He turned and walked to the central part where the General’s furniture was piled up, and he had been living as humbly as the rest; and in less than half an hour he was back, just in fact as Morgan was saying, grumblingly—
“It’s all over, my lad; the governor won’t let us go.”
“The General gives his consent,” said my father, “provided that you are very careful; so the next thing is, how do you propose to go?”
“Walk across,” I said.
“No; decidedly not. You will take the boat. There she lies safe enough with the others. You can have Hannibal and Pompey to row, and Morgan and the black can be both well-armed, for that man is very trustworthy. But of course you will all be very cautious. You can send out that boy in different directions to scout; not that there is any danger, but we must treat this as an enemy’s country, and be prepared.”
“Yes, father, we’ll be very careful; and we may go soon in the morning?”
“As soon as you like. Get your bag of provisions ready to-night. Morgan, you can be passed through the gates now. Have the boy with you, and see that the boat is baled out and cleaned.”
“Yes, sir,” said Morgan; and as soon as my father had gone we two shook hands in our delight, for Morgan was as excited as I.
“Hurrah, Master George!” he cried. “What a day we will have! I’m off to find Pomp. You go and tell old Han. Won’t they be just pleased too!”
We parted on the instant, and five minutes later I found father and son together, and told them my news, with the result that Hannibal smiled with pleasure, and Pomp threw himself down on the ground to writhe and twist and worm about till he heard Morgan’s voice summoning him to go and help to bale out the boat.