“I am sure your dinner will be far more elaborate than anything I have upon my own table,” said General Howe. “There being no fresh provisions in the market, I have to put up with salt junk.”
“Do you think the present scarcity of food will continue long?” Ruth inquired.
“I trust not. It will be some time before the government supplies reach me from England, but I have dispatched vessels to Halifax and the West Indies, which, with fair winds, ought to be here in the course of a week.”
“It is tantalizing to know there are abundant supplies of vegetables in the farmers’ cellars, not twenty miles away, that droves of cattle and sheep come to Mr. Washington, and we cannot get a joint of mutton or a cabbage,” said Mr. Newville.
“If the provincial pirates do not intercept the vessels, we shall have fresh provisions soon; but they are a daring set of rebels who live down towards Cape Ann. A schooner darted out the other day from Marblehead, and captured the brig Nancy and a rich cargo which I could ill afford to lose,—two thousand muskets, one hundred thousand flints, thirty thousand cannon-balls, and thirty tons of musket-balls, and a thirteen-inch mortar. I understand Mr. Washington is greatly elated by the capture, as well he may be.”
“Cannot Admiral Graves protect the transports?” Mr. Newville asked.
“Perhaps a little more enterprise on the part of the marine force would be commendable. The provincials, I must admit, show far greater zeal than is seen in the king’s navy.”
“It is commonly remarked that the navy is not doing much,” said General Ruggles.
“The army, although it is not marching into the country, is far more active, judging from the firing which I hear through the day,” Berinthia remarked.
General Howe scanned her face, wondering if there was not a trifle of sarcasm in the words. He knew he was being criticised by the Tories for his inactivity; that Admiral Graves and the officers of the navy were asking when the army was going to scatter Mr. Washington’s rabble.