“You will please give an account of yourselves,” announced this latter in a businesslike tone of voice.
Scarlett sat down, drew off his boots and emptied the water from them. Ezra, however, gave his attention to the lieutenant.
“Sir,” said he, “we are sympathizers of the colonies who have just made our way out of Boston through the fleet.”
The young officer, who wore a new, spick and span blue uniform turned up with red, regarded them suspiciously.
“That,” said he, with a glance out at the ominous black hulks that were now plainly showing through a faint early morning mist, “would be a hard thing to do.”
“It was,” smiled Ezra, “and good fortune alone enabled us to accomplish it.”
The young lieutenant, proud of his new trappings and his new office, saw fit to regard the two with great suspicion.
“My orders are to apprehend any one coming from the seaward,” spoke he, importantly. “So it will be my duty to hold you until the colonel arrives to inspect this post.”
“And when will that be?” asked Gilbert Scarlett.
“Toward noon, or perhaps somewhat later,” replied the lieutenant.