"It is proverbial," continued Grantham, "that listeners never hear any good of themselves. I paid the common penalty. But if I continued calm, my companion did not. Partly incensed at what had related to me—but more infuriated at the declaration made by the son, that he had paddled several times round the gun-boat, without a soul being on deck to see him, he drew near to me, his white teeth displaying themselves in the gloom, as he whispered, but in a tone that betrayed extreme irritation.
"'What a dam liar rascal, Massa Geral. He nebber go round: I see him come a down a ribber long afore he see a boat at all.'
"'Hush, Sambo! hush—not a word,' I returned in the same low whisper. 'The villains are at some treason, and if we stir, we shall lose all chance of discovering it.'
"'Me no peak, Massa Geral; but dam him lyin' teef,' he continued to mutter, 'I wish I had him board a gun-boat.'
"'A dozen fellers well armed might take the d——d British craft,' observed Desborough. 'How many men may there be aboard the Commissary?'
"'About forty, I reckon, under some d——d old rig'lar major. I've got a letter for him here to desire him to come on, if so be as we gets the craft out of the way.'
"'Drot me if I know a better way than to jump slick aboard her,' returned Desborough, musingly, 'forty genuine Kaintucks ought to swallow her up crew and all.'
"'I guess they would,' returned his companion, 'but they are not Kaintucks, but only rig'lars; and then agin if they are discovered, one spry cannon might sink her; and if the eagles go to the bottom we shall lose our fiftieth. You don't reckon that.'
"'What the hell's to be done then?' exclaimed Desborough, resorting to his favorite oath when in doubt.