If I had expected to see anything affecting in the meeting between the two old shipmates, I was mistaken.
Darius, who was on the lookout for us as may be supposed, said when he saw that the canoe had three occupants:
"So you got him, eh? Well, Bill Jepson wasn't born to be drowned, that's certain."
Then the old man passed us a line, and the deserter said as he went over the rail:
"I knew I could depend on you, Darius."
"You made a mistake this time, Bill, for if the boys hadn't hogged up agin it, I'd left you to do the best you could, seein's we're down here on a bit of work for Commodore Joshua Barney, whose fleet is in the Patuxent river, as perhaps you have heard."
"Well there! I knew you wouldn't be foolin' round here oysterin' while able seamen are likely in good demand. I'd be well fixed if I could run across the commodore just now."
"That's what I've been thinking'. Of course it don't stand to reason you can stay here a great many hours."
"I must be off before daylight, an' am countin' on your tellin' me where."
"What do you know about the Britishers?"