Part 9 (1/2)

”Now, tell us what you intend to do,” exclaimed Harry, whose patience was well-nigh exhausted.

”We are making some sham provisions,” said Frank.

”Oh, yes, I thought so,” said Thomas; ”but we haven't got pails and baskets enough.”

”Oh, that's nothing,” said Frank. ”We'll fill half a dozen of these old bags with shavings, and, as soon as it grows dark, we'll pull the Alert alongside the wharf, and tumble these sham provisions into her; then we will cover them up with that piece of sail, as if we wanted to keep them dry. We'll be sure to fool the men-o'-war.”

”I don't exactly see it,” said Thomas.

”Why,” said Harry, ”as soon as we are out of sight, their spies, who are, of course, watching every movement, will go and tell Charley Sheldon that we have got the things stowed away in the Alert.”

”That's very well, as far as you go,” said Ben; ”but suppose they should mistrust that something is in the wind, and should go to work and examine the provisions?”

”What if they do?” said Frank. ”It will be too dark for them to make much of an examination; and, if they put their hands into the boat, they will feel the baskets and pails there, and will go away satisfied.”

The boys now saw through the trick, and there was no longer any feeling of doubt in their minds. They were now as certain of success as they had before been of being captured.

In a few moments the ”sham provisions,” as Frank had called them, were all completed, and, placing them where they could be easily taken out, they locked the door, to prevent surprise, and started for the house.

As they were about to enter the gate, George suddenly exclaimed,

”See there!”

The boys looked in the direction George indicated, and saw the blockading squadron, with the exception of two boats, anch.o.r.ed in the creek, just opposite the long dock. The North Star, a fine, swift-sailing little schooner, was anch.o.r.ed near the middle of the stream, and a boy sat in the stern sheets, reading a book. The Sampson, a very large sloop-rigged boat, was standing up the creek, under full sail. These were the ”police boats,” and they were taking their stations.

”I wonder where the Sampson is going,” said Harry.

”She's going to take her station in Duck's Creek,” said Ben.

Upon hearing this, Harry's expectations fell again.

”It's no use,” he exclaimed. ”Charley Sheldon knows too much for us.”

”Not a bit,” said Frank. ”This arrangement is only for to-night. When we get up in the morning, we shall find the boats all out in the river.”

This immediately rea.s.sured Harry; and, after watching the Sampson until she disappeared in Duck's Creek, he led the way to the house.

After supper, as soon as it began to grow dark, they proceeded to put their plans into execution; but, before they started, Frank said,

”Now, boys, we must watch and see how the trick takes, for I know that there are spies now around that boat-house. As soon as we get the sham provisions into the boat, one or two of us had better slip down into the willows behind the wharf, and see what course things are going to take.”

”Well,” said Harry, ”suppose you and Bill act as spies.”

”Agreed. Come on, but don't act as if you suspected anything.”

And he led the way toward the boat-house.

Two of the boys busied themselves in bringing out the sham provisions, and the others brought the Alert alongside, and fastened her to the dock, in front of the boat-house. Frank and Harry then got down into the boat, and the other boys pa.s.sed the provisions down to them, and they placed them in such a manner as to take up as much s.p.a.ce as possible. They were soon all stowed away, and covered over with a large sail, as if to keep off the dew.

Ben and George then got into a small skiff that lay at the dock, and towed the Alert out into the middle of the creek, and anch.o.r.ed her.