was one of them who did not, like myself, fail to count the danger,
because of his eager desire to prove that we might be trusted to do the
work of men.

The sloop was a dull sailor, or so it seemed to us lads who were burning
with impatience to come up with the other vessel that we might get the
weapons in our hands, for only then would it appear as if we were real
soldiers of the American army.

We could not quicken the movements of the sluggish craft fret as we
might, and when, as balm to my impatience, I would have talked with
Hiram concerning the possibilities of the future, he showed no further
inclination to converse on the matter, thus proving, as I believed, that
he was more anxious concerning the outcome of the venture than he would
permit us to see, all of which was most gratifying because it accorded
well with my desires.

Despite the apparently slow progress of the sloop, we were come to
anchor between Noddle and Hog islands before there were any signs of
coming day, and it can well be fancied that we Minute Boys lost no time
in taking possession of the weapons.

These, together with the ammunition, had been stored in the cuddy of the
sloop, and after each of us lads had selected a musket I saw there were
no less than a dozen remaining, while of powder and balls it seemed to
me the amount was so great that we could not use it all even though we
loaded and discharged our muskets with reasonable rapidity during an
entire day.

While we were thus engaged in what might seem to some like a childish
fashion, Hiram had seen to it that the two sloops were warped in as
close to the shore as was possible without danger of their going
aground. The holds of the vessels had been cleared, the hatches removed,
tackles for hoisting gotten into place, and, in fact, everything made
ready for the taking on of a cargo.

By this time day was come, although the sun had not yet risen, and Hiram
began the work in hand by asking me to call the names of three lads who
should be left on board the sloops as sentinels, and when I had done as
was desired, he said to them, speaking gravely and with the air of one
who sees in the future more of danger than he is willing to admit:

"You lads are to keep sharp watch. Do not let your attention be drawn to
the shore, for nothing threatens from that quarter; but remain
constantly on the alert for approaching vessels. Don't fail to give an
alarm the instant you make out a craft bearing