Therefore it was we remained on deck when we might have been sleeping, even though there was not one chance in a thousand of seeing, or, if we did catch a glimpse of the lad, there could be no possibility of having speech with him. We sighted no living thing along the entire shore of the North Foreland. By aid of a glass it was possible to make out the barracks where the troops had been encamped; but they appeared to be deserted, and we had good reasons for believing that the famous descent upon Presque Isle was abandoned. The British squadron was keeping out of sight also, and I, believing Commodore Perry would make immediate search for them, suddenly discovered cause for alarm. “Suppose your brother sails either east or west with the hope of coming across Commodore Barclay, is he not leaving Presque Isle unprotected?” I asked of Alec, as if believing he could answer the question in a satisfactory manner. “Who shall say that the much-talked-of expedition is not near the town at this moment, having awaited just such an opportunity as has now been given?” Old Silas passed at the moment I spoke, and, overhearing the question, took it upon himself to make reply:-- “Do you think our commander can be so stupid as you are tryin’ to make out? I’ll go bail that we look in at Presque Isle bay as often as once in every four-and-twenty hours so long as the wind serves, an’ while it holds calm there’s little chance the Britishers will land any very great shakes of an expedition.” “That’s it, exactly!” Alec cried, apparently much relieved by this view of the matter. “I knew Oliver wouldn’t leave his base of supplies at the mercy of the enemy, yet didn’t see exactly how it might be guarded if we were to search for Commodore Barclay’s squadron. There’s no hope of our seeing the French lad, and we’d best take our trick below, Dicky Dobbins, before it expires.” “That’s where you’re right, lad!” the old gunner cried approvingly. “Never lose a chance to take a rest, and by such means you will always be ready for hot work.” Then we two lads went to our hammocks on the gun-deck, and, once stretched out at full length, slumber visited our eyelids with but little delay. We were not awakened until sunset, and then going on deck we saw dead ahead, hardly more than two miles away, the entrance to Presque Isle bay. Old Silas was in the right when he said we should look in here as often as once in every four-and-twenty hours, for until the 9th day of August we cruised back and forth, watching and praying for a sight of the enemy. It was on the morning of the fourth day since our fleet came out across the bar, that we received reliable intelligence concerning the enemy from a French-Canadian, who was friendly to the Americans because of his enmity to the British.