e
the only ones left to watch the enemy.

"You may as well take up your quarters on the schooner," Lieutenant
Frazier said to Darius when the detachment was lost to view in the
distance. "All of her crew are gone, therefore we shall have plenty of
room."

"I shipped with the boys, an' I reckon I'd best stay with 'em, sir,
though I thank you kindly for the offer," Darius replied, and the
Lieutenant added quickly:

"I meant the invitation for the entire crew of the pungy. Some of them
can do the cooking while we stay here, which won't be very long I'm
thinking."

And thus it was we made a change of quarters, which neither pleased
nor displeased me even though the cabin was decidedly finer than our
cuddy, because I had come to have a certain affection for the shabby
pungy which cost us so much labor in the buying.

According to Lieutenant Frazier's laying out of the work, there was
nothing for us of the Avenger to do save care for the schooner, and
prepare the meals.

Six men were sent down the river in canoes, to watch and report the
movements of the enemy, that we might have timely warning of their
near approach, and the remainder of the party which had been left
behind were set about getting ready for the destruction of the fleet,
if that should become necessary.

One may think that Jerry and I had no reason to feel badly if our
pungy should be burned, since we had the guarantee from Commodore
Barney which would insure our receiving much more money than she cost
us, and yet we did feel badly, because it then seemed to us as if we
could never get another craft quite so much to our liking. A fellow
cannot live on board a vessel many months, sailing her in all kinds of
weather, and depending upon her for a livelihood, without having a
certain sentimental attachment for the fabric different from that felt
for all others of its kind.

However, I had quite persuaded myself that the British would not come
so far up stream simply in order to destroy the flotilla, for it did
not seem as if the outlay would be repaid by the result, whichever way
it might be viewed. I had it in mind that when they learned how
shallow the river was above Nottingham, the plan would be abandoned,
therefore I felt comparatively secure from harm as we idled away the
hours.

The fact that Darius was so uneasy should have convinced me of the
full danger, for the old man was not one who borrowed trouble. He
fretted because he was forced to r