By this time I was sufficiently master of myself to realize that fortune had been exceedingly kind to us, although my brain whirled in the effort to make out why the lad had remained in New York instead of coming to meet us as he proposed. However, I seized him by the hand to make certain he was the real flesh and blood Sam, instead of an apparition, pouring out a volley of questions which would have required a full hour in the answering, and giving no heed to the fact that he was demanding a like amount of explanation from me. “We _were_ captured,” Abraham cried gleefully. “An’ what is better, we made our escape, taking with us a lobster-back who had been sent on board the sloop as guard; but there isn’t time to tell the story now, for we must first make report to General Putnam, an’ then you shall come aboard, Sam, my boy, where you belong, to hear a full account of the wonderful adventures of the Minute Boys and their admiral.” Now it was I came to understand that none other than Lieutenant Winterbottom was Sam’s companion, and again had fortune favored us, for he above all others would be able to gain, if so be any man could, a speedy interview with the commander. “We had given up all hope of seeing you lads again, at least, until the war was come to an end,” he said cheerily, taking me by the arm, “and I am as eager as Sam to hear the story, which I hope to do after you have seen General Putnam. You lads have done good work, better perhaps than could have been performed by men, and the fact that you lost no time in sending the report has pleased the general exceedingly.” “Is that true, or are you simply tryin’ to smooth down our vanity?” I asked, waiting in suspense for the answer. “General Putnam himself said, after your friend Sam made his report, that you had gained more information in a shorter time than he believed could have been possible.” Now indeed was I treading on air. We had returned in safety after it seemed as if our race was already run, and what was yet better, had won the approbation of the soldier who had trusted in us. Ten minutes later, thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant Winterbottom, we were standing in the presence of General Putnam, and I was telling the story of our adventures with no little of detail, for it seemed to me as if the more he learned regarding that which had been done, the more readily would he fall in with our plan of adopting Seth Hartley, for by this time I had begun to doubt whether he might believe it wise. “And your prisoner; where is he?” the general asked when I had come to an end of the tale. “On board the sloop, sir, an’ now we would keep him, if it so be we may.” “How is that? How is that? Hob-nobbing with the enemy before you have really begun to show your mettle?” and I fancied the general spoke sternly.