rwise the old man
would have gone in pursuit of the British-lovers, and it was only by
tumbling him into the canoe head-foremost, holding him down by sitting
on him once he was there, that we could make Darius listen to anything
like reason.

"Let up on me, an' I'll keep quiet," he said after we had threatened
to continue the drubbing begun by the Tories; "but this much I
promise, that after the commodore has made shoestrings of that
conceited admiral, I'll come back here an' have it out with Elias
Macomber."

"We'll let it go at that," Jerry said as he released his hold of
Darius and went back for the meal, while Jim wrung the water out of
his clothing as best he could, for the fellow had not stopped to throw
off coat or shoes when he jumped overboard to take a hand in the
scrimmage.

It was near to half an hour before we were ready to go on board the
Avenger, and by that time it was too late to make any protests against
following the commodore.

My comrades took it for granted that I was equally eager with them to
be where I could do my share of fighting the Britishers, and so
stirred up was I by the game of fisticuffs ashore that I actually
forgot to be frightened by the prospect of taking part in a battle.

We got our anchor and made sail on the Avenger without delay, and
thus, in less than an hour from the time of making port, we were off
again on what proved to be a series of wild adventures.

CHAPTER III.

ELIAS MACOMBER.

Of a verity Elias Macomber did me a good turn when he started the
quarrel with Darius Thorpe, for up to this time I had been sadly
lacking in patriotism, as may have been learned from that which is
already set down in these pages.

Until this day it had been as if the war did not concern me or mine,
save as it affected the price of oysters, and when I saw this lad or
the other who had enlisted, I said to myself that another foolish one
had been found who willingly engaged to go where he might be killed.

Within a very few moments after the fight between Elias Macomber and
his crew of British-lovers had come to an end, I began to view the
situation of affairs as an honest lad should.

The country which protected me in my home--that territory which had
been bought, or redeemed, by the blood of brave men, and even of women
and children, from the savage Indians and a merciless king, was in
danger, and if I did not rush to its defense how might I expect my
heritage of a free