"Hello!" came in a hoarse whisper from the boat, and some one ashore replied:
"It's all right, sir."
From what could be heard I knew that a man, or men, were making their way to the boat from the highway, and then, when it seemed as if he or they were aboard, the voice which had given the command, said in greeting:
"So you're come at last, Macomber. I had begun to believe we were mistaken as to the rendezvous."
"I was delayed in the village, for your orders were that I must get away without its being known, and there are many inquisitive ones in Benedict."
My heart gave a great bound. So it was Elias Macomber who was playing traitor, for even though he was born in England, the United States was his home by adoption, and to our people he was bound in honor.
If Darius could only get weapons so that we might capture the boat's crew, what joy would be mine to carry the base hound to Commodore Barney as a prisoner!
Elias was speaking in a low tone and rapidly to some one—whom I had no doubt was a British officer—, and I could only catch a word here and there; but it was enough to let me know that he was reporting all he had heard concerning the movements of the flotilla.
"At Nottingham yesterday," I heard. "Thirteen barges an' pungies, with the schooner Scorpion. Five hundred men all told. Well armed, an' knowin' how to use their weapons."
It was by such fragments of conversation as set down above that I knew Elias Macomber was giving all the information in his power to the enemy, and I resolved that some day he should pay the penalty of the crime, even though I was forced to pursue him single-handed.