(p. [253])
“‘Lieutenant Haines,’ he said, ‘get ready your boat and return to the British encampment. Seek an interview under a flag of truce with the British general. If you find he intends to hang the boy, assure him that I shall hang two British officers in his place, one of whom is his own nephew. If he is willing to make an exchange, tell him I will give him two men of equal rank for the lad, or one of superior rank—his nephew, if he wishes. We’ll let him know he cannot treat his young prisoner lightly.’
“In fifteen minutes I was off. The British troops, as you know, had moved up this way, and I reached them during their noon halt. Taking two of my men with me under a flag of truce, I asked for an interview with the commander. It was granted me, but I was never more coldly received. To my proposition for an exchange the general said haughtily:
“‘Tell your commander I would not exchange the midshipman for himself.’
“To my threat he answered with a cruel laugh:
“‘I know who my prisoner is, and why you are making such an effort to secure his release. Twice he has escaped our hands, but he shall not again. I want the satisfaction of seeing him hung, and hang he shall, though your commander strings up a dozen men in his place.’
“Of course, I knew nothing more could be done with so obdurate an officer, and left the camp. But right here let me say if you ever again fall into the hands of the enemy, don’t give your right name. There seems to be a general order out for your apprehension, in both the army and navy.”
“I know it,” I assented, “and for that reason I appreciate all the more what you have done for me, Lieutenant Haines. But how did that come about?”
“In the simplest way,” he continued. “Though I left the camp, I did not leave the vicinity of the army. Going back to my boat, I kept along the shore, moving about as rapidly as the troops did, and when they stopped for the night, I ran into that creek where we found my boat. Again, taking two men with me, I went up near to the outposts, looking for an opportunity to rescue you. I was all the more determined to do this because the General had declared you should not escape again.
“Well, the opportunity came sooner and in a better way than I had anticipated. While my men and I were lying in a thicket waiting for the darkness to fall, we heard voices. Soon two men came up the road, and I heard one say: