t you know!" Captain Hanaford cried. "It
is of the greatest importance for us to learn exactly the situation of
affairs."

The stranger did not accept the invitation to come on board; but he
halted within easy speaking distance and thus told the story, which
seemed incredible:

"Last night the people livin' near the encampment were warned, on pain
of death, to remain within doors from sunset till sunrise. Those who
were curious enough to look out of the windows saw that the camp fires
had been increased, an' supposed reinforcements were comin' in; but
this mornin' neither hide nor hair is to be seen of the red-coats, an'
a planter comin' in from nearabout Long Old Fields, reports that the
soldiers are marchin' in the direction of Nottingham. An' that ain't
all, for the troops that stayed at Bladensburg after the battle, are
on the way to Upper Marlboro, 'cordin to the report of an old darkey
who came into town not half an hour ago."

Having thus unfolded his budget of news, the man hurried on to spread
the glad tidings, leaving us who were aboard the pungy in a state of
mingled bewilderment and joy.

"I can't understand it," Darius said after a brief pause, during
which we had looked at each other questioningly. "I'm goin' to take
the chances of findin' out for myself."

The old man went over the rail as he spoke, and I would have followed,
but that he said sharply:

"Stay where you are, lad. We ain't dead certain 'bout that yarn, an'
if it's a case of gettin' into trouble, it better be one than two who
pays for nosin' 'round a British camp."

Captain Hanaford felt certain the news must be correct, for our
informant had the appearance of being an honest man, and nothing could
have been gained by spreading such a story.

"We'll cook the best breakfast to be had, by way of rejoicin'," he
said, "an' after that's been done all hands shall come into a council
of war, to decide if we're to make the venture down the river."

"If the enemy has really evacuated the city, it is reasonable to
suppose that the fleet will go back down the bay," I said, thinking
myself very wise in such matters. "It strikes me that the way home
lies open before us."

My companions were of the same opinion, and a very merry party we were
on the oyster pungy that morning as we tried in vain to guess why the
enemy had left so suddenly, when there seemed to be nothing to prevent
him from taking possession of all the country round about.

B