“I believe that while he won’t declare himself a friend to the Cause, he is in heart favorable to it, and a word now and then from such as you and Master Garratt will do much to strengthen him in his purpose, for I am counting that before many days have passed he will come to believe that he may throw off all allegiance to the king, through having learned how bitterly we of the colonies have been oppressed.” “Both Master Garratt and myself will go on board the sloop before leaving,” my father said, and thus we parted, I running with all speed toward my home, and he pushing off in the skiff toward the Swiftsure. CHAPTER VIII. DETECTED. Of the parting with my mother the least said the better for my own peace of mind. As a matter of course she insisted on knowing where I was going, and for what purpose, after which she gave way to grief as if I was on the road to certain death, and this although I did my best to persuade her that the danger was so slight as not to be worthy of consideration. Abe and Sam had both taken advantage of the opportunity to run home for a moment, and when we were together again I had no need to be ashamed of the redness of my eyes, for theirs were much like mine. We walked rapidly and in silence, neither caring to indulge in conversation until the sadness caused by parting from the dear ones had worn away somewhat, and it goes without saying that we took the most direct course for Gowanus bay, striking across country, rather than traveling by the highways where we might be seen by some of our Tory neighbors. A full hour passed before a word was said, and then Abe recalled to my mind that I was not fit to hold myself as leader of Minute Boys, even though my force numbered only three. “We have forgotten to bring away any provisions, an’ if two are to remain on duty while the third goes back with whatsoever of a report we may have to make, some of us stand a good chance of bein’ hungry before seein’ Wallabout bay again.” I came to a full stop, believing it was absolutely necessary we retrace our steps in order to atone for the neglect; but Sam would not listen to anything of the kind. “It is near noon already, an’ if we go back there’ll be little hope of our seein’ the British fleet this day. To go around by Master Onderdonk’s, whom we know is a true friend to the Cause, will not take us out of the direct course more than a quarter-mile, an’ there we can get what will stay our stomachs until the return of him who goes to New York first.” This was good advice, for, as I have said, we had walked a full hour before discovering our oversight, and, as a matter of course, twice that length of time would be wasted if we went back at once. Therefore it was we struck out for the highway, being forced to do so in order to reach Master Onderdonk’s; but we met no one, either Whig or Tory, and, therefore, no great harm was done, save as we lost that much time which might have been saved if I had had my wits about me.