No good could possibly come of it, and you would be sure to fall into the hands of the savages or Canadians; and you know how they treat prisoners." "I know," the boy said; "and I have no wish to have my scalp hanging up in any of their wigwams." It was midnight, before the camp was perfectly still, and then James Walsham quietly loosened one of the pegs of the canvas, at the back of the tent, and, with a warm grasp of the midshipman's hand, crawled out.
The lad listened attentively, but he could not hear the slightest sound.

The sentinel was striding up and down in front of the tent, humming the air of a French song as he walked.

Half an hour passed without the slightest stir, and the midshipman was sure that James was, by this time, safely beyond the enemy's camp.
He was just about to compose himself to sleep, when he heard a trampling of feet.

The sentry challenged, the password was given, and the party passed on towards the general's tent.

It was some thirty yards distant, and the sentry posted there challenged.
"I wonder what's up ?" the midshipman said to himself; and, lifting the canvas, he put his head out where James had crawled through.
The men had halted before the general's tent, and the boy heard the general's voice, from inside the tent, ask sharply, "What is it ?" "I regret to disturb you, Monsieur le General; but we have here one of the Canadian pilots, who has swam ashore from the enemy's fleet higher up the river, and who has important news for you." The midshipman at once determined to hear what passed.