rmed brig, the decks of
which were brilliant with red uniforms and glittering weapons, and
immediately astern of this vessel were a dozen or more barges, and
two pungies.

Then came boats filled with soldiers, one astern of the other until it
surely seemed as if every craft in the Chesapeake had been brought
here to make up the procession, which was more imposing than anything
I had ever seen.

It was the glittering, fanciful side of war, which would be
transformed into something hideous immediately the actual work was
begun, for then one lost sight of the pomp and parade, seeing only the
ominous stains of blood, and unable to hear aught save the shrieks of
the dying and the groans of the wounded.

Then, to our great surprise, we found that the Britishers were making
preparations to take possession of the village. The armed brig was
moored stem and stern in the channel where her full broadside could be
brought to bear upon the settlement, and the three barges, each having
on board a twelve-pounder, were rowed up to the beach on which no less
than four hundred soldiers, with weapons ready for use, stood as if to
repel an attack.

"They are makin' a mighty lot of fuss." Jerry said with a laugh. "A
corporal's guard could capture Benedict without turnin' a hair, an'
yet look at that crowd!"

It was truly astonishing that so many men should have been brought to
take possession of our little village. Boat-load after boat-load came
up the river, landing their living cargoes in the cove where we lads
had always kept our canoes, and before the disembarkation had been
concluded, the shore of the river was literally covered with soldiers,
marines, and, strangely enough, companies of negroes who were decked
out in uniforms of the British army.

Since that day I have seen statements made by the enemy's officers to
the effect that five thousand men were landed at Benedict, and for
what purpose we lads were unable to imagine.

I had never seen such a throng of people before; the town was
over-run, and the woods above and below seemed to be packed full of
armed men.

Fortunately for us, none attempted to come on our side of the river;
but all stood in something approaching a military formation as if
expecting an immediate attack.

As a matter of course all us lads were greatly alarmed lest our
families should come to harm amid such a gathering; but we could not
have afforded them any relief had we been at home, and it was