Part 25 (1/2)

Two tall ranges of lights were visible directly ahead and the oarsmen headed to pa.s.s in the thick murk between them. And this they would have safely done had it not been for the unforeseen. The little craft was driving along in fine style, when suddenly out of the darkness loomed the towering bulk of a s.h.i.+p without lights. Before they could prevent it, the dory fouled the chains; Scarlett was thrown from his seat amid a clatter of oars.

A sharp outcry came from the s.h.i.+p's deck. Feet were heard running forward and lights began to flash.

”Quick!” breathed Ezra, dragging the discomfited adventurer into his seat. ”To your oars before they make us out.”

Scarlett had just recovered his stroke and pushed the boat away from the s.h.i.+p's bow, when a solid shot, directed by the owner of a pair of sharp eyes, fell into the water beside them. Had they delayed another moment, it would have dropped into the boat, stove in the bottom and sunk them.

But they not only escaped this by their quick recovery, but also escaped the lights that were lowered over the side.

”It was a clever trick,” spoke Scarlett, guardedly. ”They kept no lights burning, for the purpose of entrapping any one that should attempt to steal by.”

They pulled noiselessly away, out into the harbor and into the thick of the British s.h.i.+ps. They heard the creaking of blocks as boats were lowered from the vessel with which they had collided; then they heard the splash of their oars. But they continued their strong, regular tugging at the sweeps, and gradually left the sounds behind. One by one they pa.s.sed the s.h.i.+ps; once, indeed, there came a doubtful hail; but they rested upon their oars for a full ten minutes and it was not repeated. Finally, as far as they could make out, they were free of all obstacles and fell to the sweeps with a will.

In a little while again, they stepped the mast and hoisted the lug-sail.

The breeze caught and filled this, and away the boat swept into the darkness, like a night-bird skimming the surface of the sea.

After a good hour's running they began to beat to and fro; but when the first glimmer of dawn struck the water they found themselves between Spectacle and Castle Islands; sighting Dorchester Point, they put for it with the lug full of wind, for several small sail of a suspicious nature were in plain view toward Thompson's Island.

As the dory neared the point, the American sentinels sighted it; there was a three-gun battery planted at no great distance, and this was trained upon the flying little craft. Some difficulty was had in getting ash.o.r.e, and when they had scrambled to solid ground, they found a file of men, ununiformed, but armed with long-barreled rifles and in charge of a youthful lieutenant.

”You will please give an account of yourselves,” announced this latter in a businesslike tone of voice.

Scarlett sat down, drew off his boots and emptied the water from them.

Ezra, however, gave his attention to the lieutenant.

”Sir,” said he, ”we are sympathizers of the colonies who have just made our way out of Boston through the fleet.”

The young officer, who wore a new, spick and span blue uniform turned up with red, regarded them suspiciously.

”That,” said he, with a glance out at the ominous black hulks that were now plainly showing through a faint early morning mist, ”would be a hard thing to do.”

”It was,” smiled Ezra, ”and good fortune alone enabled us to accomplish it.”

The young lieutenant, proud of his new trappings and his new office, saw fit to regard the two with great suspicion.

”My orders are to apprehend any one coming from the seaward,” spoke he, importantly. ”So it will be my duty to hold you until the colonel arrives to inspect this post.”

”And when will that be?” asked Gilbert Scarlett.

”Toward noon, or perhaps somewhat later,” replied the lieutenant.

The soldier of fortune drew on his wet boots and stood up.

”Sir,” observed he, his legs wide apart and his thumbs hooked in his belt, ”you seem to have very little notion as to the value of time. We have but a few hours to go about the business of saving the colonial army.”

The youthful officer started at this. But there was that in the hectoring tone of Gilbert Scarlett which he did not like. So he frowned and said sharply:

”If you have anything to impart my commission, issued by the Provincial Congress, makes me a proper person to hear it.”

That the speaker was right, even though unnecessarily stubborn, Ezra saw at once. But with the hot-headed adventurer it was a different matter.