The others said nothing, but waited for what was to come.
“I must warn General Ward,” continued the boy. “That is the first and most important. The second is that I must keep myself out of a dungeon.”
“Your visit to your grandfather, then, has not been without result,” hazarded the soldier of fortune shrewdly.
“No,” said Ezra. “On the contrary, what I heard there was sharp and definite enough.” Then he turned to the innkeeper. “Mr. Stacey, I will trouble you to-night for one of your suits of slops and any other thing that may be useful in hiding my identity. If you can also direct me to a place where a boat is to be had, I shall be much in your debt.”
“No son of your father’s can speak of being in my debt,” said the old sailor. He pondered a moment while the others watched him. Then he proceeded: “A disguise is simple enough. But a boat is a different matter. However, I think I can do it.” Then he laid a hand upon Ezra’s arm. “You are running a great risk in making such a venture.”
“I would be running one equally great if I did not take it,” replied the boy.
“The waters all about the city are fairly choked with armed craft,” said Scarlett. “How can we pass them and get fairly away?”
“We?” said Ezra.
“Why, to be sure, we.” The speaker gestured his entire acceptance of the situation. “Do you forget that I promised to stand your friend if you needed one?”
“I would shake your hand, comrade,” spoke Ezra, much touched, “if it were not for our being watched.”