We did not stop to watch them, but, stepping into the yawl, glided rapidly down the creek to its mouth. Once out on the ocean our bow was turned to the north, and as twelve strong arms pulled us along, Lieutenant Haines told his story:
“When your boat, under the impetus of your vigorous kick, glided away from John’s Island, it was the intention of your boatswain to put in somewhere along the main shore, and still keep watch of the movements of the British army. But the sufferings of the injured sailor led him to change his plan, and he decided to return immediately to the frigate.
“He arrived there in the morning, and his report of your capture filled your captain with consternation.
“‘The lad will give his right name,’ he said, ‘and they’ll recognize him as a runaway from the Saint George and likely as not will hang him; or else they will regard him as a spy, though he was not caught within their lines, and string him up to the nearest tree. We must act quickly, or we cannot save him.’
“So he took the boatswain and came right over to the Providence to see the Commodore. I was present at the interview, and assure you that Master Lewis gave a glowing account of how you discovered the prying Tory, learned his purpose, and planned to thwart it. He grew even more enthusiastic when he related how you would not leave your injured man, or allow him to be the last one on the boat, and, though captured yourself, pushed him and his comrades out of the reach of the enemy.”
“Did he tell you what a fool I was to make my second camp at the head of the island?” I interrupted. “If I had only gone over to the main shore, as I should have done, I should not have made such a mess of the affair as I did.”
“Your movement was a perfectly natural one, and such as I should have made had I been there,” he returned warmly; “and, though the enemy did come upon you in such overwhelming numbers, and surrounded you on every side, you would have escaped but for the accident to your man—a thing you could not help. That’s my view of the matter, and also the Commodore’s for he said:
“‘A lad who can stand by his men like that, Captain Tucker, has the making of a hero in him. He’s worth saving;’ and then he turned to me:
He soon came upon the shore, where a boat and four men were evidently awaiting him.