“Ay, lad, that’s just the size of it, or I’m way off my reckonin’. I’ve seen such things before. They’re called ‘camels,’ an’ I’ve heard say it was the Dutch who invented them in order to carry vessels over shallow places.” Even now I failed to understand their purpose, and, seeing the questions in my eyes, the old man continued: “Either of our brigs draws too much water to be taken out over the bar while the lake is as low as it is now--that much you’ll allow. Later on, when these ere craft are built, an’ Captain Perry is ready to put to sea, the brigs will be taken out as far as they’ll float, an’ these camels made fast alongside, fore an’ aft. The water will be let into ’em through the port-holes in the sides an’ deck, till they’re sunk, after which beams will be passed from one to the other under the ship’s keel. Then the hatches are put on again, an’ battened down till the hulks are water-tight, after which the pumps are set to work. Now you lads know full well that once air takes the place of water, these scows will have considerable liftin’ power, an’ up goes the brig as a matter of course.” The old man paused as if thinking he had told all that was necessary; but I was so thick-headed that he was forced to explain every detail of the proposed crossing, although Alec probably did not need so much information because of understanding it thoroughly from the first description. Until now I had failed to realize that the brigs could not leave the bay unaided until the water was higher, else I might have had even more fear regarding what it would be possible for the British to do; but after such fact had been made apparent I saw great cause for alarm. “Suppose the enemy’s squadron should come at the very moment one of our vessels was trussed up on those box-like camels?” I asked; and old Silas shrugged his shoulders as he replied:-- “There is the chief danger, my lad; an’ I’ll answer for it that your father an’ Captain Perry have discussed such a disaster again an’ again since the lack of men forced them to linger here until the water fell low. If the Britishers should come, there would be the end of whatever craft might be on the bar at the time.” “Do you suppose others beside us know of what is to be done?” I asked, anxiously. “It stands to reason all do, lad, unless they are blind. When such craft as these are bein’ built, curious ones are likely to ask the reason why.” As he spoke, there came upon me like a flash of light what we had heard on the North Foreland that winter’s afternoon when Alec and I were held prisoners in the narrow pen which was like to have been our grave. Then we learned, because of the information in possession of the enemy, that among the people of Presque Isle was at least one who stood ready to betray us--one who was willing to sacrifice his neighbors in order to curry favor with the Britishers.