"A very wise and excellent father he must be," replied Jackson, "if I may judge of him by the training he has given his son."
"Thank you, sir, in his name," answered Sam, rising and making his best bow.
"To come back to the business in hand," resumed Jackson. "You'll need a boat and some camp equipments."
"A boat, yes, but as for camp equipments, I can make out without them very well. I've camped a good deal and I know how to manage."
"Very well, then, you'll be all the lighter. How many of your boys will you need?"
"Two or three,—partly to make a show of a camp, but more because it may be necessary to send some of them back with news. My brother Tom and my black boy, with one or two others will be enough."
"Very well. Now you must be off as soon as possible. I shall march to Mobile in a day or two, and organize for defence there. Send your news there. You had better march directly from this place, so that your arrival will excite no suspicion. I will provide you with a map of the country. Have you a compass?"
"Yes sir, I brought one with me from home."
"There are boats enough to be had among the fishermen, I suppose, but how to provide you with one is the most serious problem I have to solve in this matter. My army chest is empty, and my personal purse is equally so."
"I can manage all that, sir, if I may take an axe or two and an adze from the shop here."