Robert and Willet exchanged glances, but the face of Tayoga remained a mask.

“It’s not well to take the French and Indians too lightly,” said Mr. Hardy with gravity.

“But wandering bands can’t face cannon and the bayonet.”

“They don’t have to face ’em.  They lie hid on your flank and cut you down, while your fire and steel waste themselves on the uncomplaining forest.”

They were words which were destined to come back to Robert some day with extraordinary force, but for the present they were a mere generalization that did not stay long in his mind.

“Our leaders will take all the needful precautions,” said young Grosvenor with confidence.

Mr. Hardy did not insist, but spoke of the play they expected to witness that evening, suggesting to Lieutenant Grosvenor if he had leave, that he go with them, an invitation that was accepted promptly and with warmth.  The liking between him and Robert, while of sudden birth, was destined to be strong and permanent.  There was much similarity of temperament.  Grosvenor also was imaginative and curious.  His mind invariably projected itself into the future, and he was eager to know.  He had come to America, inquiring, without prejudices, wishing to find the good rather than the bad, and he esteemed it a great stroke of fortune that he should make so early the acquaintance of two such remarkable youths as Robert and Tayoga.  The three men with them were scarcely less interesting, and he knew that in their company at the play they would talk to him of strange new things.  He would be exploring a world hidden from him hitherto, and nothing could have appealed to him more.

“You landed a week ago,” said Hardy.

“Truly, sir,” laughed Grosvenor, “you seem to know not only who I am, but what I do.”

“And then, as you’ve had a certain amount of military duty, although ’tis not excessive, you’ve had little chance to see this most important town of ours.  Can you not join this company of mine at my house for supper, and then we’ll all go together to the play?  I’ll obtain your seat for you.”

“With great pleasure, sir,” replied Grosvenor. “’Twill be easy for me to secure the needed leave, and I’ll be at your house with promptness.”

He departed presently for his quarters, and the three men also went away together on an errand of business, leaving Robert and Tayoga to go whithersoever they pleased and it pleased them to wander along the shores of the port.  Young Lennox was impressed more than ever by the great quantity of shipping, and the extreme activity of the town.  The war with France, so far from interfering with this activity, had but increased it.

Privateering was a great pursuit of the day, all nations deeming it legal and worthy in war, and bold and enterprising merchants like Mr. Hardy never failed to take advantage of it.  The weekly news sheets that Willet had bought contained lists of vessels captured already, and Robert’s hasty glances showed him that at least sixty or seventy had been taken by the privateers out of New York.  Most of the prizes had been in the West India trade, although some had been captured far away near the coast of Africa, and nearly all had been loaded richly.