“He’s not of the sort I take you to be,” explained the sailor. “Old Camp there,” pointing to the stout old gentleman with the oaken staff, “is said to be the most rabid Tory in all New York. But I’ve heard that questioned. Merchant Dana is a milder mannered man, to be sure; but those that know claim he’s more to be feared than his partner.”
George looked toward the two merchants, who were now pacing the wharf. There was no abatement in old Camp’s anger; and Mr. Dana, halting along beside him, still strove to calm him.
“My dear sir,” stated the latter with confidence, “we shall have but a short time to wait. It can’t be otherwise. When the ships of the line and the troopers, bearing His Majesty’s army, left Boston, where do you suppose they were headed?”
Mr. Camp sniffed and snorted in great disdain.
“What does it matter,” asked he, “where they were headed? Apparently they are of no great consequence, or they would have been able to hold Boston. And more than that, sir. If they had been worth the rations fed them by King George, they would have gone out and soundly beaten the rabble that opposed them as well.”
But Mr. Dana patiently evaded this.
“Without a doubt they are coming to New York,” declared he, hopefully. “Without a doubt, Mr. Camp. We shall then see what we shall see.”
“Ay,” said the indignant gentleman, “so we shall. But I expect little. Lord Howe may be a very excellent officer, but he has yet to prove it upon this side of the world. It seems that he is much of Colden’s kidney. He’d rather parley than act. To show these fellows who’s master needs a strong hand—not a long tongue.”
“But, my dear sir——” began Mr. Dana, but the other waved his words away with a sweep of the heavy staff.
“There is that rascally renegade whom Washington sent here,” he exclaimed. “I refer to Charles Lee. Though a greater villain never lived, still he had a grasp of matters that our own leaders might pattern by. Did he parley and hesitate when he arrived? He did not, I warrant you! He set to work in spite of all opposition. The king’s men threatened him; the soldiery made shift to show their teeth and the shipping in the bay cleared their decks. But without stopping to ask their leave, he seized upon the persons of his most outspoken opponents; then he stared the troops out of countenance and defied the frigates. Finally he stripped the British batteries of their guns, began to recruit an army, and build forts and redoubts to guard all the approaches to the city. While this man, Mr. Dana,” and the staff rang upon the stones, “has my unqualified disapproval, I cannot refuse him my admiration. He understands his duty and he does it.”