ess and eagerness of the chase they would probably pass by without
observing us. Still that was not our wish. We wanted to get out of the
river without being questioned. On we went, till we could neither see
nor hear anything of our pursuers. At last a few lights here and there
of some midnight watchers were seen glimmering from the town of
Nansimond. We glided by it. We reached the mouth of the river, and not
till then did we slacken our speed. I then relieved O'Driscoll at the
oar. I was duly grateful for the exertions he had made for me, but I
evidently did not hold a high place in his estimation.

"Ah, you English boys don't understand how to do things!" he observed,
with a sigh. "In ould Ireland we'd have managed an affair of the sort
very differently."

Just at daylight we got on board our ship--I, at all events, being very
well contented with the result of our expedition. I afterwards heard
that the Americans stated that they had pursued and chased a large
British flotilla out of the river with only a couple of boats, and that
we had lost twenty men in killed and wounded. From so slight a source
does many a tale of wonder spring.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

OPERATIONS UNDER COLONEL SIMCOE.--SENT TO MACKEY'S MILLS.--MY FRIEND'S
HOUSE SACKED.--COLONEL CARLYON TAKEN PRISONER.--RENDER HIM A SERVICE.--
TROOPS EMBARK AT NIGHT.--MY LOYALTY QUESTIONED.--MILLS BURNT.--IN
COMMAND OF RATTLESNAKE.--SAIL WITH PRIZES.--A WINTRY VOYAGE.--NEW YORK
ONCE MORE.--SERVE ON BOARD CHATHAM.--MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR.--REJOIN
CHARON.

I must endeavour to get on more rapidly than heretofore with my account
of public matters. On the 18th of January the British army marched from
Smithfield southward, and the squadron moved down to Newportneuse.
Among the most active of the English officers was Colonel Simcoe. On
the 16th he surprised and took prisoners an American officer of militia
and fifteen privates. From the report I heard I was much in fear that
Colonel Carlyon was the officer taken, but I had no means of
ascertaining whether or not such was the case. At all events, I hoped
that his daughter was in a place of safety.

On the 18th the army reached Mackey's Mills, and I received orders to
proceed with a detachment of boats to supply them with bread and other
provisions. I hoped now to gain the information I was so anxious to
possess. Our present expedition was very different to those in which I
had before been eng