It was well to midnight before any of us were ready to turn in, and then so soundly did we sleep that never one of us opened his eyes until Lieutenant Winterbottom leaped from the bulkhead down on to the deck of the sloop, causing her to heel over as if she had been struck by some passing craft. “A pretty company of Minute Boys this is, to be asleep when the sun is a couple of hours high, and honest men have nearly finished a day’s work!” the lieutenant cried cheerily, as he pushed open the hatch to look down upon us. It can well be fancied that we scrambled out in a hurry, giving very little attention to our toilets that morning, so eager were all hands to hear what work was to be performed; nor did the lieutenant keep us long in suspense. “If so be you still count yourselves as Minute Boys ready to obey the orders of the military commanders, your sloop is to be sailed into Wallabout bay, and there left at anchor as a headquarters for the company. The admiral and the prisoner will remain on board, ready to use her as a despatch boat, if occasion requires. The Minute Boys themselves are to make their way, by whatsoever course is most expedient, to some point on the shore overlooking Staten Island, where strict watch is to be kept of the British encampment and the fleet. One of the party is to report each evening, making his way from the place selected for observation to where the sloop is anchored, and going across to the town in her. Do you understand the orders, lads, or shall I try to make them more plain?” the lieutenant asked when he was come to an end. “We are simply to spy upon the enemy, as I understand it, sir, carryin’ word each night to New York of what has been done durin’ the day.” “Ay, that is it exactly, except that in case of any sudden movement on the part of the British you will despatch a messenger post haste with the information, the others waiting as long as is prudent so to do, taking due heed to your own safety in case the enemy proceed to make a landing on the Long Island shore.” “We will get under way at once, sir. There need not be any delay, for breakfast can be cooked while we are sailin’ across,” I said, and then harking back to the conversation which we lads had between ourselves in the cuddy on the previous night, I added, “Sam tells us that you saw Luther Stedman when he made his boasts as to having caused our capture.” “Ay, lad, although I question whether the Tory saw me. I chanced to be standing just inside the door of the coffee house on Broad Street, when he entered with some kindred spirits and was explaining to them why it seemed necessary for him to leave town at once. It appears that he counted on going down the harbor to crow over you, and I have had no little satisfaction, since learning of your safety, in imagining what must have been his feelings when he learned you had not only escaped, but carried off a prisoner.”