“At last!” he exulted. “Ye’ve done it at last. I’ve taught ye all I know, and I’ve only been waiting to have ye use it on meself to get the feel of it. There will be no more lessons, Master Ethan; all ye need is strength and weight, and then faith, even Shamus O’Moore will be careful how he stands forninst ye!”
These things were running through Ethan Carlyle’s head as he sorted over the papers of Mr. Jefferson. At last Congress adjourned, and the members streamed out of the building and down the quiet street. Then Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hancock entered the room with quiet steps. The boy arose and bowed and then was about to go on with his work, when his employer said:
“Never mind that for a time, Ethan; there is something which we desire to say to you.”
The lad looked at the great Virginian wonderingly; then as he and Mr. Hancock seated themselves at a table near a window, he crossed the room and stood beside them.
“Sit down,” said Mr. Hancock, pointing to a chair.
The boy did so, and then the president of the Congress went on.
[Illustration: _“I’LL DO IT,” SAID ETHAN PROMPTLY_]
“There is a service which you can render Congress and your country if you will.”
“Then consider it done, sir, if the power to render the service rests in me.”
Both the statesmen smiled; and Mr. Hancock proceeded.
“At this time there is at Portsmouth a new sloop-of-war being made ready for sea. She is called the Ranger, and is to sail under the mastership of Captain John Paul Jones.”
The boy drew in his breath and the grasp of his hands tightened upon the arms of the chair. The story of the wonderful cruises of this new sea-king in the Providence and Alfred was ringing through the land; he had spread such terror by his deeds upon blue water that British merchants feared to send their vessels to sea, and British frigates were scouring the Western waters in search of him like a pack of fierce, baffled hounds.
“The Ranger is to sail for France,” said Mr. Hancock, “and Captain Jones is to deliver an important document into the hands of Mr. Franklin, our commissioner in that country.”
Mr. Jefferson here laid a packet, sealed with great splotches of red wax, upon the table. As he did so there came a slight rustling among some thick bushes that grew beneath the window, and a dark, foreign looking face appeared, and a pair of burning black eyes looked into the room. So interested were the three at the table within that the man’s presence was unnoticed.