“They are coming in strong force,” I remarked to my comrade in a low tone. “They must count us desperate fellows.”
“We’d whip them now in a fair fight,” Master Lewis growled, “but to have that number come down on us when we weren’t looking for them is another thing. It’s lucky you discovered their plan, sir, and we got out of their way.”
“Two of the boats are coming up the strait,” I announced a moment later. “Can it be they are going to land here?”
“If so, we’ll have to run,” was the boatswain’s laconic comment.
All our attention was now given to these two boats, and in preparation for their possible landing I aroused my men. Rapidly and almost noiselessly the yawls came up towards us, but instead of attempting to land, they rounded the point and went on down the north side of the island.
Master Lewis nudged me. “See!” he exclaimed in a whisper. “They are sent down to cut off our escape from the water side. The red-coats don’t mean to give us a chance to get out of their clutches.”
“But look there, sir,” another of my men cried out almost aloud, and before I could answer Master Lewis. “The land force has divided, and a part of them are coming up this way!”
A single glance told me he was right. Upon landing, the enemy had separated into two squads, one going down through the woods, doubtless to approach our old camping place from the south and east sides; while the other was following the shore, to make an attack from the west. I immediately thought of Master Lewis’s declaration: “The red-coats don’t mean to give us a chance to get out of their clutches.” They certainly had planned to hem us in from all sides, and would succeed if we did not move promptly. So I gave the command:
“Quick, lads! Launch the boat! We must get away from here at once.”
They knew this as well as I did, and obeyed with alacrity. The next moment they had lifted the yawl and were carrying it down to the water’s edge. The boats of the enemy were already below us, and could we get off the shore before the land force discovered our proximity, there was still a chance for us to slip away unnoticed in the darkness. I believe we should have done it but for an accident.