ion
but that the enemy would pursue Barney, and we were where we could not
escape, save by way of the bay.

Jerry, however, had the idea that all these manoeuvres would further
his scheme, and he said as if being thoroughly well satisfied with
the situation:

"We can run up to Nottingham, as well as the commodore, and once there
I reckon it will be possible to make our trade."

"But if the fleet is forced to remain there, all hands will be idle,
and the commodore won't care to hire us while several hundred men are
loafing around the decks," I suggested, and Jerry's jaw fell.

But Jim had not exhausted his budget of news, although it was
impossible for him to give us anything more very startling.

"The commodore had only got eight pungies an' five barges of the
fleet--"

"Where are the other boats?" Darius demanded sharply.

"Somewhere on the Delaware side; they went off on a cruise before the
Britishers hove in sight. He has taken on the schooner Scorpion, which
was here at anchor, an' I heard one of the officers say that there was
about five hundred men in this part of the fleet."

"I'm goin' ashore," Darius said abruptly. "It ain't no ways certain to
me that Jim has heard this thing right, an' I count on gettin' down to
facts."

Jerry and I were eager to land, and, without even stopping to thank
Jim for the news he brought, we went over the rail into our canoe,
pulling in hot haste for the shore.

Never waiting to speak with such few loungers as were to be seen near
the water front, I went directly to my own home, and there found more
tidings of war.

My father had joined Commodore Barney, as had nearly all the
able-bodied men of Benedict, agreeing to remain in service while our
section of the country was menaced by the enemy, and mother seemed to
have the idea that I would follow his example.

Jerry's father had gone with the fleet, and, as she said, only those
who had been opposed to the war with England, remained at home. After
greeting me, and telling what little she knew of the situation, mother
set about getting together the few things I owned which might be
needed on a long cruise, and I was ashamed to say that as yet I had
had no idea of going to fight the Britishers.

Don't let it be understood I believed the United States could have
done other than declare war in 1812, or that I had any secret liking
for the Britishers. I simply believed that I did not have the backbone
of a fighter, and pr