"Then we'll drop the whole thing right out of our minds, an' now that it's over, I'll bet you two or three cents' worth of silver spoons that we'll be in Benedict on service, sent there by the commodore, before four an' twenty hours have passed." I would have asked him how that might be, but just then Jim Freeman sung out for me to have a look at the cable, which was considerably chafed, and I did not get an opportunity of continuing the conversation. Again we came up to the fleet in the night; but Darius did not hold any long parley with the occupants of the guard-boat who hailed us, simply saying as he steered the Avenger straight for the Scorpion: "Private service for the commodore." We ran alongside the schooner, made the hawser fast ourselves, since the single militiaman standing guard at the top of the cabin companion-way did not see fit to aid us, and while this was being done Darius leaped on board the vessel, saying in a loud tone: "We're come on board to report to the commander." "You can't see him now," the soldier said stiffly, presenting his musket as if intending to use it in case the old man persisted in advancing. "Now look here, you lop-sided lobster," Darius cried at the full strength of his lungs, "you report to the commodore that the Avenger is alongside, or there'll be trouble 'twixt you an' me." It is not probable the old man expected that he could bully the sentinel, who had had his orders as a matter of course; but by bawling so loudly that he could have been heard on every craft of the fleet, he awakened Joshua Barney, which was exactly what he aimed at doing. "Who's kickin' up this row?" the commodore asked sternly as he poked his head above the hatchway. "The crew of the Avenger, sir, come to report." "Get below here at once," and the commander spoke as if impatient to hear that report. I had counted that Darius should go alone to the interview; but he insisted on being accompanied by Jerry and me, therefore we followed him into the cabin. The old sailor did not spend much time in saluting; but in the fewest words possible told what he had learned, and the commodore did not appear surprised by the information. "It tallies with what I have already heard," he said grimly. "How long will it take the enemy to run up to the mouth of the river?" "They should be there to-morrow night, for there are some fast sailers in the fleet, sir." "Find the swiftest canoe in the fleet; put on board rations for twenty-four hours, getting them from this schooner, and run down the river without delay. If your own crew is not huge enough to insure quick work, call on for what men you need. Can you leave in thirty minutes?" "In five, sir, if we knew where to find the canoe. We're ready, an' I'll keep the same crew." The commodore ran on deck, hailed the guard-boat, spoke a few words in a low tone, and returned to us, saying as he did so: