I needed no evidence to convince me that the Britishers would make every effort to capture us. It was the one thing necessary for them to do, even though they could not hope to keep secret the fact of their encampment here on the North Foreland.
Whoever was in command of the troops must have known beyond a peradventure that the Americans living on the opposite shore of the lake had certain knowledge regarding the gathering of soldiers at this point, for the camp was already established on that winter’s afternoon when Alec and I ran blindly into the hands of the redcoats.
From what we heard while held as prisoners so many weeks previous, my comrade and I knew that a movement was contemplated before the ice broke up.
Why it had been delayed we might never learn to a certainty, but it seemed positive to me at this moment—for when danger was so imminent the veriest trifles passed through my brain with lightning-like rapidity—that instead of abandoning the manœuvre it had simply been delayed, in which case secrecy was even more necessary now than when we came so unwittingly upon the enemy.
In other words, that my meaning may be more plain, I understood at the moment that it was in the highest degree important to the enemy that we two lads be prevented from carrying any information back to Presque Isles, and, therefore, did I realize that the Britishers would spare no labor in the effort to take us prisoners.
The soldiers were advancing without heed as to noise, and before they were come so near that I could distinguish the words of their conversation, Alec awakened, looking toward me as if on the point of asking some question.
On the instant my hand covered his mouth, and the quick-witted lad needed nothing further by way of explanation.
With a motion of the hand he let me know that the situation was fully understood, and arose to a sitting posture as I removed the pressure from his mouth, the voices of our enemies speedily telling the whole story.
Nearer and nearer came the men, until we could distinguish every word that passed between them.
Instead of talking about the possibility of capturing us, they spoke of the vessel which had arrived during the night just past, and questioned why the other craft were delayed when the wind was in their favor.