“What did you say his name is?”
“Lawrence Rutledge is the name he gave me, sir.”
“Of Charleston?”
“That’s where he said he lived, sir,” answered the boatswain, wondering why his superior was so closely questioning him on these points.
The lieutenant resumed his upright position and with a half laugh said:
“It’s lucky for you that you chose discretion as the better part of valor this time. If Lawrence Rutledge is any way akin to his father, you’d have had the tidiest little fight you ever heard of on your hands if you’d charged him.”
“I don’t think there would have been any fight at all, sir, if you’ll pardon me.”
“Why not?”
“Only that I think every man of us would have bitten dust before we could have fired a gun. Those fellows were ready with guns cocked and leveled.”
“The moral of that is that you too should always be ready and have your men ready. Order the gig alongside—men unarmed.”