Although Abel spoke in jest, there was to me much in the idea that might be of advantage in case, as General Putnam had so kindly suggested, there should be work for us to do. Such a craft as ours would not only make for us a convenient headquarters, but serve as means of transport in event of our having journeys to perform. Therefore it was that I did not join my comrades in the laugh which followed Abel’s speech, and Sam said jestingly: “Perhaps Ephraim would not be willin’ to admit an admiral into the organization, thinkin’ that he ought to hold that position as well as the office of commander-in-chief.” Had another lad thus spoken I might have thought there was somewhat of malice in the words; but I knew Samuel Garratt too well to credit him with anything of the kind, and replied in much the same tone he had used: “Considerin’ the fact that the Minute Boys of Long Island haven’t even a captain, it strikes me that we are goin’ a little fast to count on such officers as commander-in-chief and admiral.” Whereupon Abel said in genuine surprise: “I had an idea that when you boys made yourselves up into a regiment of Minute Boys, Ephraim Lyttle was the commander.” “And so he is,” Abraham and Sam replied emphatically, and, regardless of all I could say they would not have it otherwise, both stoutly declaring that it was in their minds from the start that I was to be the leader. Now I myself had not been so vain as to believe my comrades would trust in me to such an extent; but I should be setting down a falsehood if I said that such a token of confidence did not please me, for if we should come to do half of that which had been in my mind when we proposed to call ourselves Minute Boys, then had these comrades of mine much the same as put their lives into my keeping, and that you must allow is no slight evidence of faith in another’s ability. “If I am to be the leader,” and I spoke jestingly, although my heart was full of gratitude to my comrades, “then my first order shall be that we get under way, for I can see no profit in loiterin’ here after the prisoners have been landed, an’ much of possible danger, if it should be noised around that we gave up two Tories to an officer of the American Army.” “That is good sound commonsense,” Abel said approvingly, as he hoisted the mainsail, “an’ if the general of this ’ere army don’t get any further astray in the rest of the orders he gives, I for one will be willin’ to follow as well as obey him.” Abel took the helm when we were headed for Master Dyker’s dock once more, and I noticed that in tacking he was careful not to venture very near the shore, more particularly when we were standing toward the battery, where was a dense throng of men who appeared even more excited than when I was among them.