It was when the base plot of Governor Tryon’s was unmasked that we decided it was time for us to show the Tories of Long Island, who outnumbered the loyal men eight to one, that there were some who would lay down their lives, if needs be, for freedom from British misrule. We three lived within half a gunshot of each other on the shore of Wallabout bay, and owned, because of having built her from keel to masthead, the sloop Swiftsure, in which we often sailed to New York when our fathers failed in finding work to occupy our time at home. When the first inkling of Tryon’s plot was made known, even the Tories of the island were eager to hear what might be going on, and the consequence was that not a man remained at home, because of the great excitement, therefore were we three at liberty to do very nearly as we pleased, so that we did not disregard any rules of the household previously laid down. At Israel Dyker’s dock, on the New York side, we were allowed to moor our sloop whenever we pleased, and Master Dyker’s son Jethro, who cared for his father’s boats, was ever willing to keep a watchful eye over ours. Therefore it was we three lads could go and come much as we pleased, save, which needs not the saying, when we had work at home to occupy our time. In ordinary seasons boys on a farm would have but few idle hours at their disposal; but at this particular season little was thought or talked of except the attempt to throw aside the yoke which the king had made heavier and heavier each day, until our people would have been worse than curs had they submitted tamely to the injustice and oppression. Even the lads talked politics in those days, and we knew full well what was being done in behalf of the colonies, even as we did the many devices of our enemies to grind us yet further into the dust. The Cause had but few friends on Long Island in that year of 1776, and perhaps we who favored it were bound more closely together by the knowledge that among our neighbors the Tories outnumbered us at least eight to one. Therefore it was that when information of the dastardly plot against Washington and some of the other generals began to leak out, we--meaning boys as well as men who were for independence--were not a little concerned regarding our own safety. It was known full well that Governor Tryon himself was at the head of the cowardly movement, and if he could find people willing to strike a blow against the leaders of our movement, what might we not expect from our Tory neighbors who had private scores to settle with many of us? Thus it can be seen that when we three lads bound ourselves together by solemn oaths to stand up against any who might try to lay hands on either of us, it was by no means a childish game we were playing at. Even Abel Grant admitted that we were wise in organizing for our own defense; but he took it upon himself to laugh at the high-sounding name we gave to our federation.