There was no good reason why we should dispute over the meaning of James Martin’s story. We knew well enough that some disaster had befallen our people, and after all we had seen of the enemy’s strength, it really did not seem strange the king’s forces should have come out best, they being entitled to do so by sheer press of numbers. The one question I wanted settled was as to how we could do anything toward making ready for the work before us, save by remaining on the alert, and, lest the others should know how thoroughly ignorant I was, I asked advice of our prisoner. “It wouldn’t do any harm to warp in a bit nearer the shore,” Seth replied, speaking in a low tone, for he understood that I did not care the others should know I had been seeking advice. “Then it stands you in hand to feed the company, for I’m thinkin’ that when our work begins there’ll be scant time for eatin’ till it’s over.” “Then you believe our people are beatin’ a retreat?” I asked. “There can be no other meanin’ to the story the recruit has been tellin’, an’ now has come the time when you lads may do better service for your Cause than if you stood in the trenches with a musket a full week at a stretch. The work now is to save your army, an’ you with your boat can do more than could be effected with all the American muskets on the island.” CHAPTER XII. THE RETREAT. Although Seth Hartley had not said very much, I understood exactly what he meant, and verily do I believe there was no other on the sloop who could have aided me in pulling myself together as did our prisoner--the lobster-back whom we had stolen from the British fleet. As if the idea was one that had just come into my mind, I gave the word that the sloop should be warped as near inshore as the depth of water would permit, and at the same time warned Sam that he had better be getting about his duties as cook. “If so be we must play ferry-boat again, we’ll be in shape for the work,” I said, putting on such a swagger as I thought should be worn by the captain of Minute Boys. “He who fights an’ runs away may live to fight another day, so the old song says, an’ I dare venture to say that’s what General Washington has got in his mind when he orders a retreat. We’ll see our people forcin’ the Britishers back before we’re many days older, an’ now all we’ve got to do is help the Americans off the island.” I saw Abraham looking at me out of the tail of his eye, and knew he was trying to make out why I was become such a swashbuckler so suddenly; but never a word in the way of explanation did I offer, and very likely it is a mystery to Abe Decker even to this day. However, my orders were carried out very promptly, and within another hour we were ready for whatsoever might be required. Indeed our preparations had been made none too soon, for Abel Grant had not yet had time to light his pipe before the foremost of the retreating army could be seen even amid the gloom.