“There are two who can’t at all events,” Sam said with a laugh, “an’ they are Luther Stedman an’ Ezra Billings. I wonder how those precious Tories are enjoyin’ themselves about this time?” “It may be they’ll gain their liberty sooner than we count on, for if the British take this town they will of course set free such as them,” I began, and stopped very suddenly at that point, for not above an hundred paces distant, walking along the water front as if searching for some one, was none other than Luther Stedman himself! So amazed was I at the knowledge that he whom we had believed was being kept where he could do no further mischief, had liberty to walk the streets, that I stood in open-mouthed astonishment staring at him, and one by one my companions followed the direction of my gaze, each in turn giving vent to an exclamation of anger and of astonishment. Whether the villainous cur saw us or not I am unable to say, although in view of what happened am I inclined to the belief that he recognized the sloop even before we were aware of his presence. Certain it is, however, that he walked leisurely along the street, ceasing now to gaze on either side, but apparently intent only on gaining such exercise as might be possible from a leisurely stroll, and we four, for Seth Hartley joined with us in our indignation, watched the fellow until he was lost to view in the distance, when Abel Grant cried in a tone of anger: “It seems that such high and mighty officers as Lieutenant Winterbottom have little care whether common people like us come to grief or not! It was no more work for him to keep those Tories in jail than to set them free, an’ the wonder of it is that we were not attacked while on duty at the Narrows.” “But why did he allow them their liberty?” I asked, and Abel replied bitterly: “Because there are some in this ’ere army of ours who don’t attend to their duty.” We were too thoroughly stupefied to discuss the matter, and as if with one accord went below, where we sat in silence for an hour or more, until Abel Grant said curtly: “If there’s a cook aboard this ’ere craft, I’m thinkin’ we’d best have somethin’ to eat, for if work is to be done to-morrow we must turn in an’ get a bit of rest.” My heart was very bitter when I lay down in the bunk that night, and the thought that Lieutenant Winterbottom, who had seemingly been a friend, should have so far neglected us as to allow these Tories their liberty at a time when they might do us grievous injury, kept slumber from my eyelids until a late hour. Next morning at the break of day we were hailed by the sergeant in command of a squad of men, who claimed to have direct orders from the lieutenant that they be taken across to Brooklyn in the sloop, and from that hour until the sun set again we had little opportunity to dwell upon our fancied wrongs. And yet during all this day, when it had seemed as if we were on the eve of battle, no sound was heard betokening activity of the enemy.