We paddled along the shore of the Foreland within musket-shot distance, and neither heard nor saw anything of the enemy until we had rounded the point, when the British fleet lay fair before us.
Now was come the time when I believed we should be checked—when we would speedily find ourselves in the hands of those whose duty it would be to inflict upon us the punishment due to spies.
As we afterward learned, it was only the forwardness of their preparations which prevented them from giving heed to the bateau that was being urged farther and farther out into the lake, while apparently continuing on a direct course.
Between the British vessels and the shore, boats were constantly plying, carrying, as it seemed to us, full loads of soldiers; and we doubted not but that the long-deferred attack upon Presque Isle was about to be made.
“Knowing that two lads answering to our description came from the American shore, it is not likely we shall pass unchallenged,” I said, and Alec replied with so much of cheerfulness in his tones that it heartened me wonderfully.
“There is much the same idea in my mind, Dicky Dobbins; but having succeeded in setting sail when it seemed positive we should fail to find an opportunity of leaving the shore, it is not seemly to look ahead in search of trouble. We can do no less than paddle at our best pace until some one does hail us, and then comes the question as to whether we can afford to disobey the command to put about. But for the fact that since we landed you have shown yourself to be a wondrously brave lad, I should say that you were in danger of growing cowardly.”
“I have already become a coward; and as for showing myself brave, it is not true. Any fellow will fight for his life when he is cornered, and that is all I have done thus far. But for the fact that you forced me to put off in this boat, I should now either be in the hands of those who are searching for us, or skulking along the shore somewhere, with good show of being speedily discovered.”
It is not to be supposed that we ceased our labor at the paddles while thus speaking.
On the contrary, even as I acknowledged my cowardice I redoubled my efforts, and the bateau sped over the water at a faster pace, I venture to say, than ever she had before.
Well, strange as it may seem, we passed the fleet almost within hailing distance, and yet apparently no attention was paid to us.