had been determined upon.

It can well be fancied that we of the Avenger had very little desire
for slumber, although, had we been so disposed, all of us might have
had a good night's rest, and also had the midnight meal ready when it
would be required.

We paced to and fro after the lieutenant and Darius had left, speaking
only in whispers, as if it might be possible the enemy could hear us,
and each moment expecting that the alarm would ring out.

The suspense was to me most painful, and I said to Jerry:

"Almost anything is better than this. I wish we were not so well aware
of their coming."

"If the fleet is to be burned, an' we know the enemy has started to
come up here, I can't see what is to be gained by waitin'," and my
partner spoke in a tone of petulance. "We shall do no good stayin'
here, and it may be that some of us could be of service elsewhere."

"It's no use for you fellows to grumble," Jim Freeman said with a
laugh, he having come up just in time to hear the useless words. "The
orders are to wait till the Britishers show themselves, an' I reckon
neither Lieutenant Frazier nor Darius would like to take the
responsibility of doin' anythin' else. You two will make a good thing
out of this business, in case the Avenger is burned, eh?"

"We've got a guarantee for more than she cost; but at the same time
I'd rather have her than a better one," Jerry said promptly, and I put
my hand in his, for he had spoken that which was in my heart.

Then we fell to talking for at least the tenth time of how the work of
destruction would be accomplished, and while we were thus engaged
Darius came alongside.

"You lads can turn in," he said as he clambered over the rail.
"Mitchell has just come up the river with the news that the Britishers
are makin' camp less'n two miles below. We shan't see 'em to-night;
but they're likely to be here mighty early in the mornin'."

"Some of us must stay up to do the cooking," I replied, thinking of
the meal the lieutenant had ordered.

"I'll call you in case Frazier don't change his mind about it, but I
reckon he'll be willin' to wait for breakfast."

"Are you going to stay on board?"

"I shall be here off an' on; just now we're goin' to inspect each
craft, so's to make certain the flames can be started quickly, for
there's no longer any chance but that the fleet must be destroyed."

CHAPTER XIII.

BURNING THE VESSELS.

It seemed to me much like disastrous defe