Both the statesmen smiled; and Mr. Hancock proceeded. “At this time there is at Portsmouth a new sloop-of-war being made ready for sea. She is called the Ranger, and is to sail under the mastership of Captain John Paul Jones.” The boy drew in his breath and the grasp of his hands tightened upon the arms of the chair. The story of the wonderful cruises of this new sea-king in the Providence and Alfred was ringing through the land; he had spread such terror by his deeds upon blue water that British merchants feared to send their vessels to sea, and British frigates were scouring the Western waters in search of him like a pack of fierce, baffled hounds. “The Ranger is to sail for France,” said Mr. Hancock, “and Captain Jones is to deliver an important document into the hands of Mr. Franklin, our commissioner in that country.” Mr. Jefferson here laid a packet, sealed with great splotches of red wax, upon the table. As he did so there came a slight rustling among some thick bushes that grew beneath the window, and a dark, foreign looking face appeared, and a pair of burning black eyes looked into the room. So interested were the three at the table within that the man’s presence was unnoticed. “We want you to proceed to Portsmouth and deliver this packet to Captain Jones,” spoke Mr. Jefferson. “I’ll do it,” said Ethan promptly. “And, further, you are to sail with him in his ship and accompany him to Paris.” “Very well, sir,” answered the lad, quietly. “As every person knows who is at all interested in the welfare of the country,” said the president of Congress, “our sole hope of success in this war lies in the possibility of securing the aid of France against our enemy. But France has seen us go down in defeat after defeat; she has feared that we are not strong enough to continue the fight, and so far has refused to ally herself with us. But this victory of General Gates will put a different face upon matters. If the news that we send here, and the secret instructions that accompany it, are placed in the hands of Mr. Franklin at Paris, the help of France and her fleets are almost assured us.” The boy’s eyes gleamed as he watched the white fingers of Mr. Hancock tapping the red-sealed packet; and the dark, strange face peering in at the window was filled with an expression of triumph. “Let the contents of these documents, however, come under the eyes of Lord North, or any other member of King George’s ministry, and all would be ruined. None but the very highest British officials would understand their meaning; but these would grasp it instantly, and a condition for which we have striven for months would at once be changed, and France would find it to her disadvantage to take sides with us.” “All this means that the instructions are to be guarded carefully,” said Ethan. “As you would guard your life,” said Mr. Jefferson, laying his hand upon his young secretary’s shoulder.