me on the back after the story
was brought to an end, I knew that he felt right well pleased because
I had begun serving my country in such a satisfactory manner.

When we returned to the Avenger after our round of visits, we found
Jim Freeman and his friends keeping ship in great style. They were
looking as proud as peacocks, and I failed to understand the meaning
of it all, for ordinarily they were meek lads, until Jim whispered:

"The commodore is a mighty nice man."

"Ay, that he is," I replied, thinking that Darius had been drilling
the crew in our absence to sing the praises of Joshua Barney both in
and out of season.

"We're goin' to have a chance to do some big things."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because when Darius gave the word that the pungy had better be hauled
down stream a bit an' anchored, the commodore put a stop to it, by
allowin' that he wanted this craft where he could put his hand on
her."

"And because of that you think that we are to play an important part
in this portion of the war, eh?"

"It looks like it for a fact," Jim replied, strutting to and fro, and
I could not but laugh outright, for the idea that we might be called
upon to do more than any others seemed ridiculous.

Matters began to wear a different look a moment later, however, when
an officer came over from the Scorpion, and said that the commodore
would have speech with Jerry and me.

"Where is Darius?" I asked, looking around without seeing the old man.

"He's been aboard the schooner this last half hour an' I've taken
particular notice that everybody else is kept out of the cabin," Jim
replied. "That's one reason why I'm so certain we'll have a soft time
of it while we stay with the fleet."

"Don't stand there chewin' things over in your mind," Jerry said
impatiently as I loitered near the helm. "It strikes me that when the
commander of a fleet sends for a couple of lads they should step out
right lively."

Jerry was right, and I meekly followed him to the commodore's cabin,
where we saw Darius hob-nobbing with Joshua Barney as if they were two
old cronies.

We lads saluted in as sailorly a fashion as was possible, for we were
not well up on such manners, and the commodore said abruptly as he
handed me a folded paper:

"Here is a guarantee from the government, through me as the commander
of the naval forces in this section, that if your vessel is captured
or destroyed by the enemy while you are under my orders, y