On his way north during the spring, he made short trips on the Savannah,
Cooper and Potomac rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. In June he paddled
down the Delaware from Philadelphia to Ship John's light. That trip was
a very laborious one on account of the sluggish tide. The moment the
tide would turn against him, he would have to strike for the flat Jersey
shore, where in the long grass the myriads of energetic mosquitoes
almost set him frantic with their attention. Later he paddled the entire
length of Lake Quinsigamond, and in September he ran the Narragansett
from Rocky Point to Providence.
CHAPTER XIX.
One day in October, while Paul was walking down Broadway, New York, a
gentleman tapped him on the shoulder, saying: "This is Captain Boyton, I
believe?" On being answered in the affirmative, he continued:
"I have just returned from Europe, where I was looking for you. I have a
message for you from Don Nicholas de Pierola, but as I am known as an
agent of the Peruvian government, it is hardly safe to talk to you here,
as there are Chilean spies in New York as well as Lima. Meet me to-
night at this address." He slipped a card into Boyton's hand and stepped
quickly away.
That night Paul entered a house in Thirty-fourth street where he met the
stranger, who immediately proceeded to business by stating that Don
Nicholas de Pierola wanted Boyton to start for Peru at once, with a full
equipment of dresses, torpedo cases, electrical appliances, and
everything necessary for the destruction of Chilean vessels.
Pages:
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454