“We are like to come upon him again, accordin’ to my way of thinkin’,” Abraham Decker said thoughtfully. “He an’ his friends are such staunch Tories that wherever the red-coats are gathered there may we find them, like flies around molasses, an’ it may be the Minute Boys will have an opportunity of giving Luther a dose of his own medicine.” “I cannot blame you for wanting to do something of the kind,” the lieutenant said with a smile; “but you must remember that personal quarrels are to be put in the background now, because of your being engaged in a work that may prove to be of the greatest consequence to the Cause. As a matter of course you lads are not the only ones sent out to spy upon the enemy, but the general has believed from the first that three boys could do very much more of such work, and perform it better, than a like number of men, because of being less open to suspicion.” “There would be no question as to our havin’ aroused suspicion, if we came across Luther Stedman,” Sam said grimly. “He’d know without bein’ told, why we were at such a distance from Wallabout bay, an’ as for our dealing him a dose of medicine in case of comin’ across the Tory cur, I’m thinkin’ we’re the ones who’d have to take it.” “You are not running your nose into as much danger as when you sailed down past the fleet,” the lieutenant said as if thinking it necessary to stiffen our courage, and Abraham made haste to say: “We’re not like to turn back because of possible danger any more than we would run into it needlessly; but if on some night we fail to make a report, you may set it down as certain that Luther Stedman and his Tory followin’ have got the better of us.” “In which case I shall immediately make it my business, unless peradventure I have other work that cannot be neglected, to hunt up this Tory of yours, and, once finding him, you may rest assured I will get some inkling of where you may be. Don’t think that we here will be utterly careless as to your safety, for word has already been sent to the commanders of the different forces as to your duties, and orders given that every possible protection be thrown around you.” Then the lieutenant gravely shook hands with each of us in turn, even including Seth Hartley, and the expression on his face told more plainly than words could have done, that there was some question in his mind as to whether he might meet all of us again. In fact, in those days when the red-coats were pressing us so hardly, we who called ourselves Whigs could not but doubt, on parting with a friend, as to whether we might meet him again. The lieutenant went on shore abruptly, and Abel Grant, wearing a more somber expression than usual, said as he made ready the canvas for hoisting: “Cast off the hawsers, Seth! Sam, stir your stumps for a bit of breakfast, so that you three may set out with full stomachs, an’ the work of fillin’ them up finished before we come to anchor at Wallabout.”