eferred to stand at a distance while the more
eager went ahead; but yet I was not really a coward, as I think was
afterward proved.

However, just then it made me feel rather uncomfortable to have
mother gathering up my few belongings, and telling me what to do in
event of receiving such or such a wound, and, with my brain all in a
whirl, I went out of doors under the pretense that it was necessary I
should have a talk with Darius and Jerry.

Once alone by myself, behind the corn-crib where no one would be
likely to see me, I tried to sum up the situation so far as I was
immediately concerned, and it did not look cheering. We had sailed the
Avenger down the bay and up the river never sighting a single craft,
although it appeared that the British were swarming near about our
very course. It was not probable we could run to the southward without
coming across some of their vessels, especially if they were reckoning
on pursuing Commodore Barney, and even though we did get to the mouth
of the river in safety, where could we go? The big fleets were at the
entrance of the bay, and had not come there for nothing; the enemy was
counting on attacking Washington or Baltimore, it seemed certain, and
by going to the northward we would likely find ourselves out of the
frying-pan into the fire.

It seemed very much to me as if we had lost the Avenger, whichever way
we turned, and my heart grew heavy, for once she was gone Jerry and I
were badly off.

Hardly knowing what I did, I went toward my friend's home, and met
him coming my way, a look of excitement and eagerness on his face.

"Well, it seems as if we were in for it!" he cried when we were come
within hailing distance, and I asked irritably:

"In for what?"

"A bit of fightin', of course. You wouldn't be willin' to stay here
with the cowards Commodore Barney left behind, would you?"

"There are a good many things I had rather do than poke my nose into a
hornet's nest," I replied, feeling as if Jerry was in some way my
enemy because he appeared to be so delighted with the situation.

"What did your mother say?" he asked, giving no heed to my grumpiness.

"Nothing much; she is getting things ready for me to go away, and
without so much as asking if I counted on leaving."

"She knows, as I do, that you wouldn't remain behind," the lad cried,
showing as much joy as if we were thinking of visiting a peepshow.
"Come on; Darius is waitin' for us. We must try to get a supp