‘I have been thinking,’ continued Channing, ‘that the barque yonder will be no poor acquisition to the force of the colonists, and then we have quite a large amount of powder and small arms on board which are much needed by the beseiging army.’
‘Very true, sir, no doubt,’ said Lovell in reply. ‘We shall be on the coast in a few days according to my reckoning, and may perhaps hope to fall in with some English craft that we can make a prize of.’
‘We must look out sharp for ourselves first, Mr. Lovell,’ said the captain, ‘for the harbor of Boston literally swarms with men of war.’
‘I beg pardon, sir, but—’
‘But what, Mr. Lovell?’
‘I was about to ask you, sir, if we had ever met before.’
‘I believe you have seen me every day, Mr. Lovell, since you came on board the Constance. I have certainly seen you.’
‘I mean, sir, some time since.’
‘We may have met in Boston.’
‘Perhaps it is so,’ said Lovell, but positively I never knew a countenance make such an impression upon me.’