“Some one has been here to-day.”

“It was I, sir,” I said.  “I have been here all day.”

“And what doing, pray?” he demanded.

“Watching the battle.  And oh, sir,” I cried, “can you tell me whether Mister Moultrie beat the British?”

“He did so,” cried Mr. Lowndes.  “He did, and soundly.”

He stared at me.  I must have looked my pleasure.

“Why, David,” says he, “you are a patriot, too.”

“I am a Rebel, sir,” I cried hotly.

Both gentlemen laughed again, and the men with them.

“The lad is a character,” said Mr. Lowndes.

We made our way down into the garden, which they searched last.  At the creek’s side the boat was gone, and there were footsteps in the mud.

“The bird has flown, Lowndes,” said Mr. Mathews.

“And good riddance for the Committee,” answered that gentleman, heartily.  “He got to the fleet in fine season to get a round shot in the middle.  David,” said he, solemnly, “remember it never pays to try to be two things at once.”

“I’ll warrant he stayed below water,” said Mr. Mathews.

“But what shall we do with the lad?”

“I’ll take him to my house for the night,” said Mr. Lowndes, “and in the morning we’ll talk to him.  I reckon he should be sent to Temple Bow.  He is connected in some way with the Temples.”

“God help him if he goes there,” said Mr. Mathews, under his breath.  But I heard him.

They locked up the house, and left one of the men to guard it, while I went with Mr. Lowndes to his residence.  I remember that people were gathered in the streets as we passed, making merry, and that they greeted Mr. Lowndes with respect and good cheer.  His house, too, was set in a garden and quite as fine as Mr. Temple’s.  It was ablaze with candles, and I caught glimpses of fine gentlemen and ladies in the rooms.  But he hurried me through the hall, and into a little chamber at the rear where a writing-desk was set.  He turned and faced me.

“You must be tired, David,” he said.

I nodded.

“And hungry?  Boys are always hungry.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You had no dinner?”

“No, sir,” I answered, off my guard.

“Mercy!” he said.  “It is a long time since breakfast.”

“I had no breakfast, sir.”

“Good God!” he said, and pulled the velvet handle of a cord.  A negro came.

“Is the supper for the guests ready?”

“Yes, Marsa.”

“Then bring as much as you can carry here,” said the gentleman.  “And ask Mrs. Lowndes if I may speak with her.”

Mrs. Lowndes came first.  And such a fine lady she was that she frightened me, this being my first experience with ladies.  But when Mr. Lowndes told her my story, she ran to me impulsively and put her arms about me.

“Poor lad!” she said.  “What a shame!”

I think that the tears came then, but it was small wonder.  There were tears in her eyes, too.