"Gone on up to the camp, I suppose," said Tim. "Sure, an' if they were as hungry as me they would be eating ye out of house and home by now."
Tom felt that by this time the two sailors had gotten a fair start, and his spirits were rising proportionately, when of a sudden a shot, followed by several scattering reports, rang out.
"Come along, you two!" shouted the corporal, and the two boys were hustled unceremoniously up the beach, donning their clothes as best they could while trotting along. The officers had turned and dashed back toward the encampment, and when the soldiers with their captives reached there the whole place was in confusion, with troops rushing in all directions, shouting and firing their muskets at random into the woods.
"This cooks our goose," said Tom. "They are evidently disturbed at something, and I can see where we come in for our share of the trouble."
"It must be the captain and the mate they are blazing at," suggested Tim. "Sure, and they will never hit a thing at all at the rate they are firin' and rushin' around."
"I hope they don't," said Tom.
"Come this way, ye rebels!" bellowed the excited corporal.
"Don't pay any attention when he calls us rebels," said Tom. "Don't let him see that we recognize the name at all."
At their apparent indifference to his commands, the corporal ran up and grasping them each by an arm, hurried up to the central tent. An officer in a major's uniform was talking to a young man as they were brought up, and gave no heed to their presence till he was finished.
The boys listened eagerly, and were greatly astonished to hear what was going on between the two.