gry you can the better act
that part which I had come up here to persuade you was your duty."

"What is it you would have us do, sir?" Pierre interrupted, as if it
irritated him because we spent so many words before coming to the meat
of the matter.

"If two boys and an old slave are the same as starving, surely there
isn't an officer under Cornwallis who would not grant them permission to
go fishing. In two or three hours they might be able to get enough to
fill their stomachs many times over. I believe you have only to present
yourselves to the officer of the day to-morrow, explaining the
situation, and asking permission to go out in a boat."

All these words simply formed a riddle; I did not have the sense to
understand just at the time, owing to my impatience, that the Jerseyman
had something back of this--that it would serve his purpose for us to be
on the river to-morrow morning; but dear little Pierre was not needing
many explanations before he could come to the root of the matter, and he
asked quietly:

"If it should be that we got permission to go fishing, where think you
we could make the biggest catch?"

"Two miles or more below Gloucester Point," Morgan replied.

"Having gone so far as that what would you advise?"

"That you keep reasonably near the shore, and if a man wearing a bit of
green in his hat came near to the water's edge, put in where you might
have speech with him."

"What speech?"

"Remember, lads, these words: 'Despite all the work Cornwallis is doing
in the way of fortifying the town, there are indications that he is
preparing to retreat by way of Gloucester if the English fleet fails to
bring succor.' Now let me hear you say that twice, for the wording is
most important."

Pierre did as he was commanded, never missing a word or tone, and when
he had finished to the Jerseyman's satisfaction, I asked how it was
known that a man would approach the boat.

"I saw him on the shore this afternoon. His being there is much the same
as an intimation that he is waiting for some word. I doubt not that
seeing two boys in a boat he will come near the water, to give you an
opportunity of proving if you have been sent by me. There is a
possibility he may be prevented from coming, or that he will not
understand you might be serving me. Of all that we must take our
chances, and since you are in such sore need of food, the attempt to
deliver my message will cause you little or no additional labor.