Sharp as was his examination of them a moment later, he seemed to be entirely satisfied with the documents presented to him by the man named Allen. He had obtained the customary authority, as a loyal merchant of the port of New York, to ship by the _Termagant_ to his agent in London, a properly scheduled assortment of valuable furs. All had been officially inspected and approved. "Come down below," said Captain Watts. "All your packages are down. I'll give these things another overhauling in my cabin." "Certainly, Captain Watts," replied Mr. Allen. "Whatever you wish." He was even willing to help carry down the furs, and one of the smaller parcels of them was in his hand when they reached the cabin. He still held it after the door was shut and bolted, leaving him and the captain alone together. Then his entire manner changed somewhat suddenly, and he threw his parcel down upon the table. "Captain Luke Watts," he said, "that's it. You'd best take out the papers, now, and stow 'em away somewhere. You ain't sure there won't be another look taken at the furs 'fore you git away. I wouldn't risk it. They're getting suspicious, all 'round." Open came the parcel, as he spoke, and in the very middle of it lay a bundle of such materials as would ordinarily have been sent through a post-office. "It's about all the cargo I'll have, of any consequence," remarked Luke, staring down at the unexpected mail. "General Schuyler told me to say," replied Allen, "that all these are of great importance. Some are from him to his friends in England. You'll know how to have 'em delivered. Some are to go to Holland and some to Paris. That last is all the way from the Congress at Philadelphia. It got to me by way of Morristown and one of our Jersey Tories, you know. That's old Ben Franklin's own handwriting." "I'll see that they go straight through," said Luke, quietly. "I'll put 'em safe away, now, first thing." "You'll swing at a yard-arm inside o' one day, if you're ketched with 'em," said Allen. "I've been up among the Six Nations, all the way through to Niagara, for my brother's concern on Pearl Street. I went to buy furs for them, you see, and did first-rate. I fetched along packs o' news, too, for the British commanders. It was risky business, working my way through Putnam's lines, though. I came pretty nigh to being shot or hung by the rebels, you know." "Ye-es, I know," responded Luke. "They came jest about as nigh as that to hangin' me, they did. The bloodthirsty pirates! Get ashore, now, Allen. I'll land your furs for ye. I hope your concern'll make a good thing out of 'em." "Finest furs you ever saw," laughed Allen. "Look out for spies and searchers. Here's good success to good King George--Washington, and may the glorious flag of England float victoriously--till we pull it down! Luke Watts, I'm the poisonest kind of Tory, I am!"