"But where are we, anyhow, Lord Dunmore?" asked Will. "Your excellency has rescued us, true enough, and made the matter all the better by adding this splendid dinner, but whereabouts on the river are we?" "As near as I can judge, we are about twenty miles above Westover. Hey! Captain Foy? Isn't that about the reckoning?" replied Dunmore. "And if we have good luck and little fighting, we shall be through our business in this part of the river and on our way down stream before this time to-morrow evening. There is very little to do after all. Graham, here, and Fordyce of the _Hound_ had some little difficulty yesterday with a small party of rebels, but they were all shot or dispersed except the leaders, who were keel-hauled by Captain Fordyce. He and Cahill are very able men in their line of work and their vessels are well adapted for these inland waters. But it is a very malodorous business and the sooner we get clear of these unhealthy swamp vapors, and get a sniff of salt air, the better. I hope, Foy, you will see that plenty of sulphur is burned aboard to-night." "Can we be landed to-night?" I asked. "Yes," said Will, "can we get ashore? They will expect us at the Hall and will be much troubled if we don't get back before bedtime." "I don't see how it can be done, do you Foy?" said Dunmore. "We had an exchange of shots with the shore, as you may have noticed from the schooner, just before coming to anchor, and I would hardly think it wise to send a boat in there at this time of night. You wouldn't care to land there this evening, would you, Graham?" "No, your excellency, it would hardly be safe," replied that officer. "Besides," continued Dunmore, "Fordyce stopped at Harrison's to take him and his party aboard the _Hound_, and from Fordyce's description of your affair on the beach with Cahill's men, they will probably be satisfied that you are in safe keeping for the night. Harrison was in a hurry to get to Norfolk, as he expected to sail for England soon,--so his note said--and I gave Fordyce orders to end his patrol there and start back immediately. He will go down on the morning tide and meet us below in a day or two. Cahill, and some of those small craft astern of us can finish up the work here and above us." "Then we shall have to spend the night aboard?" I inquired. "I am sorry to force my hospitality upon you, gentlemen," said Dunmore, "but I see no other way out of it. Anyhow, I take it for granted you would have joined us to-morrow, in the interest of the King, so the hardships will not be so very great. However, if you would rather go back aboard the _Black Eagle_ and spend the evening with Captain Cahill, you may do so. Shall I call away the boat?" And as he said this his eyes twinkled with some little amusement.