an acted as if beside himself with joy. One would have said that
we had been separated a full year by the way he welcomed us, and when
his eyes fell on Elias Macomber it was as if he had lost his senses.

Well, we took the prisoner aboard the pungy, securing him in the hold
by lashing his hands behind him, and making them fast to a ringbolt,
thus giving him a chance to sit down; but he could neither stand nor
stretch out at full length.

"It won't be none too comfortable; but it's the best we can do now,"
Darius said to the prisoner as if apologizing for not making him more
secure. "At all events, I reckon you'll be here in the mornin', an'
then we may make a change."

The main hatch was put on and fastened down with the bar, after which
we went into the cuddy, ready for anything in the way of provisions
that Jim could set before us.

He was not overly well supplied, having been on board only a few
hours, but we contrived to make a hearty meal, and while eating Jim
heard all we could tell him regarding the occupation of Benedict by
the British forces.

It was past midnight when we turned in, so tired that all hands fell
asleep within two minutes after making ready, and it seemed to me that
I had not fairly closed my eyes when we were awakened by a vigorous
pounding on the side of the vessel.

Darius had his head out of the companion-way before it was possible
for me to get on my feet, and I heard a strange voice cry sharply:

"It is the order of the commodore that every vessel in the fleet move
up to Pig Point without delay. Rations will be served there at noon
to-morrow."

Then I heard the sound of oars as the messenger-boat was pulled to the
next craft, and Darius said hurriedly:

"Lads, I'll admit that there are a good many vessels in this 'ere
fleet what can sail clean around the Avenger; but let's show the
commodore that there's no crew under him who will obey orders more
smartly. Turn out lively, my bully boys! Jim, you an' Dody get home
the anchor, an' the rest of us will tail on to the halliards!"

Darius had a willing crew if there was any opportunity to win the
praise of the commander, and he was not yet at an end of giving his
orders when we began work.

I venture to say that within sixty seconds from the time we were
hailed, the Avenger was making way, rubbing past this craft and that
as she literally forced a passage through the fleet, and all this
before any signs of life could be seen on the