“Nothing like it. And she’s been doing good work for Congress ever since, even if I do say it myself. But, to come back to the present: Some time ago I learned that your father was still held a prisoner in the hulks there,” pointing to some heavy, unpainted and unseaworthy craft that were anchored off a sandy headland and whose lights could be plainly seen. “My father!” There was a sharp note of pain in Tom’s voice. “Then he has not been sent to the English prisons; he has been detained here in one of those hulks all this time, as I supposed. What a fate!” The lad would have broken down had not Captain Deering made haste to reassure him. “There, there, boy! don’t take it so hard. He’s done very well, considering. The party who brought me the news of him says he’s in good health.” “Even if that be so,” broke in Tom, his eyes burning as they fastened themselves upon the hulks, “even if that be so, how long can it last? If he remains there he will break down both in health and spirit.” “He’ll not be there long,” said Uncle Dick, quietly. Tom looked at him quickly, eagerly. “What do you mean by that,” seizing his uncle by the arm; “do you mean that----” “That is just exactly what I do mean,” said the seaman. “Inside of an hour your father is to be transferred from the hulk in which he is held prisoner to the frigate Benbow, which you see lying over there,” pointing to the vessel of war nearest the shore. “She is to sail to-morrow for England, and Lord North has issued orders for the captain to bring your father and some other wealthy prisoners with him.” “Yes, yes,” said Tom, his voice husky with anxiety. “And your plan is----” “To attack the boat that carries them from the hulk to the frigate. I have, as I said before, almost the entire crew of the Defence here in her pinnace and gig; and each man of them is armed for desperate work. There is room in the boats for some of your friends if they care to join us in this little affair; we cannot have too many, as there is no knowing what sized crew will man the boat; and with, perhaps, a marine or two for good measure.” Tom despatched Cole back to bring up the remainder of his band; and when they advanced and learned what was going forward they, to a man, volunteered to help. The first thing to do was to see to Laura’s safety; Captain Deering sent one of his men for a fisherman’s yawl which he knew was drawn up on the sand a short distance below. The fisherman was an ex-member of the Defence’s crew and a stout friend of his old captain; so when he and one of his grown sons appeared with the yawl he readily agreed to row Laura to the schooner, the whereabouts of which was carefully explained to him.