“Pray to Captain Dobbins that I be confined on board this ship!” he cried to the soldier who had brought us the command. “Entreat him by the friendship of former days not to deliver me into the keeping of those who would shed my blood!” Tears stood in the traitor’s eyes, so great was his fear, and I turned my head away, not caring to look at that which was so disagreeable, for there was no pity in my heart toward one who would sell his countrymen. “Go, and repeat what he has said to Captain Dobbins,” Alec commanded the soldier, and the latter obeyed, returning a few moments later with the word: “He is to be confined on board this vessel. You lads are to go into the cabin.” We obeyed right willingly, for neither of us cared to remain while our prisoner was being taken on board, and having gone below into Captain Perry’s cabin, we were called upon to give a detailed account of our forenoon’s work. When the story was finished my father sent us on deck again, neither he nor Alec’s brother making any comment, and once there we saw that the traitor’s boat was empty. He had been disposed of in some fashion which did not concern us, so that there was no possibility of his being able to carry further information to the enemy. Old Silas, the gunner, met us near the companionway, clasping each by the hand as he said, with more feeling than I had believed it possible for him to display:-- “You have done good work this day, lads, but unwittingly caused sorrow to many in Presque Isle; for there be no honest man who will feel other than deepest distress because of findin’ a trusted neighbor to be a villain.” “Would it have pleased you better, Master Boyd, if we had let him go free?” Alec asked. “Heaven forbid, lad! While one may be distressed because of the unmaskin’, there’ll be great relief at knowin’ that information of our movements is no longer bein’ sold to the enemy. I have no question but you have saved the fleet from destruction, unless it so be he has already carried word of our intention to take the vessels over the bar. Once the Britishers know that we count on leavin’ the bay, you may be certain Captain Finnis’s squadron will lay off an’ on waitin’ a chance to pounce upon us.” “What will they do with him?” I asked. “That is more than I can say. He deserves the death of a traitor; but whether there be sufficient proof against him is another matter.” “Surely you do not believe there is any question of his purpose in being on the lake front where we found him?”