CHAPTER XVIII TROUBLED TIMES It was a big thing that Phil Warrington and Andy Sabine had done in capturing the consort of the _Vixen_, floating it to safe and secret harborage, and delivering its valuable cargo over to trusted agents of the continental army. The chums tried to appear simply glad and modest, when Mr. Eaton, after a visit to the swamp, returned to them filled with admiration for their act and the deepest satisfaction over results. For all that, Phil thrilled with genuine pride over the compliments of the sterling patriot, and Andy held his head an inch or two higher. The big sailboat was found to be loaded with military stores of which the colonists were in sore need. There were in fact, sufficient arms and ammunition to equip a whole military company and defend a town. Mr. Eaton had taken Ralph with him to inspect the boat, he insisted that his guests had seen enough hardship for one night at least. When he returned, it was to send Ralph to rouse up some neighbors. Phil and Andy, worn out with their arduous exertions, went to sleep on the long settle in the kitchen. When they awoke, it was to find Mrs. Eaton bustling about the room preparing breakfast. She greeted Phil and his introduction of Andy with a welcoming smile, and, putting on their dry coats and shoes, the boys went outside to find Ralph at a grindstone in a shed sharpening an old hunting knife. "Hello, fresh as larks, eh?" cried the energetic lad cheerily. "Lots of work been done since you went to sleep." "How's that?" questioned Andy. "Well, if the Britishers should happen to trace that sailboat, they will find her cargo gone. Left here on wagons for Lexington and Concord over two hours ago. I tried to get Mr. Eaton to rig up the boat with a couple of small cannons, furnish it with some muskets, and I'd go pirating down the Bay. They laughed at me, so I've got to give up that wild idea, as they call it, for the time being. Tell you a secret, though," continued Ralph impressively: "if things get desperate I'll come back here, get that boat afloat and do something for my country. She's a trim craft, I tell you--too good to lie rotting in the swamp. You may yet see her under sail with myself the bold privateer of Boston bay." Ralph was only half-fooling. His suggestion caught Andy immensely. There was a call to breakfast, and then Ralph took his guests up to his room in the attic. He showed them a bundle on the bed, beside which lay the hunting knife and an old-fashioned pistol. Everything indicated preparation for some emergency, and Phil regarded Ralph inquiringly. "Looks as if you were getting ready to go to war," he observed.