and then we learned that the
alarm was a false one.

"Some weak-kneed sentinel was frightened at his own shadow," the
commodore said, speaking quietly to his men. "But it hasn't done us
any harm to be routed out in short order, for now we can see how
necessary it may be to know our stations. Turn in, my hearties, and
get what rest you can before we stand up in front of the red-coats to
give them a lesson which they're needing."

Then we went back to our tent; but not to sleep. There is a mighty lot
of excitement in turning out at night to be shot at, and Darius was
the only member of our party who felt inclined to lie down.

We sat under the canvas talking in whispers, lest we disturb those
near at hand, and the old sailor was soon giving good proof that he
had sailed over into dreamland.

Of what did we talk? I can't really tell; but you might put yourself
in our places, and say if you would not naturally speak of those most
dear when you knew beyond a peradventure that within a few hours at
the most you would be standing face to face with death.

When the day broke we stole softly out of the tent that Darius might
get all the sleep possible, and, building a small fire, toasted the
strips of bacon which made up the greater portion of our rations.

Then all hands sat around the tent to prevent any one from awakening
the old man without good and sufficient cause, until sunrise, when
word was passed from one to another that orders had been given to load
all tents on the baggage-wagons, for the army was to move within an
hour.

Then it was that we felt obliged to call Darius, and he came up on his
feet at the first word, having all his wits about him at the moment of
awakening, as is the habit of sailormen.

"Goin' to move, eh?" he said, when we told him of the order. "Then I'm
thinkin' the next halt will be at whatsoever place General Winder has
picked out for a battle-field. Look after the tent, lads, while I get
a word with the commodore."

He marched off in the direction of headquarters, and we set about the
task, I observing while passing among the militia, that the men as a
rule were looking mighty glum, which augured ill for their
performances if indeed a battle was near at hand.

CHAPTER XV.

BLADENSBURG.

If I would tell all that was done in and around Washington by our
people, and then have space in which to set down that which we lads
we