CHAPTER XIX.
SAM SEEKS INFORMATION IN THE DARK.
"Why, Bob, old fellow, how are you ?" "You don't mean to say you've got back agin ?" "How'd you find it in the woods ?" These and a dozen other questions were asked while poor Bob's hand was wrung nearly off.
"Now, see here," said Bob, "I can't answer a dozen questions at once.
Besides, I've got despatches for the Captain." "Have you ?" asked Sam.

"Let me have them, then." Bob handed Sam an official looking document, which was merely an acknowledgment of his service, a request that he should not abate his diligence, and an instruction to use his own discretion in the conduct of his expedition.

Then followed questions and answers innumerable, and the boys learned that General Jackson was in Mobile, without an army, and likely to be without one until the Tennessee volunteers should arrive.
Supper over, Sam quietly informed the boys that he was going into the town, and that he could not say when he should return.
"What're you a goin' to town this time o' night for ?" asked Sid Russell, who was strongly prejudiced against staying awake a moment later than was necessary after the sun went down.
"I've laid some plans to get some information," replied Sam, "and I'm going after it," and with that he jumped into the boat, with only Tom for company.

In truth, Sam had been in search of the information that he was going after for several days, and he had reason to hope that he might get it on this particular night.
He had already learned that several of the British vessels, now lying in the bay, had sailed away some little time before, and that they had returned on the night before Bob's arrival.

He knew that their voyage must have had some connection with the plans they had laid for operations against the American coast, and he thought if he could discover the nature and purpose of this recent expedition, it would give him a clew to their projects for the future.