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 ship 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 ship'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 ship'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 ships. 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 ships; 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.

Without more ado, he whipped out his long sword, and addressed the lieutenant with careless superiority.

"Step to one side," directed he, "and have your fellows do the same, or I'll contrive a piece of work for you that none of you will forget."

The lieutenant spoke swiftly to his men. They threw forward their rifles; and Ezra had just sprung between them and Scarlett when there came a quiet, chuckling voice, saying:

"Hot work, Master Prentiss! Hot work, upon my word!"

All eyes went toward the point from where the voice proceeded; and all, even to the angry Scarlett and the stubborn lieutenant, burst into a laugh.

Upon a large flat stone, at no great distance, sat a dwarfish figure.

The short legs were crossed Turkish fashion, and the huge head, with its stiff crest of hair, was bent forward, the chin resting upon his palms.

"What!" said Ezra, astonished. "Is it you, Porcupine?"

The imp grinned, showing his strong white teeth.

"It is no one else," answered he, arising. "I had just come down this way to look about me before the others were awake. And," with a look at Scarlett, "it's a good thing that I have. Your friend there seems to want to get himself into mischief."

Scarlett sheathed his sword with a flourish.

"I crave the pardon of your a.s.sured smallness," said he with a sweep of his feathered hat. "It is a trick of the temper that lasts but a moment.

I also," turning to the lieutenant, "ask pardon of you, sir."

The young officer nodded stiffly and gestured the long rifles away. Then he turned and gave ear to the dwarf, who claimed his attention.

"Porcupine, you call him?" said Scarlett, his eyes traveling over the stunted body. "And a very good name it is, indeed. Was there ever such a stiff crest of hair upon a human before? Have you known him long?"

"He rode with myself and some friends from Philadelphia last fall,"

replied Ezra, "and proved himself of value to us all. He is faithful, watchful, shrewd and has uncommon courage."

"Excellent!" cried the soldier of fortune, with high admiration. "In those you have some beautiful qualities for so small a youth."

At the Porcupine's low-spoken words, the face of the American lieutenant changed in expression.

"If Master Brewster and his friends will vouch for these gentlemen,"

said he, "that will be enough for me."

"I will fetch them at once," said the dwarf.

Ezra advanced a step or two eagerly.

"You don't mean to say that Nat is hereabouts!" said he.

The Porcupine grinned and replied:

"Not only Nat, but Ben and George as well. We all rode this way yesterday, after a journey which we had been on for Dr. Warren to the lower counties."