Had I not seen them with my own eyes, I should have doubted whether the information that they were landed could have been correct, and even as it was I questioned whether they might not have gone back, until late in the afternoon while we were lying on Long Island side, some of our people told of a skirmish that had taken place near Bennett’s Cove, when four Americans were wounded. It was not an engagement in any sense of the word; but blood had been spilled, and those who, like myself, were beginning to question whether the enemy intended to make an attack, no longer doubted but that the critical time must be near at hand. We did not see Lieutenant Winterbottom during this day; but just at nightfall a messenger came from Flatbush Pass with an order from the lieutenant that we moor the sloop off the ferry-landing on the Brooklyn side, there to await further commands. This same man told us that there had been some skirmishing between our advance guard and those of the British; that Colonel Marton of the New Jersey Levies had been seriously wounded, and Master Rutgers, whom all us lads knew well, was killed. When we had anchored our boat in accordance with the commands received, perhaps fifty yards from the shore, and were all thoroughly tired with the exercise of working the craft from early dawn without a moment for rest, save such as could be had while we were standing to and fro across the river, Abel Grant said as if it was a matter of not overly much importance: “I’m allowin’ that all hands can’t afford to turn in to-night; no one may say when the bloomin’ Britishers will take it into their heads to make an attack, an’ it would be a pretty kettle of fish if we should be found asleep when most sorely needed.” “There’s no need of so many words about it, if you count on our standin’ guard from now till mornin’,” Abraham said petulantly, and as a matter of fact the temper of our crew had been sorely tried that day by the fault-finding of those who called themselves soldiers, and yet had never smelled burning powder. “Say what you want done, an’ we’ll come up to the scratch.” “Then I’m allowin’ that Seth an’ I’ll stand our trick from now until midnight. Ephraim an’ Abe are to take the next turn until four o’clock, when Sam, who professes to be the cook, shall come on an’ make breakfast ready.” It was a matter of indifference to me, this setting a watch. I did not believe any such precaution was needed, yet at the same time had no intention of running counter to the admiral’s plans when they concerned the handling of the sloop. I was dissatisfied with myself because we three lads, who had counted so eagerly on being able to do important work as Minute Boys, were come down to playing ferrymen for a lot of half-baked soldiers who had more of insolence than patriotism in their hearts, and when Sam accused me of being sore-headed, I told him that which was in my mind, whereupon he said laughingly: