The placid water below scarcely rippled, except where the tide seethed about the point of Governors Island; to the east of them stretched a beautiful country, but the heat had shrivelled the leaves of the trees, and the stretches of meadow-land were burnt bare and brown. Through the blue haze the towering masts and spars of the British vessels showed plainly rising against the hills. "The Lord has been kind in sending us no wind," said Carter, "otherwise that fleet might be all about us here." He waved the large spy-glass, which he carried under his arm, in the direction of the lower bay. Then he adjusted it to his eye. "Those British must be hungry," he said, "for they've eaten every horse on Staten Island, I've heard tell. Have a look," he added, extending the glass. "I beg your pardon for taking the first squint." George took it and levelled it across the water. The powerful lenses brought the ships as near as if they had been anchored close to shore. There lay one of the greatest fleets of vessels that had ever met together in the history of warfare, larger in numbers of men and armament than the Great Armada which Philip II. had sent against England--ships of the line, frigates, armed sloops, brigs, corvettes, and innumerable transports--thirty-seven men-of-war altogether, and four hundred other vessels loaded with troops; it was almost impossible to count them. Without the glass their hulls looked like a flock of gigantic wild fowl that had suddenly swooped down and covered the waters to the southward. Fully thirty-five thousand men were waiting there a chance to be landed to take the field against the nondescript army of the new-born country. "The King has sent all the ships in England, I should judge," remarked George. "And filled some of them with German soldiers at so much per head," said Carter. As the two talked on a slight breeze sprang up. Two large vessels which were lying furthest up the bay blossomed out into clouds of canvas. Slowly they came up to their cables and tripped them neatly: flags flew, signals were made throughout the fleet. [Illustration: "THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE!" EXCLAIMED CARTER, TAKING THE GLASS.] "By the Lord Harry, they're going to move!" exclaimed Carter, taking the glass from George's hands. "Those two boats are the _Rose_ and _Phoenix_ that sailed up the river in June, and only came down night before last." "That's so," said George. "They let go their guns as they came down the river, and bowled over a few chimneys, I remember." "We cannot prevent them going up the Hudson if it comes on to blow, and if they once reach the point of yonder island God help the city," responded Carter. The lads had started on a run down the slope; the forces in New York must be informed of what was going on at all hazard.