“Surely they can, an’ I am a simple not to have thought of such a thing before,” was my reply spoken in as jolly a tone as could be assumed, for I was feeling a bit sore because of having the matter thus called to my attention when it should have been my duty, as the leader, to have thought of it first. “Then it is agreed that I shall not only bargain with Jethro for the fishin’ gear; but deliver the message?” Abel said questioningly, and, seeing that my comrades agreed, I replied: “Ay, send whatsoever information you can without arousin’ suspicion, for even though Jethro be a friend to the Cause, I hold that we are not warranted in repeatin’ what has been said by the general.” Abel set off without further delay, and he could not have arrived at Master Dyker’s dock before a cart, in which were two soldiers and a reasonably large supply of goods, was driven down to the water’s edge. “Surely the general did not intend we should starve while servin’ the Cause,” Sam said laughingly, as he went on shore to aid in taking aboard the goods. Never before had the Swiftsure had in her cabin such a supply of eatables. We were provisioned for at least a month’s cruise, with potatoes, salt pork, ship’s biscuit, and even the very best of butter, if you please. That the store was generous, could be told by that which one of the soldiers said when we had unloaded the cart: “It is a pity that we who serve in the American Army could not be outfitted in the same fashion! Why are you taking these ’ere stores board that sloop?” “Because you have brought them, I suppose,” Abe replied with a laugh. “But I allow they are for the benefit of some of the officers, whereas we who carry a musket must get along on salt fish and potatoes, without any such luxuries as butter and pork.” “You don’t look as though you came very near bein’ starved,” Sam said laughingly, for the fellow was as fat as a pig made ready for a fair, and he, seemingly realizing that he had spoken foolishly, turned the scarecrow of a horse townward without further parley. Even before we carried our provisions aboard did we inspect the weapon, and truly it was a good one--as good as could be found anywhere in the American Army, with even more of ammunition than seemed necessary. We had no more than gotten all these things stowed snugly in the sloop’s cabin when Abel Grant returned, and from the burden which he carried it was evident that Jethro Dyker had made no very serious protest against supplying us with fishing gear. “I’m allowin’ here’s enough to make it look as if we were out for business,” Abel said as he entered the cabin, and, there seeing the stores which occupied nearly every inch of the deck space, he added as if in alarm: “Who sent all that?” “Two soldiers brought it,” and Abraham laughed heartily at the expression of dismay on the “admiral’s” face. “Are you goin’ to find fault because we are outfitted in good shape?”