I made mention of the fact to old Silas, telling him the whole story, and suggesting that the same person who had played the spy might yet be among us, but he laughed at my fears. “Do you think the Britishers themselves could not play the spy? I’ll answer for it that more than one of their soldiers have been in this town since the keels of the vessels were laid, an’ it is by such means that they were kept posted of our doings, not through treachery. I’ll answer for it we haven’t so mean a man among us.” The old man spoke so positively, and laughed so long at my fears, that I could not do otherwise than call myself a fool for having such suspicions, and straightway made every effort to put the matter from my mind. Silas Boyd told us of many large ships which he had seen floated over bars by use of “camels,” and otherwise gave so much interesting information concerning like engineering methods, that Alec and I listened to him eagerly until the day was spent, when we hastened to my home with all speed, lest mother should chide us for loitering when it was more seemly lads like us were snugly housed. But even while most deeply entertained by the old gunner’s stories, and when listening to my mother’s loving words, the idea was ever present in my mind that among us was a traitor, who would speedily carry to the British information of the “camels” which were being made ready to take our vessels over the bar. I said very little regarding this to Alec, lest he should make sport of me for being foolishly suspicious. Perhaps because of my silence on the subject the thought grew stronger until it became the same as a fact in my mind, and I cast about trying to decide who among us was so lost to all honesty as to betray his own countrymen to their ruin. When my father came home on this evening he reported that Captain Perry was more comfortable, as regarded the fever, and had given orders that Alec remain ashore until such time as commands were received for the fleet to leave port. “And that is to be within a few days, if one may judge from the indications,” the lad said, with a smile, when my father had reported his brother’s words. “Why do you think so?” “Because of the camels which are being built at the shipyard.” “How knew you for what purpose those hulks were intended?” my father asked sharply, and, as I thought, with no little disquietude of mind. As a matter of course it was necessary we should tell him all that had occurred during the day, and, having come to an end of our story, he said, half to himself:-- “I had hoped the people might not be quite so well informed.” “Why, sir?” I made bold to ask. “Think you any in this town would carry information to the enemy?” “That I am not prepared to say, but with some people gold is a weighty argument, and has been known to buy the conscience of many an apparently honest man.”